Woke up to-day ‘Friday’  to cloud!! After days of blue sky it was very disappointing but hey!! It’s February after all. But you do get used to it very fast, in fact it is incredible to be able to say ‘what the h*ll I’ll leave it until tomorrow’. I cannot remember in all the time here having that thought in the winter. But here we are with pots of paint waiting for tomorrow!!

Back to mid week, here’s a picture of more Sea Eagles.

Over The Red Cuillins

It was a stunning morning, the light was low, clear, warm even. Everything was so distinct.

Lazy Beds

Wherever you venture on Rona you see the impact of where 200 inhabitants a century ago scraped out an existence. It looks rough but I think 100 years ago it was a very different picture here. We think it is green now in the summer but just picture these lazy beds with corn, hard to imagine but that was the way it was. Looking from here over to Eilean Tighe, it became even more relevant to think of Julia Mackenzie’s story of living in this house, I’m sure she had seen many boats passing like this one on Wednesday and her life there would have been much greener for sure. My own thought is that the Eilean Tighe would have had more warmth about it, rather than the deserted feel it has looking at it now.

Julia’s

For sure it would be good to see smoke rising from this ruin again, for modern technology to be harnessed to enable a resourceful couple to live here, why not? I seem to remember there was a family of 11/12 lived here not that long ago. You never know.

Fladda Ford

Looking down to Fladda, sitting on top of the high point right at the South end wishing we had more residents living that close. John and Arlet who live there in the summer are good neighbours although we don’t see enough of them but they have enjoyed 40 years of summer living there, and of course just round to the left lives Paul and Barbara who are at Arinish, ‘at the end of Calum’s road’ again good neighbours. I often muse how easy it would be to see this place, the North of Raasay inhabited again. Not for the faint hearted but for other things you cannot put a price on, it is there for the taking!!!

Back to Rona! Been a bitterly cold day to-day, getting ready for tomorrows changeover, this is a novelty for me as L’s away and I have not cleaned cottages for a while but I’m full of hope and expectation for tomorrow with this weeks guests. Fingers crossed. I sorted out the bedding, entertained the visitors for a while (well those without hangovers) watched the kayaker leaving. Yes a kayaker!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I could scarcely believe my eyes, paddling into the bay, sun behind him, a kayaker. yes it is February but not unexpected, ‘Charlie’ from Inverness rocked up on his own, no partner, winter, sunny yes but bl**dy cold. He sailed past, not an acknowledgement, heading into the back gut. Now last year we had fire raisers there on kayaks so I finished my job and sauntered over to see what he was up to. You could read his body language ‘here we go, I’m going to get chased here’ But no, I was quite pleasant and passed the time of day. Seems he was enjoying the sunny day but he was finding it a bit cold so decided to stop and strike camp. Thankfully he wan’t looking to start a fire. The ground is wet but the heather on Rona is so long that a small fire out of control could be devastating for the Island. That is the first one and I’m sure he won’t be the last.

Charlie the Fit Liker

Anyway he looked like he was going round Rona, good luck to him because it was even colder this morning.

That is about it for this week been interesting with a full house and glorious sunny weather, lots happening. Sorry to have L away and her Mother is not fairing very well but that is the way it goes, more soon from Rona.

Better get off to bed, a big day tomorrow