540

Bit of a frenzy today down at The Croft as Ms Gemma rushes around to get things 'just so'.

I've pencilled in a visit for the Christmas Day snap - if we get back from sailing in time :-)

539

Look, The Crofter is still smiling along with Ms G Crofter wishing oll the blogs' readers a very happy festive time - whatever your beliefs - or lack of them.

Thanks for coming this way.

538

Was this the Slaughter House three in the trailer?

No, it wasn't you'll be pleased to hear. Twas the rams having done their 'thing' back to pastures alone.

whatever

You might like to look here for The Crofter's own blog. Croft2a

http://croft2a.blogspot.co.uk/

537

Birds over pigs on a dark day in the Western Isles.

Dinner has been enjoyed. Immensely.

536

Yes, it's two for tea - or breakfast / brunch in this case - down at The Croft these days. And how lovely that is.

535

That's stroppy Tinga patrolling the compound fence making sure no-one gets too close. I didn't as a treasure my arms. Oh and Colla keeping a suitable distance from Tinga watching what happens.

Nothing much happened this time apart from The Crofter taking his Pimpmobile and trailer down to the Glen with the other coows on board - mud up to his armpits!

Tinga and Colla got the later trip.

534

Dad Crofter has been very busy of late. The Crofter seems to have other things on his mind for some reason so I get to snap up Dad Crofter more. That's nice because he is very photogenic, doesn't pose too much and has been known to smile. This wasn't one of these days but I like the snap all the same.

533

I spent an hour in the cold wind today - sans suitable head gear - snapping up The Great Man as he tried to persuade Tinga et al to get into their coow charabanc for a little ride from the mud to grass. Only, they didn't want to get in. I froze as The Crofter fell in the mud and other smelly stuff, Dad Crofter giggled and Gemma looked worried as The Boy Shaun turned away in disgust. Only thing was, the film in my Soviet camera refused to wind on so all The Great Man's theatricals were in vain! oops!

In the meantime I present to you Dad Crofter playing his "hay on a wheelbarra" version of Jenga . Of course it fell off, but not before Dad Crofter had trundled the whole affair into the garden! Nothing like mixing fun with work eh?

532

Ms Crofter enquires as to whether Mr Crofter, him of the committees and what have you - a most important and now happy chappie - would like his turnip chopper painted pink since there seems to be some paint left over.

Not sure what the answer was but there is always the PoR Gemma. The PoR!

Anyway, the turnips and potatoes await their fate if and only if The Crofter and Dad Crofter manage to refit the cutting teeth. Teeth? Again?

531

Ms Crofter has been painting everything that doesn't move - except the PoR. Obviously. The house is Yorkshire pink head to toe now. I think the PoR may be going the same way soon.

Saw them walking on the beach this morning. What ever next? answers in the comments below please.

530

Mr Crofter seems to have got it bad - so to  speak. I ventured down the road, dodging the traffic jams to find Mr Crofter doing a bit of light dusting in his factory. Dusting? When did that arrive then? Must have missed that.

I might even be suffering from osmosis of the lung now. What I do for the right snap - even if it is not in focus and what have you? I think you'll find that focus is overrated. I read that somewhere.

529

We, the Diarist and my lovely partner Eve have had the call. The call from Ms Crofter [blurrily pictured above. I was caught off guard when she smiled. I'm not used to that] to come to share the table over food stuff. Hopefully not the arse-end of Diogenes on account of us being veggie and all that.
"How very lovely" Eve and myself have been saying to each other - and it is lovely. We wonder what The Crofter is after.

528

No, it's not the PoR. You should be able to tell that by the fact that it appears to be moving - at the moment. Out taking food for the poor coows on the apportionment no doubt. Ms G Crofter has side-lined the renovation of the PoR for the moment. She's in the village school teaching the kiddie-winkies Yorkshirespeak. I know, I know but I can't do anything about it can I? Tried to get her started with the tractor but apparently the school needs her more!

