Dave and Ann's first day up here today. After a few days bad weather while Babs and Harry were up here. The weather improved as soon as they left. Sod's law. We will try and do better next year Babs.
Pam was happy at the turn in the weather. She had been worried that Dave and Ann would not understand why we moved here. I think that Pam was convinced that Ann thoughtat orkney was just a collection of cold, barren, windswept rocks in a stormy sea. She need not have worried.
There was a big vintage rally at the mart in Kirkwall today so we went down there, mainly because I wanted to go anyway. We were only going to be there for a short time but we all enjoyed it so we stayed around for some time. (Pam stayed in the car because she is a party pooper and doesn't like vintage engines.)
After the vintage rally it was off to Finstown where we had a picnic overlooking the bay. (I told you the weather had got better.)Then to Kirbuster farm museum, the stones of Stennes and Barnhouse neolithic village before returning to Burray and The Sands for a well deserved beer.
While we were sitting outside The Sands having a drink there were three young lads fishing for mackerel from the pier. We went over to see how the fishing was going and were told that they had caught 61 fish. Ann bought 4 mackerel for us to take home for tea.
I think that the lads were a bit surprised that people would actually eat mackerel which they thought were only fit for use baiting lobster pots. There is no accounting for what the mad english will eat but if they want to pay good money for mackerel then the lads were only to happy to oblige.
It was really nice to see the lads enjoying themselves as little lads should. A little bit cheeky but in an amusing and not annoying way. After that, back home with mackerel for tea. They were very nice to (too two) (for my pedantic daughter) even if the lads can't understand why we should want to eat them.
On Monday morning I went out early to check the poultry. One of the geese was lying in a corner doing a great impression of a dead goose. On closer inspection, it had managed to get some wire round its neck and the other end was fastened to a post so it had been attempting a particularly slow method of committing suicide.
It took me quite a while to get the wire from around the goose's neck but fortunately it had not cut into the skin. Within minutes of being released, the goose was waddling round with the others as if nothing has happened.
It was another nice day so we went up to the Brough of Birsay and walked round to the whalebone at Skipi Geo.
On the way back we stopped off at The Loons bird hide. There have been reports of a water rail with young ones there and I have never seen a water rail.
Along with Dave and Ann I spent about 45 minutes there. We heard the water rail but it was obviously skulking in the reed beds and we did not even get a glimpse of it. At least I have now heard one now though.
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