After the party the weather turned sour which was not so good, especially with three very active grandchildren running riot in the house. But we managed to entertain and after three nights in and outside. On Friday morning it was time for them to leave on the ferry that was taking our next cottage/Lodge guests.

Yet again another poor crossing with a big swell and stiff breeze, but MV Seaflower handled it well and on the way back no problem. Probably the worst ferry sailing in MV Seaflower’s time here during the festive season.

Back to work and first thing was to get on with the hind cull, keeping our herd in order and stocking up the freezers for the Spring period when we stick top traditional seasons and we do not shoot deer when they are at their weakest.

It was an early morning start after the kids left, no bad thing, out to the outrun but the deer did not pl;ay ball. For sure I saw them but they were not the ‘right’ deer.

Too many deer are shot on sight nowadays with absolutely no selection taking place. On that I wonder what the effect will be on the Red Deer, in the social make up of the deer hefted to one given area. I suspect lots of orphaned calves, if they survive will be of poor quality without a mother to guide them. Or no deer at all in the forest which will give the so called conservationists the excuse to go and buy cattle/horses/beavers etc to replicate the Deers inpact and turn our country into the zoo that they so desire.

So the work goes on. The boat was desperately needing attention, the tide was right, the weather good so we got it out and cleaned the bottom, changed the oils in both engine and gearboxes. Then late in the evening on the 30th December it floated and we put it back on the pontoon. One more job ticked off before the end of the year.

Roll on Hogmany.