He's A Devil.

 Today we moved from Scourie to Loch Assynt where George found a nice parking place by a nature reserve. After we'd got things set up we had a cup of tea and it was during this time that I found out when I would be leaving them. George asked for Irene's phone number as he wanted to try and arrange for her to meet us somewhere around Edinburgh so that she could pick me up on Friday evening. I gave it to him and finished my drink and said I was going for a little walk down the trail, I didn't want to hear him make the call.

As it turned out he needed to call home first to speak to someone about a contract so I had time to get my boots on and while doing that Jan asked if she could join me.

"Yes of course," I replied.

So we left George to his calls and set off down the path, which was of properly laid gravel.

"It's a shame George has to be dealing with work stuff when he's on holiday, is there no one else to see to things while you are away?" I said to Jan.

"Well, to his credit, not in this instance but he's a bit of a devil with work. We have a full time guy work for us doing the day to day stuff. There's also this other young guy who does some of the contract work but he's not very reliable and in summer we have a couple of students to help with the harvest. But George will often send them home and then end up working half the night doing it himself. There are times when I only get to see him for a couple of hours a day" said Jan.

I was a little surprised by this, I imagined him to be like a gentleman farmer type person driving around in his Range Rover and what have you. I didn't say this to Jan. I replied to her by saying that I like George.

"He's very fond of you too dear, and I love to see you two snuggled up on an evening, fair warms my cockles it does. I reckon if we hadn't crossed paths we would be on our way home by now, he was getting so as he had had enough holiday, you've given him something else to think about."

"So, I haven't spoilt your holiday then?" I asked.

"No, not at all, as I say we would have been half way home by now if it wasn't for you". She replied.

We'd reached a small loch by now and there was small wooden shelter with a seat and an open front to it so we took a sit down out of the breeze and enjoyed the warm sun on us. I decided to snuggle up to Jan like I do George at night.

"What's this then, you're not about to burst in to tears or something are you?"

I laughed, "no, not this time. I don't get chance in the van and it doesn't seem right that George gets all the cuddles".

On returning to the van George announced that he had booked a couple of rooms at The Allanton Inn near Eyemouth where Irene was going to join us on Friday evening, have dinner with  us and stay the night. He thought it would be a gentle way of parting company as I would be able to spend the night with us all together and then travel with Irene in the morning.

I'm not going to say anything more.