It was the turn of DA and myself to assume the roles of Two Last Men Standing. The varnish had arrived, sitting coyly, and initially unnoticed, on the bench, so … Continue reading Day 126: Tuesday 21 August
Day 127: Wednesday 22 August
Way back, when I was a cub reporter on the Norfolk Evening Times, my editor would send me out to some village flower show with orders to produce a thousand … Continue reading Day 127: Wednesday 22 August
Days 128, 129 and 130 Sunday 26 August
As my old editor would have growled as he sent me off to some breaking news: ‘Even you, Holliday, can’t make a mess of this one.’ I think he was … Continue reading Days 128, 129 and 130 Sunday 26 August
Day 131: Monday 27 August
With just five days to go until launch day, we were straining every sinew. But boatbuilding is a tricky business. We planned to attach the footrests to the floorboards, but … Continue reading Day 131: Monday 27 August
Day 132: Tuesday 28th August
The Atlantic was in boisterous fettle outside. But inside The Noust, all was calm, as three groups worked away quietly. Ian and I were fixing footrest to floorboard. What yesterday … Continue reading Day 132: Tuesday 28th August
Day 133: Wednesday 29th August (Jacqui)
I knew coffee break was 10.45 so I turned up at 10.50 armed with fresh vegan choc cookies. I have to admit, having passed John on the road I feared the Noust … Continue reading Day 133: Wednesday 29th August (Jacqui)
Day 134: Thursday 30th August
L-day minus two. And, for the first time at The Noust it was midgy. Old Angus MacLean had told me years ago that after the first of September midges lose … Continue reading Day 134: Thursday 30th August
Day 135: Friday 31st August
It was too late to paint, too late to glue. The skiff was as ready as it was going to be. Not completely ready, but ready enough for her sea … Continue reading Day 135: Friday 31st August
Day 136: Saturday 1st September. The Ultimate Skiff Talk
I wanted to be there early, alone. An Gille-Brìghde glowed, radiating calm. In contrast, The Noust, like all good workshops, was a jumble of tools and wood scraps covered by … Continue reading Day 136: Saturday 1st September. The Ultimate Skiff Talk
Day 137: Monday 3rd September The Post-ultimate Skiff Talk: a coda
Of course the story didn’t end there. Rather, we wanted to write our own Five Men in a Boat. This was a new routine, meeting on the sands of Scarinish … Continue reading Day 137: Monday 3rd September The Post-ultimate Skiff Talk: a coda
Skiff Talk 