A wee bit of good weather and we are off into the new season. The forecast this week is very good, after weeks of pretty poor weather it seems that we have a high pressure stuck over us and hopefully it will stay there. Yesterday was the best day this year, warm, blue skies and warm sunshine all day. Coming down from the cabin at ten o’clock last night and the sky was so bright and a glow to the North got us going. We got in the jeep and shot up the road.

Worth a trip up the hill

It was a fine night for the light show and it looked like it could only get better but after having a busy day we headed back home half an hour later and off to bed.

Yogi’s on the go

Monday started cold but very soon the sun was up and the day just got better. The birds were very noisy, especially the herons. Our guests over at the cottages had spotted two Sea Eagles across the bay on one of the headlands and were keeping an eye on them. Our first Kayaker  appeared on cue at the mouth of the harbour, which was no surprise and Yogi was in dropping creels.

Winter is not Away yet

But last week there was plenty snow about so winter could easily return for sure.

Snow on her back

Julie is now about 16 years old, she is surviving well, must be the sheep feed she gets, she is not the biggest of hinds.

Snow Over Torridon

The weather had been up and down this last fortnight, Brian and Gill had arrived a week ago last Saturday, in a very poor sea, nothing to the MV Aspire but a bit rock and roll for the passengers!! They were up for a break but also to help us get the pre-season work up to date which was good. We had to get the Escape cottage up and running before they got here but I got stuck with the central heating.

Nightmare

It has got to be the worst heating system for Rona or even any holiday house. The plumbing defeats me and the control, it also guzzles fuel which we don’t need here. BUT at last I got my head round it. It helps to read the manual and actually spend some time on it, however I’m still not impressed.

Yet More Fuel.

The first job when Brian arrived was to top up the Escape fuel. They were in this house for the first week to try everything out and to get some sort of holiday. Recently retired they were quite happy to take it easy on their first week.

The Twin

Another job to sort out was one of the twins had had one of its horns broken by the tup,  we think. It had been growing into its skull so a quick call to the Vet and under instruction we cut a bit off, its not pretty but better than the discomfort of the horn pressing against its face.

Underway

Brian’s week quickly got underway with a flooring job in the shed. We renovated the Lodge shed over twelve years ago and never got round to flooring it all, it always felt like work in progress.

Wine Spring Clean

Of course we had to clear the floor (and wine cellar) before we could get going , that was the biggest job. But a good job when it was grey, wet and cold outside.

Long Time in the Planning

It was a long time in the planning but with Brian’s joiner skills the job quickly got done then we moved onto next door.

The Shop

We sell our venison from the front freezer room and it has been half freezer/half storeroom forever. So we thought we would make the shed a bit dryer and warmer, separate the store from the sales but we needed a good shelf for all the goods before we could give it a paint.

Must be Spring

The girls were kept busy with the annual sign write up. We have varnished over the sign writing this year so hopefully they will last a bit longer.

Rona Removals

Last thing on Friday we were running about shifting stuff around trying to get the houses ready, this seat has been in most of the houses in its life, now upstairs in Skyescape, where I hope it will stay. It was quite an operation to get it there.

Marmalade Martini’s

All too soon Brian and Gill’s first week was over, it was Friday night, Lorraine had discovered a recipe for Marmalade Martini’s!!!! Well, that was Friday night then.

Oops!!

Saturday we had our first holiday visitors, a honeymoon couple and a couple who had been here a few years ago. The rain on Saturday was awful, with a good South west wind it was a miserable day. Easy to take the eye off the ball and miss the gap, although this is not what it seems, the wing was hanging off, the gate just gave it a helping hand.

At Last

After downing tools Saturday afternoon and watching the rugby it was Scotland’s turn on Sunday, well done them. A good end to the weekend which we followed with the film ‘The Big Lebowski’, been a while since we watched it, even better second time around.

At last The Engine Mount

Now with the jobs getting ticked off it feels good to be getting somewhere. A week of this weather and a help from Brian and Gill should see us getting through the list. Tomorrow it is the Bothy’s turn. Then Wednesday we are off to Portree and looking forward to catching up with the Architects. We would probably prefer to stay on Rona but needs must.

Been a great day