Saturday 15 June

A sudden death in the small communities of the Western Isles has a major impact, and the death of a 33-year old in a road traffic accident a week ago has hit Uist like a hammerblow. The funeral of Ivan Macdonald took place today; he was described as a piper, crofter and friend.

I went across to Barvas this afternoon to visit a friend, with whom I share an interest in local history. Although my visit was unannounced, I was invited to stay for dinner and in fact did not depart until nearly 11 o'clock. Before I went to the door, I took a stroll across the nearby machair lands in a cold northeasterly wind.