Mobilisation by Shame
Looking at the mass of poppies outside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, it’s hard to comprehend the sheer scale of the death and destruction.
The Battle of Jutland – 100 years of memories
May 31st marks the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Jutland where the main fleets of the British and German navies fought …
Weeping Window
I prefer the story “The fabulously wealthy rob us of our rightful taxes and expect us to be grateful to them when they abuse shell charities to fund their own self-indulgent and self-aggrandising projects.” That’s not how the story of Lady Susie Sainsbury’s benevolence gets told.
Rusty metal buoy
I love beachcombing so I was delighted to find this metal buoy rusting on a beach; A beautiful find.
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 …
Hay Turner
It’s a long way from Papa Westray to a large landfill site or recycling centre so if it’s large, heavy or rusting …
Sharing a bench
On Papa Westray the wind knows how to blow. That means that anything that’s not tied down or cemented-in will eventually take …
A 5,600 year old picnic venue
The island of Papa Westray is just off Westray, part of the Orkney Islands just off the north-east coast of Scotland, part …
Holland
Today there’s time to visit Holland. No, not the province of the Netherlands, but Holland the farm on Papa Westray. It’s a …
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 …
Steam Rollered
Wandering about on Papa Westray there are traces of old farming methods everywhere. There’s also an abandoned steam roller with the crumbling …
Grinding Stone
The farmstead at the Knapp of Howar is the oldest standing building in northern Europe. It’s been here for 5,600 years and …
Wooden gutters
I’d never even considered that gutters could be made out of wood in the UK. However, someone in Papa Westray thought it …
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 …
Reading weed
I’ve cycled to Mae Sands and the seaweed surrounding me seems to have messages for me. If only I could read its …
Making a runner for it
A beautiful gift of plants is always welcome and these pink flowered ‘lipstick’ strawberries are no exception. I’m hoping the lipstick tastes …