West Word - August 2025

The theme for August seemed to be taken straight out of the SAS Handbook “Improvise. Adapt. Overcome”. Something we managed to do very well in Canna if we have to. Not gonna lie, I could feel my eye twitching on a number of occasions as plans went awry, things had to be changed at the last minute and the weather simply was not playing ball. Let's throw a ferry breakdown into the mix, just for good measure.

Rona and Tom got their pre-wedding blackening - we opted for sweet stuff for these two lovebirds with a mix of hot chocolate, honey, marshmallows, eggs and flour. They both took it with grace and resigned themselves to their fate!

The Small Isles Games took three adaptations depending on what the latest weather was doing and what the ferry was doing. Eventually we settled on some games for those on island already in the afternoon; welly wanging……which resulted in the welly ending up on the roof of the new lambing shed and one very sorry visitor begging Gerry’s forgiveness. Nathan won the shot put with a distance of 27.5ft; Tossing the caber was tried by a few with varied success with one competitor slamming it so hard into the ground that the caber actually cracked and broke. We don’t do things by halves here. The Tattie and Spoon race was won by a very competitive Caroline who, let's face it, loves anything to do with potatoes, even races. We also had some fun indoor games including Lobster Ring Throw, Lasso a Highland Cow and a Canna Treasure Map.

After the games, we had a BBQ in the big barn with Dod doing his usual sterling cooking effort. 

The boat eventually arrived at 5.40pm with two very important sets of visitors…..the ceilidh band and the wedding celebrant…all from Eigg! Phew!

Everyone trooped up to Tighard Guest House where the front lawn had been decorated with an aisle made of logs and a flower stand covered in the island’s flowers. Balloons surrounded the front door and inside the bridal party were making last minute preparations. The clouds parted, the evening sun shone through and Murdo walked Rona down the aisle. Tom and Rona exchanged their vows in front of the residents and assembled games visitors. The ceremony was brief but incredibly beautiful with the bride and groom walking back up the aisle under a shower of hydrangea flower confetti. Everyone enjoyed a glass of fizz and some cake before Davy piped everyone down the hill to the Shearing Shed for the ceilidh. 

Eigg Ceilidh Band, as ever, played a brilliant ceilidh and although we were small in number, we still had a good party. Our newly formed temporary One-Eyed Sheep Bar in the stable gave everyone a chance to chat, drink and catch up with friends. A brilliant day and night with everyone in good heart! Thanks to Ross, Gabe and Yogi for coming to play for us!

Storm Floris - well, she was a bit of a surprise! I walked home for lunch and was walking practically horizontally, nearly got blown off my feet and had to hold onto the stone wall on several occasions. As I passed one house, I saw the polytunnel looking like it was making a break for freedom; thankfully the residents managed to prevent it from ending up on top of Compass Hill! By the time I reached home, it felt like the breath had been taken out of my lungs, such was the strength of the wind. Floris roared in shortly afterwards and quite frankly the leading edge of the storm was like being stuck inside a jet engine of a 747! Forty five minutes later and the relative calm of the storm eye descended before the back wall came through….less wind but much more rain. 

Needless to say, some of our trees came down including a great, old wind blown Elm in Canna House Garden. That was a sad loss of such a magnificent tree! Elsewhere we lost some smaller trees. Nathan and Tom spent most of the remaining days of August clearing the fallen trees and securing the paths. We won’t go short on firewood next winter, that's for sure.

And so comes the end of August. What a summer it’s been with all our events both professionally and personally. We’ve managed a couple of residents' beach parties this summer; we had hoped for more but the weather gods didn’t agree. I think we will all head into September looking to chill out a bit where we can and prepare for the winter. Well done everybody!