Station Trollaigh Turn

07/23/2005

The summer stays with us, but it is odd to think that we are well past the longest day, and that we must cherish our sunny daylight as each sunrise and sunset takes us further towards winter. God! what a depressing thought when we have so much to celebrate. The Bushman Burner, bought and paid for at Hampton Court has arrived, this strange and heavy oven, based on those used by bushman in Africa, but cunningly made from furnace cement in England is fired up to chase midges and provide outdoor heat on winter days, and of course, it is also a bar-b-que. Having nipped down to the Alt Trollaigh three small, but fresh Brown Trout are lured to test the system, delicious! About thirty or forty swallow chicks are swooping about the Tower of Glen Trollaigh practicing their flying skills, always such a pleasure to watch, one moment fluttering and hesitant, the next fearless as they join their parents to harass a passing Buzzard. This reminds me of the early RAF training in Tiger Moths, when “follow my leader” was order of the day. My great great aunt Hetty “half way station” Trollaigh, one of those half-man equestrians with whom I have never felt comfortable, volunteered in ’14 to join the Army Airforce and became famous for deflowering several future Air Commodores. Of course, her coup was the Station Trollaigh Turn, which I believe is still used in training fast jet pilots. Regrettably, Halfway Hetty was only to survive for another few months when her attempt to join the Mile High Club with “Rotary” Johnnie Apple V.C. failed in flames and vertical impact. Oh dear, Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.