Relief boat

Last Friday as I headed back to Stromness for the ferry I got a message from our ferry company to say due to technical difficulties all further sailings of the Graemsay ferry were cancelled.  Eeeek. After a couple of phone calls to neighbours it seemed the harbour pilot boat was going to be put on at 4pm to take us home.  It can only take 12 passengers so there would be a relay, with the school children going home first, but I didn't mind as long as I got home!  Above is the pilot boat coming alongside the MV Graemsay (the Hamnavoe ferry that sails to the Scottish mainland is in the background).

Folk were ready to get on board, along with their shopping.  The crews of the pilot boat and the Graemsay helped us all get stuff aboard, and helped some of us onto the boat - it was a bit of a step up for me!

Inside the cabin.....

Through the window as we sailed out of Stromness harbour....

I sat in the navigator's seat!  Left a bit, right a bit...ooops the map is upside down, reverse those instructions.  Hahaha! Thankfully my help wasn't needed ;-)

And the Hoy Hills come into sight, with the light fading behind them....

The journey only took 15 minutes and then there were willing hands to help us off at the pier. Fortunately our own ferry was back in service the next day.  Though we were very grateful to the crew of the pilot boat for getting us home!

There's a lot of weather forecast.....

I've been scarce due to a slight virus that has been getting the better of me.  Think I'm winning now! But think I will hibernate for the next week anyway due to the weather forecast.  Apparently Storm Barbara is heading our way and she's a bit of a wild lass!  We are forecast winds around 80mph for Saturday (24th) and Sunday (25th).  I feel most sorry for folk trying to get home or away over the festive season.

As long as the power stays on Button and I will be nice and cosy. We'll manage if the power goes off too - I just don't want to think about that!!

So - posts may be a bit intermittent over the next few days...... who knows!

Have a lovely festive season if you celebrate it as such.  Me, I celebrate it as a winter festival, I'm all for feasting and merriment on a dark winter night.

Ooooh and tomorrow is the shortest day in this part of the hemisphere.  Whoo hoo bring back the light and longer days!!

Old buildings

I've been playing with an "app" on my phone (adding filters) and these photos I took around Graemsay.  I think the "distressed" look somehow adds something to the photos. It seems to awaken the history within the stones themselves, a blurring between past and present.  Hope you like them!  Above is the croft of Dean.

Spot and "distressed" Button. Ha!

The gable end of an old stone house, with Stromness in the background.

The same house, end on.  This is at Sandside, right on the shore. With coastal erosion that gable end may soon be RIGHT on the shore.

And old binder, by the old forge and houses at Sandside.

The old kirk at the other side of the island.

Detail of one of the windows.....

Hope you enjoyed another "view" of Graemsay!

Christmas lights in Stromness

Around the pier head in Stromness is very festive, there's the Christmas tree, lights strung across the street, reflecting in the wet flagstones, shops decorated for the season, and though the Hamnavoe ferry doesn't yet have it's festive lights on, it still brings a splash of brightness to the dark harbour waters.

Sunset.....

The days are definitely short at this time of year.  Sunrise is at 08.48 and sunset at 15.18 and we are not at the shortest day yet.  But with glorious still frosty late afternoons like this I don't mind!  These photos were taken at 4.30 pm this afternoon.  Above looking across Hoy Sound to the twinkling lights of Stromness.

And below - looking West towards Canada!  The sun has long set behind the Hoy Hills out of the picture, left, with just the hint of a rosy sky off the tip of Graemsay.

Down by the kirk......

And still the weather is gorgeous!  Sharp frosty mornings, bright sunshine. Oh I am SO happy with this!  So I took a run over to the Kirk on the South side of Graemsay.  It's now used as a barn to store hay.  The kirkyard is till in use and has a lovely peaceful aspect over Burra Sound looking towards Hoy. Above is a panorama looking down the hill to the kirk.

And then down at the kirk.....

Sad to see the windows gone.....

To the left, a few miles east are the islands of Cava, Calf of Cava (love that name!), and Flotta.  I zoomed in for some fuzzy pictures!

This is the Cava, and is now uninhabited....

This smaller island nearby is called the Calf of Cava

And behind them is Flotta, which has an oil terminal, source of some wealth to Orkney in the early days, played a vital role in the history of Scapa Flow, and has a good community spirit too, as well as an abundance of birds and wildflowers.

Lots of geese on the fields around the kirk.....

And the old croft of Dean at the top of the kirk brae (hill).

Hope you enjoyed your quick trip out.  It's a bit chilly so time to get back home for tea and toast!

And then there are the Christmas preparations....

I don't celebrate Christmas, but I do love a Mid-Winter Festival!  Time to eat, stay snug and look forward to the days getting longer.

So the shops in Orkney are getting dressed for the season.  Above is Shearer's in Kirkwall.  One of my most favourite shops.  Upstairs where in Spring and Summer seed crops are stored and sold, is now a cosy space to do some seasonal shopping.  The fire is lit, lots of goodies to buy and around are reminders of days long past, with oil lamps hanging from the rafters, and old tins reminding us of simpler days - Oxo - about the only way you could make gravy then!

And then there are the Christmas exhibitions.  The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness is one of my favourites, lots of artists, both professional and "amateur" submit work for the exhibition.  Lots of lovely things in different media. Some conventional others more avant garde.

And I loved this display made by a recently graduated art student.  I can't remember her name! I know it's Rachel though! [Note - apparently it's Rachel Blair] I was telling her I loved this and she was explaining so enthusiastically her ideas behind it and the techniques used.  I'm not artist but I loved hearing her story, and hope her enthusiasm is encouraged for the future.