The Internet, Where would we be without it? I’ve spent quite a bit of time going up and down to the Applenet mast trying to keep it going, with a little bit of success but a lot of grief. Power being the issue (or lack of it). After working for nine months with the windmill, solar/battery combination it all came to grief with the hurricane, lack of sun and faulty controllers. However after a lot of energy, from the two of us, we got the cable Dan delivered run out and connected.

L Plumbing The Depths

Of course that was not the end of it, there were issues mainly a wee problem with a leakage on the new cable which tripped the fuse. With the snow falling I was struggling a bit to get earths fitted but eventually got them done, still the RCD tripped. Calum’s over next week, I’ll suffer it until then, he is the engineer for this sort of thing.

Patiently Waiting

After all that I had numerous jobs to catch up on, one thing for sure you never get bored out here. The shutters for the cabin had been hanging around for weeks waiting for the hinges to come so that was the first job of the day, Thursday.

Keeping The Weather Out

Then down to the bunkhouse to replace the handle on the bunkhouse. This handle gets the most usage on Rona, every visitor(well most of the ones we don’t know) when they come off the pontoon/boats, try the door, why? Just to see what is in here. Strange thing to do because you don’t do that at your neighbours or wherever you go, or maybe you do? However after a couple of years of trying, the handle fell apart.

Just A Wee Job

After that the sun came out, the power had tripped ‘again’ at the mast, so I shot up and earthed the mast end of the new mains power cable. Nice and dry this time so no shocks to-day!!!!!

The View From The Mast

Looking To Fladda

I had been out early and late for the past few days trying to get one or two more hinds to complete the deer cull for the year, it was a bit of a struggle with the weather and the complete absence of deer. Not even many marks. Friday morning I was a bit luckier and stumbled onto a group, I managed to get one and was grateful to get that job behind me. The ground is so wet I took the trailer so that I could pick up some timber we cut (Calum cut) when Hugh was over doing the North track. I hate to waste a trip especially over the soft ground. So I got a few loads this week which makes me feel a bit better when I see the end result of a very soft track.

Busy Morning

Saturday was a full gale from the North, it was white in the morning, the sheep were beating me up looking for food, it was bitterly cold. I cannot remember a year when the fire was on more. Maybe I’m just getting older and feeling the cold more but without the fire going all day the Lodge is like a fridge. Saturday first thing I got the fires (two of them) going and the house was like toast but the firewood was running out so nothing for it but to cut some. At least the sawdust wasn’t going in my eyes, the wind was very strong.

Keeping Up The Firewood Supplies

When L came up to help she said that the polytonal was ready to take off, a big rip had appeared.

Under Pressure

Next day it was still there, the rip no bigger, who knows what will happen when the gale goes round to the South. The plastic must be 6/7 years old so long overdue a new cover. We will make a visit to Highland Polytunnels at Ardersier if they are still there, we’re fancying a new one as well as a new cover.

Sunday Stroll

Sunday it was a white start, still as cold as the wind continued out of the North. On Saturday night we had a movie ‘Dracula’ up at the cabin, very atmospheric with the gale of wind blowing the smoke back into the room!!! First thing I had to go up and air the room, despite the smoke alarm going bananas and us choking, the smoky smell was not too bad. I got that sorted and headed back to the computers for an hour, on Friday afternoon we had a disaster, the PC had packed in, a couple of weeks ago, on Friday our old Macbook finally bit the dust just as I was trying to get all the info onto the new one. Then our internet packed up, very frustrating. I think it is going to be an expensive week buying new computers. With the sun shining we decided to go for a walk up to the top of the hill.

Showers Sweeping In.

Between the showers it was a proper winters day with fantastic views out to all points. The sun was low and the Lodge really stood out late in the afternoon but the snow showers were not far away.

Showers All Round Rona