Sooooo long since I had a bit of time to post something, but pre-Christmas was manic here, then the dreaded cold that is doing the roundscame, then a bit of time off and now back to the grind. There has been tons to report on as usual, nothing changes it is always a full programme here!!

Let’s start with the new Christmas present to myself, the Trail camera. First day out and a Golden Eagle came to lunch.

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA

Then there was Julie getting her ‘bugs’ removed by the birdies.

Julie and her pal

The seal pups are getting very brave this year, so many and right up beside the sheds on the shore.

Sammy

Leave me alone.

Ian the joiner left for the holidays and the weather got better, a few dry sunny days typical when we closed down for the season.

Closing Down.

More on the New House Page .

The weather up until last week has been pretty good, the snow came but did not bother us too much. We had two days of white but nothing to write home about. Mostly dry which was very pleasant after the monsoon last year.

Last Months Views From Rona

Some amazing sunrises too and an odd sunset. We were out stalking early in the morning and so were the Navy.

Sub in The Inner Sound

Sub in The Inner Sound 2

Even managed a trip to Portree to get the stores and insulation, Dan was taking building material out for us and I took advantage of the calm cold day to take the extras, it was a cracking day.

Portree Sunrise

Loaded and Off

The Operation going Well

Ready for the final push.

Christmas week came upon us all to soon, not a Christmas card sent but hey ho, we’ll get round to it sometime.

Our Christmas, New Year Guests enjoying the peace.

Our guests even managed a winter paddle accompanied by the hundred and fifty seals in the bay.

Festive Paddle

Some days have been better than any we had since the 31st of July last year.

This was our Boxing Day walk

The New House the long view

A very cold day but clear for miles.

New Years Day Walk

By New Year everything was snowy which was very seasonal, lovely view even with the snow showers.

Firewood Retrieve

I had cut some timber over in the forest before Christmas and our stocks were very low so plenty jobs to do even during this time.

Catching the Tide

Job Half Finished

The sunrises over the last month have been pretty spectacular but catching them is always a rush, this one from the back door.

Winter Sunrise

Our guests reported this Porpoise or is it a Dolphin? washed up at Dry Harbour. It was pretty high so I did not hang about, the tide took it away the next day.

Washed Up at Dry Harbour

And next day our guests were off with boxes of venison after two weeks of perfect peace, food and drink, the beard now white!!

Heading Home

The Rest of The Insulation Arrives

I had a weeks stalking planned but the build and maintenance still goes on. Calum came out to help with the windmill service (long overdue), it was forecast flat calm for two days. We got our deer away on the boat and the remaining insulation, plus stores came over.

Broken Bolts

Calum and Irene were two minutes on the job when they  found two sheared bolts and loose anchor bolts. We were very lucky to have been able to catch that and repair it , given to-days storm(Georgina).

Creative Dismantling/rebuild

We did a bit of creative engineering and re-erected the turbine which is now working well.

We are on the Case and up she goes.

Both turbines have done an enormous amount of generation over the years and we cannot be too complacent with the maintenance schedule but it is luck, things can change very quickly with such a powerful machine.

In between ‘The Hind Stalking’ we had a few hours over in the forest cutting more firewood and many hands make light work, we now have quite a pile to take home. It was good to catch up on odd jobs together and Dave our stalker went off on his own walkabout on a deer count.

Calum and Irene left with Dave  a week ago last Saturday, since then the weather has been challenging, snow, rain and of course wind.

Hungry Ewes.

At this time of year the sheep are at the door by first light they are pretty fat but still hungry. Feeding hens and sheep gets me out in the morning even although the weather can be a bit daunting. But it is the time of year for inside work with short days and also good weather for butchering and with the recent hind cull the freezer is filling up.

Stocking Up.

That is the update so far in 2018. To-day’s (Wednesday 24th) storm Georgina was a beauty and the next blog will report on that.