Friday 02/09/05

Over breakfast I advise the Canadians on a walk they ca'n do in Harris and one in Skye. It's a nixe sunny day today. Forgot to mention that I found some ripe blackberries in the Castle Grounds yesterday. Last year, I didn't find them until early October. Also forgot to mention that I met up with my friend Sally from Balallan. Her daughter, aged 16, has had to leave Lewis because of bullying at school. The bullying was both verbal and physical, and was also directed at her mother. This had been going on for the two and a half years that they have been living in the island. Although she could have gone to the secondary school in Tarbert, this was not possible because the local council was not prepared to foot the taxi bill for the 40 mile roundtrip. The girl now lives with her grandparents in Derbyshire, as Sally cannot afford to move there herself. The secondary school in Stornoway has a bad reputation in dealing with bullying, as it appears to be tolerated by teaching staff. In recent years, there was one suicide as a result of bullying.

Went into the library after lunch, but could not complete the 60 minute timeslot you are entitled to.

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