Not a great nights sleep was had last night, a combination of ‘mind on overload’ with all the tasks left yet to do and the prospect of the first scheduled crossing on the Hallaig. I did manage to stay in bed until after 5:00am, but only just, and after a little plonking away on here I went outside to feed everyone in the dark. Well there just wasn’t an option, the boy had to get to school and me to the dentist, the hens were hilarious, I’d obviously surprised them and there was all manner of clucking going on upon my arrival. They’d obviously heard me rattling around in the feed bins and come charging out confused in the dark and were wandering around bumping into things.
The pigs well, they’re just opportunists and carry on like they’ve never been fed whatever time it is, though I couldn’t find Rocky despite doing several rounds of his usual hiding places on the quad. Methinks Rocky is a little depressed, it must be a ‘boar thing’ for Ginger was the same, nay, Ginger was worse, much worse, he’d get suicidal at the ‘drop of a hat’, separate him from his girls and he’d sulk for Scotland. I’ve never noticed it before in Rocky, perhaps it his age but since we threw him out of the croft and put Ellie and Jamie Lea in different fields to farrow he’s gone all mopey. He wasn’t so bad when at first when he’d the five ‘wee boys’ for company but since three of those are now in various freezers and he started scrapping with the other two he’s been on his own.
The poor soul refuses to go and sleep in his insulated ark and mopes about along the fences all day, usually sleeping on his own in a clump of rushes. Right enough I’m not feeling sorry for him, he’s as ‘fat as a pig’, well he would be wouldn’t he after living with five smaller boars for a few weeks. I’m pretty sure our prize Tamworth was getting the ‘lions share’ of the food.
The first sailing
After all the herd (well almost) and chooks were fed, the boy and his weeks baggage loaded into the Land Rover we set off south for that monumental occasion of the Hallaig’s first commercial voyage.
Sure enough the worlds first sea going hybrid Ro Ro ferry was waiting for us
and I had my oil absorbent mat ready 
The half dozen or so vehicles looked lost on the Hallaig’s enormous deck and there was even enough room to open the car doors
The ‘bridge crew’ were all set, and at 7:55 we departed for Sconser
the school kids and all enjoying the crossing.
Ready to take on ‘all comers’
Once I’d dropped off the ‘Arnish eggs’ with Charlie I proceeded to the dentist in Kyle whereupon I had my first appointment ever without a lecture on tooth brushing Either I was getting better at 57 or the dentist had given up on me!
On the to my parents and, amongst other things a walk through the woods with my octogenarian father
and the dogs, one of which was a very subdued looking Leah, who’s enthusiasm (and barking) can be a little OTT, poor soul was ‘in the doghouse’ with a muzzle 
Anyway, after a good wander around the forestry roads above Loch Duich we returned to a lovely aubergine dish prepared by mum.
A little work on the roof done, a bottle of wine and joint of venison loaded in the Land Rover I headed back to Sconser to catch the Hallaig.
Only problem being it was the Striven that arrived but I’ll not go into that
An unusual dinner
By the time I’d got home, fed everyone, sorted out the eggs and caught up on phone calls I’d lost my appetite and the two pork chops that I’d had marinating in apple juice for 24 hours seemed a little excessive. Searching the fridge for something lighter I came across a kidney, not your obvious choice for a snack but a quick ‘Google’ turned up a few ideas.
One of them was kidneys on toast and involved mustard, red wine and chilli powder, I didn’t use it, but it did inspire me.
I simply sautéed the kidneys in some pork fat, red wine and harrisa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harissa and had it on toast, awesome offal indeed
