Gloomy day....

Weather has been gloomy today, but finally this evening the wind has died down and the rain has stopped.  We get some respite tomorrow and then another storm (Henry) makes an appearance on Monday.

No major damage on the island as far as I have heard, nor across Orkney either.  We are used to Winter storms and roof tiles are nailed on, anything that might move in a 100mph wind is tied down or put in shelter.   Most of us stock up our freezers, and have lanterns and other preparations ready. Just like folk in many rural communities.  The main thing for me is to remember to charge all my "electronic devices"!  But I have a battery radio and "real books" to read so as long as I can stay warm I'm fine.

Stromness was disappearing into the hail mist today.....

No doubt the hens will be knocking on the door tomorrow morning for breakfast!  I'd given them and Charlie the barn cat, extra rations as I had no intention of going outdoors on Friday.  Saturday morning was a bit hair-raising too.  I thought I was going to have to crawl on all fours back from the hen house!  The hens had found shelter in the shrubbery so were out scratching about but were glad of a full breakfast.

This will be them tomorrow....a normal morning..... Ninja cockerel to the fore, but usually it's one of the black hens battering on the cat flap with sharp pecky beaks!  Actually yesterday afternoon when it was still quite windy I could hear one of the cockerels crowing out in the garden!  I didn't shut them in the hen house completely, they could still get out through their little hatch.  I think they get more stressed being shut in as they are not used to it.  And they always manage to find a sheltered spot in the lea of the wind.