A busy day

After no boat for nearly three weeks due to constant winds from the south and west, the long awaited arrival of Colin on Benlli III at 9am was very welcome. However, it was also tinged with sadness as all the Observatory staff were leaving the island for their Christmas break with family and friends.

On the boat coming to take them away were some day visitors though; a film crew with rather a lot of equipment for just a three hour stay (they kept their energy up by mainlining Jelly Babies I noticed) and the vet. One of the Welsh Black cows is in calf and the farmers were worried that she might not be able to deliver herself so the vet was called in, and an hour later Poppy arrived, safely delivered by caesarean section. Poppy had been lying in a breach position and it would have been an exhausting labour for all concerned so the break in the weather was a great relief.

Also on board was some post; it was like Christmas morning for a while with a couple of large sackfuls being delivered around the island to the remaining residents. Jim has been especially lucky as he has some new binoculars to play with (all the better to spot the birds with) - I was more than happy with some new knitting yarn and a rather splendid supply of chorizo sausage and chocolate – life’s little essentials!

The remainder of the day was spent visiting the new mother and calf and unpacking our shopping, also delivered by the boat in the morning from the local Spar in Aberdaron. With potentially such large gaps between food deliveries we have tended to order plenty of fruit, veg and fresh meat, so it takes quite a bit of squirreling away in various freezers and cupboards to keep it fresh until the boat comes again..

So, a very busy day.

Elaine