Para Handy Sails Again

Hilda Davis

My husband D and I had been farming for some years on a croft at Glendale on the Isle of Skye. We had D's parents and my mother living with us. They were happy years with the old folk. It was hard but very satisfying. After the loss of the last of the three 'oldies' my husband came to Orkney to find a new farm for us.

By now we had fifty young cattle on the croft and they had to be moved along with the hay, the cattle feed, implements, van, cattle trailer, furniture, household goods, ourselves and the dog Fly. D. phoned for quotations for moving everything by land and ferries but exorbitant prices were asked. Then out of the blue we got a call from an Orkney boat owner who asked a price that was acceptable. A date was fixed and we sorted and packed as much as possible. ... (continues)