Mellow fruitfulness (again!)

I must thank blog-readers Shirlwin and Betsy for directing me to the poem by John Keats "Ode to Autumn" for the reference to "Time of mists and mellow fruitfulness". I was unfamiliar with the poem till now.  I do love Autumn, though for me there is always a sadness because of the departing summer and the onset of Winter. I've come to accept the seasons much more in later years. It's all part of the circle of life.  But Spring and Summer will always be my favourite seasons!

However, this verse particularly strikes me:

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? 
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,— 
While barrèd clouds bloom the soft-dying day
 And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; 
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
 Among the river-sallows, borne aloft
 Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; 
 And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
 Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft 
 The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft; 
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Ode to Autumn, J Keats

The light is definitely changing now. I really noticed this on my walk along the shore yesterday.

Button sitting rather impatiently by an old winch at the old Sandside Pier, tide is in, the grass green after the recent rain, and the Hoy hills in the background.

This old wooden boat is a favourite subject of mine.

It's full of old creels and ....bulrushes!

A visit "south"

I've just returned from a visit "south". To London to be precise, as it was a friend's 50th birthday and for her "birthday weekend" (this girl knows how to party) we went up in a helicopter over London, followed by dinner in a lovely Portuguese restaurant. The next day we travelled down to Goodwood in Sussex to stay overnight in a beautiful luxury hotel with spa. We visited Goodwood House (a "stately home" (English country house of the landed gentry) still in private ownership) - photos weren't allowed so you will have to content yourself with this link. The guides who showed us around the various rooms were really knowledgeable and engaging. We had afternoon tea in the ballroom - pretending we were 18th Century ladies taking tea while looking out at the beautiful grounds! Finally we had a tour of the stables (which are still used for Goodwood races) and viewed an exhibition by Tim Flach of stunning photos of horses. I had to buy the book "Equus" !  It was a brilliant weekend and the sun shone brightly upon us.

Later in the week I spent time catching up with some friends and family.  I also met the latest edition to our family, baby Ruby, who at six months old is a real sweetie! But I forbade anyone to call me "Great Auntie"!



Here are some photos of the helicopter trip. The helicopter was a very smart "executive style" model, with leather seats and plush carpet. One or two of our party were a little worried about throwing up on the carpet! But fortunately we were too engaged in the view to think about that once we took off. I just loved the flight, the all round view, the way we banked left and right, the vertical take off and landing.....  Ooooh I want to go up again!

I got to sit next to the pilot and had a set of controls in front of me (obviously not allowed to play with them, though the red buttons were calling to be pressed!).

It was great being above the city as you could really see how the river Thames winds it's way.

Albert Bridge (named after Queen Victoria's consort) is the second bridge from the bottom.

From left to right - Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament/Palace of Westminster (seat of the UK government), Westminster Bridge, and the "London Eye" (the big wheel).

Above - from left to right - the green and white building that looks like a rocket is known locally as "The Gherkin" (it's an office block), and right of centre is a building nicknamed "The Shard" - it's still under construction but will be an office block too. Below another view of the Shard plus Tower Bridge

Below the circular building is the Olympic Stadium, getting ready for next year's Olympics in London. (But don't get me started on *that* topic!)

Above is Greenwich Park (I think), which is just South of London. A very famous park. And below the rolling hills of Surrey

I hope you enjoyed your "tour of London"!

A time of mists and mellow fruitfulness....

Not sure who used that phrase to describe Autumn but it was certainly true this morning. I woke to the view above. A beautiful sight to come home to! Have "domestics" and washing to be done today but will be back soon with photos of my trip "south".

Back home...

I've just returned from a short trip "south" for a friend's birthday celebrations and a catch-up with friends and family. Normal service will be resumed shortly! But now I'm in need of tea and a relaxing bath, not to mention spending time with Button, who still seems to have four paws and be in good health.

Randomness.....

Just a selection of photos taken over the last few days. Above the cockerel and one of the hens enjoying the last of the summer sun.  Below - feeding time for the chooks..... I began the summer with one cockerel and eight hens. Most of the hens successfully hatched chicks so now I have a flock of about 40! Oops!  Some "thining out" needs to take place soon I think.

Meanwhile last Friday the ladies on Graemsay (of which I am not one....) also known as the "Fat Cats Craft Club" (there's the clue - I don't do craft...!) had a sale of craft, bric-a-brac, home bakes and plants. A grand total of over £500 was raised for community funds (theirs and the hall).  Amazing! Well done ladies!  Some folk came over from the Orkney Mainland and some from Hoy too. There was a light shower of rain but most of the time folk could sit oudoors when they weren't in perusing the goods on sale, or wandering along the shore.

