A Greek rainbow
The Yellow Flag Bog Irises have withstood the winter weather and the first ones are coming into full flower in Rapness. Iris …
Three ways down
I’m walking on the cliffs at Stanger Head past the Castle o’ Burrian and climbing up a rock crack when two tourists …
Crane Flies like Time Flies
“Birds do, it, Bees do it, Even agricultural pests like Crane Flies do it.”
On Westray I pray for a still day and then the midges appear and I give thanks for the blustery ones.
Cycling in shell sand
Cycling in soft shell sand is always exhilarating and exhausting and is always a mistake; eventually. The sharp shell fragments will always …
Giant Pebble
A giant pebble at Rack Wick.
Inside Lady Kirk
Lady Kirk in Pierowall was built in 1674 on the foundations of a 13th-century church.
Water Horsetails at Roadmire
Roadmire is a great name for the boggy area leading to Letto Sands. These Palaeozoic horsetails flourish there undisturbed.
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 …
Clinging to the edge
On Gill Pier this tiny plant clings on to the edge. A little like this Island does.
Petting Lady
Lady loves to be petted. She loves carrots more though.
Rocks from Lake Orcadie
I love the rocks on Orkney. The whole area of Greenland, Shetland, Orkney and down to the Moray Firth was once a …
The red hand of seaweed
The red hand of seaweed grasps a pebble at Rack Wick.
Rain-Cloud Grey and Sea Foam
Morwenna is a beautiful Thai cat. She’s a Korat, described as “a silver-tipped blue that appears to shimmer”. The Thai people refer …
Lamb Chops
I stop my bike on the main road and see three lambs. They look delicious.
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
Dawn is at 3:57 this morning. In Rendalls, one of the shops in the village, I notice a small pile of CDs. …
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 …
Purple orchid
Cycling past the sign for the Cleaton House Hotel I see a beautiful purple orchid with spotted leaves. I lie flat on …
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 …
Lady likes a carrot
Lady the ginger and blonde Shetland pony loves a carrot.
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 …
Thrifty
Thrift or Sea Pinks grow all over the coast here and their pink lollipops of flowers are beautiful at this time of year.
Rust and Peeling Paint
Rust and peeling paint are two of my favourite subjects to photograph, which is good because Einar has so much of it to choose from. So does the rest of the Island. Here is the door of the dilapidated mill near the Castle o’ Burrian.