Sunrise Sunset
It could hardly be a week in pictures without me showing you this week’s sunrise and sunsets. They continue to be pretty incredible, especially for October as the weather has been beautiful. It’s been cooling down a bit but the sun shines bright and the skies continue to treat us to a multitude of colours. I never take it for granted and I never tire of it.
Writing
My writing was kickstarted this time last year. There was a George Mackay Brown short story competition happening in Orkney and I was talking to someone about it and said I thought I would give it a go. I came a very happy second and was delighted for my first ever competition. This and conversation with one of the judges gave me the confidence to start blogging for the practice and I’ve been writing almost daily ever since. I had no idea where the blog was going to go but I couldn’t be happier. I’ve received lovely emails from people all over the world, beautiful comments from friends near and far and even recently heard from a former colleague from my life in Cambridge. Thank you all so much for reading and following the blog. If you would like to follow or receive it by email then please click on the button by the side or at the bottom of the page (depending on if you are viewing by phone or pc)
The closing date for this years George Mackay Brown competition was yesterday and when I went to drop off my entry I saw a display of last year’s winners with my piece up there. Special.
Beach Walks
This morning could almost have been mistaken for summer. I went for my early morning walk and the beach was deserted. This is the Bay of Skaill, a beach that my house looks down onto and I can see it from my sitting room and kitchen. A dream come true. It was flat calm today but on a windy day it looks incredibly different and the spray from the waves can be seen high over the cliffs situated to the right of the picture.
The dog came too and as usual lost her ball, dug for stones and chased waves.
Brave swimmers appeared. I was almost jealous! Maybe I should invest in a wetsuit, it wouldn’t be a good look but as no one else is around….
These two islands pictured below are for sale including and the house for a mere £300,000 You can drive across to it at low tide and it would be perfect hideaway. If I had the money I would buy it, but I don’t, so I’m going to have to rely on someone sponsoring me to run it, live there and blog about life on a remote island in Orkney. C’mon we could make it work!
*sits back and waits for the offer*
This week I’m having new flooring put in the sitting room. (This is a good thing) I am also having a tooth removed, or what’s left of it. (this is a bad thing) Expect whingy updates in a few days.
Happy Sunday all. 🙂
Norq From Ork 
It must feel great to see your story up there, and good luck with this year’s competition – I found Orkney to be full of of great stories and a truly inspiring place to be. Not long back from a 2-week holiday there, as well as the mind-blowing ancient sites, amazing skies and friendly folk, one of many highlights was a storytelling evening (which included a selkie story) and we also spent a few evenings reading various brilliant things from Northern Lights by George Mackay Brown, as well as a few of my Orkney-inspired efforts (still editing some of them but have started posting a few of those on my site unauthoredtext.wordpress.com).
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Did you happen to hear a story about a woman who didn’t meet J.K Rowling? because I told that one. Or maybe it was a different story telling event. I will have a look at your site. Orkney is a great place for inspiration and I love the history of the place. I’m not a local, I moved here 8 years ago but I married a local. 🙂
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It was just one woman and man doing the night – at Via. It was pretty amazing though, really atmospheric. Sorry to have missed your event (we spent some time on both Westray and Hoy as well as Mainland)
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Ah a different story telling. They are great fun though. Westray is beautiful, I have blogged about there and also Hoy. Glad you had a good trip, I look forward to reading about it.
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Wow Sarah! Well done. Keep writing your blogs are the highlights of my week. Infact the husband also looks up from his studies when and email notification pings in and asks “is that our friend from Orkney” so you see…becoming famous far down south too. Have a super week.
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Oh goodness how lovely! Say hi to him and thank you. Have a great week too 😁
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