主播大秀

One of my favourite visitors has just left. I have quite a lot of favourite visitors but he would qualify as one of my favourite favourites! Normally he drives a Porsche (I have ambitions in this direction, I feel I can offset the carbon footprint by declaring to be a terminal generation ie no kids) but this time he had a hired nondescript silver hatchback thing, so I didn't recognise him off the boat. But you can't miss the enthusiasm for long.
Once upon a time in the twenties (I think) someone did a survey of Coll's trees (they had more time then). My favourite visitor has a copy of the survey and has visited them all, and marked them on a map. I think that would be a really special kind of treasure hunt; to go and visit all the natural oaks on Coll (I think there are less than a dozen, planted trees don't count). Anyway, we had a discussion about the increase in mountain ash trees near us, as they seem to be heading west against the prevailing wind.
One day I happened to be not quite managing to pass the pub (Do not pass the pub, do not collect 拢200) when I saw him in a greater than usual state of excitement. He had been surveying a grid square on the OS map of Coll (actually a half square near the Meall) and had made two significant discoveries. He had found some Marsh Hawkweed. This looks a bit like a dandelion flower, but grows to about two feet tall, has narrow green leaves up the stem, and tends to grow in wet gorges. It should be right at home on Coll, but this may be the first time it has been seen here. The other discovery was even more significant: Chickweed Wintergreen (Trientalis Europaea). This is common on the mainland, but hasn't been seen on any of the islands before. It hides under bracken, and has finished flowering now, but the leaves were quite distinctive, an untidy whorl of bright green smooth leaves. The flower would have been white. It is actually related to the primrose family (I couldn't see much resemblance). We celebrated with a pint.
And that is why I like Coll so much. There is time to be friends with people who come once a year and to share in their enthusiasm and have some rub off. And because we have so many regular visitors our joy in the place must rub off on them too.


PS the airport solved the kids and planes problem by not bringing any of them home. School has finished for the summer, perhaps they will sort something out for next term, when there will be five shiny new first years. (There have been some passengers, someone has even flown on it twice)