salmon fishing in the Orkneys
Golden Mariana to Papay
Set sail from Westray just after 9am for the once weekly clinic on Papay. Between the isles are lots of big, round, metal things, salmon farming. Coincidentally the clinic coincides with the island's coffee morning, thankfully few patients attended the clinic and I spent some time sampling the coffee and delicious homemade cakes, with a few of the elderly population. Had a lovely chat to an elderly man about how the island's changed over time and his past trade as a shellfisherman, very interesting. Apparently Papay has just 24 days of sun a year. Arrived back on Westray, think we did some medicine, did a little of my new 'pharmacist' role, dispensed some medication - lunch (enjoyed the view, how many of my future jobs will involve lunch overlooking over a bay as pretty...?) - few consultations, realized quite obviously I don't remember/never learned anatomy...couple of home visits, one of which was particularly challenging and sad. Squeezed in a trip to the local 'Jack's Chippy' - open two evenings a week, plenty of salt and vinegar! Then bit of a squeeze in the car and back to evening surgery - I had the hot seat, great fun & finally mastering the computer system 'vision'. While I remember, obviously the surgery has some unusual 'equipment' and things, being so remote - including two coffins in the shed... On a brighter note cycled home in the sun - finally the fog lifted for a peedie bit.Spent the evening on the clifftops watching the puffins fly to their clifftop burrows after a day at sea, very adorable.
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