And breathe!

 

Etched in my memory!

Thanks for all the comments and messages about the sale of Sandside.  There has been lots of interest in the house and I'm happy to say I have accepted an offer which is currently going through the legal processes. I believe the new folk will respect the old stone house and make it a lovely family home.  I'm delighted. Fingers crossed everything proceeds through the legals now.  

Meanwhile I am moving to Kirkwall temporarily, while I look for a more permanent home.  I decided some time ago I needed to be off the island for Winter, largely due to health reasons. So it's new adventures, exciting times and Tesco (and Co-op) delivery!  

I haven't decided whether to continue blogging, my mojo disappeared in the last year or so.  I may start a new blog once I leave Graemsay, but more likely I will go over to something like Instagram.  No decisions yet but I will keep you - er - posted!

Meanwhile, August has been glorious weather wise.  Not the high temperatures of the UK further South, but lovely and warm, with bright days, little wind and few midges.  So here are some photos taken on several e-trike rides around the island.

Hoy High lighthouse and Sandside

The garden, overlooking Hoy Sound

And in the evening.....

Oystercatchers making the most of the cut silage field.  Sandside and Hoy High light in the distance

Scarratain with a traditional turf roof.  Hoy hills in the background

A coo and calf at the top of Windbreck hill, overlooking Clestrain Sound and the Orphir hills

Hoy High, and coos!  Stromness across the water.

Looking West to the fields as silage was being cut earlier in the month.

Looking down the road to Sandside

Sunset.....

Looking across the water 

Daisies at the old steading at Sandside.....

I love thistles!

Yarrow....

And looking across Sandside Bay

The increasing pile of packing boxes.......

Thanks for reading.  More later....

Moving on.....

 

For a variety of reasons, the time has come to move on from Graemsay.  I've lived here for 22 years and loved my time on the island.  But life and priorities change so I'm moving onto the Orkney Mainland. I shall miss the view and community though!

House details for those interested! 

House sale details

Random July photos on Graemsay....

 

The weather has been "changeable" this July in Orkney.  We have had mild, warm weather, nothing like the heatwave South - thankfully!  And yes we have had rain too.  And grey skies...... hmmm anyway here are a few more colourful episodes!

Garden.....  Most of my plants have to compete with the beauty of the old stone walls clad in lichens!

The chooks have enjoyed the warm weather, stretching out their wings to soak up the sun....

Or rootling among the grass

Button also likes being out and about too, of course....

And who knows what one might meet out and about!

A hedgehog.... A very small hedgehog it has to be said.  It's been living in the shrubbery.  I'm a bit concerned that it's out during the day.  Especially as we have had enough rain for there to be lots of slugs and snails about.  There are small bowls of water around for the resident hogs at Sandside (sometimes three or so), and I put this one back in the shrubbery and gave it some cat food too. Fingers crossed it survives.   

Though hedgehogs can be controversial on islands as they will eat the eggs of ground nesting birds. I don't think the population is large on our island - though it's hard to tell really!   There was an eradication program in the Western Isles around 2017 as they were predating the eggs of ground nesting birds.  They were introduced there, it's thought in the 1970s.  Not really sure of the situation in Orkney.  Probably unlikely to be indigenous either. 

I had to splash out on a new ride on mower recently, as my beloved old John Deere finally bit the dust - er literrally.  I now have a Stiga big yellow machine.    I call it Bumble as it's the colour of a bumblebee, though it looks a tad more menacing and is probably a hornet or wasp! 

However, maybe I needn't have bothered!!  Some escapees from a neighbouring flock took up residence on the grass at the front of the house last week!

Wanting to share breakfast?

The hens join in.....

Hay and silage cutting time for some....

Sandside on the left....

Hoy High lighthouse, and Sandside with the Hoy Hills in the background....

And then there are the sunsets..... all photos taken from the back door!! 

Not always sunny.....

 

Keeping it real  - it's not always sunny on Graemsay! Here are some photos with moody skies...

Ward Hill and Moaness on Hoy

Ward Hill

Sandside Bay, Hoy High lighthouse, Sandside.

Scarratain with traditional grass roof for insulation.

The old sail house at the bottom of Windbreck brae, looking across to the Orphir shore.