Timing

A view of Hoy from the Ness Battery, a place I've meant to visit for years. This WW1 & WW2 site, along with numerous others along Orkney's shorelines, protected the country's Naval fleet, based in the 100 sq miles of safe anchorage of Scapa Flow, with gun batteries both short and long range. The ferry arrived bang on cue as the guide was explaining how the signalling systems worked to differentiate friend from foe; those not responding appropriately received a shot across the bows but obviously the Hamnavoe had today's password!

It was a fascinating talk about the clinical brutality of war.   The gun emplacements worked very well as deterrents as none of them were ever fired at the enemy, but the architecture was all about efficiency. 

In complete contrast, and at last showing some humanity, was the incredible mural painted along each wall of the Mess Hall of chocolate box scenes of a rural idyll, painted from one man's imagination of olde worlde southern England, about as far from the grim reality of their posting in Orkney as can be conceived (extra).

Berry was 4 today!  We had a superb walk to Warebeth along the coast just beneath the battery. The sun shone,  the wind was breezy but not as strong as it became later and there were plenty of opportunities to admire the scenery with its best clothes on. 

I'm away out soon to see 'Barbie, the Movie'.  It'll be interesting!