Meanwhile The Diarist, yours truly has broken another cusp off a molar. I shall be needing one of  The Crofter's false teef meself soon!

527

Meanwhile The Crofter slaves away in his tooth factory - all cosy and nice wjile the PoR slowly but surely falls into bits on the ground. Unless Ms Gemma Crofter has it's renovation on next weeks' list of jobs. Ooh, can't wait to find out!

526

Nothing like being photo-bombed by the gooses while you are looking for the last tatties to lift. That's what happened down at The Croft. Isn't that nice boys and gurls?

525

524

That's The BoyShaun. Looks like he got promotion as he was stood and earlier sat in the pug hutch shovelling sh... stuff from there to find the hutch wall which had been dismantled by an over-gruntled pig. Once rediscovered the hutch wall was rehung, wallpapered and what have you for the piggies to go back in.

The BoyShaun looks happy as.........

523

While Ms Crofter whiles away the days painting her nails, training the chickens to dance and fluffing up Widdle's coat the stove is holding yet another culinary masterpiece. This time it's Diogenes and potato pie. Smelled awful when I popped in for a gander - but then I never did like or eat meat. Gemma seemed happy enough though and I'm sure the The Crofter won't be complaining.

Ah, look. The poor Crofter has to scratch a living for his expanding entourage by knocking up a few teeth in his factory. He is, I might add, very good at what he does - I know, I used to do a similar thing some years ago although that was just after teeth were discovered.

Here's a few snappers nestling together waiting for that final flourish that makes them the best on the island - and the Highlands too I should imagine.

Are they yours? Are they?

522

The weather hasn't been too bad recently. Well, it hasn't rained all the time. And the wind stops blowing from time to time but when it does and the suns pokes it head out of the clouds the washing line is soon full. Hanging there and what have you, HHHCB checking to make sure it's all the right order as it should be. It was so we came home.

521

The end of Diogenes as we knew him. Now nestling in the freezer, he succumbed to the knife last week and Mr Crofter sized him down into edible bits. It's a family affair butchery with Dad Crofter dicing the ickle bits for stews, The Crofter weilding The Big Knife, Mum Crofter sorting the packing and newcomer Gemma Crofter wrapping and sealing the bags. All day they carried on.

Apparently, this is getting ready for a Salmon cut. No, I didn't know what it was either - but then I'm a fish eating veggi.

And this was his dodgyknees. The coows not the Crofters.

And here's Ms Crofter supervising Mum Crofter in the packing/wrapping dept. And sticking on the beautifully designed labels too.

520

The Crofter girl Gemma, has not it seems got into the swing of the life on the island yet. The PoR still lies unattended and unpainted outside the tooth factory. Yes, Ms Crofter had to wrap Diogenes kit up after has was sectioned. Yes, Gemma has been cooking nutritious and tasty meals for The Crofter and yes Gemma has been keeping Widdle in order but the Pile of Rust still awaits her attention.

I shall keep you posted. Trust me.

519

See, Gemma updating her Faceplant page so her many followers can see what's she is up to.  Mum Crofter seems a tad non-plussed.

518

I'm not sure these here coows in The Crofter's possession would be that enamoured with the Crofter et al today. They, the Crofter family, spent the day making Diogenes into a kit. He wouldn't mind I suppose since he was dispatched the other day by men at the killing factory in town. All the same it is quite a sight to see the old boy on the table inside out so to speak.

517

Yes, it's that BoyShaun again, moving hay bales from there to here and possibly back again. He loves all that - being busy.

Mr Crofter was busy fabricating someone's dentures. Ms Crofter was [probably] slumped in front of the TV watching Crossroads - or whatever is on these days. The football is banned in the house at the moment due to Liverpool FC losing yet again. Was it Stornoway FC they played? Who knows.

516

It is duck weather at the moment. The croft is filling up with water and the ducks rush around in ecstasy while Widdle looks on in dismay. I think ms Crofter has been looking at recipes for duck recently so they had better be on their best behaviour!

