When booking accommodation on the Scottish Island I visited a few weeks back, one of the proprietors told me:

“You know, it’s s good thing you’re coming at the beginning of the month - that way you won’t feel the force of the equinoctial storms”

Apparently, there are madly strong winds and extra forceful tides, ripping at the island’s edges, every year on or about 21 September, making travel difficult. Such storms also affect the whole UK, only I never noticed before. Were last night’s gales related to this, I wonder?

I am fascinated by the patterns of life.

I also discovered two things about myself when staying in a “restaurant with rooms” on the west side of the island, with a view to Skerryvore.

One: sometimes I get so tired and stressed that even the prospect of relaxation seems stressful. I’m not very good at relaxing - until I get into it, and then I’m a master.

Two: sitting in a small poorly-ventilated room with one of those plug-in air fresheners belting out artificial fragrance gives me a hot red rash on my cheeks and chest. Perhaps the Hebrides will be next for a ban on artificial fragrance?

As an aside to the latter point above, the air freshener was installed apparently to combat the possibility of guests smoking in the communal living room. My room was opposite the living room and I selfishly chose to decrease the odds of anyone puffing away near my bed by hiding the room’s only ashtray under the sofa, reasoning that an empty, gleaming ashtray indoors is like an invitation to a smoker. Even though smoking was technically still allowed in that room, it may not have occured because the invitation wasn’t overt.

Selfish of me, but it was my holiday too.

And speaking of holidays, we’re off again on the weekend, to a villa overlooking the windblown, sunny coasts of Morocco and Spain. I tell you what, if I was at all interested in windsurfing, this September would have been a gift, with the locations I have visited and will.