THREE prizes!

It was a smart move of Gail's to have us escape the ongoing damp and dreary weather in Aberdeen and make a dash for Torridon, where an east wind has brought fresh and bright conditions these past few days.

It was not such a smart move of Gail's to leave her trusty mascot behind when she attended a quiz night at a restaurant in nearby Diabaig. 

The event was aimed at raising funds for a newly formed marine conservation group, Maerl Friends of Loch Torridon, and many of the quiz questions required knowledge of marine biology.

I'll tell you more about the conservation group later in the week (on Nature Friday), but for now I just want to point out that Gail was NOT on the winning quiz team, and I think we can all guess the reason for the team's lack of success. It was not 'cos they didn't know that an octopus has three hearts.

Here I am, left home alone on Saturday night.

Remarkably though, Gail did come home with THREE prizes, won in the raffle. She says it was one of those raffles that goes on forever as there were more prizes than people present.

So we now have some lovely cards with photos of the Torridon area, a book of poems by local writer Les (who also used to help Gail tend her cottage garden), and some yummy looking honey from Diabaig.

Gail says she might break open the honey when a Very Special Visitor arrives in Aberdeen in her Very Special Vehicle very sooon.

Watch this space!