Winds of change*

OK, this weather's just weird. After weeks of gales and storms, some of which had cute names (as long as they were affecting the folks south too) ((and the severest ones here didn't have names... apart from "weather"))... where was I? Oh yeah, it's been rather pleasant the last few days. No wind, no rain, occasional sunshine... is this still Orkney?!

Meteorologists will tell you it's because there's a high pressure area out to the north west in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to settled conditions and lots of blanket cloud. The rest of us know that's a load of baloney, some god (insert deity of choice) just wants to p*ss off the aurora chasers, because whilst there's been amazing scenes down in mainland Scotland, Orkney has pretty much missed out on a really spectacular show. Oops.

Not to worry, with a house move in the offing, we've been busy decluttering, cleaning, gardening and, mainly, carting stuff to the tip to be recycled. But yesterday, channelling the spirit of Mole from Wind In The Willows, we said "Hang spring-cleaning!" and went for a walk to clear our heads.

Plenty of other folk had the same idea, as we met half a dozen people along a clifftop path in Orphir, before we headed inland for a change of habitat.

Hart's-tongue fern

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Gorse

Gorse

In a clearing of a wood, two Robins were singing to defend adjoining territories. The babbling of the burn obscures the second bird, but it was lovely to hear the sounds without 40mph gusts of wind.
 

Decluttering duties have resumed today, with a van load of wood of all shapes and sizes donated to Orkney Men's Shed. And there's a large pile of stuff to take to the Re-use Yard in Stromness at the weekend. I don't think we'll ever achieve optimum minimalism, but it is proving to be a useful exercise (and also much-needed exercise).

* Apologies, Scorpions fans.