Alive but probably only just

Back to my traditional haunts on Baleshare and it is the time of year when grey seal pups get washed up - sadly normally to fall prey to the gulls and ravens. Indeed I thought this one was dead until it moved a little when gently prodded. It has a chance as it was getting dark but not much I fear.
More however than the venison we had to butcher yesterday having purchased the carcase off the estate. It is culling time of year and this was a calf surplus to the target population.
The meat theme carried on today as we picked up a butchered local whole lamb - the freezer is groaning under the onslaught and wouldn't have taken a pile of seal meat anyway .....
Interesting that one thinks of the islanders as insular - by definition if you go back to the etymology - however both locals we spoke to today are breaking away from the islands this year in a significant way. One had a six week road trip in Alaska (probably on the proceeds of our buying a lamb of him!) and the other is shortly off to Goa. With the tradition of maritime service here, I am supposed one shouldn't be surprised.