Welcome!

Our first full day in Orkney was spent exactly as I dreamed it might - doing very little after five previous days of travelling. We slept in, I caught up with blip, Dr T read and finally, around 3 pm, we ventured out into the town. It was overcast, misty and cooler than the day before but none of that mattered. I don't think you go on holiday in Scotland for the weather when the place and the people are so much more interesting...

...such as this local custom (blip). We were looking at shops just outside St Magnus Cathedral when a little parade came along with the front runners banging on pots and pans. A couple, dressed as Minions from the film Despicable Me*, were then tied using cling film and green string. Naturally, I had to have a closer look. I ended up talking to the mother of the young woman. Turns out the couple are getting married on Saturday. Normally the traditional humiliation involves blackening the couple's faces but the mother said her daughter's skin wouldn't react well but they had to do something to mark the occasion. The Minion costumes was the couple's idea - they love the film. I'd heard about similar pre-wedding humiliations in Denmark that involve the grooms only and a lack of clothing but it was a chilly day. The couple were then abandoned by their friends and family for all the world to see.**

We toddled off to the Visitor Information Centre to find out what's what and had a very enjoyable conversation with Neil who told us all sorts about the islands and the Hudson's Bay Company.

After dinner, we settled down to watch the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Whilst some bits were cringe-worthy, over all I thought it showed Glasgow's welcoming attitude and sense of humour. And I loved the gay kiss at the beginning. It's easy to forget that it's illegal to be gay in 42 of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth.


*I've not seen the film or the sequel. Must see what all the fuss is about.
** When we returned 45 minutes later the couple were nowhere to be seen. :-)