Down to see The Crofter

 

We have a little snow here. Hungry the cat has gone awol for some reason so we popped down to see crofter and his lovely family. Keith came too as he is really missing his furry pal.

As we arrived Paul and Emily were down at the barn tickling the coos and new born calves - Nickolas and the other one who name is yuletide themed but escapes me now.

Isobel the youngest crofterette showed us how to climb up their slide covered in snow but didn't and clonked her bonce on the hard plastic and sports a fine blue bruise - which mum put peas on. Why she didn't use tinned peas I don't know!.

It doesn't change much

 

The track out to 'our' peat bank is lovely if a bit rough. I have been on the back of Donald Four Tractors trailer once, years back, out into the little loch as the track doesn't as far as the bank. Look you can see some peat banks freshly cut on the opposite side of the lochette. Love the patterns the cutting leaves - much much more back in the day way before we came to the island. There's still a couple of families cutting peat in the village but mainly it's not done much.

Haven't been out there for a long time but I might just take the time and energy to get out there again soonish.

windy

 

Mr Windy here and his lovely wife Deanne are not island dwellers any more. I miss them. They reside in a self-refurbished cottage near Dumfries. Tis lovely down there. 

We attended a wedding of one of their children the other while back [Alex and his bride Elissa] . That was lovelee, taking place in a woodland glade by a lake in the dappled sunshine. I shan't forget that one in a hurry. Meanwhile another of their children gets married soon and we are off down [Dundee this time] to celebrate with Beth and her Hubbi to be Grant. So looking forward to seeing them all again. Hopefully I will energised enough to enjoy it.

In the meantime best wishes to all for a fine and peaceful 2026

all over

 

Well that's it then. Another year passed and we are still here [Not here as in the snap because that is Cromarty], here in North Tolsta. 

Been a warm and breezy year which is unsurprising as the climate changes. Eve is still riding her bike  and me too from time to time with electric help. Still taking snaps and still keeping the blog going for what it's worth. I like looking back in it just to see if I was alive and kicking 10 years ago. I was as it happens.

Thanks for coming here whoever you are. Have a wonderful 2026 and I'll do my best to keep this interesting.

over there

 

This wasn't this week or last but a while back. Over the other side or somewhere like that, up a small road and everything.

I rather like the shot so I'd thought I sort of start bringing the year to close with a nice snap.

south

 

We used to spend part of this time of year in Somerset. The Levels to be precise. My late mum used to live nearby and my elder sister still does. It's peat land in the main now the land has been drained so the roads often meanders softly go up and down due to the unstable ground. The roads are also often straight and beset with winds off the nearby Severn Estuary - and it's wet, often flooded . Lovely place though with little traffic and abundant wildlife. 

This might have been a Christmas snap.

reto

 

look, I paid about £20 for this camera so I am going to use it. Here at the bowls club where we played inside last Wednesday.

Pass the mince pies please