O, what a beautiful morning

The weather has been giving us a bit of a battering up here. Ferry after ferry has been cancelled for bad weather and it is many weeks since we were last able to go in to Kirkwall.

The last few days in particular have been horrendous, the weather gods hurling all manner of troubles in the direction of the isles. On Sanday, we have water supply issues: our water is taken from a local loch, now so stirred up by the wind and rain that the filters have clogged. Water was tankered in on Saturday but two tankers due to arrive yesterday were left on Kirkwall pier when the ferry was cancelled.

The Hoy ferry, the MV Hoy Head was damaged in high seas on, I think, Saturday. A reserve boat will operate while the damage is being inspected.

Passengers returning to Orkney from Aberdeen spent an unpleasant night and day anchored off Kirkwall when it proved impossible to berth at Hatston pier on Saturday. I hope they had plenty of seasickness remedies on board!

On Eday the situation is terrible, with the access to the pier having been washed away. Sailings to Eday are currently suspended. Engineers will be assessing the situation today. Orkney Ferries hope to be able to operate a foot passenger service until the situation is remedied but it is not yet known if that can happen.

It was with some relief therefore that I woke this morning to an absence of howling winds and battering rain!

Normality has yet to be restored. On checking today's ferry situation, we read: Due to water supply issues in Sanday and power supply issues affecting the North Isles today sailings maybe subject to change to accommodate emergency services. Updates will follow when available.


No escape yet, then - but good to know that our interests are being put first.


Anyway - there seems to be the promise of some sun behind those clouds... somewhere. Stunning light this morning, but I did not really do it justice.