Looking back on October it started well after a poor September but after this sunrise it went downhill weatherwise.

Same morning same time but a different picture looking South West and so it was for the rest of the month. There was sun but nothing like the summer past, just windy and wet, yet again.

But October for us is an exciting month regardless of the weather, it is the time of the Red Deer Rut.

This fellow was early at it holding hinds up above the South path for quite a few days until he moved on. We had full cottages first week with visitors then 4 Danish stalkers the second week. Third week more Danish visitors but not hunting then a sigh of relief as the end of October came all too quickly.

Apart from the stalking and visitors life goes on. The applnet mast and box of tricks played up with one of the Switches packing in, a new one arrived. Of course it was blowing and raining when I went up to replace the part but it is ok now. We rely on it too much. The moorings needed dropping and winter buoys fitted so that they do not wear with the constant sea motion on them (plus growth). I can report that they were showing no signs of wear at all.

Swimming!!! Some call it Wild Swimming but for me it is just swimming, of course it helps to have my own private swimming pool. It is cold for sure but you soon get used to it as I was told by everyone who does it. But it is more for my old bones after days tramping the hills looking for suitable stags. I can report the cold water does indeed work.

It was not all grey doom and gloom there were odd days and hours of sunshine.

Our Danish stalking guests come every two years and love the visit to Rona. They always have a good week with much walking, talking, drinking and eating. They have been coming for several years now and enjoy the Island life for one week. We have to cull a set number of deer each year which we decide on in the spring after our deer count. Although most of our deer go towards the venison that we sell we do have to cull the remainder in October. It provides an income and we can deal with the numbers in one week. The carcasses go off to the Game Dealer (I cannot handle 7 at once).

At the end of each stalking day apart from the last one (too much whisky) I managed a swim, regardless of the weather.

The month was almost over with one week left, no guests, everyone had left and for the first time for a long time it was quiet. no Yachts, no one in the Lodge. But the work does not go quiet, time to catch up on the backlog. The TV has been losing channels all summer, with various tv receivers packing in. I think it is the dish so I fitted a new dish but since that day it has not stopped raining. So it is still waiting for a signal.

We bought a new bike and thankfully did not need it during the stalking week, it was good to have it in the garage and it will be pressed into service soon when the old one comes in for major works. In the meantime I upholstered the cut seat from the old bike, no more wet bums!!

The birds had been going mad with the berries, I even saw a hind having a mouthful. As for the wiring, with the weather continuing to be poor old jobs popped up and after three years in the new house (and an ethernet TV connection required) I decided to find out why the internet sockets were not working. It fairly taxed me but with the help of my pal Ian Bolas (over the phone) who installed the spaghetti in the first place we managed to resolve the issue, needless to say I think it was my fault.

Finally for October in this last week we have had a new visitor linger about on Rona. This woodpigeon arrived and has decided the food supply is to its liking. The chaffinches are not happy and hang about protesting when he hoovers up their breakfast. Amazing how the woodpigeon found the bird table so quickly.