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I headed off to the fank but I must have turned left instead of right, because I had a very nice week in Essex. There were people down there mowing their lawns! Even if the hens weren’t scratching my grass to bits there wouldn’t be enough to mow yet! Most weather-related talk was hosepipe bans and how to manage if water has to be collected from a standpipe. If only I could post my puddles south. Interestingly, lots of pubs had signs outside saying they were smoke-free!

Back at the pier the ‘Polestar’ was in doing something to the green buoy. I suppose the batteries for the flashing light have to be checked. They must have a very powerful crane as the buoy is supposed to be firmly fixed to the sea-bed.

The airport has started. Lots of diggers and stuff came in on Monday. Rumours flew round the workers were all Polish but actually I think they come from the wilds of Dalmally. They are keen to organise a summer six-a-side shinty league. JA was trying to sort out the rules, but apparently they use a ball, which rather confused us.

Work today is hampered by the discovery of a smoke bomb and the police have closed the road west of Friesland (luckily just beyond me, or I would have to have spent the afternoon in the pub with a new barrel of Pipers Gold) and are waiting for a helicopter to come in and blow it up. Not sure what will happen if the road isn’t open before the ferry gets in, as the other way round is only suitable for 4WDs.

Today’s question is about baby crabs. Do crabs lay eggs? Lobsters and prawns do, but I’ve never seen crabs with eggs. Does a baby crab have another name, like puppies and dogs, or are they just not cuddly enough? I need to explain this to a six year old, so not too technical please.

The helicopter came in and made the smoke bomb safe, the road had been opened earlier with vehicles passing at their own risk! On Thursday a butch landrover and four Navy Bomb Squad men came in, closed the road, and blew it up. The bang was heard in the village three miles away. Apparently it is part of the war-games (sorry, exercises) and shows where the submarine is, and is supposed to sink. The problem is the gas inside is not pleasant, so if any thing suspicious is found on the coast, inform the coastguard and you too can have some hunky guys to sort it out.

The first load of aggregate was due in on Thursday too for the airport, but there was too much swell, so the barge went away again. It must have arrived today as there are tractors and trailers rumbling up and down.

Airport Update
The island’s gone quiet again for a few days as the airport boys have a weekend off. It was a bit like watching a giant egg timer, as the pile of aggregate from the barge grew at the pier, then slowly shrank as the pile at Ballard grew instead. Now it has all been spread out. The runway strip looks huge but the two loads have gone a surprisingly long way. Next week the barge is coming in every day for ten days (weather permitting) so it will be a bit chaotic.
Even the most pro-airport people would have to admit the road has already suffered, with a couple of random holes appearing. The engineer is worried about compression areas (where there is a dip, and as the tractors hit this they force it down a bit more) so some tar has been laid to level out the surface. On the other hand they have improved the passing spaces no end; the village even has its own bit of dual carriageway now (at the Lodge cattle grid) and several houses have improved parking areas so they aren’t so close to tht they are learning colours so they know which tractor and trailer to use. They have learnt to wave at the rest of us. The Dalmally boys find the waving a bit odd, and the shinty match plans are making slow progress, but bacon roll sales have increased.