It Happened AGAIN! Storms Hit Our Cottage on the Isle of Skye, Scottish Highlands - Ep41

Willie, Sarah and their dog, Jack Spaniels, continue their biggest adventure yet - leaving their suburban life and moving over the sea to a remote cottage on the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of the Scottish Highlands.
In this episode, the 'Skye-Lifers' batten down the hatches as Storm Agnes hits the island, bringing torrential rain and high winds with her.
Will our property be flooded again, as the rivers rise above the banks or will our precautions be enough to stay safe?!
Also, follow along as Sarah goes on a festive creative journey and find out more about cetacean stranding on the west coast of Scotland, as we meet an expert in the field.
LIVE STRANDINGS:
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
Rescue Hotline: [phone]
bdmlr.org.uk
DEAD STRANDINGS:
Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS)
07979 245893
[e-mail]
strandings.org
For England & Wales:
0800 652 0333
ukstrandings.org
Billy Reekie - "All I Can Do":
• All I Can Do - Billy ...
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Thanks & see you in the next video!
Sarah, Willie & Jack x
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[@livingtheskyelife]

Thanks for watching our video! If you enjoyed it please do give it a like and subscribe to be notified when our next video comes out. Billy Reekie - "All I Can Do": kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKK1fpR9iNGWZtEsi=aDafxtBw3RYxF4_T You can support us by donating the cost of a coffee on our Kofi Page: ko-fi.com/livingtheskyelife Or by joining our Patreon community for bonus content: www.patreon.com/LivingTheSkyeLife Dirty Secrets of Scotland Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/DirtySecretsScot Sarah’s Etsy Store: shewalksshepaints.etsy.com You can also follow our adventures on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/ourlifeonskye Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088574329199 Thanks and we will see you in the next video! Sarah, Willie & Jack x

[@lyndaplancarte4895]

I would love to see a print of Jack Spaniels in the Christmas hat!!...maybe with a Tartan bow tie too!!... that would make adorable Christmas cards!!

[@tracycrum9829]

I was just about to comment the same thing!! ❤❤❤

[@ceceliakeown5653]

Lynda cute idea..so surprised sarah didnt think of that. Shame jack should have suggested it to her.

[@sheblyne]

Certainly those that know and love Jack would pretty eagerly buy them.

[@AnnSarasvati]

Oh yes!

[@ppodoentbeast]

Next year!

[@chucks_88]

Those Christmas cards are just adorable and Jack was just eating up all the attention he was getting during interview. Willie did an amazing job making sure your new studios didn't get wet.

[@ginacrusco234]

I enjoyed being let in on the creative process you have, together and separately. The Christmas cards are just smashing: Sarah, the beasts look so jaunty in their hats; and Willie, the texts strike just the right witty note.

[@the-reading-lemon]

Can't believe you didn't go for "Christmas is Neigh!" for the horse card 😂 I'm glad your repair works managed to keep the water out this time - maybe you should consider adding a little drainage in front of the gate with a grate on top of it so you can still cross it with your car? That way you won't have to pull out the sandbags every time it rains so hard. Seeing the porpoise was very sad, but I'm glad you took the opportunity to educate yourselves and us. Sadly, these things happen, but that doesn't mean we can't get something positive out of them anyway. See you next week!

[@sallyannc3176]

Yes - I think they need a permanent trench with cattle grid across it to stop water, and beasts, getting into their site.

[@stuc734]

The mad gnome.....😂😂😂 another superb slice of all things skye life. Braw🤟🤟🤟

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Sarah and Willie. I’m glad that the storm didn’t do damage to your home. I love your holiday card, Sarah. See you next week❤️❤️❤️

[@gloriawilde6801]

Your work is beautiful Best Wishes from Australia 💙💗🇦🇺

[@shelleymeisner214]

Big fans here in Nova Scotia. Bonnie Cat likes to watch Jack Spaniels.

