Half a pound of biscuit
Half a pound of biscuit – that’s the way the money goes. WFM Brown makes bread and cakes and biscuits on Westray …
Fancy a piece?
I’ve just bought this fabulous dried fruit tart from Peter Miller’s shop. Would you like a piece? Hold on! Wait a …
Eggs on the doorstep
I arrive back from a day out exploring and there are freshly laid eggs on the doorstep from my kind Island friend. …
Emptying woodlice from the bread machine
I remembered to empty the woodlice from the toaster when I arrived. I forgot about the ones inside the bread machine. There’s …
Pierowall Fish filleting
One of my earliest memories of coming to Westray was a trip to find the fishmonger to see what I could get …
Flavour of the month
I’m in the market for some yoghurt. That means I’ve got to clear my mind of any preconceptions about the flavour I might want. What will the shops have for me this year?
Yearning for soft fruit
Everytime I visit [[Westray]] I love the food. Whether it’s the fresh fish from Pierowall Fish or the unpasteurised cheese from Wilson’s …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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…
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 …
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 …
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
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 other man’s cabbage is always greener
An entry to the 78th Annual Westray Industrial Show in the Community Hall.
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 …
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, …
Rainbows, Peregrine, Traybakes and Fancies, Moonlit Cycling
The 14 mile return cycle to The Wheeling Steen Gallery is either getting easier or I’m getting more blasé about it. So …
Drop those scones
Decaf coffee. Drop scones. One butter. No jam. £3.04. The best cakes on the Island :) The Wheeling Steen Gallery – and …
Dark Island Reserve
Today I go in search of Dark Island Reserve. A beer that even red wine drinkers find palatable – or so I …
Megrim
Mmmm… Megrim is on the menu at Helgi’s tonight: Megrim Vierge – steamed Megrim fillets on crushed new tatties with herby citrus …
For the love of Rhubarb
It’s time for a cycle trip to the Westray shops – all three of them – to see what rhubarb treats they …
Curly Kale at Dead Man’s Nose
Tommy is very kind. He’s decided I should have some of his green and some of his purple Curly Kale. Tommy’s garden …
Competitive Cabbages
The Westray Industrial Show is nearly upon us. It’s when folks here get competitive over cabbages, but not Tommy. He says more …
Big pig excitement
There’s big excitement at Einar as Mr Pig arrives with news of the piglets. Little Kim has produced in the night. There …
Competition Cabbage
Today is an important day in the social calendar of Westray. It’s the day of the 75th Annual Westray Industrial Show. Entries …