I grew borage in the garden for the first time. It did really well despite some windy day. The bees just loved it.

This summer the swallows have had a very good breeding season here in the barn. There have been about a dozen or so swallows at least flying around in the evening catching insects and midges. They would daily sit on the guttering (rain water pipe) above my study window, or sit on the window ledge too. I loved hearing them screaming around and seeing their wonderful acrobatics.  Sadly all is silent now, so I wish them well on their long journey south and bid them "Haste ye back"!

OK these are VERY blurry shots, but trust me, these are swallows!

Poor Puss-Cat

Poor Button cut her paw on Tuesday night, out on the prowl.... unfortunately she chose to stay in bed till mid-day yesterday so I didn't discover this till she finally emerged from bed and stood looking pathetic on three legs. Every time she put her fourth paw on the floor she meowed (before you start panicking this ends OK!). Of course *I* panic and all sorts of catastrophe theories rush through my mind, culminating in me thinking she's broken her leg or something!  Needless to say once I got a look at the paw it was merely a cut pad. However it WAS a deep cut and I was worried about infection. I'd missed all the boats that day so made an appointment at the vet for today. I'm glad I did as the wound has already got a slight infection, however the vet gave Button an injection of an antibiotic which lasts for two weeks, plus a painkiller (which doesn't last long). Needless to say Button is walking on all four paws today, but still "shouted" all the way to the vets and home again.

I did feel sorry for her this morning though as the sea was quite rough and a squally shower came just as we were getting on the boat.  I'd put a towel over the cat-box to try and keep the worst of the weather off her, but she was not impressed and the yowelling got louder!

The vet practice I take her too (NorthVet) is very good with "isles" pets and keeps them in a crate at the surgery while owner's go off shopping, rather than having the poor pet in the car for several hours. I think they all needed ear plugs by the time I got back.

Anyway we are home now, Button has eaten a late breakfast, demanded lots of fuss (of course) and is now settled down on my bed ready to sleep off her exhausting day.

The vet said if her paw wasn't clear within a week to take her back. I asked for tranquilizers, and she said yes she could give me some pills to sedate the cat. No I said, for ME!

Anyway I did a bit of shopping in town, met a friend for lunch and another for a coffee (only don't tell Button that I was having a good time while she was shut in at the vets!).

Picture at top of this post is our wee ferry the MV Graemsay, next to a wonderful "gin palace" with the big ferry the Hamnavoe in the background.

Below is the shower that drowned us all at the pier (including the kids going off to school!)

And here is Kirbuster Loch in Orphir, on the Orkney Mainland, looking very atmospheric.

And here is the exhausted Button- and yes she got into bed before I'd made it as I left in a hurry this morning for the "early boat"......I don't have the heart to disturb her though....... I may be sleeping on the floor tonight!

 

Brough of Birsay

On my day out on Friday I went along to one of my favourite places, the Brough of Birsay (Brough pronounced like "brock" in this instance).  Well to be precise the Brough of Birsay is the tidal island just off the coast and I didn't on this occassion walk across as the tide was coming in. On the island itself are settlements dating from about the 5th Century AD, then a Pictish settlement around 7th century AD and a Norse settlement about 9th Century AD. All ruins now and managed by Historic Scotland. There's also a lighthouse on the west most part and on these cliffs, in season, you can see puffins, as well as fulmars and guillemots

But I love this stretch of coastline, and although a cloudy day, it was clear enough that, looking South, I could see the mountains of the Scottish Highlands!  Having come from the very South of England, where the Scottish Highland were thought of as being so far north, it amuses me that I am now looking "south" at them!

This cow was chewing the cud near the Birsay Tearoom (no day out is complete without a visit to a tea room!).  The tearoom overlooks the sea and is a lovely spot to sit and eat Cake!

 This is probably one of the most photographed tractors in Orkney. It's along the shore and used to haul up a small fishing boat.

This hut was used by fishermen of yore. Well it's still in use today, but the boat nousts (the dips in the grass you can see near the hut) are no longer used. This was where the small fishing boats would be pulled well above the high tide mark.  The hut still has a traditional grass roof which helps with insulation. Though the hut would probably have just been used to store equipment as it is today, rather than being a dwelling.

This rather "impressionist" photo shows the mountains of Scotland in the distance!