12:43:24 Today, whilst the others had gone on the boat trip to Muck, I'd planned an ambitious walk for Chie and I, to the Gruelins, and then over the Lochens.

12:48:52 The weather had seemed fair to start with. This can be gauged by the fact that Muck is clearly visible here.

13:03:32 A few spots of rain did not deter us. Here we pass the most remote house on the island.

13:03:47 Chie and the little bothy.

13:08:30 The Gruelins. Around here is a large ruined settlement. Some of the buildings still have quite a lot of the original stone walls intact.

13:13:39 Two big rocks. This is a naturally rocky part of the island anyway, and the ruined houses seem to blend in quite naturally with the original rocks.

13:15:22 Chie and a big rock.

13:18:26 More rocks, basically. However, I think the next picture probably identifies better what I was trying to take here....

13:18:35 Yep, it's a bit clearer here. I liked the way the little wall had been built between two big rocks here. There's something great about the idea of using natural and man-made constructions together like this.

13:31:16 I think judging by the visibility here, it had started to rain harder now. Still, undetered, we marched onwards.

13:31:33 Again, why is this necessary?

13:38:54 The rain had got really quite unpleasant by now. We thought perhaps we'd try and shelter until it eased up a bit... ... we were here for a fairly long time.

14:25:36 Eventually we gave up, and turned back. We managed the Gruelins at least, but the Lochens just seemed like an ordeal given the weather. To demonstrate, this is Chie, drenched to the skin.

14:25:56 Me also very wet. The rain had briefly let up, but we weren't being fooled. Sure enough, a few minutes later, it was pouring again.

14:26:12 I kind of liked the mist over the Sgurr here. Chie clings onto the one almost dry item she currently has about her person, a small towel. This brave little towel had valiantly fought to keep my camera dry during the worst of the rain.

15:10:23 Back at the Glebe. Absolutely bloody soaked.

15:11:51 Dad had been up in the lochens fishing during all the rather inclement weather. This was in fact the only fish he caught all week, a small brown trout. But you can see how pleased he was about it.

16:37:18 Chie looking a little despondent, after we'd had hot showers, put dry clothes on, and ate our packed lunch (indoors).

17:52:36 Eventually the rest of the group returned from Muck, where they'd had an equally challenging time. Martin, however, appears to have bought a jumper.

17:53:42 Could they be related...?

17:54:39 Assorted things are dried out and warmed up in front of the fire.

18:28:29 Just prior to dinner. Luke fiddles with his laptop. In total over the whole week I probably spent no more than ten minutes actively using a computer. It was blissful.

19:01:10 During dinner (tonight was Britanny if I recall correctly), Luke and Martin Jr. perform bizarre photographic experiments with two digital cameras, and a video camera.

19:01:35 A close up on that bizarre activity.

19:33:12 Folk relaxing at the end of a very nice starter.

22:03:05 After dinner, Janie, Dad, Lucy and Martin look at Luke and Martin's pictures so far.

22:18:01 Everyone else comes round to find out just how embarassed they should be.