September 14

Up this morning for church at 10 am. We attended Alistair and Judy’s church. It is located at the top of the hill at the highest point of the town looking straight down the street through the four-block town to the little harbor. The Round Church of Killarow was constructed in the round - so the devil will have no place to hide. A lay reader led the service from the Church of Scotland. The Church has no minister at present, as the Church of Scotland needs about 90 ministers to fill all of its needs. In addition lightning recently struck the church directly and blew out the church organ’s electrical system rendering it inoperable. What kind of sign does it signify when thunderbolts are sent from the heavens to harm a church? Tough times for the Round Church built in 1768. Oddly, we sang five hymns and all were written by writers born in the 1700s. Rock of Ages was included today - yea. Talk about your traditional service…

After church, Alistair and I picked up Islay Campbell for a round of golf again at the Machrie. Although the wind was less severe than Thursday, it was not less by much. Fortunately, there was no rain during play; it was due at 3pm and arrived on time. It is just plain exhausting playing in such windy conditions. I did not play my best by a long shot losing many balls in the knee high rough. Before the round, I told Alistair I would be leaving the remaining balls from the dozen I brought. So, for each ball lost I wasn’t losing my balls anymore, I was losing HIS! When we dropped off Islay Campbell (he lives two blocks away from the Ross Compound), I bid him farewell hoping to see him and Margaret in Seattle soon.

Tonight dinner will be Loch Fyne smoked salmon as a starter followed by roast lamb for the traditional Sunday roast meal. I have opened a 2003 Matthews Cellars Claret to breathe for the meal tonight. Matthews Cellars is a Woodinville Winery now owned by one of Ann’s “little garden club friends”, Dawn Rubstello and her husband, Jim. I hope it stands up to Alistair’s expectations. We will see.

Tomorrow we take the 9:45am ferry from Port Ellen back to the mainland so Ann is washing and packing.