#17 - Sunday 29th

escaping

Shapsinsay (I think) overlooking Mainland Orkney

Balfour Castle

To avoid the large people filled town we decided to explore a smaller island, Shapinsay (population around 300). First time on a ferry - quite exciting - nice views of other islands over the water. Arrived on Shapinsay and headed straight towards this grand castle, within about two minutes we arrived at the locked gatehouse and realized we couldn't enter the castle.. Crossed back past the still-docked ferry... what were we going to do all day on this island? (Ferry home at 5:30...) We walked through the village, with its historical salt water shower, gas building and old cannon things... Set off to the island's furthest most corner to see a 'broch' - an iron age (?) building, it's like a huge cone, and definitely appears very secure and defensive. I had slightly underestimated the length of Shapinsay... lunch on the beach beside the broch was lovely, the broch was quite nice to see and then we started the long way back (12miles in total we walked!) Welcome cup of tea in an empty cafe, quick look around the craft and heritage centre and a wander before the return ferry... walked though a minatute 'forest' - quite possibly the private castle grounds... and onto a sunny beach looking back over Kirkwall - lovely. Shapinsay was a flat island with beautiful views over to Rousay, Westray, Sronsay, Eday and the Mainland but also very quiet - I think we saw less than ten people in total... Home again (with a big blister) for courgette curry and crochet lessons, crochet is so hard!! First day in hospital tomorrow... still not sure where/what I'm doing...

#15b - Friday 27th

Noltland Castle

 Spent the afternoon baking biscuits and a quick last walk to the beach, evening surgery was busy - everyone leaves things until last minute Friday evening! Back to the hostel about eight, time for tea, shower and finally I ran out of time and excuses for not packing...

Grobust Beach

GP Surgery

Grobust Beach Looking to Noup Head Lighthouse

#16 - Saturday 28th

moving

 Last rhubarb breakfast for a while possibly... Suitcase absolutely filled to capacity (I had to part with my converse...). Having said this, coming to Orkney I had a huge backpack and suitcase - I've downsized to just suitcase and a small handbag! Beautiful clear flights, Westray to Papay (one and a half minutes) and then onto Kirkwall (around eleven/twelve minutes) - even the sun came out & I could see some trees! Trees don't grow in Westray, its surprising how many people notice the lack of trees and do miss them! Seeing Kirkwall from the air scared me - it looked huge. On arrival, two American passengers and one guy having completed a sight-seeing loop on the plane received their certificates for completing the world's shortest scheduled flight (between Westray and Papay) - I decided I was too cool for that, maybe I was a little arrogant but I've started to think of myself as a local... and do I really need a certificate of that.... Aunty B has taught me not to hoard! Walked out of the airport and straight onto a normal, huge stagecoach bus. I was not ready to leave Westray. Thankfully the driver stopped the bus and shouted to me 'hospital' at the appropriate stop... Not too much to see, grey building looking very similar to the houses.. Collected my key and after a 'wrong-way-wander' around the hospital rubbish areas and back doors found the accommodation. Big room, three of us in this flat, very nice. The only food I managed to bring with me (suitcase space minimal): paprika - chilli flakes - ginger and teabags... so I went to explore the hospital canteen. Very cute & very reasonable prices, (egg roll). I made it to the Tesco (might have had another wee snack), and then realized I was near the harbour - decided I would meet Rosie there instead of the hospital... there were so many boats - (I'm used to just one arriving... ) And, amazingly, this isn't the only harbour on the island?! (I know) so back to the hospital! Finally found Rosie and together managed a Tesco shop, it took quite a while, we were hopeless at decisions, blaming our relaxed state after island life for two weeks and our discomfort of being in such a large place. We really weren't coping with the number of people/cars/places compared to the outer isles... Lunch in town - (a choice of cafes!). Lots of cheering from the back of trailers... apparently its a pre-wedding tradition? Time for a few cups of tea, tea and then an explore before bed! Planning on visiting Shapinsay tomorrow....

