3rd July – Today is the fifth anniversary of our move to Orkney. No regrets at all, we have loved every minute of our time here. Normally we would go to the Hamnavoe for a celebratory meal but sadly it is staying closed this year due to Covid-19.
5th July – Harry the Snake is still growing at the Ness ( see 9th June post ). We particulary liked this this little sea stack complete with tiny climbers.
8th July – A lovely, warm day here. Kids playing on the beach. H & I admiring the view out of Hoy Sound.
As we basked in the sunshine, a drama was unfolding. Local fishing boat Noronya was returning to Stromness and battling through a strong tidal race in the Sound when the engine cut out.
The boat was turned around in the current and carried back towards the open sea. Eventually a marine energy service tug arrived and towed it back into the harbour. Panic over!
10th July – As face masks become compulsory in Scottish shops, we’re not all getting the hang of it…
15th July – We’ve had a little Wheatear fledgling in the garden for a few days now. Not sure where the nest was but it seems quite adept at looking after itself now. Dad is never far away, keeping watch and bringing food.
16th July – It’s Jeanne’s birthday today, so the gang assembled at Woodwick House for, socially distanced, cakes and cookies.
Woodwick House is an old Victorian mansion in Evie. It’s run as an artists retreat and is in a beautiful setting. It is one of the few places in Orkney with mature, deciduous woodland.
There are no vistors there at the moment, for obvious reasons, but Jeanne (of course) has access. So it was a nice peaceful afternoon.
23rd July – As Boris Johnson visits Stromness on a whistle stop tour, he is harrassed by a band of dangerous, masked insurgents.
24th July – A nicer day today, yesterday’s grey skies have cleared and the big cloud drifted off southwards. We went up the coast and were pleased to see there were still a lot of puffins around.
Met a nice couple from Bedale in North Yorks. They moved to Orkney two years ago, having lived for twelve years in France (too hot, apparently!). They’ve built a lovely bungalow overlooking the cliffs to the north, an ideal spot for auroras.
Scapa Views 
2 thoughts on “July 2020”