Perfect day for it

A super day, very cold with blue skies and almost flat calm.  The Longhope Lifeboat crew were busy having a training session in the bay.  Quite often when they do this, they have a man overboard practise, but not today.  Unless you really had to, it was far too chilly for that sort of thing.  

It's a famous lifeboat station because of the tragedy of 1969, when the boat was launched to go to the aid of a cargo ship, the Irene, which had gone aground off shore on the east side of South Ronaldsay. 

"The TGB, a 47ft Watson-class lifeboat constructed of wood, went to its aid in conditions of near-zero visibility. A force 9 gale, coupled with a spring tide, led to waves 60ft high.
Radio contact was later lost.  The lifeboat is believed to have been overturned by a freak wave, possibly 100ft high. When the boat was recovered, the bodies of all but one of the crew were inside the hull.  They included the coxwain and his two sons, the second coxwain and his two sons.  The coxwain was still at the helm."

A terrible thing to happen to such a small and tight knit community.  It was this disaster which led to the development of self righting lifeboats.  Orkney is very proud of its lifeboats and their crews, and they are well respected and supported. 

I spent most of the day in the front garden, with my secateurs, cutting back anything which looked as if it needed it!  Also came across the extra.  A little bit of starling, possibly left by the sparrowhawk, which is a regular visitor . . ..