Summer Solstice..... who stole the sun???!

Bah!  Longest day today and NO sign of the sun. Rain all day and fog, so no flights in or out of Orkney.  Not that I needed to travel anywhere, but I know folk who did.  Anyway here are some photos for a couple of weeks ago when there WAS sunshine!!  Above - a sunset...sigh...

Look....almost no cloud.....sigh.....

And the sun shone during the day too.... Blue Sky!  You can see some heifers at the edge of the field, chewing the cud...enjoying sunshine on their backs.  Not my cattle, the field is let out on a summer grazing let to a neighbour. I just watch them - and count them to make sure none have escaped or are unwell.

Here come the girls!

And my totally free range hens, taking a walk along the "main road" on the island....

They enjoy the sunshine too.....

And here is our stand-in boat. Our regular ferry is off on an extended refit, having two new engines put in. There were extra delays as some components hadn't arrived (long story, won't bore you). This is a Clyde Cruiser (as in the River Clyde in Glasgow).  It's actually rather a jolly boat to be on - in calm weather....

Unfortunately it's not as powerful as our regular ferry, nor can it carry cargo, so we have had another boat deliver cargo once a week.

This vessel, the Chieftan, needs a gangway to access to the top deck which can be a bit hair-raising at very low tide! Bit of a steep walk down to the deck!  And then you have to go downstairs to the inside cabin. So not the most accessible vessel for the island. But it's made all the scheduled runs to Graemsay so folk are at least able to get on and off the island.

At the head of the pier are fulmars nesting

They are really acrobatic birds in flight and I love watching them. Though I don't get too near - they have a gland at the top of their beaks and can hurl foul smelling oily/fishy gunge at any one who threatens them!

Button had a traumatic day last week. I needed to put the de-wormer and de-flea treatment on her. Vet suggested a new treatment, but when I opened it up I realised it was a syringe. So I needed three hands, one to hold cat, one to part fur on back of neck and one to plunge syringe plunger thingy. First one I got all over me, 2nd one I at least got SOME on Button...sigh... I'll go back to the old treatment next time I think.    Anyway she was quite traumatised by it all (um she IS a drama queen!). So needed to have a good long sleep afterwards....

And she couldn't wait for dinner!  So not much wrong with HER then. Ha!

Button enjoys the summer days.  Though I think the lack of darkness at night confuses her!  One of her favourite places is in the long grass by the willow trees.  I think she thinks she's invisible! Um.... black and white isn't much of a camouflage!

I suspect you can see her from the moon....sigh...

Well I hope you all had a good Summer Solstice, or if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, a good Winter Solstice.  Can we keep the sun for a wee bit longer please? We really haven't had our fair share of it yet!