Big weather.

As you've probably noticed, when you live in a remote area the weather takes on a whole new level of importance. I'm sure there are other Blippers out there who have the same problem.

If the wind gets above gale 8 to 9 there's a strong chance that the power will go down, which means you have to make sure you can manage without the electric. We've lost power for three days - actually not as much of a problem as you may think if you relax into it.

If the wind get's higher you may lose part of the roof, we did two years ago when we had winds gusting to 120 mph, which means you've got to have someone who can make the repairs and an insurance company with enough flexibilty to get the job done without too much fuss.

When the snow comes - the reverse happens, we have a great service. The ploughman, Gavin, lives about three miles away and he works the road till ten o'clock in the evening and opens it again at seven.

You've just got to know this stuff.

...and the picture is the mountains of Knoydart from the west.