Thursday, February 10, 2005
Difficult Farewells
02/10/2005
To-day there is more west in the breeze and it brings some hard blustery, wintery showers. Thin snow comes creeping down the hillsides. The temperature is plus 5 degrees, it feels colder in the wind. I have the occasional sight of blue sky and sun, low in a watery west. I dodge the showers to keep the Tower warm and dry, chopping logs and fixing leaky gutters, although I have to admit that Lachie and I must hoist dearest Dotty up to some of the higher battlements. The news brings discussion on the Land Reform Act and more particularly, its first test, where a local community claims the right make a compulsory purchase of development land from their landlord, to take the full commercial benefit from the land, rather than the landlord enjoying the profits. A most interesting case, and one with many moral standpoints, however, without doubt this was not the purpose of such an all-enveloping Act of Parliament. It is an Act, which I believe, will not stand up to serious legal challenge from either side of the traditional spectrum. We await developments with interest. Generally, I feel that the new law is an Ass, when anyone can wander through my farmyard and policies without a care, but I can be sent to the colonies were I to fart in somebody’s garden in North Kelvinside, Burford or Hampstead. Meanwhile in Glen Orchy, neighbours visit Arichastlich to bid Kim and Mhairi Katharine farewell, as they leave for the long journey, home to Alabama tomorrow. John and Erica take Mhairi for a last trip down the glen to Dalmally to the Post Office, and for a cold, windy walk to Kilchurn Castle. Where despite the Land Reform Act they find the Castle locked and the innocent walker risking a £1000 fine for trespass imposed by, yes, you have guessed, the Scottish Executive, supposedly the creators of The Land Reform Act. When will these PhD’s with ponytails join up the legislation? On returning to Arichastlich John and Erica are greeted with the fabulous news that Kim has typed “The End” to the draft of her first novel. To stretch the limbs I sprint up the Alt Trollaigh at 5.30 with 45 mins of daylight left to inspect the water supply after the recent spates. Our system is working well, although as usual a little maintenance is needed. The dogs sniff out a dead ewe below the outlet; this is the second drowning here, another sign of the wild extremes of weather that we have endured so far in 2005, or twenty oh five as we seem to be calling it, rather than two thousand and five as I had expected. The pack also put up three good stags; I am very pleased to see them, even though they are feasting on my trees, as we had feared that the poacher had shot them. Perhaps a “very young” Ardbeg will settle me as read my current book by the fire. My spirits need lifting, dearest Dotty. Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Winds Do Blow
02/09/2005
A strong southwesterly brings low pressure and 24 hours of heavy rain. The rivers rise and every hill burn is in full spate. It is not good weather to be out and about, therefore, only the most essential tasks are tackled, it is best to catch up with work and maintenance indoors. The weather has been not too bad for almost two weeks, so we cannot complain when our luck runs out, however it is frustrating. A call to Arichastlich confirms a wet and wild trip over Glen Ogle to Edinburgh for shopping and a taste of drive by sight seeing in heavy traffic, many castles and monuments were identified, and some money spent with the Edinburgh storekeepers. We all hope for better weather tomorrow and a chance to knock something off the “must do” list. The wind and rain are whipping around the Tower and I wander around checking the more regular leaky spots, the amount of South in the gale seems to keep the worst of the damage at bay. Only the briefest of runs with the dogs, carefully avoiding desecrating dearest Dotty’s front garden. It is a night for reading in front of a good fire, and as the first day of lent I consider giving up a pleasure, but with so many to chose from, it is a very difficult decision. Your Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.