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Monday 22 October 2012

Warmer than Summer!



The last few days have been glorious. So still and calm and with sunshine - indeed I think it's been warmer than most of our summer!  So I've been taking time to wander along the shore and just soak up the sunshine before the real Autumn presents itself again. Which, according to the forecast, is the end of this week with sleety rain and "snow on high ground".

Now OK I live on an island surrounded by water, but I do love walking along the beach and just listening to the waves lapping the shore. Before I moved to Orkney in 2000 I had dreamed of living "by the sea". But the most I could hope for living in the expensive South East of England was maybe a glimpse of the sea from an attic window and maybe a short (20 minute) walk to the beach on a seaside coastal town somewhere in England.

Clearly I needed to dream bigger!  Because yes I ended up with the beach just a few yards from my doorstep and most days I can walk upon it without another person in sight. (OK it required a major move North to achieve this but still!). Sheer bliss.....  Stunning views and big skies - and not an amusement arcade or ice cream stall in view.  My own private paradise!  Sometimes I need to remind myself just how lucky I am! :-)



This looks back along the "Shell Beach" to what were some old cottages and workshop - now falling onto the shore because of coastal erosion.


I think you might get wet feet if you tried sailing in this wee boat! It's pretty though.


The old Sandside pier and the old Steading at Sandside.


And yes, here is Button the Beach Cat!  The sand looks pure white here because it's actually shell sand.


And coral....cold water coral (merl) as well as lots of tiny shells....beautiful!


And much appreciated by all the kids (young and old) as well as by Princess Button!



12 comments:

  1. Oh, lucky you! Down here it's cool and misty yet again and set to get much colder. Those are gorgeous photos and I can personally testify to the fact hat you do indeed live in a small corner of paradise. :-)

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    1. It's got a lot colder suddenly! Snow showers, though it's not settling (Thankfully!) and windy....brr winter has come early... Hope it remains Autumn for you for a while!

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  2. More lovely pictures. Of course, with any relocation there are things people miss from their old lives and perhaps you only get to know what they are when they're gone...so what do you miss? I am sorry if you have already dealt with this in previous posts - it's just that I am new to your blog.

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    1. Hi Yorkshire Pudding! I don't think I've written about what I miss in my blog. I only started my blog in 2008 and have lived here since 2000. so I'll do a post this weekend answering your questions :-)

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  3. It looks so beautiful. Sigh.

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  4. Living in the landlocked Midlands, I know exactly how you feel about beaches. When we go to Cumbria to visit my husband's family they have a hard time dragging me away from the beaches!

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    1. I've always been drawn to the sea and even when I go "south" I still long to visit the "seaside" wherever it is.

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  5. Hi, my name is Cat and I am a fashion student working on a project about modern Island life. I was wondering if it were possible to ask you a few questions about your experiences? Any help would be greatly appreciated. You have a great blog. Exactly what my project is about!
    Many thanks
    Cat

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    1. Hi Cat - what an interesting project! By all means email me with any questions. If you click on "View my complete profile" on the top right you will see a link to my email address (on the left of my profile). If that doesn't work leave a message here and I'll give it to you here - but I try and avoid that so that "bots" that scan the web for email addresses don't pick it up!

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  6. The shores look so similar to Nantucket. Just a beautiful island.

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    1. Hi Pam! I've just had a look at your blog. Ooooh you live in a beautiful place too! I've put a link on my side-bar so I can learn about YOUR island living. i'm always fascinated by people, like myself, who live on islands :-)

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