Happy New Tax Year

04/06/2005

Once again, we seem to beat the worst of the weather. OK it is a bit miserable as we endure strong gust of wind and some heavy showers, but we have brief glimpses of blue sky with high thin clouds above. It is chilly at plus 7/8 degrees and a good sprinkling of snow on the tops. It is what we should expect in early April, I always have the false belief that we can have early spring weather when the days start to get longer and snowdrops push up in February and March. However, here in the glens above 500 feet we must not expect settled conditions until the end of April when we plan our main lambing. We are in an Atlantic depression and Heather the Weather warns us to expect strong Northerlies, frost, snow and thunder over the next three days. Suddenly small wild birds are at the nut feeders again, especially Siskines and the rate of nut consumption has doubled, do they know something of the cold snap that is due? It is the first day of the new tax year, which means that I must start to pull together all the figures for the estate for last year. Many friends are surprised that I like to get my tax return in early, that way I know what I have to pay and get that part of the rural budget discharged. I know a few folk who put it off for far too long and end up reluctantly supporting their bankers by the end of the summer. Talking of putting things off, the count down to next week’s Country Living Show is now on and Erica is cracking the whip to make sure that I play my part to get Diana Drummond ready in good order. I feel the need to start a new list of “things to do” coming on. But first an Ardbeg momment. Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.