This is an ode, penned to mark a birthday of our Swiss friend Pia.

She was born on a farm in Baar, near Zurich. She is an exceptional lady!

(If you are cast up on a desert island, hope that Pia was on your life-raft!)

Pia and Stef lived in Scotland in the 1970s and have many Scottish friends.

(Stef holds two degrees from Strathclyde University.)

They are frequent visitors and almost every second year we holiday together.

Like us, they especially love our West Coast and our Islands.

This poem refers in particular holiday together, our Hebredian Tour, May, 2008.

Barra was a previously undiscovered jewel.

Primroses -million, upon million, upon million.

And white sand beaches to ourselves, apart from nosy sheep and cavorting cows.

And our own personal Collie Dog Guide, who accompanied us for the whole day!

Never to be forgotten.