Roller Coasters

Saturday 13 May

Just sent Mum a postcard for Mother's Day and her and Dad's anniversary . . . although really late. Oh well--it's the thought that counts, right? Yeah.

Everyone's kinda grumpy and/or down around Cul Shuna this afternoon, although we have had some laughs about Matty trying to open a tin of chocolate pudding (Heinz makes it--can you believe it?!) with a defunct tin opener, and when we were all dancing about to Sugababes music (a pop group in the UK, and make enjoyable only by the fact that Matty gets so into it).

Last night, we on the staff went on the Iolaire (Gaelic for "eagle") on a boat trip round Iona-- loads of fun. The boat rocked fiercely as we rounded the isle's north coast and came down along the west side in the Atlantic rather than merely the sound between Iona and Mull. We squealed with delight in getting drenched with salty sea-sprays, and crashed into each otehr's arms as the natural roller coaster slammed us back and forth.

Today, after spending ages on a crossword puzzle (better with two people), Matty and I went out to dinner at Martyrs Bay (a restaurant which is also home to Iona's much-celebrated pub), and made plans for spending time on Mull on Thursday, our simultaneous day off. Church was great tonight--a Scottish song about hospitality ("Trim the crusie's failing light") and an African song called "Bambalayla", with which we had fun changing around the words as we walked to the pub. It was Aniko's brithday--she seems so happy about her job here as Mac Housekeeper in the fall. I really like her.

Matty seems okay after having an emotionally up-and-down day about his boyfriend, Luke, whom I really hope is trustworthy. Matty doesn't need betrayal right now . . . he soaks up all the love he can get, and based on what he says, he needs it.