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Westray, Page 29

Notes on a very small island

Broken Stones

Broken Stones

“Like pebbles on a beachKicked around, displaced by feetOh, like broken stonesThey’re all trying to get home” Paul Weller – Broken Stones

First Light

First Light

Dawn is at 3:57 this morning. In Rendalls, one of the shops in the village, I notice a small pile of CDs. …

May in June - Hawthorn

Welcome to May in June

The Hawthorn is in flower at Einar. It’s also known at the May-tree because it flowers in May. In Orkney it should …

Orchid

Purple orchid

Cycling past the sign for the Cleaton House Hotel I see a beautiful purple orchid with spotted leaves. I lie flat on …

Mature Cheese

Nibbling on a mature cheese

It’s always a thrill to discover a new cheese and this is no exception. A cheese! Made on Westray! So how does …

Huffing and Puffin

Huffing and Puffin

This afternoon I cycled down to the Castle o’ Burrian. The wind was against me. The wind is always against me. I …

Sea Pinks - Thrift on the Mill

Thrifty

Thrift or Sea Pinks grow all over the coast here and their pink lollipops of flowers are beautiful at this time of year.

I’m listening to a Corncrake calling at the Bay of Tuquoy. It sounds like wood creaking. If only I could see it! → 10 June, 2015

Horsetails

Horsetails from the Palaeozoic

There are Horsetails on the verge at Einar. They’re hard and scour my hands with their brittle covering of silica. They’re so …

Monk Supper

Monk Supper

“A monk supper please,” I said. That’s not a supper fit for a monk, although it might be. It’s monkfish and chips …

#islandproblems

My son introduced me to Yik Yak, an iPhone app which shows you local people’s comments wherever you are. I logged in …

Dandelions

Dandelions

If only I had a Guinea Pig. They would be in Guinea Pig heaven. These dandelions have roots as big as turnips. 

Rabbit

This year’s dead animal is…

There’s always a dead animal somewhere in Einar. Sometimes it’s a mummified starling. This time it’s a rabbit. Before it died it chewed through the electricity cable to my boiler. Then something ripped it to pieces and scattered it over the floor. There’s an isolated rabbit’s foot lying there. It wasn’t lucky for the rabbit.

Rhubarb as thick as your wrist

Einar’s rhubarb is ridiculous. It’s like a wild thing, an alien being, taking over my walled vegetable garden.    Now what are …

Breezy

My dad says “I think it’s going to be breezy in Orkney today.” I say “I think it’s going to be Orkney.” …

Westray Sky - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

Westray Sky

The clouds are as insubstantial as gossamer and float in ethereal whisps above the rugged rocks.

Muster Stations

Muster Stations

It’s time to board the Westray Ferry and to hear the familiar Orcadian voice telling us about the ‘Emergency Procedure’ and ‘Muster …

Human hands

Human hands

Human hands encircle the Totem Pole carved by the First Nations and Orcadian Totem Pole Carving Project in 2007.

Not Vanilla

Not Vanilla

There’s just time to nip to Rendall’s (one of the three shops on the Island) to get supplies. It’s yoghurt I’m after…

Whaup

Whaup

Curlews are called Whaups in Orkney and there are thousands of them here all year round. They’re our biggest wading bird and …

Rust at Rapness - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

Rust at Rapness

The iron sheets holding the concrete protection for the Orkney Ferries terminal at Rapness are beautiful in this light.

Tatties and Cabbage

Putting the world to rights

Beer, football, conversation, soup, bread, cheese and putting the world to rights. A lovely evening, topped off with a gift of tatties …

Waxcaps
Waxcaps
Waxcaps

Waxcaps

On Fitty Hill I’m surprised to find a wonderful collection of Waxcaps. These fungi are classic inhabitants of poor, unimproved grassland and …