Mice nibble… #10
Walking boots.
On the edge
Just how close are these two 5,600 year old houses to being lost to the sea? It was a thrill to fly …
Love’s Crashing Waves
The sea spray at the Scaun on the northernmost coast of Westray is like tiny glistening jewels today.
Woodlice in the lightshade
It’s been a long journey. To get to their final resting place, these Woodlice have had to get through the gaps between …
Some Enchanted Evening
In the musical South Pacific, Emile sings ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ where he describes seeing a stranger, knowing that you will see her …
Little Brothers
The scientific name for the Arctic Puffin is Fratercula arctica, or Little Brother of the Arctic. Classy.
I’m not saying my house is damp but…
This used to be a screw. This is what happens to metal when it lives in a damp atmosphere.
“I know whose ducks they come from.”
Whenever I tell someone on Westray how excited I am that I’ve just bought some duck eggs the response is always the …
Fish and chips to diet for
“You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this,” is my enthusiastic remark before ordering a Monk supper at …
Pulcinella di Mare
I love Puffins or, as the Italians have it Pulcinella di Mare; Punch of the Sea. We’re wandering along the cliffs at …
Banana and Custard
One thing is for certain on Westray and that is there will be one flavour of yoghurt stocked in surprising depth in …
Red Champion
The Red Campion is out in bloom again near the Mill on the route to the Castle o’ Burrian. That reminds me; I must remember to take a magnifying glass with me so I can try to tell the difference between the male and female plants next time.
Europe’s most complete Neolithic village
Skara Brae is exceptional. The eight houses there form Europe’s most complete Neolithic village. The domestic houses were occupied 5,000 years ago …
Floatel
The Safe Zephyrus is a floating hotel in Orkney’s Scapa Flow. I wonder if i can find it on AirBnB? According to …
Is it just me?
Is it just me or does the Orkney island of Flotta look quite barren from the air?
North Ronaldsay
The island of North Ronaldsay is famous for its sheep who live on seaweed and are kept off the fields by dry …
Midhowe Broch from the air
Midhowe Broch on the Orkney island of Rousay looks amazing as we fly above it. There are 4.5 metre wide walls which …
Stronsay
Stronsay looks beautiful and green from the air. Strjónsey: Old Norse for “Good fishing and farming island”
North Gaulton Castle
North Gaulton Castle is an amazing rock stack – especially from the air. It was used as a car advert in 1994: …
Rackwick Burn
Rackwick Burn sounds like an unfortunate little rash but is actually the name of a small stream on the Orkney Island of …
The Old Man of Hoy
The reason most climbers come to Orkney is The Old Man of Hoy. In fact he isn’t a very old man at …
Flying over Flotta
I was amazed to find out that anyone lives on Flotta. I thought the entire Island had been evacuated to build one …
Will
Will is my oldest friend, and by that I don’t mean that I’ve known him the longest; but that is also true. …
A Raven circles
A Raven circles over Marwick Head looking for carrion. I’m not carrion yet, not while I still have a pulse to make …
She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me
Lying on the grass in evening sunshine.
Light Aircraft
I didn’t realise until today that the best way to see the Orkney Islands is by light aircraft. Lamb Holm is a …
Handcrafted Orkney chairs
I’ve always loved the work of Orkney craftsman Fraser Anderson. I had a beautiful ‘creepie’, an Orkney milking stool, made by him for many years, but I’ve never had the chance to visit his workshop. It was a stroke of luck when I saw the sign for his Orkney Handcrafted Furniture when driving past late one afternoon and realised he would still be open. Thankfully, he was and proved as charming as his craftwork.
Palace Stores
The shop in Birsay, Palace Stores, was a source of great relief today. The Orkney Ice Cream was delicious (I recommend Raspberry), …
Mobilisation by Shame
Looking at the mass of poppies outside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, it’s hard to comprehend the sheer scale of the death and destruction.