TOWIE, we will come to that but at the moment, Saturday Night 8.30pm, it is a full gale and pouring down. Thank goodness I’m not on a camping holiday (like some we know). This is the view tonight from our window, a lone yacht arrived in the teeth of the gale, Mad or what!! Faffed about and now anchored right at the mouth of the harbour in he full wind, looks like he has a good anchor.

Trying to Lay The Anchor, Force 7

Again been a full week with lots of visitors, got this pic’ from Stuart our kayak visitors from last week, reminded us of the legend of the building, Janet MacKenzie burning a light from the window as a navigation mark, way back in the 1840’s!

Heather, The Lady With The Lamp

Back to work, Monday and started to paint the cabin, unfortunately ran out of paint but am on the case, have received the cresote but not the decking stain, maybe tomorrow.

Ran Out Of Paint

It was a good working day especially when you know that you are going out to dinner. Mike and Lorraine invited us over to their cottage but ran out of room for 6 for dinner once they had asked Jo and Derrick (from Escape) to tea. So we invited ourselves to Escape instead of Seascape and enjoyed a few surprises. First off was Derick’s find of a chewed leg (birds) on the shore, but with a ring. The rings info’ will be found at the British Natural History Museum near where Derrick’s daughter works, we await the result

Found But Not Identified, Yet!

Then it was Beef Wellington, with a Rona Pastry twist, excellent. A fabulous meal to start the week in good company.

Scary, bewildered?

After a long night it was an early start stalking with Derrick, 7am, we headed out, rain clouds were over the mainland but fortunately it stayed dry all day.

Rain Clouds Over Shieldaig

Finally at 8pm that night after spying lots of hinds and followers we had a good stalk and a result. On asking Derrick, now retired what he did pre-retirement I was a wee bit surprised to hear he was a hairdresser, with his business in Essex! Now this is a first I thought. Lying about in the heather with a hairdresser!!!! But I have to say he was a very good guest stalker and hairdresser or not,  a very good hunter.

The Stalker

The skies that night were amazing but no time to catch the sunset when you  are dealing with a stag.  Next day it was off to Portree for stores.

Leaving The Rain Behind

After the usual whirlwind trip I returned to Rona loaded. up.

Loaded to the Gunnels

It was late and busy with yachts so the stuff stayed aboard and it would wait for the tide next day. We had invited our Dry Harbour Guests to tea on Thursday so some prep’ kept us busy that night. Next day much the same in the morning but as the weather had turned and it was grim it was a good day to catch up with housework. Later on at 6pm prompt the very wet guests arrived for dinner.

Drookit

Straight up to the cabin for the de-brief and the Pimms were produced by Mike complete with the croquet set, but with a gale and pouring rain it was decided to give the croquet a miss.

Summer Pimms and Croquet

In between the showers and we started the meal, the usual suspects, Cullen Skink, Squatties, steak and chantrelles finished with an Summer Pudding.

Fillet Steak, Chantrelles, Cream Sauce

All followed by chocolate and beetroot brownie, coffee then too many drams. The guests staggered out into the night around 10.30pm and made their way slowly home. No casualties and next day the report was a good night and enjoyable stagger home.

Rona Summer Pud’

Of course next day it was glorious sunshine and the boat was still to empty, that out of the way. I delivered the timber for the new path east of Rona Lodge and am looking to make a start on that next week.

Delivering the Order

Nothing for it but to study the forecast and disappointment set in when we saw the Saturday morning weather. Very poor with gales, rain and grey overcast. Not a good day for a changeover and over at Dry Harbour the vista was fantastic with shafts of light over Trotternish making for the perfect picture. I was annoyed I didn’t take my Nikon camera which is more suited to the picture below, but you’ll get the idea.

Trotternish

Three hours later the weather arrived and in the middle of the night it was nuts, howling. With two boats in the bay I was not surprised to hear that at 5am one of them dragged and the sailors had to attend. First thing it was a call to Kevin but as we new it was a no go, the first this year, which is not too bad.

Mike and Lorraine were not too upset to be told the news that they had to stay another day.

Stormbound on A Saturday!!!