Ships

Last night the moon was cocked toward the right, a bottom heavy glimmer showing, lunar segment hanging, a wide spectrum of low clouds not obstructing the stars. Slow sparkle on the water, reflections dappling the moons pathway to our door.

For the last few days, there has been a Norwegian offshore patrol boat and French  and German mine sweepers in the loch. We read their numbered identities with our telescope, all naval accompanied by low flying helicopters, passing gannet like low across the loch but in straight lines. 

Learning a little of its past, i hadn’t realised there would be so much activity in Loch Ewe or understood its strategic importance. Location, location, location not just as  entry point or refuelling at Aultbea across from us but from time to time, such as this, a convergence of nations exercising.

The daytime wakes with sparrow playtime and brings the mooing of cows in the field below. They climb through the gorse and wander near the water, drinking from a now increasingly swift burn - we’ve had the much needed rain.

The ships have left. 

Not seeing their departure makes them more mysterious, more questionable.