The Elements

December sees the start of winter and the shortest of days. The sun rises as Vernon Kay gets off the bus, and sets before Sarah Cox warms up her vocal cords for the drive-time show (about 9am to 3:30pm for those too old to listen to Radio 2).

It has been quite easy to settle into the 6.5hrs of daylight that we are currently receiving though, more so than the near constant daylight that we see in the summer. I guess because I’m able to adjust my work to suit and make sure I get at outdoors and see at least some daylight. As I was reminded the other day, we are closer to Reykjavic than we are to London, and it does feel like we’re a long way from London in every, single way!

December started out very wet and very windy, and even more so on those unnamed weather days. There have been some fantastic thunder storms, the likes of which I haven’t seen outside of the Andes or the Himalaya, and I have enjoyed watching them build over the Atlantic. I was, however, glad to have been safe within the stone walls of the croft house as the closest struck.

There is something of a balance to the elements of wind and water that are pound the island, and that is the comfort of fire and earth. You can’t beat the warmth of an open fire and the shelter of the thick stone walls of the house. Even better when accompanied with a wee dram and a wee spaniel of course!

Rushes Around.

During the better spells I have been out measuring up fencing and planning the croft works for the coming months. There’s a good section of wire missing further down the croft, and that is where another crofters sheep are getting in (and my dog is getting out) so that needs repairing sooner rather than later. I’m not bothered by sheep getting in at the moment, and until I get my own flock in the new year they’re actually helping; by grazing the land and by giving my spaniel chance to become accustomed to having them around. Unless they grow wings or act like a rabbit she’s not interested in them at all so if I want any help herding my own sheep in I shall have to rely on the help of other crofters or borrow a collie!

The track repairs have been successful, as has most of the ditching around the house, so that’s good. I’ve also use the opportunity the rain has provided to walk the rest of the croft and work out the run of the land. It’s obvious there have been ditches and drains in place, and the water is till following those to a point, so hopefully the hire of a mini-digger should free those up. There’s a fair amount of rush on the land, and this is due in most to the water and the lack of maintenance, so clearing the water should help with that and improve grazing. At the moment it is serving as a good indicator of where the wettest areas are and where the ditches run.

The bees of Hebribees Honey are staying on the east side for the moment. The weather is actually mild and until there’s a prolonged cold spell I shall leave them be. I am looking forward to welcoming them to their new home at Croft 5 soon though.

Solitude, Friends, and Beaches.

My friend left at the start of the month but not before one last look out, this time to Mangersta Beach with the four leggers. Jonny has been here since I got the keys and has been great company and a big help getting settled in to the croft house. He also left me with a new kitchen t paint, which was nice! It was his first visit to Mangersta Beach and the prefect end to his stay on the Island.

I’m enjoying the solitude, of both the croft and of the island at this time of year. Whilst community and friendship is important I do think that modern life doesn’t afford the moments of peace that we may once have taken for granted. Taking time to be alone in such a peaceful place gives time for reflection. Much of the island attends a service at one of the many churches, but I have always found spirituality in the hills and mountains, and so many of my Sundays are spent in solitude, on a hill, in a landscape I feel a connection to.

However life needs balance and a cuppa (usually the cuppa comes first!). So it was no hardship to meet with friends for afternoon tea and scones at the Harris Hotel on another VERY wet and windy day. Despite the group aiming to go for a walk at Luskentyre Beach I was the only one who actually made it. Out of everyone. In the whole of Lewis and Harris. Plenty turned up for the tea and scones though!

As the shortest day turns out to be one of the nicer days weather wise I’m looking forward to having a couple of weeks off to reignite my photography, spend some more time in the hills, and get the kitchen painted. Christmas shall pass as it does for me every year, with no fuss or frenzy. Just pudding.

If you’d like to follow the story of Croft 5 then please subscribe below. It’s free, and you’ll only get notifications of new posts (no spam, we promise!).