An earthquake, a big summer storm and Rona sold

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🌬️ Thousands of local people were affected by Storm Floris this week. The storm did not just equal official UK windspeed records for August. Unofficial local weather stations recorded record-breaking seasonal gusts of more than 90mph. It also caused power outages in much of Wester Ross, with people in Applecross, Shieldaig, Lochcarron, Kinlochewe, Torridon and Ullapool all left without energy for many hours.

🛑 In many places lengthy power cuts forced businesses, visitor attractions and public services to close. Consequently, other important lifeline services, such as community-internet provider Applenet, went down too, while roads were blocked with fallen trees all over the place, and train services cancelled. Although life, for many, is mostly back to normal again thanks to the heroic efforts of an army of engineers, public sector workers, and local volunteers, at the time of writing there were still people in Lochcarron, along Loch Broom, and near Balmacara without power.

⚡ Good to know: If you were without power for a long time, you could be entitled to compensation. SSEN say standard payments for anyone who was without power for more than 48 hours will be made automatically. But don't forget you can claim £30 per day per person for food and drink (if you have the receipts) if you were without power for more than 12 hours. Here is the claim link: www.ssen.co.uk/stormclaim

🌲 Also good to know: Following the storm council officials are concerned that weakened tree branches may yet pose a danger to people using roads and pavements. The council has urged landowners to check their trees. If you are worried about a dangerous looking tree you can email [email protected]

🪶 As well as people, wildlife was also affected by Storm Floris. South Erradale crofter and writer Annie O'Garra Worsley has blogged about the storm and a razorbill rescue from Opinan Beach. More: Notes from a small croft by the sea

🪨 Before the storm, there was an earthquake. A magnitude 3.1 earthquake hit 32 miles away from Drumnadrochit, in the afternoon of Friday, August 1. It was felt in Wester Ross, with reports describing it as like 'a washing machine on spin' or 'a low flying jet' followed by a 'bang like an explosion.' More: British Geological Survey.

🦦 Two "feisty" young otters were also rescued recently by Wester Ross locals on their way to the Belladrum music festival. They were found near the A835 south of Ullapool and nicknamed Bella and Drum. Photos on x.com | More: Alasdair Ferguson | The National (£)

💷 The Isle of Rona has a new owner. It is a company called Fior Rona Ltd. The company was set up by hedge fund manager Danny Luhde-Thompson and his wife Cressida Pollock. The only two current residents of the island are set to leave when they retire in the Autumn. The purchase price was not disclosed. More: Eve Beatie | Daily Record

🥬 Today! There will be a non-profit fresh produce stall at the Gairloch Thursday Market. More: Facebook.

📚 On Friday August 8, there'll be an author talk by Kat Hill, who wrote the book Bothy, in Kinlochewe Village Hall. Details below.

🛍️ This Saturday there will be a table top sale in Gairloch Community Hall. Details in the flyer below.

🦀 If you're running out of ways to entertain the kids, there's a "rockpool rummage" being organised by local High Life Highland Ranger Katie Grant on August 12 in Gairloch. More: Facebook (You might find a very rare jellyfish.)

🌳 On Saturday August 23, The Glen Torridon Partnership are running a workshop on controlling Rhododendron Ponticum, with a chance to try out practical techniques. More: Facebook

🧵 Ullapool Unpacked CIC are starting a monthly mending circle. The first social making and mending session will be on August 27. More: Facebook

⚡ SSEN have confirmed that there will be another public consultation meeting on the proposed subsea cable that is set to run from the Hebrides to Beauly via Little Loch Broom and Dundonnell. It will take place on Thursday September 11 at Badcaul Church Hall, 6-8pm. More: See issue 12.

🎓 Local school pupils got their exam results this week. Overall, Highland Council says there is "much to celebrate." More: Highland Council.

❓ The West Highland Developing The Youth Workforce project has been sharing some career stories on it's Facebook Page this week aimed at young people who might be pondering their next steps. One particularly inspiring tale, from Dr Lee Coutts, the new Head Teacher at Ullapool High School, was picked up by the Ross-Shire Journal. More: Iona M.J. MacDonald | Ross-Shire Journal (£)

🏘️ More details have been released, including a visual mock-up, of the proposed 95 new homes that could be built on the edge of Ullapool. More: Bracewell Stirling Consultants

💷 In local funding news, Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (GALE) have won two separate grants from the council. £17,189 will be for the Shieling "social hub." The money will be used to support efforts to turn The Shieling into "a multifunctional space to bring people of all ages together." GALE will also receive £12,942.71 to help meet the costs of installing a solar PV system with battery storage at The GALE Centre.

🏗️ Elsewhere, Applecross Community Hall is to receive £36,000.87 from the council to support a "full refurbishment," and Dornie Moorings Association (SCIO) is to receive £25,112 for the Totaig Bay Moorings Project.

⛵ Local volunteers have been praised after The Aultbea Flotilla event last weekend raised around £1500 towards the running costs of the Aultbea Hall. More: Facebook

🚜 Speaking of local volunteers, Duncan has earned a chorus of thanks on social media for sprucing up the streets of Gairloch recently. More: Facebook

🎉 The Rewilding Bac Duh project is celebrating after being awarded £7045 from the Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF) to restore their peatland near Poolewe. More: HIEF

💧Inverasdale Estate have been given the green light from planners for another peat restoration project to the north east of Melvaig. More: Highland Council

🪦 The capacity of Gairloch burial ground has been increased so that it will have space for several more years following work undertaken by local council workers. More: Highland Council

🍃 Writing on the Nature Scot blog, Roddy Maclean looks at some botanical village names in gaelic Scotland, with Aultbea getting an honourable mention. More: Scotland's Nature Blog

🚗 A company that has won a big contract from the council for fixing potholes is hiring. More: HiJobs.net

🍰 And Gairloch Museum are hiring part-time serving, clearing and support staff for the cafe. More: Facebook

🌧️ And finally - a video from Applecross Walled Garden of a local waterfall being blown uphill during Storm Floris went a little bit viral on Facebook. More: Facebook