Leaving Sol, Carrying Scotland with Us.

We haven’t got the excitement of journeying home on a Starfleet vessel, unfortunately. We have to make do with a transport ship, just as we originally planned.

This morning, we watched through the windows of the aft lounge as Earth grew smaller and smaller. We left the Sol sector at full impulse before jumping to warp once we were clear of the system.

After lunch, we returned to our cabin and looked through all the pictures from our honeymoon. We’ve had such a wonderful time, and we will definitely be going back.

I’ve brought a few gifts for certain people,  namely James, Jean, and our esteemed Governor, Maura, who, incidentally, was the hardest person to find a suitable gift for.

Thankfully, Ranih reminded me of Maura’s love of wildlife, and we managed to find a handmade quilt with hand‑sewn images of Scottish animals. It’s really quite beautiful.

James and Jean both love their whisky, regardless of where it’s made, with the possible exception of Aldebaran whisky, which tends to give them both, as they put it, “a beast of a hangover.”

So I’ve brought back two bottles: one from the Isle of Skye and the other from the Isle of Harris. I sampled both while we were there, and I hope to share them with James and Jean in the back garden on a fine evening.

The McKinnons, the owners of the cottage, gave us a gift to thank us for staying with them: a beautiful sterling‑silver quaich that’s just over a hundred years old.

A quaich is a traditional shallow, two‑handled Scottish drinking cup or bowl. Its name comes from the Gaelic word cuach, meaning “cup.” Historically, it’s used to welcome guests or share a dram of whisky, symbolising hospitality, trust, and friendship.

“Maybe that’s the best part of going away for a vacation — coming home again.”  

— Madeleine L’Engle