[@cherylmoser6383]

I love the prints with the pony! They’re all awesome but that’s my favorite ❤❤❤

[@sylviawitcheecomrie37]

The cards are brilliant. The talk with Ellie was really interesting. The song sounds great. Going to have a listen. Thanks for another excellent video

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Greetings from a snowy Colorado! We got 4 inches of snow last night. Luckily, it was a wet snow that melted quickly. Glad your water issues on the property aren't a horrible headache. I love the hat on the sheep! So cute! Your Christmas cards are lovely! Poor porpoise! What a shame the poor thing expired. It's an unfortunate fact of life. I've seen a Christmas card with a drunk reindeer and it holds up a cocktail saying, "Bingle Jells!" I still laugh when I think of it!

[@loriellison3723]

Cards look great!

[@SouthernRebel414]

It’s mind blowing how much rain there was and then to hardly any water. No wonder Scotland is so green. Sarah I LOVE your Christmas cards!!!! And the greetings were hilarious🤪🤣 Was sad to see the porpoise stranded and dead. It was very good of you to include the phone numbers for people to call and report on stranded porpoises . The two of you are truly very caring people. Unfortunately Mother Nature isn’t always loving and kind. I agree with the person who commented about having Jack Spaniels on one of your Christmas cards. He’s such a handsome and good boy. Till next week. Stay healthy and safe. From the other side of the ocean…

[@judithmalan1502]

We had those Tea cakes today...Irrisistable!

[@lozinozz7567]

Run a drain down the side of the drive past the shed straight down and it will take the majority of the water that way I adore the sheep in a hat ❤

[@priscillamontoya]

I love those cards, I really do! 😍

[@heatherw9084]

Glad the water stayed on the outside this time, good job Willie. Sad about the porpoise 😢. The Christmas cards are lovely and so were the puns! Great job! Loved the snippet of the song and of Willie the gnome. Happy Halloween from Cameron, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ♥️

[@sadielevens1144]

❤❤❤❤❤. I love you guys!!

[@Freddieandthedreamer]

Love the Dennis the menace jumper Willie 👍🏻😁

[@JeanStAubin-nl9uo]

Those notes cards are very nice Sarah.

[@error52]

"Happy Neigh Year" can also work for the pony.

[@rebeccanicoll2550]

I absolutely loved your Christmas hat! It looked great on the cards!❤

[@BillyReekie]

Thanks guys 💙

[@seansgirl80]

Each week you succeed in making me laugh out loud for one reason or another! (The mad gnome!) Really enjoy your channel! And that you show the good and the not so good sides of life but using them to educate! I’m really enjoying your interview segments and sharing of Skye business and charities. Excellent stuff .

[@cheralyndewet897]

Adorable Christmas cards ❤ excellent video loved seeing your creative process. 👍Thanks for sharing.

[@carolinestagg6807]

Love the Christmas prints and captions. May the porpoise ‘soul rest in peace

[@dellamcconnochie]

Another brilliant video🎉

[@rosemaryspencer1501]

Yes.

[@deepayne1930]

Maybe think about French Drains Willie?

[@censport]

Glad to see all of Willie's hard work paid off during the storm. Always the adventure with Scotland's weather, eh? Also, received my calendar and favorite new bobble hat yesterday! Although it's 78°F (26°C) here in Nashville at the moment, tomorrow it will only be 47°F (9°C) so I'll get to use the new hat soon. Thank you Sarah!

[@jananderson876]

Happy Halloween!!!! The gnome was terrifying!! 🎃

[@livingonthetyne]

You should build a french drain under your grass, which diverts into that small burn. It would be so useful for the way your water flows into your garden and it will keep your grass from getting waterlogged on heavy rain/foods.

[@59tante]

Sarah...how fun. You blow me away

[@andrewgiles4296]

Great episode- very interesting.

