Wild weather.

Very strong winds - again.

I know I feel better mentally if I go out.  Even if it is just to drive to the Prom, park up and look.  Perhaps open the car window and breathe in the fresh air.

But once I get down there I watch for the odd person to walk past the car.  If they remain upright I get out of the car.  

Wild sea.  No Surfers and No boats!

The tide was well in, but just on the turn.

So some birds were gathering as the beach was revealed.

At the other side of the bay the Gulls were gathering.

A feeding frenzy.  Sand Eels.  Sometimes happens when the seas are rough the Sand Eeels must be scooped up to the surface where the birds can just gulp them down.

It was windy but I was not blown about.  It was coming off shore on a slant.  Very invigorating!  I walked a bit but it was tiring.  I went back to the car.  There were not many other people out of their cars.

So mentally recharged, and oxygen levels!!

We recently had our oil tank filled up.  Where we live, despite having North Sea gas piped in from the North Sea, we are not connected, and not many others in this area are.  They will only connect you to gas if there are more than x amount of people doing it.  In rural Scotland it is not worth their while installing the infrastructure.  Daft.  So it is either electric and or oil.  Some people have calor gas.  Not many.

Most places in the countryside here have oil.  The DP dips the oil tank on dustbin day which is a Tuesday.  Once it gets below half I order a top up.  This can be delivered the same day if you phone early.  This time it was afternoon before I phoned.  So first next thing next morning the tanker came.  We had delivered 681 litres.  Few days later I got the bill.  £349.66.  I have to pay within 30 days.  They are so laid back up here!  That oil will last well into the Spring time before it goes to half and we top up again.  That does the heating and the hot water.  Our electric is with Octopus who supply us with green energy and we have been with them for 2 years now.  I renegotiate with them each year for a fixed term (and check it against other suppliers.) We have a wood burning stove in the sitting room and one in the shedudio.  A load of wood cost us £90 last delivery and will see us through the winter.  Should there be a power cut we have candles.  The Woodburner which we can cook on, boil a kettle on.  

It might also be of interest to you frugals that we have a septic tank so do not pay any sewage rate to the council.  Water rates yes.  But it is not a lot compared to in England.  Water here is publicly owned.

Living in Scotland is good for many things.

Even our Wild Weather!