Tag Archives: Summer

Sea Fishing

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If you know one thing about me, it is that I hate boats.  I am terrified of them and there are many reasons:-

  • They make me feel sick (all of them).
  • I hate getting in and out (I fell in once).
  • People always shout at me (mostly men using technical boat-speak at me while not explaining properly and expecting me to instantly understand and obey).
  • They always give me migraines.

But, I love fishing.  So when a friend asked if I wanted to go sea-fishing with him, I immediately said yes, and then spent the rest of the time over-thinking the whole scenario to a point of semi-panic.

Determined to go, though, I took two Stugeron before we left.

This was the boat.

The other boats at the marina looked bigger.

The outboard started and off we chugged.

 

Luckily the sea-rods were both ready.

The sea was nice and calm (big phew!) and it really was a lovely evening.

I was shown what to do (I am used to spinning rods so it was all new) and I instantly caught two fish!

We stayed in one spot, just between Vaila and the mainland fairly close to the rocks, while we fished on either side of the boat.

When we had about a dozen or so mackeral, we called it a night.  I also caught a gurnard, which we threw back.

The sun was beginning to set as we turned for home and motored our way slowly back.

I liked seeing the sea-caves.  I didn’t know they existed here.

And then we were back at the marina, all safe and sound.  Catching the fish was the best bit, and the boat ride there and back was fine.  I didn’t feel sick because I was occupied either taking photos, not standing up and untangling my line from the mess the gurnard had made.

And I didn’t fall out of the boat when I got out, either!  Win, win.  I still had to take a migraine pill though.  I knew I would.

Different Sheds

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I felt sorry for Fivla this morning.

After her breakfast, I found her queueing outside the closed door of the little shed, along with Vitamin and Kolka.  I opened it up so they could go in and Vitamin nipped in whippet-like, swiftly followed by Fivla.  Good, I thought, they are inside and can get some shelter from today’s windy/rainy day.

And then Kolka barged in, possibly uninvited, and there was pig-like squealing which I knew came from Fivla as she doesn’t do social pressure.

To give her her due, Fivla stayed inside for a little while but, when I came back with my phone to take photos, I found her back outside again looking very disgruntled.  She just hates crowds.

Buckets collected, washed and tidied, I put all the sheep out into their field.  They lasted a couple of hours, until they saw a cyclist coming down our track and all, to a sheep, ran to the gate in pure terror, asking to be let out so they could cower in their shed.  I have no idea who that poor cyclist was as I watched him turn around and leave.  He was obviously not here to see us.

After letting the sheep out of the field, I found Newt alone in his residence.

The other ponies were long gone down the track looking for non-existent grass to eat.

Newt said he wasn’t moving and no one could make him.

So I told him he couldn’t stay there all day, and it was clearing up nicely now.

(I may have not been telling the truth – it’s been a pig of a day).

Sick Dog Day (again)

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I have a headache, so I will keep this short.

Monster “helped” me to fail to complete my morning quiz (NY Times Connections). In my defence, they were very weird words today – I hadn’t a clue and neither had Monster. He was absolutely no use.

Pepper was also having an off-day.  She woke me up at 4 a.m. being sick and I immediately took her outside. I then spent the remainder of the night hugging her in bed, while she shook and her tummy made alarming noises.  Poor little soul was very unhappy but she managed to sleep a bit while I was now wide awake, which probably explains my headache.

I have just about finished my daily chores, which are kept to the bare minimum because it is summer.  The Shetland ponies who live on the track, however, do have two haynets in the afternoon.

They approve of this routine and come racing up.

It is not easy, though.  The haynets are small-holed, double nets so the ponies have to work very hard for every piece of hay they can prise out.

Today Newt said he couldn’t be bothered with the hay and he is fat so there must be something on the track.  I refuse to worry.

And then suddenly Pepper felt better, raced inside the house for her tea and everything was back to normal.  OH says there are many rabbit corpses lying around (thank you Monster), so I have a feeling they might be the problem.

More sighing *** oh, Pepper ***.  Early night for us both, I think, to get rid of my headache.

A Bit of Colour

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It was a wet foggy start to the day.

The kind of day where you need waterproofs but then you’re too hot because it’s also warm outside.  Basically dreich (such a good word – a classic Scots adjective used to describe weather that is dull, damp, bleak, and miserable.)

No one felt very inspired to do anything.

(I love how Monster has the bed and Pepper doesn’t and yes, she does mind hugely.)

And a photo of Ted, just in case you think he has been forgotten.

Anyway, after cooking all morning and making my usual hand-felted Shetland sheep this afternoon, I was in dire need of some fresh air – the weather had cleared at lunch time which made everything much brighter.  So I went outside with the dogs for a walk around the ungrazed fields to see if I could find any evidence of our summer flowers.

A happy sight – my first heath spotted orchid.

Some Spring Squill – this was my first sighting in the field.

The marsh marigolds now in full abundance – great swathes of deep yellow flowers everywhere.

The “mayflooer” or Cuckoo Flower or Lady’s Smock – I am ashamed to say I had to look up the name of this as I always forget but it is a favourite in its own quiet way.

So that was me today.  A nice peaceful Sunday.  All we need is the sun to shine and everything will be perfect.