Bit of chilling

 We have had a full on year so, having a period with no guests has been good.

We did have a short birdie session in-between showers but it's very quiet. Just a lot of gulls, shags and tystie.

At home, Rob has been doing the accounts while Jill has been working on the tiling. It's coming along pretty well. 

The chickens have had an early Christmas treat.

Nearly ready for Christmas.

Storm Bram

 Several days of pretty crappy weather due to Storm Bram.

Jill did her PA day but it was too horrible to go out. She ate her lunch by the sea at Mossbank before going  and tried to take some shots of all the shags that were feeding there, but the sea was so rough most just had the top of the head in. 

The afternoon got curtailed as the wind really picked up. It was a pretty nasty drive home.

With the weather being so bad, Jill put up some more lights and has just about finished latexing the floor. It took ages as we had to do a bit, and wait of it to dry as we need access.

The wind has snapped the string of outdoor lights.

Yesterday we did some Christmas shopping in the wind and rain. The sea had a very dramatic day.

The starlings around the house have been gathering in big numbers. Well over 1000 in the barn this year.

They were watching me from the roof taking shots of the lovely sunset.

Rob has had 3 hospital appointments this week so there hasn't been time for much else!

Keeping cats off.

 A few more decorations are up. Charlie is looking smart.

We haven't gone too mad.

Wee spiky is doing well he now overflows Jill's hand. He has been persuaded to leave his blanket and go into his box.

As we have no guests we have started the last bit of flooring outside the office now it has dried out. The latex is going down.

It's a bit of a challenge keeping the cats off!

Robs been working on the paperwork to submit to the plumbers in a last attempt to get them to see sense. It's called a demand according to the Sheriff s office.  It's difficult not to be rude!

It doesn't always go right

 Sorry for our absence had an awkward week and got a bit down about it.   We love it up here but there is always someone who will be bloody minded and upset things.

We have mentioned it before, but we had issues with our heating that was put in at the beginning of July. Well after months of requesting they deal with the leak respectfully and inform their insurance company we were getting nowhere with only 2 options left. Court or the paper ( hoping it would make them see sense. The paper were great and sort of liased with them to get their comments. They refused so the paper ran the article. Well like anywhere there are keyboard warriors who believe their own opinion regardless of the truth.  Well, they were out in force.

Bear in mind they have agreed they caused the leak in writing. They also decided now was the time to go oh crikey we now need to respond and accused us of a fair bit on line that isn't true. Needless to say their Shetlander friends, who clearly don't like sooth movers , joined in actually mentioning the word parasites. We didn't want to say much as it's been very tough but we are really grateful our friends saw the flood so they know we are not making it up. Glad we aren't film stars!

So, if you saw the nastiness, please don't believe it.

This afternoon, we finally bit the bullet and went to the Sherriffs office, which is very sad. We had hoped they would talk to the paper and finally sort it out with insurers, then we could have published to say it's all been fixed and things are good. That was the journalists hope too. We are fully aware accidents happen but hate all this negativity.

Sheriffs office have been very helpful so we know what to do now.  It's a bit different up here. All very sad though. We have worked with so many great companies up here. It just takes one or two.

The moral of this story is ' shit happens to anyone, at any time.'

Anyway to cheer us up we got some decorations out. Still a few more to go but it's looking nice. Geri found the tree.

We did run over to Mossbank  for PA day this week, we both went as Mark has a poorly foot which looks a bit like a football. It was a good afternoon talking about all sorts of things, and eating his chocolates. The roads were really wet so it was tricky driving. We've had lots of rain.

Angus came back from the kiln. He's come out quite well.

Sarah kindly gave me her star for the tree.

So apologies there aren't any photos but we haven't felt like going out. We did have a quick trip to try and find the tailless  rubythroat at Scousbrough, but we couldn't find it and weren't really in the mood for giving it the time we normally would.

Haring around

 We had a Sunday wander and started with 5 hares on the hill. One was quite curious and watched  Jill walking along the track. It stayed for ages.

 They do differ. It's chum was off before Jill was out the the car. It was on the next hill.

Then it was off to Scalloway to see the Queen eider again in better light. She is quite a nosy bird. We have noticed, after hours of watching, that she often actively swims towards people. She was feeding well and catching lots of crabs. I think she has worked out the gulls don't steal her food if she is near humans so there are lots of shots swimming towards Jill! .She is a lovely colour in the sun.

She still has a tystie friend that she spends time with 

After a bit of time we headed back to Walls for advent teas. Yummy! Nice little craft fair too.

Lots of pretty reflections today.

Jill popped to Mossbank to see Sarah and Mark and to collect Jill's pottery cow. Will take a photo tomorrow. Again interesting reflections coming home.