Putting the brakes on

I know it’s been a while but it’s not through lack of enthusiasm or things to rabbit on about. On the contrary, Wednesday and Thursday had me full of energy and rushing about manically, probably as a result of Mondays full moon and the fantastic weather yesterday.

Wednesday

The first banana day had me up earlier than usual on account of my new spotlights I know that’s really sad that I should relish the thought of driving to work in the dark then I can illuminate several hundred acres of Raasay but that’s what living alone for five years in the sticks does to you!

 

The few early morning showers made some fine rainbows and then gave way to a lovely day

At Last!

The nice morning and promise of better to come had me drying off the foredeck with a hoover and fan in the hope of finishing the painting that I’d started last shift. I left the fan running to do it’s stuff ably assisted by the low but bright sun and got on with the weekly maintenance of greasing ramps, working pumps and of course eating my banana.

Lunch time came around soon enough and I headed over to see the crane at Raasay house,

a sure indication that work has at last started on the stabilization process.

After the tragic fire of January 19th. The rather large earth mound in front of the yellow telehandler being (I think) a ‘bund’ for the so called contaminated waste. Which will no doubt at great expense be carted off to some landfill down in the central belt rather than dumped in a peat bog on Raasay. They can dump it in one of my many swamps anytime

Thursday

After the rain of last week Thursday seemed to have been transported via some time warp from a week in spring, it was in short beautiful.

Just like the job that I made of the forward windlass and deck

Lunch time saw me heading to School Park with my trailer in search of treasure and bonfire wood out of a skip there.

The skip being the repository of left over’s  from the fitting of air source heating systems into the four houses there. After asking one of the workers, carrying out a risk assessment and signing a disclaimer I leapt into the skip and came out with all manner of goodies pipe insulation, ducting and radiator brackets being just a few of the treasures that I rescued from a landfill and recycled to Arnish.

Much as I am a fan

Whilst there I noticed that the Proven 6kw wind turbine was stationary, not through lack of wind but because the brakes were on

The brakes having been applied because of the sheer volume of complaints about the racket, which was over the previous few breezy days somewhere between a helicopter and Jumbo jet. Much as I love wind turbines I can’t help but think that erecting one so close to a residential area, not to mention a class room is a little bonkers. Doing nothing but turn yet more people against what is a very valuable resource, if used correctly. 

More bounty

With my trailer full I headed back to the Loch Striven

to be stopped dead in my tracks by yet more treasure, this time on the shore. Not only would this fish cage float make a fine wee pig ark, crate, water tank, wood store or mini shed for a power washer but the muscles still attached to it would make a fine meal What’s more there was just enough room in my trailer to squeeze it in before anyone else laid claim to it

The best bonfire in years

Thursday was of course Guy Fawkes night, a celebration that is on Raasay never straight forward. I’ve lived here for 20 years and I can’t actually remember one that was on time It either fell during the communion, was pouring with rain, blowing a gale or arrived on a Sunday ! Today however it was perfect and nothing was organized, probably due to the harbour works taking over the traditional spot in front of the boat shed.

However, our neighbour at the north end had invited us round with a few friends for a wee bonfire and supper.

So after finishing work, driving home and admiring the almost full moon over ‘Calum’s cairn’, I joined wife and child for treacle toffee, fire baked potatoes and fire works at our friends house.

 

Leaving at just before 22:00 with the smell of wood smoke clinging to me a black ring around my mouth from the charcoal like potatoes and my jaws stuck together with bonfire toffee. It really did take me back 40 years to my childhood, well apart from the now politically correct fireworks that just don’t seem to bang like they used to .