Emerald, Kirkwall Harbour

A day when the sea has never been far from thoughts and conversations.

I took advantage of the relative calm this morning to get some work done in Kirkwall. The tide was high and with the gale set to get established this evening, preparations were underway to close the harbour front flood gates for tonight's high tide.

SEPA has issued flood warnings for many places in Orkney. There were piles of sandbags in evidence in Holm, where the sea was almost overtopping the pier, and piled on a pallet for the residents of St Margaret's Hope to collect.

It's going to be a worrying 12 hours for many.