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Knowing that I have to manage the croft on my own while Tim is at work means we have slowly set it up to be as manageable as possible for one pair of hands (albeit, a pair of hands and a mini crofter now in tow). This is fine until the sickness bug hits! When you want the bed to drop anchor as you feel the rough seas tossing you about. When you wish the grass was as green as you. And you realise the mini crofter will be awake in only a few hours.  The impending doom of dawn awaits…

This is when you phone a friend (alright, whatsApp, I hate phones), lots of friends, and a distress signal gets aired on Facebook. The chicken coop was something I really struggled with while pregnant and the thought of the smell of it is the same when feeling positively ill. I had no plans to even venture near. Ha, stuff them (not literally, they are on flubevet), I thought. At least the cows and sheep will manage for a day. My main concern was the mini crofter. I have no idea how other single parents manage to be sick while still looking after a dependent. Me? I brought in the cavalry. Mini crofter was shipped off for the weekend and today, neighbours came up to feed the animals.

So, maybe not the most interesting of news but it does show us our friends who volunteer themselves and are willing to help (Marion, Niall, Ali, Catriona, David, Lesley, the names could go on). For them, and their families, Tim and I are much indebted to, for without them, the circus (sorry, croft), wouldn’t function. The ‘community’ is still alive and well and willing to help.

Tonight, the sea is calm, the waves have stopped, and the mini crofter seems to be having the time of his life with the MacDonald family in Banff. Just remember son, don’t get too use to that way of life, if you want to go swimming when you get home, there’s a wee loch just down the road…

I would like to take this moment to thank Fiongall for the past two years as he today stepped down from his role as head of our crofting steering group. He has headed the group with a canniness well above his peers and electric fencing. However, he has delegated his role to his Progeny, Hjaltland (aka, Lugs).
He headed to pastures new to become Chieftain of the Freezer Space. This new role is a promotional step for him as he works with the ‘Meat and Greet’ committee from 11th October. He will be back at the croft in his new role from that date so why not support him on his first day and come along that evening to meet up with him and get some quality, home grown Shetland beef? All meat will be packaged ready for your fridge or freezer.
(All puns intended, Drew will not take offence if you would prefer Fiongall, I’m sure she would have been proud of his achievements at such a young age…)