We have been reading the newspaper reports of hosepipe bans and general gloom & doom about water shortages in the south. Whilst we were reading the reports the rain lashed against our windows and the clouds scudded across angry skies. Although it is cool it isn't cold, the wind abates every so often, and the sun comes out just long enough for us to get out and enjoy it or, in my case, cut the lawns. Very early (about 4 am) on the morning of Monday 11 July the rain was so heavy that it woke me up and I got up to close the bedroom window. I had just got back into bed and was dozing off when there was a blinding flash followed almost immediately by a terrific crack of thunder. It was just a single peal of thunder but it was enough to set the 200 sheep in the field behind us bleating and the cows in the fields across the way joined in the general cacophony. After a while everything settled down and we went back to sleep. When we came down to breakfast in the morning we found Surrey in a very nervous state and looking decidedly grubby. We realised that she must have been asleep on the kitchen windowsill when the lightning and thunderclap occurred - the poor thing must have been petrified and hidden herself behind the stove, hence her grubby appearance. She remained quite nervous for the rest of the day but by Tuesday she had regained her poise and by Wednesday she had returned to her usual state of smug superiority and apparent indifference. Several other people have remarked that their pets were similarly affected by the lightning and thunder.

Sunday 10 July was "Lifeboat" day. It's a regular, annual event when the Kirkwall lifeboat visits Stronsay for the day so that the islanders can look over her and the island puts a special fund-raising event in the community centre. After attending the 11 am Kirk service we went down to the quayside for a short service before going to the community centre for lunch. The ladies had been busy all morning and there was an enormous buffet - I started to count the number of "main" dishes but lost count at 35. In addition to the buffet there was a raffle, tombola and the inevitable cake stall, the bar was open too. The total amount raised on the day was in excess of £1,700 - not bad for 380 islanders and a few visitors.

On Sunday 10 July I played the organ for the Kirk because the regular organist wanted a day off. All went well until we got to the last hymn - "Be Thou my vision" to "Slane". During the first verse I discovered that the version of the tune that I was using was slightly different to that set in the hymnbook but I once I realised what had gone wrong I managed to correct it for the remaining verses. Nobody made any comments so I presume my efforts were acceptable.

I travelled with another islander to Kirkwall and on to Sanday for a "focus group" of about ten people on Wednesday 13 July. The "focus group" comprised about ten people (from Stronsay, Sanday and North Ronaldsay) and a leader from the Edinburgh branch of a London-based company that was running the focus group on behalf of the Scottish Executive. I am reliably informed that the company's London-based staff were unaware that Stronsay, Sanday and North Ronaldsay were islands and wanted to use the taxi service on Sanday to transport participants from Stronsay and North Ronaldsay to the venue on Sanday. The proprietors of the small hotel on Sanday were quite amused when the organisers asked them if they had a conference room and an overhead projector. In the event the meeting was held in the hotel dining room and we all crowded around a laptop to see the short presentation. It was a pleasant break and I hope the Scottish Executive take note of the points we raised, these included concern about the replacement of the Loganair air ambulance with helicopters based in Inverness and the problems farmers have with pests such as rabbits and geese . In any event I got a free buffet with an overnight stay at the hotel. One bit of excitement relieved the boredom of the four-hour wait at Kirkwall airport for the connecting flight to Sanday. We noticed a flurry of activity amongst the airport staff and then saw the Lord Lieutenant arrive, resplendent in his official uniform. We did not know what was happening until someone mentioned that Prince Andrew was paying Orkney a short visit. When the Prince's aircraft (from the Royal Flight) arrived we all went to the window to see HRH come down the aircraft steps and he gave us all a cheery wave before getting into his limousine.

The island threw a surprise party for Dr Jon Buchan on Sat 17 July to celebrate his "official" retirement. Dr Buchan was the resident GP on Stronsay for over 10 years until he handed over the reins to Dr George MacKay earlier this year. After a surreptitious collection had been made around the island Dr Buchan was presented with a painting by Jenny Flett (a talented Stronsay artist) and an Orkney chair (made by Geordie Garson of Eday). Golgotha Monastery, Papa Stronsay, gave Dr Buchan a beautiful spinning stool, hand-carved in oak by Br Marcel.

I saw an unusual sight on Stronsay this month - a police car which had come over on the mid-day ferry. I've no idea what they were doing on the island other than just reminding the islanders that they existed. No doubt a few people were "gently reminded" about wearing seatbelts and ensuring that their tyres had sufficient pressure and depth of tread.

As I write this Saga Maureen is busy baking and freezing enough food to feed the five thousand because an RAF colleague, who I have not seen for over 30 years, and his wife are travelling up from Hampshire to stay with us for a few days at the end of August.

Last updated July 23 2005