At the beach.....

I love spending time along the shore.  It's very calming (well OK I don't go when there's a gale or a storm!).  I particularly love it at high tide.  It feels like proper sea-side.....  above the beach below Sandside.

Arctic terns - they have been nesting further round the shore, but get cross when folk get too near (understandably).  I love hearing them screaming overhead.  Though sometimes they object to me being in MY garden... sigh.

A fine day for a bit of fishing....

And the tiny white shell among the seaweed is a groatie buckie (local name for a tiny cowrie shell).  I had friends visiting from Orkney Mainland so we always have to head to the beach to look for groatie buckies...

I found 4, T found these, and C also found a handful.  Not a bad hour.

Yarrow growing at the top of the pier...

Boat safely moored....

I mentioned friends visiting.  I am still being very cautious regarding meeting people.  Although shielding/cocooning has come to an end in Scotland I am continuing.  No cases in Orkney for some weeks, but Orkney folk are visiting South and abroad, and tourists are in Orkney and on Graemsay so I am just being ultra-cautious because I can be.  Anyway I AM meeting folk outside.  Friday was a glorious day, so warm.  My friends walked up from the pier and I greeted them with bacon sandwiches - something of a tradition.

And.... homebakes were provided by friend T!  Brownies and date cake.  Yum!  I had baked some welsh cakes, and also provided a light lunch.  It was a lovely relaxing day and good to have a proper catch up with friends. And no I didn't eat all the cake that weekend - most are in the freezer to be rationed as a treat!