July 2025

 Welcome everyone to a peep into life in July on our Orkney croft, hope you enjoy 

In the greenhouse the grapes are just starting to ripen

and the peaches are almost ready

vibrant summer colours around the croft

marigolds and montbretia

abundant fuchsias

and raindrops on beautiful borage

should be ok for spuds for a while !

Wilma enjoying her tent days

and Tilly still sunbathing on the warm stones

a new family of swallows nesting in the field shelter, a regular island breeder and always good to see

with the extra heat come the jelly fish ! colourful but not inviting for swimming

have you ever seen a "fog bow"?

 a bit like a rainbow but shows up when it's foggy and we've had a lot of fog this month due to the hot air cooling over the cold sea

this is taken from the balcony at the top of the lighthouse with the shadow of the lighthouse and with the steps and straight path leading to the now redundant fog horn on the right

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Book of the month

this book was recommended to me by Pauline Kidd, previous owner of Mr Blonde, my Icelandic pony who shares my life, 

thank you Pauline on all counts !

For more information on this fabulous lady who helps humans and horses check out her website

www.paulinekidd.com

~~~

( from Clever Classroom Facebook page)

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The 10th North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival

 has begun !

(image taken from Sheep Festival website)

with volunteers coming from far and wide to help repair the 13 mile stone dyke and to join in the fun

the boys and girls in training for the islanders vs volunteers football match on Saturday,

Malcolm is still there playing on at 70

there will be the after-match beach bbq and, the highlight for me, the Saturday night ceilidh, do love a bit of Dashing White Sergeant

 and Stripping The Willow !

Hope to have some festival fun photos for you in next month's blog

~~~~

but for now, remember to

(from Tiet Ho Facebook page)

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Wishing you a fun weekend, too, enjoy the  summer,

June & Malcolm

💛 🌞 💛 

June 2025

Welcome everyone, hope you are all happy and thriving 😊 and hope you can find two minutes to enjoy our June photographs

A few flights to the island have been cancelled this  month due to fog, not of course bothering the sheep and a couple of ferries have been cancelled due to the wind.                        

Around the croft Spring Squill and the awesome Olearia

Fuchsia bushes grow surprisingly well here and create a welcome wind break

Ohh, our grapes are growing excitingly well in the greenhouse

Zara and Mr Blonde waiting patiently for the farrier to come for their pedicure

Oh, I do love to see a pony at the back door, always makes me smile 😊

Our friend's goat waiting for morning coffee to be served !!

                                                                ~~~~~

Quote of the month

Don't think you have to be solemn to meditate.

To meditate well, you have to smile a lot.

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

Thich Nhat Hanh

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

~~~~~~~

This has been a month of visitors !

Malcolm's sister from Madeira 

and his cousin from South Africa

walking and a lighthouse tour were compulsory

as was the post-swim pinkest-knee competition !

  mmm, no guessing whose legs don't get to see much sunshine

we did let Barb join in, but as you can see she feels the cold

 and Mike gave us a yoga lesson in our spacious community sports hall

and of course they both helped Malcolm celebrate his 70th birthday

🎉

getting a bit hot with all those candles !

many thanks to the Bird Observatory team for our great meal

Malcolm says thank you to everyone for all his birthday wishes, much appreciated 😊

~~~~~

and our third visitor arrived by the Noble Caledonia cruise ship the Island Sky

the ship moored just off the island near Bewan Pier, a couple of hundred yards from our cottage, the crew came across first on the Zodiac ribs and lay towels down on the slippery, seaweedy pier for folk to walk along safely

and here she comes ! my mermaid friend Janette from the Scottish Highlands 

it was a pity that the weather was so very wet but it didn't dampen our spirits

we managed a lot of talking and a glass of wine, so all was well.

Janette and I started to swim in the waters of Loch Ewe in 2014 and swam every Sunday for eight years regardless of what the weather was throwing at us, happy days

The tides and weather meant that the visit was cut short, sad to see her depart so soon, 

but she made it !!!!!

Next time we meet we'll swim together again

💙💙

~~~~~~

Books of the month

Thank you Nicola for sending Malcolm this fabulous book, much appreciated and enjoyed

📗 📘 📙 📕

This one may change your life ?

📕   📙  📘  📗

from the "1000 Libraries" Facebook page

📖  📖  📖  📖

Hurkle-Durkle

On the subject of books and words this is a great phrase, which dates back to the 1800s in Scotland and is defined in the "Dictionaries of the Scots Language" as "to lie in bed or lounge about when one should be up and about" or a perfect excuse for a day of relaxation.

~~~~~

The weather here at the moment is nothing like summer !! but hope there is sunshine where you are and wishing 

happy hurkle-durkling to you all

June and Malcolm

💚💛