7th June – Departing Stromness this morning is the 75ft former herring boat “Swan”. Launched in Lerwick in May 1900, this represented the pinnacle of sailing boat design in the herring industry. Its mastery of the seas was shortlived, however, as steam drifters were already taking over the fleet.
The boat has extended it’s life by entering the charter business, and is available for hire.
13th June – As today was a special day, we decided to not paint the garden fence and have a tea and cakes afternoon. We visited the “Polly Kettle” in Burray, which is owned by an Egyptian chap (English wife) and specialises in Middle Eastern cuisine.
As we had planned on just tea and cakes we weren’t too adventurous but we shall return and try a wider selection of their menu, both sweet and savoury.
17th June – A bit of entertainment for us this morning. Two boats were craned out of the boatyard and back into the sea.
Sunrise and Sealgair have been ashore for several months now, receiving some TLC. They are now back in their natural environment.
22nd June – Looking out at midnight last night the sky was still very light. This is what Orcadians call the Simmer Dim, where it never gets truly dark at night. Some folk find it difficult to sleep at this time of year.
23rd June – A warm, sunny day here, ideal for a run out to the South Isles. After stopping for lunch at Celina Rupp’s Cafe in Holm we drove down to St Margaret’s Hope. The local smiddy has been maintained as a museum and shows what a tough life a blacksmith had.
They have this nice example of a costume used in the annual Plooin’ Competition.
Unique to South Ronaldsay, the Plooin’ (ploughing) Competitions see children, usually from farming families, wearing ornate costumes and demonstrating their skills in ploughing straight lines on a sandy beach. A big day out in Orkney.
Scapa Views 