How missing the boat led to a grand day out.

"Hello...Alison?"...I'm sorry to say, the trip to the Bass Rock has been cancelled...."
The rest of the phone message became a blur in my left ear as I half listened in disbelief.
A heavy sea swell was forecast, which would make the tricky landing impossible onto the craggy face of the Bass Rock. So, that was it; nothing to do for a whole day and that's far too long to sit and mope!

I was staying in the ancient fortress town of Dunbar and quickly discovered that the present day life of the town is still firmly anchored in its colourful past, with Black Agnes featuring large in everyone's mind.

It was in March this year that the newly built St Ayles rowing skiff, "Black Agnes" was launched in Dunbar, under the watchful eye perhaps of her 14th Century namesake standing on the still defiant remains of Dunbar castle.

Well, it's an ill wind blaws naebody gude, and if the Bass Rock trip hadn't been cancelled, I would have missed the spectacle of Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club's Regatta.

The sleek St Ayles skiffs, all immaculate and lovingly built by townspeople around the Scottish coast, had gathered and were manoeuvring into position. At the sound of the starting canon and yells from the coxes of "Row!" the teams pulled the little boats into the waves and battle commenced.

Jostling for the lead and negotiating tight turns around Scart Rock and marker buoys, the teams rowed the nimble boats round the course and headed for home in a nail biting finish.

I'm hooked!
Such excitement, and such a wonderful atmosphere.

I was told that one of the skiffs will be taking part in the Great River Race in London on 15th September.

I'll be there, and you'll hear me cheering her on!

                                                                 To Boldly Row
                                  The Dunbar team in Black Agnes head out of the harbour

                                                             Skiffing Over the Water
                                                    The Queensferry team in Ferry Lass

Monday 20th August 2012

"Alison Ashton?"
I cringed, sinking for a moment behind my magazine, which might have been upside down for all the attention I'd paid it.
There was no denying the fact, I am indeed Alison Ashton and it was my turn to be escorted up the narrow staircase to the gaping chair.

I dutifully donned the blue plastic visa and awaited my fate.

"Open wide"

I just about managed to prize my clenched teeth apart before some shiny metallic instrument was employed to do the job for me.
Oh well, over to you now, Mr Dentist. I give up, give in and give myself over to you. I'll pick up my gleeming smile on the way out.

But what was all the terror about?

The worst was already over by the time I'd been strapped in by cheery words and anaesthetised by Barry Manilow in the corner.
Gradually, I began to peep out from my murky blue world, and came face to face with a quizical little alien creature, hovering inches from my frozen mouth.

My laugh came out more like a gurgled choke, the dentist apologised, "Painful?"

"Uhuh"
How do you say "Oh no, it's absolutely fine - I've just met a charming little alien who looks like Batteries Not Included", when your mouth's full of someone else's fist?

His sticky out ears and gently drooping eyelids gave him a delightfully innocent appearance and through his gappy little teeth shone a bright starburst of light.

"Nearly done!"
What, already?

And then came the hightlight of the show.
Mr Dentist could have been playing out some fantasy of being Luke Skywalker when an exquisite fibre optic of sapphire light beamed into my smile.

The flitting light, like Tinkerbell on a Christmas stage, danced briefly and was gone too soon.
Such beauty, such fun, and all before lunch... if I could ever find my tongue again.

 

 

Dentist's Little Helper

 

                                                           To Boldly Go....to the dentist