Double Sized Yogurts.

07/19/2006

Costa del Trollaigh provides the heat wave as daytime temperatures regularly top 28 degrees, with no end in sight, although the forecast does indicate that an occasional thundery shower will drift northwards from Cumbria on Thursday, then back to the roasting tray. All must enjoy this lovely weather. However, our guests this week are serious fishers, and the baking, bare stones of the River Trollaigh are not to their liking. There is hardly anything worst than disgruntled fishers who take it as the personal failure of their hosts not to be able to pull in a ten pounder following every amateur cast. Lachie has resorted to guiding the guest’s flies into the salmon’s mouth by standing above the deep pools armed with Polaroid specs, even this is failing and the next step is to swim into the head pools with a spear gun. Let us all hope for a freshening of the water and at least one fish for each of our guests, who have all paid handsomely for the privilege.

The hot weather has put paid to the dreaded Midge, which cannot cope with dehydration, however, we seem to be overrun by Horse Flies, or Clegs. A recent foray onto the Trout Lochs of Trollaigh Moor produced the most violent attack by these blighters that I can remember, although it seems that the dotty Swallows and House Martins around the Tower of Trollaigh are managing to keep them at bay closer to home.

The Oxford weekend was a great success; of course, I was too shy to mention in advance that the true reason for the trip was to receive a Doctor of Letters, for my efforts with these scribbles. I can now add a few letters after the moniker, and adopt the honorary title of “Doctor Trollaigh” I am not sure where it fits with my other titles, but hopefully next year’s Debretts will put me right.

England was baking hot and so provided even more difficulties with etiquette, just what does one say when the cherries are obviously turning to brandy, or that life must now encompass double sized yoghurt. Just what is one supposed to drink in such weather? Obviously, drams are out and even Hendricks is a little powerful. It has got to be chilled champers, served with a dash of that Raspberry Vodka from those super people at Scot’s Cheer. My other revelation of the weekend was that none of the female Trollaighs could cope with hot weather without frequent use of showers and attendant hair straightners, not quite sure what these machines are, but we chaps don’t need ‘em, and that is the main thing. Pip pip, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.