This has been the view since we came back from Barcelona.

Waiting For Summer

Depressed is not the word for it, but hey ho it will soon be summer and it could be worse (could it)!! The forecast is for a lot of the same for the next couple of weeks.

Been a busy few days fighting the cold and catching up. To-day was supposed to be stalking but the weather had other ideas and with Xmas orders for venison looming, I’ll have to get going. I am pretty well caught up with the cottages to-day but it seemed an uphill task after the gale/storm last week and of course L is now full of the cold.

Repositioning the gangway

With the sea trying to take back the boat in the storm, the second job was to take the engines off and move MV Rona even further up the beach.

All Going Well.

All was going well until the black plastic skid I was using slipped off the back bucket and came through the back window of the JCB. Two down 4 to go, that will be another plywood window I guess.

Parked for the Winter

The boat has never been so far out of the water but the surge with the storm last week  at least 1 metre above normal tide, so no chances.

Ready for Winterizing

Friday started with a promising sunrise but slowly deteriorated.

Sheep Feeding

It had been cold and a little bit of snow had fallen but all too soon the wind was back to the South again. It was a good enough day and I was thinking I should be stalking but I had to get on with the kitchen at Skyescape.

Taking Shape

Next day it was a better day again, at least it stayed dry so it was good to get on with some outside work around Rona Lodge. What a difference not to be buffeted by the wind or soaked every time you step outside, Sunday was grim though an ideal day for Xmas cards. We have plenty to do but the cost of stamps is now getting a bit mad so we have cut down. As it was I never got them all done and with no ferry looming there was no pressure. The tides continue to bring in debris and when I was over at Dry Harbour on Monday I had a wander, you never know what may turn up. There was plenty seaweed and a lot higher than normal.

Schoolhouse Beach

First thing I spotted was this piece of seaweed, it looked almost like some sort of animal part!!

What’s That

The usual ton of plastic and a tree. Julia tells a story about the MacRae’s who stayed last in Rona Lodge, the two brothers and sister who left Rona in the 40’s and went to Kyle. She told me that when she came to Rona as a child with her Father delivering mail (and stores) three times a week (better than Royal Mail can do now!!), they arrived at Rona Lodge and here was the end of a tree sticking out the door. The other end was in the fire. The brothers had found it on the shore and with no means of cutting it the only answer was to feed it into the fire. Julia says it was there for some time as it slowly burned away.

Been To Sea for a While

This piece of timber has been floating along for some time, trees like this can be dangerous for the boats and there are many tales of being caught by one. Another story I heard last week was from Kenny on the MV Raasay which services the Base up north with a delivery every Friday. He was passing last Friday and was on the phone, he told me about the Sea Eagles that frequent the gap between Raasay and Rona. They saw two of them on one of the small Islands, they had caught a seal pup and were busy devouring it, I guess it takes the pressure off our sheep and lambs!!