I’m off tomorrow, I hope. Been a bit of a mission the last two days. The wind has veered North and thrown down some very high seas and strong winds. The telephone has been red hot trying to organise options. But Kevin’s boat is back up and running so fingers crossed for the morning.

It has been a busy few days since i returned from Edinburgh. L is still down South but hopes to make it up for Sunday night, then our flight on Monday.

Meanwhile the weather at the beginning of the week has been almost summery, very sunny warm in the shelter. I had hoped to take some pics’ of the leaves in Autumn but most of the most colourful are away. Here’s a couple though.

Sunny Birch

Fading Rowan

There are other browner and redder Rowan but i liked this one. The forest on Rona at the moment is quite colourful and after the very green summer we will now head into the brown stage. But as long as the sun shines its beautiful.

The rut is finished now and the stags have been hanging about, not knowing what to do. even wandering past the house on occassion.

The Blind Stag

I had loads to do, laundry, cleaning the house and preperaring for Ian and Nicky our caretakers. To add to it I had to clean the antlers for the Danish hunters and package them for posting onto Denmark.

Away and boil your heid.

Yesterday (Thursday) was fraught with phone calls about the arrangements for the changeover and guests to the cottages coming on Saturday and with the weather that spilled over into this morning. Yesterday was mad 23 – 33 mph winds, cold and high seas. This morning flat calm. So we got the relief staff to get away from inverness early as it seemed calm but always the worry it could kick off again. The Saturday guests were going to kayak over and I got a call at 8.30am, they were in Sconscer getting over to Raasay, then Arinish. ETA for them 1pm on Rona. Nicky and Ian were on their way when the weather changed from flat calm to storm in 30 minutes. They decided to press on buty i was not hopeful of them getting over. Meanwhile it was now time to package the stags antlers and skull. Three hours later with tape, cardboard, plywood and brown paper i had made a box. Ian and Nicky had arrived in Portree but found it very calm in the Portree Co-op car park, I suggested a run up to Staffin to see if it was any calmer!!!!! I then looked at the clock, it was 3 pm, no kayakers or call. The Coastguard helo’ went over so I phone Stornoway but they were on an exercise. But quickly turned round to look for my missing kayakers. They were found quickly in Fladda having been unable to get past the Ford, they were just about to call when a guy dropped out of the helo’ and asked for Sarah much to Sarah’s surprise. But all was well so no real worry, just a little excitement.

Just at the end of the day, I got a call from BBC Scotland, I thought it was the news looking for something about the kayakers but it turned out to be the presenter for ‘Out of Doors’, looking to visit Rona. It turns out one of our visitors (from old) and supporters had written a story about her favourite place, Rona of course!!! And has won a competition so we are really looking forward to that when we get back from the East.

As for I and N they were safely in the Tongadale Hotel, Portree, fingers, toes and thumbs crossed for a calm start tomorrow,. me too I’ve a plane to catch!!!

Snow Showers over The Sound