Winters here..

At least it feels like it, when it's getting dark at five o' clock.

A lovely start to the day, but some heavy showers developing. Not a lot of wind, unlike down south later.

Decided to start on the "northern" hayloft, at the far end of the ruin. Big problem is that this has been used as a storage area, so the first part of the job was to clear it. Bits of wood have been sorted, some to keep, some for kindling, and some which I can't be bothered to cut up and will burn on a bonfire. Need a good fire to burn all the weeds and tattie tops.. Anyway, cleared the top of the hayloft, which involved clearing underneath to find a home for the higher stuff.. Logistics..

The pic is of the first job to do, replace the lintel with a concrete one. The stonework above has previously been poorly repaired, and is held together with cement. I'll try and preserve as much stone as I can, but if it drops, I'll rebuild. You might make out a green brush that I've placed in the hole where I removed a joist. It was rotten at the ends, and well eaten away with worm and wear. I'll have another lintel to do later, above the "cupboard" in the corner. I can't get to that until I totaly remove the present hayloft..

Jobs for the winter months..

Hoping the storm doesn't do too much damage to those living down south..