From the top of Ward Hill to be precise! Thanks to Trish Avis for a) climbing the hill and b) sending me these photos! Stromness is on the other side of Graemsay in these photos....
And a closer look at Sandside and Hoy High lighthouse....
From the top of Ward Hill to be precise! Thanks to Trish Avis for a) climbing the hill and b) sending me these photos! Stromness is on the other side of Graemsay in these photos....
And a closer look at Sandside and Hoy High lighthouse....
Charlie Groundwater, who lives in Stromness, goes out for a daily walk and sent me these photos of Graemsay in the recent show. I thought you might enjoy them too! Above is Hoy High lighthouse.
Sandside.... not much snow here....
Hoy Low.... with the Hoy hills in the background....
The weather over the last couple of weeks can best be described as "changeable". Regular British weather then! I'm trying to venture forth once a week to the Orkney Mainland - weather permitting. Orkney is currently in Level 3 and likely to remain so for some weeks to come. However from this coming Friday we can meet outdoors with up to 6 people from 6 different households (a change from one other household with a number limit). From 26th April travel will be allowed across Scotland (at the moment to and from Orkney is "essential travel" only). And from 16th May then folk can travel to and from the rest of the UK AND we can meet a limited number of people indoors. It's all a bit complicated but mostly won't affect what I am doing. I get my second vaccination on 6th May (also polling day for Scottish elections). I will mostly meet folk outdoors for the summer and just see how things go as everything opens up and visitors start arriving......
Anyway back to photos.... Blue sky over Hoy and Graemsay
In Orkney it is called "lambing snow" - just as the lambs are due the weather seems to turn foul. And this weekend we have gales (56mph average) and sleet, hail and snow. The snow isn't settling on Graemsay or in the West but have heard it is drifting onto roads on some parts of the Orkney Mainland.
There are some lambs in the field in front of the house. They seem to be doing OK. Sheep have a knack of finding sheltered spots. These (above) are sheltering in a dip which was for the old mill dam that used to be at Sandside. The ewes get plenty of food and as long as the lambs get milk they are generally OK. There are hay bales around the field, plus a huge muck heap for the lambs to find shelter in. Other neighbours are also getting lambs now, though some can lamb indoors or at least keep them in for a day or two.
Morning view - the snow showers come over the landscape in swathes, and then clear to blue skies and sunshine for a few minutes, then repeat.
And a friend sent me this photo of a street in Kirkwall in the early hours of the morning! Sheet ice....