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He's still here, The Crofter that is. Contemplating the arrival of the new piece of motorised junk onto the croft. This time it's the Yangtze MaotsetunSon tractor - or something like that. It's a tractor anyway and it is not an MF so beloved of the local crofters - particularly Donald four tractors. Apparently, it came to the UK flat-packed, was assembled professionally with only the minimal of left over screws and bolts and found its way to the island goodness knows how. No doubt it will end its day flat packed again having been crushed when its days are over - about a month from now I shouldn't wonder. Or am I being just a tad cynical?

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The new lambs are arriving. This little one - lets call him Nigel - was among the first three and arrived the day I had to leave for England for a few days. I had the wrong camera and the wrong film - but there he is. I shall return in the morning with the right equipment!

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Apologies for the lack of service in this area but things have been going on - both here and down at The Croft.
Since it's nearly lambing time for The Crofter, he went out to collect up the sheeps to bring them to a local bit of grass from the common grazings. Only, they weren't all were they should have been. Not hefted and all that probably. The Crofter and his Dad walked Tolsta Head looking for them but could not locate ten sheeps including their bestest ram. Not only that, Crofter and dad were somewhat tired from their long walk.

 The Crofters on t'quad.

The Seagull awaits

No sooner than this had been realised than a quad bike appeared among the 'car-park' that is the scrap-heap of metal vehicles in the fore-yard - or whatever they call it this week. This made the task of finding and bringing the errant sheeps back to the fold much easier and now the fields are full and the mini-sheeps imminent.

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More Porky than Pinky

The man came and soon there were two hanging. For a week I'm told.

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Weather Hens

The Crofter always has to aware of the weather and there is lots of weather up here to be aware of. There is always the radio or tv weather forecast but they never seem to get it right for the island which has it's own local weather. Or there's the seaweed hanging at the door to look at but The Crofter doesn't believe in such hocus-pocus. Oh, no, The Crofter has his Weather Hens.

If you study the above photo carefully you can see that the hens are both out of their home. That means it's going to rain. If one is out and the other is in, it means sleet is on its way. Two in means its raining or snowing or, if the door of their house is nailed shut there's a big blow on the way in. If neither hens are to be seen, they have either been blown away or else they are in the pot!

A full-proof system

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The Crofter, and Dorothy

I've been busy and all that. Reiki, work and photographising. No time at all to go and see t'Crofter and his post-rationalist croft down t'road. I had a bad dream last night as well!

But I have this snap in the camera and it showed itself when I developed the thing today. See, The Crofter does get out. Here we can see our hero with his winter hat on terrorising the post office staff. Or something.

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The Crofter sorting out his silage

The Crofter is doing fine thank you all. I went and paid another visit today - after our little bicycle ride along the coast. We found The Crofter washing something 'orrible off his boots while regaling us of tails of new house house building in the village. We listened attentively.

The coows are penned up awaiting the coming of the calves - hopefully. The pigs are making a mess of the place - as if they could make it much worse! And the sheeps, in the main, are back up on the neighbours croft ready for lambing in the near future. I said 'in the main' since there are a few missing this winter. A couple took the quick way down the beach, falling off the cliff to their demise but there are some others who are hiding somewhere in the vicinity. at least The Crofter hopes so. They are black if anyone sees them!