Orkney

Churchill Barriers

The weather gods of Orkney were certainly looking favourably on us during our recent visit for we had five days of unbroken sunshine.  Yes, it was cold but the ever changing backdrop of sea and sky more than made up for that.  It’s the restless sea, constantly shifting  that infuses the island with a shimmering light that seems to be rare outside of coastal regions. The endless landscape appeared luminescent at times, radiating an unnatural glow that made it possible to believe in the mystical properties of the Islands. Our stay certainly felt magical, a much welcomed opportunity to relax

Castle of Yesnaby

Kirkwall Harbour

Yesnaby

Ring of Brognar

Waves

Cool Coos

We had three hours of summer today.  Mr Glis. took the opportunity to do much needed maintenance on my bicycle so I nobly took Molly for a walk to find a couple of geo-caches I’d had on the watch list for a while.  The Ayrshire cattle in the field were in absolutely magnificent condition with the heifers being their usual nosy selves, following us to the stile and then milling around showing off!  The English countryside was at its glorious best; it’s all too easy to forget just how beautiful our landscape is, when we finally break free from greyness

Be careful of what you wish for..........

I think that it’s a key process in the transition to adulthood to accept that the old adage, “be careful of what you wish for” proves to be true on so many occasions.  So I feel that Nerea is undergoing something of a rite of passage on her holiday to Tenerife for she has texted that she would be dying of boredom on her sun, sea and sand holiday, had she not taken her Kindle.  I have refrained from reminding her that for some years she has been desperate, pleading with us, to go on this sort of “fabulous” holiday

Here comes the sun...or not!

Nerea texted from Tenerife yesterday to say she and the girls had arrived safely and that the weather was hot and sunny.  As I looked out of my office window onto the shining pavements and umbrellas below, I thought to myself, “There’s a surprise”. And so I began thinking about sunshine and moods.  It really is true that when the sun shines, people adopt a different persona.  Gone are the dour, sour looks or the grey faces focussing everywhere but on their fellow men.  Instead are brilliant smiles, open, expansive gestures and warm friendly conversation.  Let’s have some sun, please

 

Lounging Around

We’ve really enjoyed the last few days of gorious sunshine but true to form, the weather may be turning.  I suspect the reason behind this is that yesterday, I bought a sun lounger.  On Sunday, Nerea commandeered Grandma’s ancient sun lounger, announcing that she’d like one in order to facilitate her revision.  As sunny days are few and far between, I was reluctant to spend too much money so bought a cheap but cheerful version.  But, Nerea’s planning was ill-conceived for as soon as the chair was strategically placed to catch the sun in the garden, Siddums took up occupancy.