4 Season’s in one day to-day (Tuesday), west, east, north, south wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow, glorious sunshine, now flat calm and a sunset, what strange weather. As I start to write this it has gone very calm and quiet.

Just looked out the window and the last ewe, no 10 is in the process of having its lamb. It is last light around 9pm, there is not a lot we can do but wait and see!!

Last Weeks But Much The Same

This was last week but it is much the same tonight with two yachts rafted up on the East side of the Bay. They came in late that is three so far this week. Yesterday’s yacht, a charter from Skye Yachts was crewed by some Swiss guys, it arrived in snow. But they were happy to get a shower and sample some of our whisky.

RedBay

We had a visit from a very fancy RIB too that day, I found out later is was Red Bay Ribs from Ireland’s owner. That was Monday, quite a change from the previous week where every day was wall to wall sunshine. The Archaeology parties annual week went well with good weather enabling them to cover a lot of ground.

The Archaeology Party

They all went home with suntans and new discoveries.

Archaeologist have T Breaks too

Through the window we could see them enjoying the sun at their lunch, it did not take the hens long to smell crumbs.

Still Performing

Of course it is all about the sheep just now and the lambing has been the best, not enough ewe lambs but that is the way it goes.

The Spring Work Continues

There are lots of ‘wee’ jobs to do and with the sunny weather it was good to crack on, with L’s brother and his friend Brendon here it was good to get a couple of extra hands to muck in. The sheep had been jumping in and out of our herb garden.

Dry At Last

During the winter the gate entrances turn to porridge and it was great to get this one done, I often sank up to my knees in it. Just a one more to do.

Fencing Delivery

Mid week we got a fencing delivery on a flat calm sunny day, we also needed fuel with the landing craft being a bit later this year we are running short, so Kevin came to pick up the cans for some kerosene.

Poly Tunnel Tidy up

With it drying up fast we decided to tidy up around the poly tunnel and drain it. The years of growth around it had choked everything so with a view to leaving it open this year it will be good to have it properly drained.

Every Night a Feast

Every night the meals were pretty good and it was Tapas/seafood Thursday night, it did not last long. Brendon remarked that ‘you guys certainly eat well here’!!!!!!

Late Night Arrival

Friday night the fuel arrived but too late to unload, the forecast was not too bad for Saturday but with no one coming out it was a good chance to get a load over.

Kevin With The Whisky Table

I went down to the pontoon to arrange the mornings unloading and was offered a dram, not having been known to refuse we had a good crack around the saloon table for half an hour, Kevin on the water!!

Fuel At Last

Saturday morning it was an early start and with the fuel to unload and three trips from Dry Harbour with the archaeologists luggage it promised to be busy. The weather had broken and it was very cold with a North West wind building. The sea looked pretty rough but the report was that it was a stable sailing.

A Quiet Saturday

I got on with unloading the fuel and it was calm enough in the bay to get the MV Boat alongside the new pier and the fuel lifted off.

Getting The Feet Up

Sunday we tried to finish early and eventually got up to the cabin for a few hours r&r. The film on Sunday night was ‘Maleficient’. Basically Sleeping Beauty but worth a watch.

Gardening

Back to the list last Monday and the herb boxes over at the cottages needed a wee lift, a generous amount of mulch/compost brought over Friday night and fertiliser was applied and fingers crossed the deer don’t eat the results.

Escapee

The weather contrast this week is chalk and cheese, one minute freezing next blue skies, warm sun. The lambs are good at getting into trouble and this one regularly finds a way through the fence only to start bawling for its mother.

Snow Showers

Nothing more miserable than wet snow and with no 10 still to lamb we were keeping a close watch.

And on the Other Side

Over to the other side after I took the last picture and this is the contrast, even in a small area it can be so different .

After the Rain

Yesterday, Tuesday it was much the same and with the sheep trashing the grass in front of the house the pressure is on to get the fence up. I put in 5 strainers by hand yesterday, not my most favourite job and there is always one stone in the hole trying to defeat you. There it is to the left. I took this picture just after the snow shower and had not noticed the lens was soaked.

One of the strainers I put in was on the new sheep fence heading over to the sea end at the shore just North of here. When I arrived I was delighted to see the first Great Northern Diver very close in by the shore. A beautiful bird but I don’t think they nest on Rona, the only  fresh water loch has little or no fish in it must read the bird book!

5 Strainer Posts Later

It dried up though and ended up a good evening with a reasonable sunset. Two yachts came in late and rafted up across the bay, could have been a school trip. The crews looked pretty young.

Just as we were going to bed no 10 ewe started lambing, there was not a lot we could do at that time and of course at 2 or 3 am in the morning the rain started hammering down. At 5am it was light enough to see, so as I was not sleeping I got up, dressed and went round the sheep. It was great to see that no 10 was a good mother and her ‘male’ lamb was very strong, fed but very wet. I dried it off but left it to it and this morning after a night of rain it is shakily walking about following its mother. Now, in the glorious sunshine!!

That’s the last one, great.