[@lindalaliberte8704]

Willie, I just went and listened to your song that you wrote and I ❤️ it. Sarah your Christmas cards are beautiful and I loved witnessing your creative process. Really enjoy the Christmas greeting on each card. Well done Willie. 👏👏👏😀🩵

[@thomascook6364]

As always a cracking vid!I’ll tell what Willy is obviously a natural entertainer and is very comfortable in front of the camera but u Sarah have really blossomed and grown in confidence in front of the camera!Have a great week guys xxx

[@livingtheskyelife]

Aww thanks so much!!

[@philipfedorchak6444]

Love the channel you two thought your quest on the marine life was very interesting and informative.Sara love your art work your very talented, but I think your dog Jack Spaniels is itching to be drawn by you and would look fantastic in a Santa hat.

[@izzymaclean6654]

Hi, I think it would be really good to put your Santa prints on cushions, mugs, coasters etc, they would sell in most gift shops and online I'm sure. Very talented you both are 😊

[@arjenduinhouwer3550]

About the paper sizes, you could use a bigger paper size to eventually cut out multiple A6 formats. You should be able to have four A6 sheets from an A4 sheet.

[@lydiaross2554]

Those would make great Christmas cards

[@marjane4344]

Wild life in area is amazing. Lovre the video .

[@annjarvis9300]

Awww sad on the porpoise Glad you kept dry from the flooding Xmas idea Durand and well done Willie with the quotes tc all big hugs to Jack he was so good in the interview tc now the oldies 🤗🤗🤗

[@CathyWestcott]

Love your Christmas cards.

[@danielcargill8019]

In Cape Cod Bay, dolphins and whales ground themselves on the beaches a lot. Massachusetts has a really good rescue team for these incidents. Apparently, there was no drought in Scotland.

[@terryforce4060]

Love, love love the Christmas cards. And silly is a good thing. We all need to smile and with others and ourselves. And its onto laugh about ourselves! Love the channel. I keep feeling like I should call you guys to chat about your week! Going to check out that video of Willie's song! Great voice, sir!!❤❤ Love you guys!

[@ayersrockwhere]

Wowzers Dennis the Menace can sing 🎉

[@pattirichardson4956]

That's alot of rain. Think you need to put a pipe in the ground to redirect water from the road and line the driveway edge with big granite square cut stones. Great guest.

[@FOSSILFERN10]

As always, a very enjoyable video even though there was some unpleasant events. Glad that your cottage and byre did not sustain any damage and I was very pleased to learn that there is useful research done on the dolphin situation and the interview was very interesting. I really like the Christmas cards that Sarah did!!! Tell Jack that I am so sorry that Willie left him at home for a whole 10 minutes! It must have been hell lol. Nothing a cookie would not cure. 🙂

[@nicholasmiller5146]

As always...your video has truly made my Sunday complete. You know from previous comments I have left that I think the 2 of you are amazing. But I am posting this for a very diff. reason this day. I didn't see a Link to Billy Reekie...so I Search his name on KZbin...and found just 3 songs. The guy is AMAZING !!! I am 77 yrs. old an an insane music fan my whole life. Billy Reekie is a serious talent !!! So whagt I do' not understnad is WHY there are not more of his songs on KZbin. I am not exaggerating, now. This guy has an absolutely amazing voice !! Why is he NOT famous??? Or IS he??? and I just have not yet been able to find more of his songs. HELP!!! You no doubt think that I am exaggerating...but I assure you I am NOT !!! Anybody else reading this Check out Billy Reekie ! You will NOT be disappointed !! OMG !! OK I'll stop..but I could go on ...and on....and on. LUV to ALL of you amazing people !!! And "All I Can Do" ??? Well....FABulous ! I'll stop now. Promise !! LOL

[@TheAwakeningangel]

Hi guys just to let you know there is a storm heading over on wed thru Thursday so please tie everything down, xxxxx Dede

[@janegarrick6282]

I really liked Merry Christmoos ....

