December 2022

12th December – While the rest of the country is covered in a blanket of festive snow, the white stuff is lacking in Orkney. Just a dusting on Hoy, it is pretty cold though and the roads were very icy this morning.

16th December – A few days of wintry weather have made the roads around Stromness a bit tricky. H and I have been doing odd jobs around the house, including painting the garden benches. Now, most sensible people would do this in the garden but we brought them into the kitchen! They’ve been taking up a lot of room but we will soon be finished.

The snow has given the hills of Stenness a dusting but the cold weather doesn’t stop the hardier fishermen going out.

The low sun is very photogenic but when reflected off snow and wet roads it can be blinding.

19th December – Adorning one’s home with stag antlers is common practice around highland Scotland but it seems out of place in Orkney as there aren’t any deer! Nevertheless, this set is quite impressive.

Visitors to Stromness will be well acquainted with this little train set in one of the local windows. It is on view all year round but looks particularly festive in December.

22nd December – MV Pentalina was the ferry that ran between Gill’s Bay and St. Margaret’s Hope, it was replaced with a larger vessel and has been in mothballs for several months now. It has just had some engine work carried out in Stromness and is seen here returning from sea trials.

25th December – Happy Christmas everyone.

Not a white Christmas in Orkney but a nice day and this rainbow over the harbour brightens the grey December skies.

26th December – Normally held on Christmas Day, the Ba’ is never held on a Sunday, so Kirkwall’s annual riot between the Uppies and the Doonies is on Boxing Day Monday this year. These photos have been “borrowed” from Orkney.com and The Orcadian.

It’s considered a great honour to start the match by throwing the Ba’ in to the scrum. The man seen here is a previous winner of the competition.

Here we see the two teams coming together in front of the Cathedral in Broad Street. I wouldn’t like to get in between these guys!

To the untrained eye the Ba’ seems utter chaos but the locals appear to understand what is happening and appreciate the subtle nuances of the game!

Here we can see the seething, steaming mass moving into Castle Street. All the shop windows are given timber barriers to prevent players going through the glass.

Unfortunately, only the windows are protected, breeze block walls have to take their chances and some don’t survive, this was in Boot’s car park. I assume the organisers have comprehensive insurance.

By the way, the Doonies won.

27th December – An overnight snowfall and an icy morning doesn’t deter the Stromness swimmers, I don’t think the dog is quite so keen.

This next photo shows the confusingly named Hoy Low lighthouse, which is on Graemsay. The stark backdrop is provided by Ward Hill, which actually is on Hoy. The snow highlights, nicely, the textured surface of the mountain.

31st December – As the sun sets for the last time on 2022, we are taking a few minutes to think of those we lost through the year, family and friends.

H and I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023