If there's one thing you can say about the weather in Orkney, it is that it is windy. And if you were allowed to venture a further opinion concerning our meteorology, you might also mention that it is very changeable. Not necessarily in the spirit of the classic Scottish "four seasons in one day", but weather that is definitely different from yesterday, and quite possibly different from that currently on the opposite side of the archipelago. In this regard, January 2026 was unusual. Firstly, there was a prolonged spell of wintry weather from the north which, whilst it was often picturesque, played havoc with the road system due to drifting snow, and affected all transport, as crews couldn't make it to ferries or staff to the airport. For the last wee while, however, we have been hunkered down from a period of unrelenting dreichness, characterised by wind and rain from the south east. And it shows no sign of a change of heart. At least roads are now navigable, if a l...