[@susanadams-wauro6716]

The Mad Gnome!!! Omg...on the floor! Another terrific video. Love your prints Sarah, and the calendar. The collab on the puns was wonderful! The info regarding the beached porpouse was very informative. Happy Hallowe'en to you both and extra cuddles to Jack Spaniels! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

[@aliceaustin3603]

I love your Christmas cards. So nice!

[@michaelhay5899]

I don't think the gnome is mad, he's just misunderstood. 😉

[@sarahgorsline1340]

love the santa hats

[@jenniferfarrah3134]

Thanks to you both for a very interesting video. So sad to see the dead Porpoise. 😢 Love the Xmas cards you have done Sarah . Not over designed . I bet they will sell very quickly . Fingers crossed the rain will soon stop . We have it now on the south coast 🙈. Have a good week 👍.

[@sheblyne]

I can get Tunnock's Tea Cakes at my local grocery store here near Toronto. They're absolutely elite! And it's not just any chocolate, it's dreamy melty chocolate! Love 'em!

[@pegsbarton6353]

Very interesting video guys...finding the poor porpoise and getting in touch with Ellie from SMASS was really useful information to know. Never having been in that position I would just have checked that the poor thing was beyond help and assume it would be carried away on the next tide, or eaten by predators. So it was a real education for me. I was really impressed with both Ellie and Sarah, the questions were really spot on, what SMASS does, how can people help stranded cetaceans and other sea creature [presumably?] and Ellies answers fully covered every aspect, so a real learning curve for me. Thanks to you all for that, though a rotten thing to have to see for Willy. The flood defences, again, kudos Willy, you really averted some serious damage I think. And Sarahs' Christmas cards were so cute. A cracking session with you both this week. I hope the weather keeps calm for you now.😊

[@livingtheskyelife]

Thanks so much!! We do wanted to make that sad situation into something positive by spreading the word about SMASS and what they do 😊

[@2peinmore]

Thanks

[@livingtheskyelife]

Thanks so much!!

[@cjcarver6290]

Feliz neighvidad!

[@grapesodatravels]

Well done Willie. Man, you're a grafter. Thanks for the careful, respectful treatment of the porpoise footage. Methinks the fairies of Sligachan Bridge better know how to swim... 🧚‍♀️🏊‍♂️

[@lisabracken9317]

GOOD silly!! Love the Christmas dress-up! Awaiting a series of illustrations toward a happy ending storybook video featuring Sarah, Willie and Jack's narration - including Willie's not to be missed amazing scary 'orc' (spelling?) voice...! 😀

[@twiggyvlogs6441]

I think the Santa hats are super cute. Definitely good silly

[@karenmackie9665]

So much utterly delightful content today! So why am I waiting patiently for the outtakes? 😂

[@blupoppy608]

so happy to find your channel, have liked and subscribed, looking forward to more episodes ;)

[@livingtheskyelife]

Thanks so much! Glad to have you on board 😊👍

[@neutonrenda2303]

Love the song, love your voice as well.👍

[@fairyacorn4854]

Good info on that video about the dolphin. I did'nt know they had to be reported dead or alive. Great pictures of the bridges in the floods and afterwards. Love love love the gnome at the end it really made me laugh you silly sausage Wille. The Christmas cards look really great too Sarah you clever girl and its nice you both had a part to play in getting ready to sell with amazing slogans on them. Think I like Christmas Bleatings best. Stay safe and don't get washed away in any future floading as what would we all do on a Sunday evening without you three? Lots of love from one end of the country to the other.❤🎃🎃🎃

[@iainweller452]

Perfect Sunday night viewing

[@rosiedonnelly2805]

Do one of Jackspaniels with a Santa Hat 🎅

[@martinemjt]

you should pour a concrete slab around the house. cards and calendars!!!! wow! beautiful

[@ooweesaler]

What a great lifestyle. We had the same here with the water. Each time i fannied about with a spade. Each time the water got worse. The only way is to get a machine on and put in decent drainage. I put in a french drain to stop the hill run off. Good luck.

