Gone looking for the Scottish primrose. → 26 August, 2013

Pulling a Pollock
It’s a misty morning so our fishing trip gets delayed from its planned 7am start. By mid morning, though, it’s beautifully bright …

Fog
It’s foggy this morning. A grey blanket covers the fields around Einar.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
If you want to know what cycling on Westray is like…
…then you really need to watch this hilarious video by some random stranger on YouTube: This is the road I cycle on …

Fattie Cutties and Drop Scones – the rivalry
Home baking on Westray is a way of life. It takes an hour and a half to get from Mainland Orkney by …
Prizewinning vegetables
What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow. – A. A. Milne

Orkney skies
The sky in Westray is wonderful on many occasions. There’s something awe-inspiring about the 360 degree view, the clarity of the atmosphere …

The best Potatoes, Long, White (4)
A brilliant plate of potatoes by Jean Drever. She’s such a talent in the vegetable garden. I only like food without color, …
The best Animal from Vegetables
The best ‘Section 10 – Animal from Vegetables’ entries at the Westray Industrial Show 2013. Classic :) I just love the giraffe …

Waiting for flies
Unaware of the smartphone camera inches from their heads.
Westray and Papa Westray – the Movie
I never tire of hearing the narrator’s voice on this wonderful video

The other man’s cabbage is always greener
An entry to the 78th Annual Westray Industrial Show in the Community Hall.

A Mermaid’s Purse
A stroll down the beach this morning and we find a Mermaid’s Purse; the egg capsule of a Dogfish. The tendrils are …

Rubbish
You do have to ask: why issue bins with wheels and flapping lids on an island where everything that isn’t tied, nailed …
Waiting impatiently
This morning the young Swallows are huddling on the toilet window ledge. This time I try photographing them with a Nikon D300 …
Band rehearsal night in the Hall
It’s band practise night in the Hall as Ippykak come to visit.

No prizes
…for guessing in which field the horses have been grazing.

Fish and chips and owls
We’re driving in the Land Rover to the village when the Short Eared Owl appears over the fields with its white wing …
Who’s the daddy?
It’s a shame for the house that the double glazed unit has failed, water has got in and mould has started to grow between the panes of glass. It’s brilliant for photography though.

Misty Noup
It’s a grey afternoon as I set out to cycle to Noup Head. I can’t tell you how many miles it is …
Noltland Mist
Noltland Castle is magnificent in the mist. The barrel vaulted kitchen is spectacularly rugged with amazing acoustics. I climb to the top …

Beetroot and Chocolate Cake
Just how many beetroot products do the three shops in Westray stock? There’s Baxters’ Beetroot in Redcurrent Jelly (Delicious with hot and …

Clinging on
Families of young swallows are fledging and cling to the window ledges of Einar in the strong winds.
Window ledge
Window ledge beachcombing finds

That reminds me…
…of when our trampoline blew away. The full gory story: The answer my friend

I scream
It’s 14 degrees this afternoon. The Met Office say that it will feel like 11 degrees. I scream anyone?

Tatties for sale
I love some of the hand-made signs around the Island. I really must capture the duck egg box in one of my …

Full of purple earthy goodness
Okay. Name the first two flavours of fruit juice which come into your mind. That’s good. They were apple and orange juice, …

I’ve got a serious problem
Why do people not believe me when I tell them that I have a serious Woodlouse problem?