Tomorrow is the first day of our meteorological Spring!

26 Feb. , 2017

February has been a very busy month. My new heating system is is very nearly finished – John Kirk, the heating engineer, with Rianna his daughter, apprentice, have been run off their feet keeping a good few clients happy and they have just one control to fix here and that is Heron's Flight “upgraded”! I am delighted with all the work done – no more worries of tanks and elderly pipes leaking, worse still bursting! Over the years, there have been several “watery events”, with some major mop-ups and redecoration necessary – gone are those worries!!.

I had windows replaced in the chalet, as well as - finally - the three gable windows facing the south west gales! And to complete the glazing spree, both kitchens have new windows - what a difference they make.....

Just last week Alistair and Mike, joiners, spared me some time to shelve two cupboards, now without water tanks, also doing some varnishing and touching up. I now have the cupboards to fill – easy!

So this is all done in time – my first guests come on March 1st! More friends arrive on the 3rd for a few days. I am not busy then for some weeks, so I'll go to Edinburgh later in the month, while Moira attends a course.

As I write this, I'm in Edinburgh, but I'll not post it till I am home. I travelled on Wednesday – a good journey as the gales of Tuesday had subsided. The forecast for tomorrow is snow in the central belt – we shall see!

Ruah and Duncan are being clipped tomorrow – I have brought their coats, as they may well feel decided cold tomorrow evening! Both have rather long hair at present - not for much longer!!!

I'll do some necessary shopping and head home perhaps on Sunday. It is lovely to be with the family for a few days.........

First visitors of 2017!  Welcome, Dave and Denise!

 Two little clipped dogs, huddling together in front of the warm Rayburn - well, the temperature today is 3C....

Well into 2017 already......

February 4, 2017

I came home for New Year 2016 with Moira and Daniel. We had a lovely few days then! The village was very busy, with Plocktonians home for the celebrations and visitors staying in the holiday homes. Everyone enjoyed the bonfire and fireworks at midnight, on the island in the bay.

We wandered home after visiting family and friends in “35” and many close friends in Charlie and Kathleen's very hospitable house next door on Harbour Street. The next day we had quite a few callers – lovely! And then we too went out and called on friends not seen on Hogmanay.

Moira and Daniel had to leave on the 3^rd January and they had a very good train journey south.

And my Plockton fell asleep for another week or two......

Then my days were busy as my new heating system was completed, the outside boiler and Rayburn were serviced, the chalet was spring cleaned and my list of joinery items needing done lengthened!! I am now hoping the joiner will be here next week. The carpet layer will come too, to renew the carpet in the bedroom with the antique furniture. I'll be pleased to have that done. Usually Willie Fraser works alone but for this job he needs to get a larger van and a helper to shift around the old mahogany furniture.... It'll be lovely to have that done.

As the weather has been remarkably good – mild and sunny, we were all outside starting to do some tidying up and thinking it would not be too long till the grass needed cut! But one stormy, stormy day put paid to my complacency! The telephone cable outside threatened to come down, but got tangled in a tree instead, my phones ceased as did the internet connection. So an engineer spent six hours a few days ago doing his level best to renew cables, outside and in and finally had the phone back. Several days ago I had my computer mentor here, trying to fathom why the speed is so poor – no luck, so British Telecom sent an engineer to mend a fault found at the local exchange. Only yesterday did I notice a distinct improvement, so all is well again, I think....

I have plenty to do before the house is back to ready for the Spring and Summer! My first guests are coming at the beginning of March. Before that I have a day or two in Edinburgh, to catch up with the family and friends there.....

I shall write again in a few weeks. Till then, I hope you are well and that I may meet you sometime later in the year..... Do think about it!!

Best wishes

Ann