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I walked himself this morning in the pouring rain. In many ways it's good to get back to a good old Uist summer, howling gales, rain etc., less people about. I got absolutely soaked but the dog was as happy as a pig in the proverbial and his coat is so much softer after being washed by the pure Uist rain.

I passed a couple of tourists on their bicycles as I drove to where I was going to walk the dog. They were struggling against the elements and I thought at least I'll be going back to a nice warm house and a nice cup of tea.

Aren't tourists funny, some seem to be looking for a glorified theme park, picnic tables, ice cream stalls, kiss-me-quick hats etc. Others seem to expect a community preserved in aspic. I remember a couple of years ago, a letter in the Gazette from a tourist moaning about seeing abandoned cars on crofts. What an eyesore, you'd never see such a thing in towns and cities would you. But I suppose the countryside should be in pristine condition ready for the tourists, we should all be there in our traditional dress and tugging our forelocks.

I appreciate it's all about balance, we are increasingly reliant on tourism, but at the end of the day this is a living vibrant community with most of the problems that all societies face. I believe that tourists should be encouraged to come here and appreciate the uniqueness of these beautiful islands whilst also realising that we live here all the year round and face much the same issues that the rest of Britain has to deal with.

And remember, all you tourists, "Passing Place" is not Gaelic for "Parking Place", it's English for the bit in the road where you stop to have a craic with your mates.

And just when you thought this was a piece of serious social comment.....