I really cannot believe the Tanera Mor retreat has come and gone.  It just seemed to whiz by.  Last Sunday morning found Mungo and I heading towards a new (for us) pier to meet The Patricia which was to ferry our small group across to Tanera Mor.

[caption id="attachment_7788" align="aligncenter" width="600"]DSC_0515-1_v1 Photo courtesy Louise Mayor[/caption]

The pier that we've been using for the past few years has, sadly, been condemned by the council, but on the plus side it meant a slightly longer voyage on The Patricia.

Here is the group of us before leaving the mainland.  Some of us knew each other, but some were strangers.  For some it had been a last minute, impulsive decision to come on the retreat.  Little did we know that it would be the last time we would need our rain jackets for the week.

[caption id="attachment_7787" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Photo courtesy Louise Mayor Photo courtesy Louise Mayor[/caption]

Once Tim and Holly had expertly carted all our things up to the top of the hill where Schoolhouse and Farmhouse were situated, we were all able to settle in and, in some cases, get to know each other, and in other cases, renew old acquaintances.

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August had not been the best, weather wise, in the Highlands, and the past 3 retreats on Tanera Mor have been, shall we say, a trifle damp!  But this year we really were treated to Highland weather at its best.  Breakfast outside, knitting outside, and a fair amount of walking.  We really were spoilt.

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The heather was looking glorious this year.  We seemed to just catch it at its best, and it made a lovely backdrop for finished knitted items drying in the fresh air:

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And it wasn't only knitting that was done.  There was also pastel drawing:

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Wildlife spotting:

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Walking:

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More walking:

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Beaches to find

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and explore:

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Moonshine to admire:

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and a LOT of colour inspiration:

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Fresh bread to be eaten:

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More wildlife spotting:

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oh, and the heather ........ it really was glorious:

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Did I mention the brambles?  I can highly recommend fresh brambles on plain yoghurt for breakfast:

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By the end of the week we were no longer strangers.  It was a grand week!  Thank you to all of you who came and made it into such a special event.  I think it is an exceptionally brave thing to cast yourself off onto an island with people you don't know.  You all coped admirably living in such close quarters with people you don't know.  And thanks, too, to Tim and Holly for feeding us so well, and to Lizzie and Richard for their hospitality again.

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PS I think I may have been the only person not to complete something on the island!  Started one or two things though.