[@duncansykora]

Hola Willie, Sarah and Jack, Just discovered your very excellent channel. We've met before when you were a very busy touring musician 'back in the day'... Cal's dad here from 'Good Foxy'. I've gone back to your first video and I'm watching right from the start. Great work guys ♥

[@livingtheskyelife]

Hi Duncan! Great to hear from you! Glad you’re enjoying the channel. Seems I’ve gone from busy musician to busy video maker! Hope you’re well and all is good! W

[@irvinparadis8920]

So I live in a small town in Maine and a woman came into a gift shop attached to my hairdresser’s and wanted a picture or something of a Scottish cow,hairy coo I was amazed

[@lfurches]

Happy Halloween to you both as well. Scarey G-nome! LOL I hope more Christmas cards are in the works. I it has only been a couple of hours since the video went live and they are gone, Cheers, Sarah Your designs are silly but in a good way!! Puns are good. I usually groan very loudly at puns. I have a friend who is a healthy punner like Willie. Glad the storms didn't do any damage.

[@charlotteanddavestorey6553]

Some water you had there , luckily it didn’t flood your byer, as sad as it is to see a dead porpoise, unfortunately that’s life , that’s nature, not much you can do . Love the highland cow with the Santa hat .

[@ceceliakeown5653]

So glad for you no water in the Byer! Good job Willie! Sarah you looked so pretty in the fair isle sweater in the opening..good colors on you. Sorry and sad for the dolphin. Such a special mammal. Did it get slashed by a boat not turning off its motor?

[@nicholasmiller5146]

Hola, Willie. Your new song "All I Can Do" is truly gorgeous. HOW can I find More of your songs? This latest song has SERiously piqued my interest in your talent !!!

[@livingtheskyelife]

Very kind - thanks! There’s a few things out there, but if you like this song, I recommend checking out Billy Reekie’s other song ‘She’ - I also co-wrote this. Also, I’m working on some of my own material that I sing myself at the moment. 🙂

[@nicholasmiller5146]

@@livingtheskyelife Thanks, Willie. I already have checked out "She" and like it too... I had been assuming that a song like "All I Can Do" didb't just pop out of Nowhere...so to speak...and that you had written many many songs over the years. Lord knows I have ! lol I want MORE , !! LOL

[@Teenibash1969]

“Silent neigh, holy neigh”, lol

[@sherrierollins3774]

Willy You have a great voice. Sarah what kind of paper are you using?

[@livingtheskyelife]

Thanks Sherrie! The paper is called Elegance Velvet 😊👍

[@mgrizz2386]

The angry gnome is scary indeed! Happy Halloween to you too. Lol loved the cards.

[@ruingakakano6169]

That teacake thingy sounds like a Mellow Puff in NZ.

[@sandersgarlinge4140]

You should look into French drains

[@eccosselion]

Hello 👋again to all you Skye lifers out there,sorry to hear Willie you are having serious water 💦 💦 🌊problem's with the rain water 🌊cascading down the hillsides causing problems for you and Sarah at the house,may I suggest somthing to alleviate the water problem, terracotta field drains, I have friends who farm who have similar problems with regards water,they use them on the farm to divert water 🌨🌨🌊from there water ladend fieds to drainage ditches along the sides off the fields,the best time for installing for you would be in the Spring or the Summer,I would speek to Richard your friend to hear what he has to say, as he has lived on Skye I would think 🤔most of his life, so he will have a better insight into such problems how they are dealt with by the local population. I was sadend to hear and see the porpoise 🐬but these are things that do crop up, even around your part the world when you lived in the Kingdom of Fife, the River Forth has problems similar, 🐋🐋🐳🦭🦭due to disease also to injury caused by ships and boats going up and down the Forth as you will beware off, anyways I will depart and hope your feet 🦶🦶🦶🦶stay dry and that no more problems aries.

