Fletcher saga 26 Mar 2004

The last week or two have brought us good weather but today has been very foggy. However, next Wednesday (31 March) we catch the 4:40 pm ferry from Kirkwall to Stronsay. The ferry service is almost back to normal following the disastrous engine failure just before Christmas. Fortunately the previous owners are leaving quite a lot of stuff so even though our effects do not arrive until Friday lunchtime we shall be able to survive. It does not seem like eight weeks since we first came to Orkney although there were times, such as those when we were waiting for feedback from solicitors, when it seemed 31 March seemed a lifetime away.
We have become quite accustomed to life in Bachylis over the last couple of months. Several seagulls visit us most days and vie for scraps of food with the feral cats - nicknamed Gert & Daisy by Maureen - that keep the croft free from mice & rats. Sightings of curlew and oystercatcher are commonplace, in fact the oystercatchers frequently invade the nearby field in large numbers to pursue some mysterious rite that involves plunging their bills into the turf; Maureen thinks that they have been hired/trained to aerate the turf.
Our next missive will probably be produced after we have actually taken possession of our new home on Stronsay, Orkney.

Last updated 15 May 2004