Tony Nash, was now 18 years of age,. He was a fit active teenager and enjoyed the outdoor life. He stood on the cliff right at the edge looking eagerly at the vague shadowy outline of the island of Foy in the far distance, between bursts of spray thrown up by the howling wind. Unfortunately, it was blowing half a gale, and no boatman, would risk the hour long passage until the weather moderated. In his pocket was a letter written to Mrs. Kate Deehan on the Isle of Foy from his father. He had no idea what it said.

It had been many years since he had last visited his fathers friends family on Foy. He remembered the lovely Auntie Kate well From memory he was about seven years old. He had fond memories of the Isle, and Kate’s twin daughters. This visit was a dream coming true for him, as he had planned this unannounced visit for the past year with the help of his father. His father had at times talked about retiring to Foy but now he was a widower, and if his friend Ron had still been alive he probably would have done.

Aunt Kate had been his fathers friends wife, who he had first met at University. She had also been a close friend of his now deceased mother .

He stood there using his new binoculars looking out to see if he could get some idea of what had changed on the distant isle of Foy, since his last visit so many years ago .. He had to lean forward slightly against the wind, to be able to stay upright. The clouds rushed across the sky, with the wind carrying little flecks of rain or maybe sea water spray into his face. The light was fading, and so he reluctantly made his way back to the dingy boarding house in which he was lodging,

His father talked incessantly about his holidays on the Isle, he had first visited Foy in his teens with his friend Ron Deehan, until his marriage and a growing family put a stop to his expeditions. But his friend Ron had carried on visiting the Island and eventually married a girl called Kate. and after the twins were born, and they had finished their education gone to live on the island. They had never lost touch, and he knew that Ron and his wife had raised their twin daughters Zoe and Tammy on the island, the girls must be well into their teens by now. he reflected. .

However, he was looking forward to visiting the distant island of Foy, and to explore the island all on his own for a few days. His father had told him that Mrs. Kate Deehan his friend Rons wife still lived on Foy. Together with a widower who lived next door. The rest of the population had over the years defected to the mainland. and the comforts of modern living

Between them, the two families, his fathers friend who had passed away a year previously, and his neighbour, now a widower a Mr. Bill Patterson had continued to live on the Island . They made a living from breeding Sheep Chicken and Goats and growing their own vegetables. His father had never gone back although they had kept in touch by post, and was eager to hear from Tony about Kate and the girls and what the island was like now

The island also had a reputation as a bird sanctuary, and was very occasionally visited by ornithologists carrying out research, and once quite recently by a television crew making a documentary film.

Tony had finished school with five A levels. He was well ahead of his year, and his father had agreed to let him have a year off, and then apply to go to University. The year perhaps two, if he insisted, was to be spent doing his own thing, going and doing what he felt like doing. The only restriction, was that he was to keep in contact with his father, and tell them where he was and what he was doing. Money was no problem, and he had a bank account with ample funds for some months to come.
His older brother was married with a family. and had no interest in returning to “That bloody desolate rock“ as he termed it…

The next day the weather had moderated sufficiently for a brave, but very well rewarded boatman to attempt the crossing. .The boatman knew the island well, and he warned Tony not to stay too long, when the weather changes, we can’t get across for nearly three months at a time sometimes.”

The island had a rough but very solid serviceable jetty, and the boatman helped him ashore with his gear. Tony found a place to camp, sheltered from the wind, and not too far from the beach, and in sight of the village street, which was lined on both sides with stone built crofts to camp. It was late by the time he had settled in and darkness was falling… That night he slept soundly, awaking early in bright sunlight, to the sound of screaming gulls, and to the sight of two young blonde teenage girls, who had lit a fire in front of his tent, with a pile of driftwood, and had boiled a fanny of water, and who had obviously raided his food box, and were cooking some of his stock of bacon. They had brought some eggs with them, and some home baked bread.

Tony stuck his head out of the flap and said “Good Morning Zoe and Good Morning Tammy.” Which took the girls by surprise, as they said almost in unison ”How did you know our names?.”

Tony looked very wise and said “I am right aren’t I?