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Evening all,

Writing this looking West over the Dornoch Firth after a fine day. Now a bit cloudy with a light SW breeze but it has been another good day weather wise here. Tomorrow may be different so looking forward to trying to get a long distance Zoom. Jim has the record for farthest south, I’ll try and get it for farthest north! Yesterday I went for a short trip in my ‘borrowed’ boat for the week just to get used to it and also put into it some basics which I consider essential – e.g. it had an anchor but no rope, a couple of oars which did not fit the rowlocks and an engine which had not been run for a while. However a quick look through my shed and stuff left over from earlier boats I kitted it all out with ropes, oars and boathook and did a quick check on the engine which seemed to me fine and was a fourstroke so no mixture problems. I put out a couple of lobster pots and after a half and hour fishing took back five mackerel two of which we had for tea and three of which I smoked and had for lunch today so the good life is sort of coming together in this new normal. Maybe a lobster on the menu tomorrow if the weather holds out though that’s not looking good. I don’t want to put my own boat in the water as I have no guarantee that lockdown is not going to happen again anytime soon and that would mean it lying tied up in the harbour with winter coming on and little supervision so I don’t want that.

We had a good run up the A9, only stopped at Ralia which was fine and well organised and the village here seems to be coming to terms well with the influx of camper vans and holidaymakers who seem to be enjoying themselves and still following the rules so all is good.

Ian and Jim were at the shed today doing a bit more tidying up and it appears that the scout hall has opened up for limited activities as Graham had intimated to us. As far as I’m aware they have to deep clean after each event so we will hear how they get on. Has anyone registered for the SMSA AGM? I have not yet done so.

Fiona, Currie Primary and Marion, Nether Currie Primary have given the go ahead for putting stuff to the school but we will do it outwith school hours, probably on Friday afternoons when everything is ready to go and after City fibre have relaid roads and pavements. First is likely to be Nether Currie Primary for the Planters and Playbus. The playbus will have to be assembled and finished there, probably two hours work for two or three. The planter seat is a two man operation and possibly setting some slabs for the legs to sit on. I have not checked yet whether the school have any. Regarding Currie Primary the priority will be the first fence which we still have to paint the sections of and then finish in situ when the basis of it is installed. Alastair Mckenzie has volunterered to take the lead on painting so that will start when he comes back from holiday. After the basic fence is installed we have to measure and make and fit a gate and do it all again for the second fence. The tepees can probably go when trailer space is available as can the mud kitchen when the place for it to go is properly ready for it, it cannot go before then. So we have a lot to do and I want as many as possible to be able to participate in it which will take time and patience from some of us while others get a chance to do their bit. As long as we can work outside and the weather is kind then we’ll manage. Fortunately most of what we are doing cannot easily be done inside because phase four when we can get back to a real shed is still far on the horizon. I know that Jim and myself are getting a little bit of grief through ‘shed clutter’ being around other jobs at home so now that I have an idea of how to make a playbus the one for Currie Primary will be done at the shed as and when with a number of people working on it and hopefully Jim will do the same with another planter rather than us continuing to do things at home. We need to get a better transfer of knowledge between shed members than we have at present and I really enjoyed helping John (and I really mean that) take the tepees from concept to fruition. Next time I’ll watch John and at least one AN OTHER do the next lot!!.

I hope that this allays any fears that we have nothing to do and also that we don’t have to go at breakneck speed on every idea but get the ones already under way finished first. I would say we have at least six to eight Fridays or Thursdays/Fridays ahead of us with what we have out the back of the shed or in my garage so hopefully this gives everyone who wants a chance to be involved.

Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see and chat with some of you tomorrow on Zoom.
Finally one for a trivia quiz - which is the only harbour on the east coast of Scotland which faces west?

All the best, stay safe and well.

Alister