Casting a shadow upon yourself
Evolution is a wonderful thing. Being grey above and white below is a classic countershading strategy used by many seabirds and often …
Thrift
Thrift on the cost of Westray.
Grassy Knoll
On Westray, if there’s a lump in a field, it’s either rubbish dumped by a farmer or an incredibly precious and very …
Sand-between-the-toes
When the sun shines on Grobust beach, it’s time to do what AA Milne described and get sand between the toes. When …
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.
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 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.
I sent my love two roses…
I’ve always loved wild roses. The cultivated varieties rarely do anything for me, especially in garage forecourts, but wild roses are something …
Westray Connections 2015 – The Open Air Family Music Festival
It’s time to relax after a hectic Saturday night of dancing and partying into the small hours (and then a couple of …
Westray Connections 2015 – Concert in the Community Hall
A wonderful concert in the Community Hall with the Jo Philby Band, Maggie and James Nicholson, Gnoss, The Harcus Family and the …
Westray Connections 2015 – Concert and Dance
In previous years I’ve taken instant photos of all the artists at Westray Connections. This time I thought I’d try black and …
Westray Connections 2015 – Westray Heritage Centre
Westray Heritage Centre is an amusing place for a concert, with its scale model of the Noup Head cliffs and racks of …
Malc and Sal
Westray Connections 2015 has a taster session at the Westray Heritage Centre and as I hoof it outside to catch the Kirkwall …
Westray Connections 2015 – The Graand Owld Byre
One of the great success stories of 2015 in Westray has been the development of The Graand Owld Byre. Michael and Teenie …
Westray Connections 2015 – Kalisgarth
It’s Saturday morning after a late Friday session in the Pierowall Hotel. At 10:30 in Kalisgarth it’s time for Andy Cant and …
Westray Connections 2015 – The Pierowall Hotel Sessions
Friday night at The Pierowall Hotel and the bar is rammed. We’ve been there for hours already eating the Orkney beef in …
Trouble with lichen
Today there’s time to relax after a weekend of photography with a trip to Papa Westray. If you think that Westray is …
The Kelp Store
One of Orkney’s most important exports used to be the ash from Kelp, the seaweed which is regularly washed ashore by storms …
Holland Farmstead
Wandering on Papa Westray it’s impossible to miss Holland Farm. It’s a hugely impressive steading which once owned the island of Papa …
The shortest scheduled flight in the world
The shortest scheduled flight in the world is between Westray and Papa Westray (and, of course, the other way round). It’s in …
Harrying the Hens
I’m hoping that the Hen Harrier will be hunting on Westray this summer. I’ve seen a Hen Harrier over Westray’s moorland several …
Rise and look around you
On a clear day on Westray you can see for miles. I’m told you can even see the Fair Isle if you …
Free Range Eggs Sold Here
Cycling past the turning to the Bay of Swartmill I spot this great sign on a disembodied fridge door. Inside the intact …
Sea Rocket
The sands at Mae Sands are verdant with Sea Rocket. The curious flowers are white or lilac and the leaves are fleshy …