Things to do in the Outer Hebrides: Harris

Travelling around the Outer Hebrides was a surreal experience. It was as if time and distance had somehow preserved a very unique culture in a spectacular setting. There is so much to share about our Autumn trip ( yep, speed-blogging is not my forte) around the Western Isles that I will write separate blog posts for Harris and Lewis. And I'll write another one for the Isle of Skye (which is part of the Inner Hebrides).

The landscape of Harris is mostly rugged and mountainous with a stunning coastline that contains the most amazing beaches in the world. Luskentyre is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen...move over Zanzibar. Yes, the weather is often wild but on the positive, gale force winds are also matched by amazing displays of northern lights. Our biggest disappointment was to have missed this due to the cloudy skies whilst we were out there.

Like many of the Hebridean islands, they are sparsely populated and those who live here are part of a very close knit community. Everyone does know everyone! The community are extremely religious too, following Christian traditions that the rest of the country have long lost touch with such as keeping the Sabbath.

We drove all the way to the very south of the island to check out the medieval St. Clement's Church in Rodel. From there, we drove through miles of hilly terrain, passing by stunning mountain ranges and beaches, to arrive at the Harris Tweed Company shop in Grosebay.

Ed and I love Harris Tweed. Procuring the tweed straight from the weavers was another motivation for visiting the Outer Hebrides. Although we did a fair bit of window shopping around Harris, we finally bought our tweed from a weaver in Lewis. I'd like to have visited Donald Mackay's ( well known Harris Tweed weaver) shed in Luskentyre but we ran out of time. If you do visit the area, I think it would be good to look him up.

Other things to do in Harris include checking out more beaches, 'black houses' and hill walking. We did some of this in Lewis rather than Harris and I'll provide a more detailed account of it in my upcoming post.

The peace and quiet, soulful scenery, the community that lives simply with very grounded values, the people that soldier on despite the constantly wild weather...they all make Harris particularly good for the soul.

I am a huge advocate for the Western Isles and I can't wait to go back. I hope you plan a visit too. Ann x

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Winter Bucket List

I thoroughly enjoyed creating an Autumn bucket list back in September;  it gave me focus and the process of checking things off the list was great fun.  It also proved popular with my lovely readers. I've been mulling over a similar (albeit slightly less ambitious?) winter bucket list and it is looking a bit like this. 

Declutter and organise: January is a great month for a bit of general detox. For me, it includes eating better (and overcoming the indulgent eating habits of the holiday season), streamlining my wardrobe and deep cleaning the house. The yucky weather in the UK is a great excuse to stay indoors and make productive use of this hibernation by decluttering.

Do something for charity: There was a time when I was involved in a lot of charity fund raising activities including hill walking, skydiving and even blogging. I haven't done much of that in a while for various reasons. This winter, I'd like to spend some time and effort doing something purely altruistic.

Discover a new tea room or restaurant: Whilst I'd much rather cook something fabulous rather than at out, I do love discovering exciting new cafes and restaurants. Obviously, the quirkier they are the more I love them. I also like the fancy ones.  Between Edinburgh and London ( and around Peterborough), I'm going to go on the lookout for a fabulous place or two.

Travel somewhere new: Nothing makes me happier than travelling somewhere wonderful and new with my husband. With us in the process of moving up to Edinburgh, the chances of travelling very far are going to be limited. Nevertheless, there are so many places around where we live ( and where we are moving to) that are waiting to be discovered and I'd like to get exploring soon.

Host a winter party: In this part of the world, most of the active socialising happens over the summer ( with the exception of Christmas and New Years). I'd like to organise something fun over the winter to change this pattern a little. It may not be a grand affair but it will include some my favourite people and that will make all the difference.

Create a signature winter cocktail: I'm not much of a drinker but I do love a good cocktail. Over the summers, Ed and I love making our own cocktails. I'd like to do something similar over the winter season too. Ideas welcome! And, the more exotic the better!

