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Saturday 1 December 2012

Um... it's snowing!


The ski resorts in the Scottish Cairngorm mountains are delighted as there is enough snow to open two of the ski runs already. VERY early!!

In Orkney the weather turned sharply cold on Thursday night with a hard frost. The first of the season. Today we have wintery showers and REAL snow flakes!! Thankfully so far the snow is not settling much.  Though I was startled to look out of my study window on this.



OK I know it's not very much. But Orkney has a very mild climate in winter. Frost and snow are unusual as we are protected by the Gulf Stream. While the Highlands of Scotland celebrate ski runs opening in Winter, Orkney mainly has gales and rain.

Though the hills of Hoy often have a light dusting of snow


So I'd better look out the de-icer for the car and salt for the paths around the house.  And maybe put on a pot of pasta for the hens. Extra rations for Charlie the barn cat too....



10 comments:

  1. Oh wow ! It feels cold enough to snow down here in the south west but I expect we will have rain. Get the soup on for you, the pasta on for the hens and keep warm!

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    1. Sigh - yes I think the south west is due even MORE rain. Hope you can keep your feet dry! I keep making soup as I find it very comforting in winter - the freezer is heaving with the stuff - I really should eat some of it before I make any more. LOL!

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  2. Replies
    1. Keep warm then! And welcome to Graemsay! Hope to see you around here again...

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  3. Here in the Midlands the rain has stopped, but it's bitterly cold, and very gloomy. Over the last week we've had floods, fog and frost, but no snow yet! Do hens really eat pasta?

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    1. Has the snow arrived yet? You're having a real time of it in the Midlands from what I see on the TV news. And yes hens eat ANYTHING! Seriously.... they are great "recyclers" though I am careful what I give them (no processed meat etc). But they will steal the cat food if the barn cat doesn't eat it quickly enough!

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  4. Boy that Gulf Stream sure is a treat for you fold. The Orkney islands are on a similar latitude to Hudson Bay which is frigid and snowy and where polar bears hang out. Actually, I think you're farther NORTH.

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    1. Yup I think we are farther North!! And yes in the 19th Century quite a few folk from Stromness worked for the Hudson Bay Company. Pictures of men (it was usually men) in thick furs. Meanwhile in Orkney you'd just need a decent coat and that would be fine! LOL!

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  5. No snow here, Sian, though it's certainly been cold enough. The sun is actually shining in a cloudless sky this morning. :-) Hope the hens enjoy their pasta.

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    1. Yes they enjoyed their pasta, thanks....and the rice..... and the extra mashed potato I made..... and the porridge..... I probably do spoil my hens but I think they deserve it - they work hard!!

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