Memento Mori
Memento Mori – “Remember Death.” How could I forget death, as I walk around St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall on Orkney. I’m …
A Riddle
Here’s a double ladder in St Magnus Cathedral that two men last went up in Kirkwall in 1722, yet only one man ever came down it. Explain.
Last Breath
It’s a steep climb up the tower of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. The gravestones are so perfectly preserved, even those from …
Earl Thorfinn
It’s time for a trip to the Mainland. No, not the mainland of Scotland, the Mainland of Orkney. Mainland is an hour …
Cattle on Noltland
The bones of wind and wave washed cattle litter the sand dunes of the Links of Noltland. Here are a couple I …
Tiny, ginger and blonde
She’s tiny, ginger and blonde and everyone refers to her as ‘Lady.’ Yes, it’s the new Shetland pony in the field at …
Remembering schooldays and a bucket with a wooden lid
Nancy remembers the Hall as it used to be; a school. So does Catherine. “It’s the first time I’ve been in here …
The Saltire and the burning bush
The Church of Scotland Kirk has a wonderful sign of the Saltire and the burning bush painted on a Westray stone flag …
Einar in the mist
Cycling home and Einar is enveloped in mist.
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 …
Under the weather
With this kind of treatment, Malcolm’s Steenyha’ pigs will never be under the weather, whether it rains or shines.
It’s fast, it squeals and it’s unbearably cute
Piglets are such tricky blighters to photograph; even when you hold them they wriggle. Here’s Malc with one of Molly’s litter. All …
Nine and a half pigs
A quick trip down the road to see Mr Pig today where Molly has produced 10 piglets, or nine and a half …
Needing a shave
Several days into my Westray trip and I need a shave. Molly the pedigree saddleback pig is nice and bristly this morning. …
With the grain
Orkney has precious few trees. And I mean precious. Perhaps I should say Orkney has a few precious trees. Windswept, almost barren …
To sit and marvel at the sky
There’s just time for some rough cycling down to the nearest beach at Taftend before sunset. It’s a chance to get off …
Sun
I’ve seen the sun rise, orange and luminous over the ocean from my bedroom window and now it’s time for me to see it set behind Fitty Hill. A glorious day.
Watching the world turn
There’s just time to wander down to Taftend on my bike to watch the sun set behind Fitty Hill.
Slate
On the roof two slates have cracked and fallen. I have a box of replacements ready, because on Westray one slate missing …
Rough grazing
Wind and weather conspire together to make Westray’s grass rough and tough. That’s essential for the ponies in my field. When the …
Driftwood and whalebone
The lack of trees on Orkney has meant that generations of people have relied upon driftwood and whalebone for building materials. Orkney’s …
Rusting metal buoy
Westray’s beaches are full of interesting finds. Whether it’s a groatie buckie (or Cowrie) on the tideline or the skeleton of the …
Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride…
… is the early plastic, better known as Bakelite. It’s all the rage for people to use Bakelite light fittings in their …
The view from my window…
… is of nothing but fields and clouds and ocean.
Yesterday’s News
Visiting Westray is like stepping back in time. It’s time for me to make a quick trip to town to shop and …
A picture may be worth a thousand words…
…but reality is worth a thousand pictures.
Summer Visitors
It’s wonderful to see that the Swallows who visit Orkney in the Summer to breed have done so well. There are at …
Coming home to Westray
Crossing the sea from Orkney Mainland to Westray feels like coming home.