Spring sunset

Friday was a gorgeous warm day (well for Spring!) and I was in the garden doing the first round of clearing away from the Winter, and a bit of weeding.  And then there was the sunset....  I know Spring has arrived when I can take a photo of the sunset from the back door!

Sun on the lighthouse....

And the explosion of light....

Proper Spring Day Part II

Some more photos from last Sunday....  Above, the coral beach with the tide out!

Love the sky in this one!

Button on alert!

An old stone house on the shore.  The stories these stones could tell!

Looking over Sandside bay towards Hoy.

Daffs!

Catkins on the willow trees!

And the ewes have started lambing.  Quite a few in the field in front of my house now.  These are in the old stack yard - the lambs and ewes are put here for their first day or two after birth to get accustomed to each other and being outdoors (they birth in the barn) and then they go out in the big field.

Proper Spring day....

Well today IS a proper Spring day, warm sunshine, no wind or rain.  Though this week has had plenty of wind AND rain.  These photos were taken last Sunday when I went for a wander around the island.  It was lovely and sunny but a bit cool.  Above looking across Sandside Bay and beyond to the Orphir hills.

Looking over towards Hoy....

This hen from Windbreck was clearly on a mission!  Heading down to steal the sheep feed!

Ba Ba Black (and White) sheep! 

Lovely clear shallow water down at the Graemsay pier....

Lighthouse reflections....

Hoy High lighthouse from the shore side....

Home!  With Stromness in the background....

More sheep over the other side of the island...

A bit closer to home :-)

Oystercatcher down on the shore at Sandside.

Spring - ish...

Looking across Sandside Bay from Garson

Tonight the clocks go forward one hour and it has officially been Spring for a few days.  Though it has to be said the last week has been more like Winter, with blustery winds, heavy rain showers, hail etc.  I'm grumpy.  It feels a loong Winter this year.  Sigh.  But the days ARE lengthening and that brings me joy.  As do the daffodils!  Anyway, just a few pix from this last week as really it's not been much fun being outdoors....

Yay! The primroses are out!!  These cover the bank down by the pier.

They fair make my heart sing...

All is calm at Sandside.....

Tales of an Orkney Librarian

You might like this link too!

'I'm an Orkney librarian driving to a school when a wave engulfs my van'

This should be free access (it's the Guardian UK newspaper).

Film of Orkney

This film isn't available to view outside the EU (at least so I hear).  But hopefully some of you can view this film made about Orkney by a German production company.

As well as stunning scenery (you can see my house by the Hoy High lighthouse - hee hee) the film covers Orkney Buffalo on the island of Stronsay, the Ness of Brodgar archaeological dig, St Magnus Cathedral, the sea cliffs of Yesnaby, Stromness, as well as Loganair flight to Papay (shortest flight is from the island of Westray to Papa Westray, known locally as Papay).

It is only available till 27th April.  Film lasts 44 minutes and has subtitles.  The "Queen's Isles" referenced in the title refers to the islands of Queen Elizabeth, hence covering Bermuda etc!

So get a cup or glass of something and enjoy!

Click Here

Never forgotten....

Photo by Magnus Mowat

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the loss of the Longhope Lifeboat and all her crew.  Everyone in that small community lost a loved one. Yet the next day there were men of the community that stood up to take their place.  Today the children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren, form part of the crew on the lifeboat.  Women take their place among the crew too.

The photo above is of the memorial to the men lost, forever looking out to sea.

In memory of:

Daniel Kirkpatrick

Robert R Johnston

James Johnston

Daniel Raymond Kirkpatrick

James Swanson

Robert Johnston

John Thomas Kirkpatrick

Eric McFadyn

Here are a couple of links in memory of the crew.

RNLI tribute to those lost.  Click here

This haunting song and melody was written and performed by Bob and Louise McCorkindale.  It is beautiful but not an easy one to listen to. Click here

From the RNLI Longhope lifeboat page today..... Crews from Kirkwall, Stromness, Wick and Thurso pay their respects.

Photo : Mary Harris