Breaking through

The haar has lifted! After breakfast we went to Kirkwall for an explore, and enjoyed mooching around, chatting to the stall holders in a little craft market (and bought a beanie, and a carved stone inspired by the finds at Skara Brae) and visiting the gorgeous ancient red sandstone cathedral (extra).
In one shop I found something I’ve been looking for for ages…a long, simple, totally waterproof coat, and even better it was an Ilse Jacobsen one…delighted to get it!
Looked at a couple of cafes and plumped for the Real Food cafe and enjoyed a coffee and scone/espresso drizzle cake, then back to the car. We decided to nip to the Sheila Fleet gallery whilst we were over this part of the island. Neither of us is that fond of the jewellery but nice to see it (and note the cafe for future reference!). By now it was definitely getting brighter so we drove over to the Ring of Brodgar and enjoyed a walk around, wondering about the lives of the people who built it and revelling in the sun, the peace and quiet and the numbers of skylarks and linnets swooping around and singing in a chorus. Beautiful! Enhanced by getting a phonecall from the hospital following up on P’s lost hearing aid and saying they will replace it and immediately sending an email with the address to send the bill to once it’s been replaced. Thank goodness!
We also wandered around the nearby Stones of Stennes and the remains of the little village next to them, dodging a coach party to get photos clear of people.
We stopped for an ice cream given the warmer sun that was by then breaking through, chatting to the owner who’d moved here from Lancashire. From there to a yarn shop, very definitely off the beaten track, and another Lancashire incomer, and S bought some knitting kits for presents. We decided to cover off the last few creative trail sites whilst we were here and stopped in at the brewery to get A&N some lager (but most of it was beer not lager as we discovered when we tasted it!), a small craft shop and a pottery. Chatted to the owners about good beaches to comb for shells, pottery and glass. One recommendation was Scapa beach so we stopped there (extra)….in glorious sunshine. A few shells but just cockle ones in the main, so no luck. Called Mt on his birthday and we had a good chat about his day and plans for the evening (very low key!) and I showed him the beach and the gorgeous weather…a contrast to the murk and storms in London!
Home for a bit of a rest and a drink and nibbles, then off to The Foveran for dinner. Beautiful setting, overlooking the sea, with gorgeous views given the clear sunny evening (you couldn’t see anything last night the waitress said). We both had seafood and mutton, with me having it in that order and S having a mutton starter and main course seafood. All delicious (although a bit odd to have plainish boiled potatoes and veg with all main courses regardless of the dish) and very friendly and efficient staff.
Home, stuffed, for a last cup of tea before bed. Both feeling much more upbeat having had good weather!