March 2017

Lots of lovely things have been happening this month.

A new addition joined us on the croft, my first ever, very own pony !

Here is Zara,
arriving calm and relaxed after her four hour journey from Caithness,
having been transported by Eric Gillie transportation;
a fabulous company, who I highly recommend, excellent in every way,
from the office staff to final delivery.

Thank you to all at Eric Gillie

As you can see Zara has settled in well and enjoying the Highland sunshine,
she is a real sweetie.

Malcolm's Mum getting to know Zara.

Already Zara has her own little fan club,
with Maisey and Liza willing candidates for grooming and loving.

Wilma has recently decided that she too enjoys a nice tasty carrot
and that they're not just for horses.

One piece of advice that my lovely Dad gave me was
"never to buy anything that eats while you sleep", ie a horse.

This was one piece of advice that I obviously didn't take any notice of
and yes that is my Dad in the above photo with my brother taken in about 1953.

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Aultbea continues to have it's weekly pop-up café in the village hall,
with a different group running it every week
but without exception every week the cakes and soup are always very yummy !!

Well done to all the local bakers !

Malcolm's Mum ready and waiting for her coffee and cake.

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On a trip to Caithness, driving through Lairg
we came across a wee model cottage on a wee little island ....

and on the way home
the wee cottage was all beautifully lit up, most unexpected !

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A happy morning was spent at the GALE (Gairloch And Loch Ewe) Centre

with Leah giving a hands-on demonstration of felting techniques.

Malcolm's Mum joined in with the wet felting,
proving that at 92 it's never too old to learn a new skill
or make new friends !

Learning and lively banter.

All eyes and ears on Leah.

Some of the brightly coloured samples as part of the learning techniques,

thank you Leah for a great morning !

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This next poster speaks for itself

and this particular crowdfunding idea is catching on all over the place;

it's a bit like the "Dragon's Den"

and each of the 4 projects were given 10 minutes to pitch their case

and a further 5 minutes to answer peoples' questions.

We went just out of interest but it was great fun and did some good at the same time.

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In the Highlands there are relatively few people

and so as not to be left out many services and facilities are mobile and come to us.

This month a mobile planetarium came to town !

Intrigued we just had to go and have a look and we were not disappointed.

With about 40 people inside, most laying down on the mats,

it was very cosy and lasted for about an hour

and all for a fiver !

One of the views in the planetarium

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Aultbea has been making plans to build a desperately needed new village hall

for some years now; unfortunately Aultbea has not been granted

the lottery funds it needs to proceed with this project.

So we need to put on our thinking caps again....

Alistair has already put on his thinking cap and is still smiling

and together we will all "make Aultbea great again!"

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A reminder to drivers travelling in the Highlands at dusk and at night......

BEWARE THE DEER

there are hundreds of them, they're big, they're fast and they spring out of nowhere.

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Just liked these table reflections .....

and some old floats hanging in a crofter's barn

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Until next month we wish you sunshine

and a very happy Easter

from June and Malcolm

xxxxxx