Stromness from across the Water

Even if the temperature was, as noted on the Internet, 12 degrees feeling like 9 in the fairly stiff easterly, the sun was out, and the sky and water a welcoming blue.

We couldn't have asked for anything more from the weather as we made our introductory visit to Julia's café before walking round the bay to Copeland's Dock to see Stromness from across the water.
We had the place to ourselves, relishing the tranquility, as we took the path by the sea through verges of yellow flag irises, pink thrift, white daisies and the odd startlingly yellow dandelion. His Lordship was content enough to sit while I tried to sketch the town, snuggled beneath Brinkie's Brae, so beloved by George Mackay Brown.

The Sunday papers were just in when we passed the paper shop homeward bound, and these we have brought home to read, sitting looking out over the water as the ferry from the mainland manoeuvres an 180 degree turn in front of us to slip gracefully into its berth, while a yacht, white sails furled, skims under power to  the marina.

We may go out later, or we may not. Sometimes holidays make for complete inertia and decisions are hard to make.