April 2020

3rd April – A bit of a chilly spell at the the moment. We had a few hail showers yesterday interspersed with sunny periods, punctuated by some snow.

Our routine is now getting very repetitive, same basic walk every day. We do bump into (not literally, of course) friends doing the same walk, so it’s good to have a 2 metre catch-up.

It’d be nice to get some planting done in the garden but it’s still too chilly for that. The dry spell meant I could get the grass cut for the first time this year.

We’re up to two cases of Covid-19 in Orkney now. People seem to be taking all the appropriate precautions but ferries are running half empty and Stromness is like a ghost town.

Feeling a wee bit hard done by this morning. Had the car MoT’d last week and the Government have just announced a six month amnesty – typical!

6th April – A lovely day here. Ideal if you’re in the fishing business for getting out and feeding the nation. This is a local boat, Viking Senior, heading out into the spring sunshine.

9th April – We’re giving a thought today to all of you that are working from home in these difficult times.

It’ll soon be the Bank Holiday weekend and we can all put our feet up and have a few days relaxation. Stay safe.

10th April – It’s Good Friday. Stromness would normally be wall to wall tourists. This is Victoria Street this afternoon. It just needs some tumbleweed to complete the picture. It really is a shame as the weather is lovely. There’s just the occasional local out for some exercise.

This young gull learning how to deal with a spiny sea urchin. Having seen urchin innards, I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort.

16th April – Here’s a little curiosity for you. An old Orkney rhyme. Kirsty Kringlit is a long-legged spider that children would hold in their hands whilst reciting the rhyme. If the spider left a droplet of water on the palm before being released, the child would have a good supper.

17th April – Over the past few weeks we’ve been beachcombing and collected bits and pieces of rubbish off the shore. I’ve put together an old plastic fish box and the metal frame from a crab pot and made this little cloche arrangement.

With the possibility of veg being in short supply we’re going to have a go at growing our own. I’ve got another two bigger trays so we should get some decent results.

19th April – A glorious day, we’ve had our walk, then pottered about in the garden. Followed by a bowl of H’s Chicken & Roast Butternut Squash soup, lovely. Ready to put the feet up now and enjoy the view across the bay to the parish of Orphir. What’s not to like!

21st April – The good weather is continuing. We’ve filled another couple of old fish boxes and made a propagator out of two stationery boxes. H has made a couple of polythene covers to protect the bigger boxes.

We’ve got beetroot, carrots, lettuce, chard and spinach in and onions, leeks and turnips to follow. Tom and Barbara have got nothing on us!

Spotted a pair of Red-throated Divers passing by the house this morning. Nice to see them in the harbour area. Picture is a bit fuzzy, camera phone not too good!

I just looked back at April last year and we had posted a picture of a pair on the 28th. Wonder if it’s the same pair?

27th April – Graemsay ploughing past Hoy Low lighthouse. The old gun battery control tower can be seen to the right.

30th April – All togged up to go shopping in Tesco. You can’t be too careful. Multi-filter face mask by H of Stromness, suppliers to the crowned heads of Europe. After Tesco I’m off to rob a bank.