515

It's The Crofter's spiritual home. Lewis Crofters in Stornoway just down the road. Here is the great man walking to get some hay for an amninal or two the other day. I think it's hay, something grassy anyway. Puts it on the trailer before taking it home. I suspect Mr Crofter is one of LC best customers.

514

Fashion seems to have arrived at The Croft now Ms Crofter us here. Mr Crofter arrived at chez nous the other night in his tuxedo and bow-tie. I'm guessing that might be  Ms Crofer's influence. I think that's a good thing.

I managed to sneak and paparazzi snap or two of Ms Crofter the other day as she strode out in the latest Crofter fashion inspired by Galiano [and Clocks no doubt]. Bout time we had a bit of glamour round the Croft!

Notice the designer bucket held with grace and poise.

513

Keep your hair on! I didn't take this snap today but tis true I am posting it today. I am doomed, I know.

Not as doomed as the young boy sheeps were the other day. Ms Crofter held the torch affair while the nice young sheeps' Dr did the business ending their boyhood. Mr Crofter cringed with each cut I'm told. Twelve ex-boy sheeps and all. Obviously, Ms Crofter is really getting into crofting life as she seemed to almost enjoy getting involved in the days events. Maybe Gemma was imagining the culinary possibilities.

512

It is, you might be pleased to hear, not like this at the moment in the village. The rain is falling as it has done most of the day and the wind is now blowing too. So Ms Crofter has been baking.  She managed a run around the village earlier I'm told - although goodness knows what for. And tickled the pigs as one does up here.

And now the evening has arrived - nearly - Ms Crofter will be making The Crofter straighten his bow-tie as they get ready to visit yours truly, The Diarist. :-)

511

There he is, The Crofter amid the food parcels trucked by IRONSIDE in from the mainland for the animuls. They eat it as quick as the Crofter can buy the stuff. That's why he spends so much time making teef and earning a crust.

Perhaps I should go back to that business since I cocked up the film development on this snap!

510

There was a blockage in the road by the Crofter's place yesterday. As a nosey so and so, I wandered down to see what was up. It was a man who was up, on top of the motorised cargo carrier throwing sheeps food parcels off. I warned him not to hit the PoR since that might collapse into a pile of rusty dust!

Anyway, The Crofter, all smiling and what have you, swept out to survey the scene. Smiled again too - I knew something must be up. What with the newly delivered bags of coal, there was a lot to be moved.

O'er. It's her indoors, Ms Crofter arriving at a brisk walk. That's torn it. Might get told off now and everything. Yes me! Can you imagine?

Phew, Ms Crofter only came out to help the brave Crofter, rolling his,,, his,, whatever they are into the yard. Do you know, I think Ms Crofter fits in round here rather well already. And I didn't get told off either.

Oh, look how strong the young handsome Crofter is. Although he needs to start powdering his balding patch a bit to stop the camera glare!

509

Mr Crofter may be going through his VanGogh phase but he still has two ears I believe. Having said I have not been down to see The Happy Couple [THC} today. Thought I'd give them a moment to themselves -albeit with Mater & Pater Crofter and half an Ark full of aminals!

508

It's ok everyone, he, The Crofter - him of the committees and all - has calmed down. Grown a beard overnight too by the looks of it. Still smiling too.

I'm hearing all about the imminent arrival of Ms Gemma a lot too.

507

The Crofter enjoys another photo session as he gently contemplates the arrival of Gemma at the weekend - hopefully now fully trained in the black art of tractor restoration since I noticed another, hopefully non-vital piece fell off the PoR the other day.

Obviously the Crofter is very relaxed about the state of affairs!

506

There he is. Managing The Croft and the tooth factory while Mater and Papter are off island and Gemma about to arrive in a few days. The paintbrushes are all read for her - as is Widdle.

Of course The Crofter doesn't really look like this, I took this snap a few years ago. He looks much more handsome and really happy these days. My, he even smiled last night when he came up for an evening chatette.