Yesterday was crazy windy and Ady was not happy leaving Davies and Scarlett home alone, I didn’t think getting them up early and dragging them out was a good plan either so we compromised with just him going winkle picking. I got up and decided that was mad and if there were winkles to be picked then I should be picking ’em, so got the kids up and we all went down together. It was indeed mad crazy windy and although nothing did go wrong at the static I think they would have felt scared home alone. I dropped them and Bonnie off at the hall with their tablets and headed off to find Ady.
It was horrible down on the beach, the wind was constantly whipping at your face and throwing up spray, not particularly cold but just nasty. The wind was blowing towards the coast and just totally prevented the tide from going out at all really so there was no where to pick from. We persevered but were achieving nothing. Vikki wandered over to say Hi and comment on how not low the tide was and invited us back for a cup of tea which at that point was probably the thing we both wanted most in the world. We said we’d give it a further half an hour and she headed off to collect the kids from the hall and put the kettle on at her house.
We got about a quarter of a sack between us and decided that given there is no guarantee of getting a boat on Thursday to get the winkles off anyway we would have one more try today but if it was no better we’d give it a miss for this year. Secured our sack just below the high tide line with lots of rocks and headed to Vikki’s. She had given the kids hot ribena and put some sausage rolls in the oven – love her 🙂 We came home and Manager Mike was here, having arrived by a different route to bring us some apples. He was heading off today and wanted to wish us seasons greetings, find out if the rumour about me resigning as director was true and have a chat before he left. He stayed for an hour or so chatting and then we had showers and Ady cooked a lovely roast dinner.
Today was less windy so we were able to leave the kids to make their own way down. Davies had to light a fire in Claire’s yurt so we arranged to meet them once we had finished winkling and they had done that and we took Bonnie with us. We are struggling to get petrol for the genny booked off the island and back on again so Doug the ghillie was leaving today in his van and smuggled our empty jerry can off for us and dropped it off at the fuel merchants for refilling – I feel much more confident we might get it back before Christmas now that it is actually already off the island and getting refilled.
Winkle picking was good today – Ady and I both got a good 3/4 of a sack each – if we manage that again tomorrow and Wednesday we’ll be sending off the best part of 5 sacks and rumour is that the price might be as high as £150 a sack. Every penny will help and is planned to be the kickstart fund for our nissen hut build. I’m clinging to that thought.
The sad news was that when Ady went to feed the animals he found the smallest girl pig dead in the house. We had walked along the croft edge yesterday on the way home from Vikki’s and seen all the pigs and Dave the cockerel. This morning Dave and Speedy the pig were dead. I am less surprised about Dave as he was ailing a bit anyway although we thought we had pulled him round but Speedy is a real shame and a mystery. As we don’t know the reason for death we won’t eat the meat, particularly as she was due to be kept being Scarlett’s favourite pigly. A tough day 🙁 I had plenty of time to ponder on all of this while winkle picking but I know that big decisions should never be made on bad days.
The kids met up with us just as we were about done and the ferry was due in so we all went to the boat. The wind turbine is here 🙂 It’s too windy to put it up (oh the irony) but fingers crossed for Friday or Saturday for that. We had various post including lots of presents which means all the biggest gifts for the kids are now here. I am waiting on a few bits and pieces but nothing that would matter terribly much if it didn’t make it here in time, it will just extend Christmas a wee bit more!
We got home and I got the fire lit as I was getting really cold and achy from sitting too long in the cold car after the winkle picking. I made some bread and then dinner. We watched Home Alone 2 as advent movie tonight. It’s really windy again tonight and I am almost dreading seeing what the next morning brings. Life seems very tricky just now.
I hope it will bring a drop in the wind for long enough to get the turbine up, more things like friends offering tea, warmth and hot food when you are cold, high winkle prices and at least one or two ferry chances to get them off for sale and bring your petrol in. Love you xx
Comment by Ali — 17 December 2013 @ 1:03 pm