The Applecross/Fearnamore broadband link broke down ‘again’ this week, the windmill used for charging went the same way as the first one, seized. The smaller turbines have not enjoyed much success on Rona but they should last a lot longer than these two have.

No Movement  in a Force 4

It is a pest as the community on the mainland are now enjoying BB but when it stops it is a real hassle. Especially one week before Xmas. We still have our satellite so it is less of a problem for us.

Yesterday Ali and Sean arrived in the morning with the new turbine. The weather was good so a quick dash for the repair team before the next storm sorted the problem.

Back To The Drawing Board

I had cancelled my stalking on Tuesday as I decided to go to check the turbine first thing, then the day ran away from me. So I had to go out Wednesday and as our own ferry was coming I was keen to get some venison for Xmas. As it happened I drew a blank but was back just in time for Kevin and Pam approaching the harbour.

Xmas Pressies

Unfortunately I was not around to help the repair team but they were not long, even although it was a long carry with the now defunct wind turbine.Let us hope after two breakdown it is third time lucky!!!!

The forecast was grim so we brought the ferry forward to Wednesday to get mail/venison away and to get some more bits and pieces over for Xmas and various projects. The bikes we put to Joan Corrigal who does a lot for the charity  ‘Helping Hands’ to see if she could find a Xmas home for them, we hope so. They have been in the shed for years and unused. Maybe they will find a place.

Last Week: I’ve just looked and I did not realise it was a week since the last post!! Time flies when you are trying to get things ‘finished’ before the end of the year, nothing like a deadline to get you going. After the storms it was mixed and the days have improved so we have been getting out, looking for sheep and doing a bit of wee projects here and there. The big excitement was on Saturday when the new stove for the cabin arrived.

Saturday Ferry.

It is good to get ferries on a regular basis this winter, last winter was pretty grim with wind and rain and hardly a ferry in December. But with a calm day and a good boat we can get stuff over. Mail as usual and at last our Xmas card from ‘Vistaprint’, good price and good quality. Some Seletex for the new wine store (more later) and of course the stove.

Delivered

I got it up to the cabin no problem despite its weight although small size. Next job installation.

First Real Snow

With a dusting of snow outside it was good to be inside putting the stove together. Next day it was better and a new Chinese Hat was to be fitted.

Watch that Ladder

In between times I started the wine cooler, a delivery of wine from Denmark had filled the store but with frosts coming I though, ‘Better get something sorted’ . I’d toyed with an insulated box before but never got round to it. Finally I got the stuff over on the Saturday boat and it is almost there, tomorrow’s job.

Flat Pack Wine Cool Box

Monday night we had a call from Hamish Corrigal in Portree. He had suggested the lifeboat go to Rona for an evening excercise, just as well he phoned we would have been quite surprised to get a knock on the door on a Black Dark Monday night. As it was Donnie Nic’ and his mate arrived with our lifeboat charity boxes. It was good to see them.

Night Excercises

Back to normal on a lovely Tuesday morning and up early not even first light to get the feed ready for the lambs and Julie was down like a shot.

Very First Thing

She has started bullying the lambs away from their feed.

Plan B

What I do now is put about 8 wee piles of sheep feed out so they all get a bite. Julie is unbelievable. The least rustle of a sheep feed bag and she is there!!!

Patiently Waiting

She has also taken to looking in the window if she does not get fed first thing.

With lots of wee jobs to get sorted I was up and down to the cabin a lot, checking on the internet and trying my best to instal the stove properly. Of course it started raining when I opened the roof and before you could cough it was dark but, last night (Wednesday) we fired it up (for the second time) and had a movie warmed up by the stove. Instead of the usual wrapped in blankets watching the film scene  we were sweating as the stove, with the wind outside drew well and the temperature gauge went to 29 degrees. A big difference and very cosy. Definitely the way forward.

Installed and Toast.

So that was this last week, I did get a deer Wednesday afternoon, so butchering on Saturday. Wine store tomorrow I think and waiting for Santa after that.

I’ll Leave you with the picture we used for the Xmas Card this year. Taken from the South Road on the telephoto lens, a few years ago but a real strange light.

Merry Xmas