Still in April, a lot of catching up to do I see!!

Here is Tufty, a young calf cast out by her mother last year. We think her mother had no milk for her and as they do when that happens they push the calf away. I have seen what I suspect is her mother pushing her away as do the rest of the group here, but she survives. Stunted, but we will see how she gets on. I bought a bag of feed for her this winter as she has become something of a pet. Not a good idea, but there does not seem to be much growth going on. Anyway she also gobbles up the vegetable peelings we put out for her.

Another of our locals, our single Collared Dove. There were two but the Sparrowhawk hit this ones mate and killed it at the back door of the Lodge many years ago, since then this single Dove returns every year to same place. I do not know where it spends its winter but I read that they are non migratory. But he/she is always here in the Spring, I guess looking for its Mate. The Raptors have a heavy impact on the birds of Rona.

Moving on from the wildlife, it is all about maintenance at this time of year, pre-season. These batteries have had a few replacements as you can see, mostly they are original Hawker batteries, the best of British, they have lasted well beyond their expected life cycle. But the time comes when they need replacement and it is not a job we look forward to. Apart from the cost (electric car owners beware). These are the cottage generator shed ones and have not had too hard a life, possibly resulting in a longer life with smaller occupancy. But getting the same quality to-day has proven difficult in the past.

In April there was a lot of time spent sorting out the Dry Hasrtbour power supply. We had intended for years to instal Solar and that might still happen but not by me as I head to my retirement years. But in the meantime we replaced all the wiring in the Dry Harbour shed, with a new board and more up to date equipment, thank you Hugh Piggot of Scoraig Wind for his invaluable help, as always.

It was a good job that had been in the plan for a while and it makes life so much easier with internet access to the Victron Cerbo unit, showing us exactly what is going on.

The weather I see during this week of the 16th April was not the best with some rain but we were moving into late Spring so no surprise to have April Showers.

During the last real gale we were watching the windows flexing when all of a sudden there was a loud bang and clattewr as something came off anmd shot across the roof, I found the chimney can next day away in the forest. It was a Chinese Hat type, temporary cowal fitted after a gale two years ago, so it did well. But we had ordered a new one and it is always a pleasure to go on the roof (at my age!!)

Job with a good view from the office, I see a yacht in the background perhaps the non payer ‘Yacht Lotus’, his excuse I remember was that it said on the buoy £15 per night so as he did not stay on it all night he felt he did not have to pay. We do hope he enjoys his round Britain trip on the cheap.