That was what I was going to call the blog last Sunday. When I planned to write it at home. We have been battling against the winter weather more this year than ever before. Every time we have a plan to get off Rona and do something (like a wedding) the weather has other ideas. We have cancelled appointments left right and centre with doctors and dentists and after 6 months we really needed to get off yesterday to catch up. However, on Saturday with everything looking fine on the computer for weather the following week we were quite relaxed. Only when Kevin when the MV Aspire arrived, mentioned that there might be a problem did we realise how much of a problem we really had. Yet another very low pressure was building and heading our way. No word of it at 7am last Saturday but by the time the weather man on X C Weather had updated it the whole picture had changed. Decisions had to be made and Saturday turned into a whirlwind as we tried to complete jobs and get organised for MV Aspire to come back Saturday night to collect us. The future a weeks holiday dodging about the North of Scotland, we would have been happier going for a week to the South of France but it was better to make the decision and get these appointments up to date.

Before we left I had the new sheep fank almost finished so here we were on Saturday afternoon (running out of time) knocking in posts ‘Rona’ style.

Saves the Muscles

The sheep on the other hand took advantage of the gate being left open and went straight into the garden to cut the grass.

Organic Motors

The weather all week had been up and down, we had two big yachts in for four days, they were going to leave Sunday but thought the better of it as it turned nasty, but it turned even nastier as last week progressed.

Frank and His Pal

When I took this photo it was very bright and sunny but the cold showers were not far away. The grass is growing at last but ever so slowly. The geese of course have turned up and are ‘helping’ themselves to the sheep’s feed. We did scare them off but then they turned up with their goslings, so we are giving them a chance.

On The Run.

The gander we try to keep away and they are keeping the grass down at the holiday cottages, but they do leave quite a mess.

Having A Look Late in The Evening.

They come in low over the sea to land but got quite a surprise hen I popped up from behind the hill in front of the house. Apart from that, last week was good for getting up to date and the lack of visitors meant interruption free days. We got on with a lot of ‘wee’ jobs. A new shelf for the lobster pots, wedding presents, a bit of painting, new cold frame. It all adds up to make the job busy and interesting.

The New Shelf

The Cold Frame

I wonder if it is blown away with the gales, I did not get time to load it up with trays!!

Wedding Presents.

We are also going to a wedding in Applecross this Saturday coming, Kenny and Linda’s daughter Iona is getting married to Gordon and we are looking forward very much to the day.

Back to this week, with an enforced holiday, nothing for it but to get onto Booking.com and see what was available. The better weather was in the East so we headed for Aberdeen, once again a great choice. Thainstone Gouse, a Crerar Hotel, great Hotel, staff, facilities, food and price, we’ll be back. Sitting outside in the hot tub at 7am, blue skies, quite surreal. But hey ho, good for the soul.

Thainstone House.

So it is not all bad or frustrating and good to get away before the visitor season gets really underway, supposing the weather ever improves.

Very Quirky Hotel

As I say it is not all bad.

A Different World

The weather was good, cold but dry. Aberdeen was a bit tired but we did find a genius who is fixing the old MacBook. Also quite a contrast between the East and West, driving into Aberdeen we saw that the farmers had already had a first cut of silage and in the West some are still feeding the stock. It is certainly a difficult year in the West Coast for weather, farmers and crofters.

On the way back to Inverness we visited  the home town, Buckie to at last see the Buckie Fishing Heritage Museum, a must if you are interested in fishing boats and to chat with the retired fishermen who man the exhibition.

Roll on the summer.