[@hilltopgirl2665]

Water! Half your luck, could do with a flood about now in Australia. Bushfire everywhere

[@SharmanSomerset]

I knew those shrooms in the nineties would come back to haunt me! Thanks Mad Gnome!😂 Love to you all x

[@HT-io1eg]

It drains quick;y enough, deep stone filled trenches will divert it even more 😊

[@frauleintrude6347]

Maybe you should think about a drainage system around your house. You have seen where the water came running down from the road, there you should try to channel future floods into another direction. I don’t think the weather condition will get better in the future. We have more storms with higher intensity and much more down pours in our area. Rain for weeks already. Years before we had severe droughts only disrupted by thunderstorms with enormous amounts of rain per square metres. At one point water came gushing through our basement walls because our drainage system could not handle the amount of water anymore. Water level rose to 30 cm in our basement. A few centimetres more and our heating system would have been drowned. And our house is on top of a “hill” - 6 m higher than the rest of the village. Don’t ask what has happened to their basements down the road. I have seen floods running down from fields over the street. Climate change.

[@abrahamtomahawk]

Sad to see the porpoise, but that's life, and it'll feed lots of birds, mammals and bugs (if you got a camera trap on it that could be interesting).

[@pennykaiser6667]

Happy Halloween 🎃

[@alexrobinson2281]

Hi Willy , I’m puzzled ? It’s this an old video ? We stay in Milovaig , Glendale and this is the 3rd week we haven’t had any rain , the ground is bone dry and we were gathering sheep last week and the yard and flank was dusty , Maybe is just crazy Skye 😎😎

[@livingtheskyelife]

This was during Storm Agnes a couple of weeks ago. We work a couple of weeks behind with our footage to give us time to film and edit 😊 Sarah x

[@alexrobinson2281]

Ah , I see , good luck anyway , may pop over and see you sometime 👍

[@fastmathematics]

Not “Moo-ry coos-mas”?! 😂

[@bazwan6396]

A Neigh in a Manger perhaps?

[@adriannenash9852]

Maybe have a drawing with 3 winners for your patreon community on one of those videos? Be well from washington state USA ❤️

[@randyfrog1969]

Awful to see your flooding issues. Not wanting to give bad news but it's going to happen again and again. My advice is to dig a decent depth channel along the edge of the road across the front of your property. This can be filled with some form of drainage channel like an Aco drain or similar if possible or some free draining gravel if not. This should help take the water that runs down the road past your property rather than into it.

[@102create]

I love your postcards ❤❤ what is the name of your Etsy store??

[@livingtheskyelife]

SheWalksShePaints 😊 Link in the video description too!

[@irenedavo3768]

Mistletoe on Christmas Hats on cards?

[@davidsimpson130]

How do we order the Christmas Cards....cannot find them on the shop site. Many thanks David

[@livingtheskyelife]

Hi David! I’m currently working through all the pre-orders I have already received for the cards & calendars before I put the remaining stock back up for sale. I’m hoping I’ll get caught up on those orders this week, so keep an eye on Etsy & our socials!

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

They're beginning to find it isn't all roses living in Skye. Wait till the bad weather comes, the lack of sunshine, empty shop shelves. It's no wonder alcoholism is a thing in the islands.

[@livingtheskyelife]

Skye has its challenges, for sure. But the positives far outweigh the negatives. We’ve been here since November of last year, so we’ve already experienced a full winter - and I’m told it was the most severe on the island for over a decade. As for sunshine, not really noticed a significant difference to where we moved from. And the empty shelves? Not seen this at all so far. We use Asda delivery, so we’ve not had an issue with it. The Co-op is a bit pricey though. As for alcoholism, I reckon its an issue all over unfortunately. Not sure geography is a big factor in it. We’re absolutely delighted to live here. It’s still a case of pinching ourselves to see if it is for real sometimes! Couldn’t be happier if we tried.

[@warrenscott-walker9724]

Baarrr humbug

[@dyannejohnson6184]

Rain rain GO AWAY come again another WAY