This is the first day we’ve not been on a boat – I am beginning to feel I can do the ‘boat thing’ even if I know that the waters have been exceptionally calm.

Today we’ve been walking the island of St Mary’s and have sat in an Iron Age castle, seen lots more Entrance Graves from Bronze Age times and basically walked our feet off again. We have taken to walking from early morning (our holiday home has only the most basic of facilities so it’s much better to be out of there unless sleeping) through to mid afternoon, then ‘home’ for a siesta and out again in the evening. What a life!

DM and Archie are watching across the sea towards Samson and Nut Rock, the starting point for this evening’s gig racing, a local islanders speciality. The women’s race is on Wednesday evenings and the men’s race in on Fridays. These (insane) folks row out to Nut Rock, then race one another back again in tiny little rowing boats – the boats go up and down more than a tart’s knickers as they say (sorry -the oldies are always the best) – looks like hell to me, hence the insanity comment – but of course the islanders would have a pretty lousy time if they didn’t like boats so I suppose they’re all brought up in a nautical climate. Scilly is home to the World Pilot Gig Racing Championships, which are in early May and I’ll bet the event makes for a lively atmosphere here.

Four men from here are going to attempt to break the world record and row from New York to Bishop Rock next spring – more here – I think they’re bonkers but they’ve got to be applauded for attempting such a thing and it's all in a good cause so we’ll be cheering on the Scilly Boys next spring and watching their progress closely.

David looks rather dapper in that hat don’tchathink? He was eyeing up a Tilley but got the heebeegeebees over the price so bought an ‘imitation’ instead! S’funny how he’s very particular about what he carries around his 30 year old cameras in but is less discerning about what he puts on his 40+ year old head!!!!!

Archie looks like quite the sea dog to me. He’s loosened up a bit now so he’s less stiff and he’s finding he can get up and down the stairs in our ‘home’ more easily now he’s found a technique that works for him. I’m glad because he was a bit out of sorts on Tuesday.

Last year, seeds!