Comings & Goings..

Currently, the island seems to be in such an unseemly state of flux that its not easy to tell who has come, who has gone and who haven't yet made up their minds.

We're quite sure that John and Margaret James have gone down to John's home territory in Cornwall, for, as John remarked with his customary oblique humour, they were 'seen off' so many times that they both felt as though they'd died! But, anyway, we all hope you rest in peace down there John and Margaret - oh, and don't forget you've left Colin behind; I mean, we don't really mind but he keeps building these wonderfully neat little houses on top of hills and no one's sure how to stop him.

We were all sad to see the Galbraith family move from Cliad - their home for 42 years - following the death of Jock last year. His wife, Barbara, has now moved across to Tiree. Into Lonban, we welcome the Taylor family, Mike and Anna and children Daniel, Simon and Joanna. Their previous home was in the somewhat kinder climate of Hereforshire so we wish them well as they adjust to wind, rain and lower temperatures.

Neil and Ruth Smith and their family Jill and Angus, have moved into Gallanach. Having exchanged the cold Aberdonian granite of the East cost for the cold Lewisian Gneiss of the West, the change won't be too dramatic and we hope they settle in happily.

And then it's nice to see Mairi Hedderwick back again - although no one's sure for how long, least of all Mairi. She is presently busy on her next book in the splendid isolation of her former home at Crossapol.

There are bound to be others and we apologise for any omissions; we'll try to do better next year.