31 July 2014

Images of July 2014

The annual Aultbea Raft Race , great fun !
 A team of  four is needed for each raft and recycled materials must be used.
Ours was made from the inner tube of a tractor wheel tied into an oval shape,
it was the smallest raft in the race.
Onlookers could not believe that we could get four people on it
let alone paddle it for half a mile !
BUT WE DID !

The race starts at the harbour pier (on the right) across the harbour to the Aultbea Hotel (on the left.)

Matthew (middle) and Jake (right) willingly made up our team of four. Thank you both for your great spirit !

Matthew looking worried as he could hear a hissing noise before and during the race.

The rafts came in all shapes and sizes, from 3 wheeled car chassis to...

oil drums and pipes !

Malcolm demonstrating green-woodworking (ie working with newly felled wood) at the Aultbea Fun Day.

Getting the spectators to put square pegs into round holes to make pegs for a garden rake. 

and then the rain came to put a dampener on the day 
but the pipers played on


and the dancers kept on dancing

some just sang in the rain, nice one Phil !

I joined the kids and had my face painted

June and Pauline came up from Paisley to see us and what we get up to up in the Highlands.

always fun

Wilma always enjoys a paddle with friends

still laughing after 55 years of friendship

Joanna from Auchencairn came to see us for a lovely, lovely day, good to see you Joanna !

The poly tunnel is coming on, not bad as we started later than we had hoped for.

My first attempt at growing courgettes, I'm hooked.

The beginnings of cucamelons, or "mouse melons", these will grow to 8' high supposedly and the fruits are grape-sized and taste like cucumbers with a hint of lime, supposedly.

The start of many pots of Chinese Lanterns, that I love, ready for flowering next year.

14 ton of logs now waiting to be seasoned and cut ready for winter 2015, best I get the bow saw ready. Malcolm has kindly made me a saw-horse in readiness.

Two large bags of fleece kindly given to us, Malcolm is going to make a peg loom, I'm going to sort the fleeces and then it's "rugs r us", another little project for the long winter evenings.

2 July 2014

June 2014 happenings

Hi everyone, another month has passed so quickly 
and the days seem to roll endlessly into the next one
as it stays reasonably light until about 23.15
and gets light again at about 3am !
You have to look at the clock rather than look out of the window 
to see when it's bed time.

Here's a selection of some of the happenings 
during the month.


Malcolm's sister Barbara and Mum flew up to Inverness to see us for the first time

Mum liked it so much she is coming to live up in the Highlands ! A big change at 89 !

Our other visitors this month were Helen and Malcolm from Norfolk, who think we are absolutely "bonkers"

Just had to fit in some beachcoming  at Big Sands between Gairloch and Melvaig

Farewell meal at The Aultbea Hotel, recently under new management

Green-moustached aliens found wandering on the beach

At the Aroma Cafe / Perfume Studio / Photographic Studio at Mellon Charles, always worth a visit

Wilma's latest beach find, hours of fun

The polytunnel in it's very early stages, top soil was brought in and seaweed edges the beds


Unusual white foxgloves on the croft

Scottish orchid growing on the shore

Lulu enjoying the sunshine

and trying to make friends

Family evening outing passing the croft

I have never seen such vibrantly coloured seaweed, must be something in the water !

An old, nearby, derelict, stone barn

A clear evening looking out from the croft

Looking out on a  peaceful evening