I’m not trying to be boring BUT it is still raining. After a couple of days of sun (and near sun blindness) it is back to normal. It has rained since last Wednesday, not too heavy to start with but it was just gathering momentum. In the short ‘dry’ days last week we got some more outside work done.

Phase Two of The Shed

I made a start on the shed, side two and also got the gangway/pontoon sorted out for Kevin coming with stuff on Wednesday.

More Stuff

With our post, food  and timber for the decking at Dry Harbour they had a load but they also had two passengers. Rohan and his partner have a half share in Kevin and Pam’s old Yacht, Providence. They were keen to meet PnK. They drove over to Portree for the day and sailed out to Rona with them. Providence is sitting in a harbour in Ecuador on a passage around the world. Providence Blog is worth a look. They mucked in and we got a lot of goodies over on a calm spell, it rained though.

The Smash

Unfortunately we have not been able to get off much this winter and I have so many things to get on the mainland, one main thing is a set of new tyres for the quad, they are bald, and if you forget to leave the sheep feed and gas down below there is absolutely no chance of getting up the hill with a load of timber. So the good day was brought to an abrupt halt as the quad stopped, then slid backwards with no grip to stop me. I tried a rope on the JCB but that did not work. It snapped, L was less than impressed sitting on the quad hoping to steer it out. So no option but to  empty the trailer and head downhill. That solved the problem.  As the day was slipping away I finally got down to the bunkhouse and put the new chimney together. We have been weeks at this, waiting for bits to come (and go). With visitors on the horizon there is a bit of pressure on us now.

Recycled Stove

Friday 14th was a very poor day, a day for the shed. With April approaching it was time to get the final servicing carried out on the outboards. One we did just before the end of the season, the other had a cursory look over in November. Everything was going very well until I found the choke on number two carburetor was seized. No amount of persuasion was helping so I remembered from our motorbike racing days that boiling the aluminium will release, or at least help to release seized metal. I got a pot on and 15 minutes later I had the choke free. BUT just as I was twisting it out the end of the shaft snapped. My working at it had obviously weakened it and there we were with a now useless carb’.

The Offending Carburetor

Never mind, a call to Caley Marina and storesman Matt was on the case.

Saturday we headed over to Skyescape, we have been trying for weeks to get this project finished. Now, finally the end is nigh. Everything going to plan and I was putting up a blind and there they were. The 18 sheep from Big Harbour had gone walk about, ending up in Skyescape’s garden. It is as if they know that you are away and we are not there to stop them. So, the rodeo started but we took advantage of them being trapped and before I took them back in the trailer I dosed them with Bravoxin. A job I had earmarked for next week.

Escapees

Unfortunately with the rain and wet ground the garden which was looking pretty good very soon turned to mud, especially where we were holding the sheep. To-day it is slightly better with the rain washing a lot of it away. Sunday was a bit of a write off, it was one of the dullest most depressing days of winter and a real struggle to get going. We did a bit, mostly in the house but a visit to Dry Harbour to put on a coat of paint on the floor and then up to the cabin for the Sunday matinee. This week it was a Jason Bourne film, we must have watched the Bourne films many times but you never tire of them. now on the bigger screen even better.

The Credits, time for home.

We were having an issue with the volume in the new projector but I hooked up an old radio with an Aux connection. I always wondered what that was for. Next day more rain, more Dry Harbour. This time finishing the blinds and paint.

Multi Coloured Frontage

It was nice to see the blinds up and adding a bit of colour to a grey scene. I am looking forward to taking another picture of the front on a sunny day!!

That was Monday and although not as wet as Sunday it was another day of grabbing chances to get about in a dry spell. It seems every time I set my foot outside the heavens open and when I’m sitting here, it is dry!!!!

The ground is very slippery, I was crossing the garden with the mop bucket and went onto the slightest slope, down I went landing on top of the mop bucket which is now in the bin. That was about the third ‘header’ of the day! It is like walking on grease out here just now. Without a grip on your sole it is very dangerous.

This morning I was heading up to the shed. BBC promised rain but low and behold it was dry, so a few hours were grabbed fitting the boards to the shed at the house. Then just before lunch my old friend the rain arrived back.

Grabbing an hour

No worries, we were heading over to Skyescape for the final push, our guests arrive Saturday, weather permitting. So pressure is really on and we found the settee!!

The Settee is in Place

It is looking good, very fresh and hopefully it will all work next week.

Must go over to DH for L, it is just about to start raining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!