Turnstones

Excellent sail from Kirkwall to Rapness yesterday. I was out on deck the whole time and it was both calm and warm. It's like a mini cruise past the Isles. A lovely welcome to St Clair Cottage and, as usual, wonderful fish from Jack's chippy. I slept well but was awake at my customary 05:30. Quite annoying. Anyway I got up to watch the dawn. It was a pretty grey morning though and chilly. I pottered about and took Flora out before breakfast. I saw a big group of these busy turnstones along the tide line.

After breakfast a longer walk reacquainting ourselves with the area. If your idea of a village is thatched cottages and that sort of (in my view) rather twee kind of stuff Pierowall might not be for you. If you're interested in how a rural or island community can flourish it might well be. There's a lot happening in Westray. It has the advantage of the sea and fertile farmland. And it is really lovely, just not chocolate-boxy.

This afternoon the sun came out and it is beautifully warm. I couldn't resist the extra of the view from the cottage. Watching the tide come up and go down is always a pleasure. You can see the wide sweep of Pierowall Bay with the island of Papay (Papa Westray) on the horizon.

Today is our wedding anniversary. It's many years since Cameraman and I were married on a chilly Monday in Edinburgh. This evening we're off to eat at the Pierowall Hotel. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be to celebrate.