To-day it is lashing rain and blowing a gale. The first real stormy day on Rona this summer. I’m housebound (mostly) I twisted my knee in the larder skinning a stag. I could understand it if I had done it on the hill but this was just standing round the skinning bench. What a pest, but it has got me doing paperwork and long overdue emails. Even as the day draws to a close (work wise) I’m still not ahead with the dreaded paperwork.

Back to events this month.

Actually starting last month, I see I posted whales and deer last, so here is the story from July (sometime)!

Great weather, it has been the calmest summer for a long time (not to-day). The chicks came on well despite the attacks by predators. Some survived, most have left only a couple of hungry, very big seagull chicks sitting by the shore, whinging.

We had a glorious calm Sunday a couple of weeks back and decided to visit Shieldaig, it was a good run out and back, it is not much further than Portree but we only went to Ardheslaig. Kenny picked us up treated us to breakfast and gave us a pile of boxes for our venison orders, back home we went. Well fed and enjoying a very relaxing day. Called into the Base for a mooch on the way back, nothing to see here.

Another trip, another purpose. Shopping this time but trying to sell venison and dumping the old freezer, reluctantly, also collecting or being there to take delivery of a new freezer. Delivering on the high seas another box of Rona venison for Raasay and a wee visit to one of the forests we have on Skye to wind up the Camper vans. Who have an unofficial campsite in the entrance. We arrived paced the place out, for a joke I said I was here to collect, then a guy fell out of his camper and produced his wallet, only joking pal!!

Back to Base and the Venison sales were good, we had to re-stock and go out and add another two stags to our cull. Angus and John, Yacht friends were here so we enlisted them to help retrieve the two stags we shot that day. All went well and fortunately or unfortunately there was big demand on our product, we sold most of it pretty quickly. Must get another freezer.

Our new (old) boat has been lying out of the water since September last. Just no time to do anything with it but turn the engineover now and again. But it floated, then ran and now up for sale. A wee dram to celebrate once John MacInnes on Yacht Shivinish cast his eye over it.

The wildlife this year has been quite incredible, the type of summer it has been has meant so much growth, so much sea life, birds, dragonflies, just everything. It has been a long time coming but those that promote doom and gloom in nature should open their eyes, this year has been a bumper year.

Yet another trip into Portree, this time loads of parcels, more venison for Raasay House, great morning rainbow with a huge swell in the Sound. Low tide and the Big Wave at Greinisgeir was showing off. Very impressive.

At last we put the creels out and had a good first fishing, the mail never disappoints with Mark sending a target. Trying to tell me something. The harbour has been so calm that it is a bit of a shock to have such poor weather today. It is still awful.

Lorraine’s birthday last week so a trip off, first stop Donnie’s tablet shed. Had a tea, took in the views and then battled with tourists to Kinloch for lunch. Was a really lovely lunch on a beautiful day. Then onto Shieldaig for a couple of days. Walking on the beach, having a drive around then more food in Shieldaig Hotel. Which was equally as good. The Camper Vans were out in force with 15 to 20 in a train in Lochcarron Wednesday, Italians, just great!!!!

Came back last Thursday, again flat calm and beautiful. 2000 plus folk were coming off this boat, yuck, not for me. Nice to see plenty industry going on at Kishorn though, the boat yard doing well and the smolt farm too. I worked there a long time ago when the concrete rig was built 1976!!!!!

This weekend after a fantastic week our guests were sorry to leave, no wonder with the weeks weather they had. I wonder what they would make of to-day. The air was so clear and views crisp last week, sunsets galore. In the mail our new freezer, at last frozen venison for sale at the pier. Self Service on Rona. We took a leaf out of Donnie’s book.