It was about a two hour trip to get to Lewis, where we disembarked at Tairbeart, and then had to drive up the A859 to Stornaway, and there try and find our way to Catriona's mother's house that was somewhere close to port Nis, on the A857. Trying to get directions from the islanders was almost impossible, as they all speak Gaelic, but after some searching we found somebody that understood us, and we were given directions as how to get to the A857.
We eventually found the house, and by this time poor Liz was a wreck, as it was way past her five o'clock tipple, and from experience I knew that she became quite agressive if her needs were not met. It was almost dark by this time, as it was still raining, and after some asking around at the other houses, we were shown a small wee path leading up to a very lonely looking house. The man who showed us the path then told us to drive very carefully, and not leave the path, as it was very boggy, and there was some quite deep holes.
I asked liz whether I should take the car up the path, as she was by now a shivering wreck, both from tiredness and the lack of her red voggies (fluid), and seeing that we were off the public road, I couldn't see any harm done.
I did suggest many times that I get registered to drive her car, but Liz is one very strange mixture of privacy and righteousness, and would not let anybody drive her car, except when there was no other way but to reverse, something she had never mastered, then I was asked to take the car out. She stood looking at me for some time, I suppose fighting with her inner self and pride, and when I said it was because she was so tired, she reluctantly got out from behind the steering wheel.
The house was very cosy and nicely furnished, with a heap of chopped wood lying ready to be used in the hearth. After we did the offloading, I suggested we make a fire first, as it was bitterly cold and damp, but Liz was feverishly scratching around her bags, found her bottle of red, and then poured herself one stiff glassfull.
After a few gulps, my friend's energy and sanity came back, and she became her own affable self, and we started looking for something to cook for our dinner.
I slept like a baby, and woke up early to the sun shining through my window! The previous few days was miserable to say the least, and I thought we would never have any sun while on the islands. So after a coffee, I packed some sarmies, and filled my flask, and knowing that Lizzy would not stir till about eleven after the previous day and a full bottle of red, I started on the longish walk to the lighthouse that I could see from my window.