The Shortest Day

Sunrise 9.04

 

Sunset  15.16

 

That's according to the paper. It didn't get light here until 9.30.

 

And the weather has been foul for days. High winds and the high seas that go with them.

 

OH went into Kirkwall (local town and Orkney's 'capital') on Tuesday, This involves a drive of abour 15 miles and crossing the  the Churchill Barriers. He went early because the forecast was fairly dire and he wanted to get home before the worst of the weather set in. Unfortunately when he tried to get home he coincided with high tide , the barriers were closed to traffic and he was stuck on the 'wrong' side of them for three hours.

 

 

Sensibly he turned round and went back into Kirkwall for lunch. It's not the sort of thing that happens often, but it's a reminder that island life really is a little bit different to that on  Mainland UK.

 

As is the fact that I know it's the Solstice. I find I'm a lot more aware of the turning of the seasons and the changes in the length of days than I ever was in Yorkshire. And, OH's experience this week  to the contrary, we normally make sure we know every day  in winter when it's high tide, because there are days when you want to make sure you time your trips to avoid it.