Testing the Waters

It  was hotter than hell in Stromness today! It’s not often you get weather up here like this and I certainly have never experienced it in all the years I have come on holiday here. 
The Island International Games start tomorrow with the triathlon on Sunday. I caught some of the teams  testing the waters they will be swimming in, when I passed this morning. The last stage of the race, the 10K run will take in the Street in Stromness right outside my door. How fortuitous is that!

We had a wonderful swim at 9am this morning with a display of synchronised handstands at the finish.
I had coffee sitting outside the Bay Leaf Delicatessen watching the world go by before it got too hot and I had to escape back indoors to the coolest room in the flat.

SelkieLibby picked me up to have lunch with her and the TL Michael at  Outertown, the peaceful place round the Ness away from the tourist hubbub of the town centre .The house has a wonderful view of Hoy across the water and the tidal race at the entrance to Hamnavoe. We sat outside listening to silence broken only by chattering starlings in the bushes. Canapés and Prosecco were served before we were ushered inside  to dine handsomely on the most delicious risotto from chef Michael’s kitchen. I was even awarded a fair sized glug of Bayley’s afterwards. Heaven on earth!

Time to say good bye and return to my flat and sit in the garden. People pay hundred of pounds to holiday in the Med and have weather like this while I pay hundreds of pounds to fly up to Orkney and live (today!) as though I were on the Med. The big difference is- I don’t need a passport.