Make homemade presents: I'm no fan of the long nights and the cold days but they are good for crafting. I've had great fun knitting over the last couple of months and I intend to do that some more. I'd also like to get making more homemade candles, soap, chocolate etc. After all, shop bought goodies can never quite match the love that goes into making a handmade present.

Overcome the winter wardrobe blues: It is so very easy to succumb black and grey over the winter period. I'm definitely not the black and grey sort of person but I am going to make an extra effort over the winter to add a bit of colour and sparkle to everything I wear.

Go ice-skating : Despite having an ice rink not far from where we live, I've never been ice skating before. I'd really like to overcome my fear of falling over ( and general clumsiness) and go ice skating this winter. It may not be the most elegant of sights but at least I will have tried!

I hope you've found some inspiration from my winter bucket list and I'd love to hear your ideas too! Ann x

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Autumn Bucket List

Those living in this part of the world will share my post-summer blues; England is far far too cold and wet right now! As I find myself so much more productive when the days are lighter and the air warmer, I felt the need for a focus list to keep Autumn blues at bay. Add to that, there are a lot of changes afoot in our personal lives that bring with them their fair share of stress and anxiety. I'm hoping that a happy wish list will help mange those anxious emotions too! 

1. Make an autumn wreath: Last year, my friend and I made a gorgeous Christmas wreath. The base for that wreath works as a perfect foundation for seasonal decorations. I'd like to create an autumnal version full of bright seasonal foliage, flowers and fruit.

 2. Create delightful preserves for winter: I have a two-pronged strategy with this particular item. I'd like to make something useful out of all our allotment produce ( grapes, crabapples, apples, jellies, pears etc) and, I'd like tasty homemade jams, pickles and jellies all through the winter!

3. Brush up, re-learn or learn a new crafty skill: Perhaps I'll take my crochet skills to the next level, or learn to knit properly or maybe I'll find a whole new craft to get into! Basket weaving perhaps? In any case, I'd like to up-skill myself in the crafty sense.
 

 4. Visit a beautiful city that I haven't been to before: Lets face it, when this weather is dreary like it is now, all one wants to do is cuddle up in bed. However, there are so many lovely places out there waiting to be explored. I'd like to discover at least one such place this autumn.

 5. Make a beautiful item of clothing: I am no expert seamstress- quite the contrary really. However, I think there is great joy and satisfaction in making your own clothes. I get so many compliments for my kanga shift dress that I once made (inexpertly) and wear with so much pride. I'm reading The Sewing Bee at the minute and dreaming up a piece of personal couture.

6. Visit Paris (again): Oh I do love Paris! Wandering Champs Elysees and checking out terribly expensive fashion, exploring St Germain, appreciating Monet, drinking really lovely yet inexpensive house wines, warm pain-a-chocolats for breakfast from the local boulangerie, hanging out near Monmarte and Scare Coeur soaking in the art and music, there is so much life to enjoy in Paris! The Eurostar cheapie fares are a godsend!

7. Create autumn inspired fashion: I love taking inspiration from nature and the changing seasons ( see hay bales and rapeseed fields ) and would like to take that through into autumn. Spoiler alert: I have a feeling it may involve Hunter wellies ( thanks to the weather!)

8. Visit a museum that I haven't been to before: I'm not really a museum geek. However, every so often, I like to take in a bit of knowledge,  history and culture. With working from London so often, perhaps I must stay late in the evening and explore some new museums? I hear the Natural History Museum is quite cool?

9. Do an eco-friendly autumn deep clean: The flip side of gallivanting all over the place with work is that I don't tend to find as much time as I'd like for housework. I recently discovered eco-cleaning (vinegar and bicarbonate of soda!) and I'd like to do nasty-chemicals-free deep autumn clean of the house

10. Make applesauce or toffee apples: We have an apple tree in our garden and another on our allotment. We have lots of lots of apples over the autumn that need speedy consumption or conversion. I fancy making some applesauce or even giving toffee apples another go for bonfire night. The latter took on a scary dark shade last year due to the caramel getting overheated :o

 Have you got a bucket list too? If so, I'd like some more ideas please! Ann x

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