#15 - Friday 27th

 "lobstering"

lobster ponds

How is it my last day? Just in case I don't get a chance to upload an entry later today I'll do it now. Lovely woman called Katie, she's a home carer on Westray and Papay took me to see the 'lobster ponds' this morning. With the Orcadian accent I could not understand what I had committed to with the 'pons' - however it all became clear! Eight large ponds in a building beside the sea for lobster farming, they catch them in 'creels' (which again took a while to understand! I think they're the 'lobster pots'!) - they also get lobsters in from other areas of Scotland too and look after them here and send them back. By law they must be a certain size and then they're continually sorted into different sized ponds, fed twice a week, (pincers tied) and looked after in the aerated tanks. They are sent to Spain and France, particularly in the winter - busiest time is around October, with all the tanks moving with activity! No lobsters today - all moved out yesterday. Very interesting. Katie then took me for coffee at the Wheeling Steen, such a peaceful place and spent the time in between & afterwards giving me a little tour of parts of the island I might not have seen - found some beautiful little spots. She even surprised me with a picture of Westray to take with me to France and remember here... I left saying - see you again... I'm convinced I'll be making a return trip to Westray, it just isn't a place you can only visit once in a lifetime. Back at the barn, few new guests, time for a busy last afternoon, clinic at 6, need to bake some thank you biscuits before, pay my debt to the Haff Yok... (maybe have some more soup...?) and I need to see the beach one last time. I fly to Kirkwall at 8:49 tomorrow morning... oh yes,  I should probably pack too..

#14 - Thursday 26th

chatting

The only two photographs I took on Thursday - my freshly washed, dried and folded (I think possibly ironed too) washing by Teenie - who with her husband run the hostel I'm staying at. (I've actually just been handed the keys to lock up reception again!) & My bedroom heater - so, so handy, it can get pretty chilly, even during the night here - spent a few minutes warming my hands after using the wifi outside!!) 

Amazingly woke up before my alarm! Went into surgery halfway through, one patient I'd seen a few times before - so quite interesting. The tea and biscuit cupboard was restocked so we enjoyed those and then made our way back to the Haff Yok for lunch (cauliflower soup and chocolate cake). Had a quiet hour and then back to the surgery for evening clinic - quite a challenging consultation but I learned alot. Made chilli for the GP and I - I cannot cut down from Acey family sized meals! Enjoyed the view over the bay from the surgery for the last time & returned to the barn for more rhubarb crumble. Spent the evening missing the two men from Seville - as I went inside they went out & viceversa over two hours!! Spent some time outside using the wifi, had a lovely chat to a lady visiting from Seattle & then spent over an hour freezing together with the two men from Seville and another lady from Seattle - putting the world to right... & being convinced to visit Seville - in April/May or October - otherwise its too hot and wet... the smell of oranges in April sounded heavenly....

#13 - Wednesday 25th

sinking

favourite place: Papa Westray

Again set my alarm for sunrise...cloudy! Made it back to bed in a sleepy haze. No better at getting up this morning, a guy from the hostel helped by laughing and saying "oh you really are late today.." - lets just say I made it to the Golden Mariana before it set sail! Clinic was interesting, coffee morning delicious (maybe not quite so tasty as last week...) 4 pieces of cake later (and not all the flavours sampled) I was left 'stranded' to explore Papay, soon to become my favourite place. Full stop.

Wandering along the winding country tracks, wildflower meadows to my left, the white sand and bright sea to my right. Along the sand with the attention of seals. Blue silhouettes of other Orkney islands on the horizon, extending down to the Mainland. It was all going so well and wonderfully, stepped out onto some black seaweed, sank up to my left ankle - unfortunately I was too slow and my right ankle was in before I knew it too.. let me just mention it was smelly seaweed. wet seaweed. oh well converse off! Got slightly lost, barbed fence keeping me out... Someone else had made this mistake and I cautiously followed their tracks across what was probably someone's land. Again sinking issue, this time ankle deep in mud - soaked right through my converse, you know that 'puddle in your shoe feeling', but still the sun was shining.. Walked up through one of the nicest houses - stunning view and again lost the track (so few people come here, it's not like walking a 'footpath' in the lakes). Clifftop walk surrounded by wildflowers - I was especially careful no to get near the edge.. wasn't sure I'd be found anytime soon! Think I saw the 'bore' where two seas meet... Absolutely stunningly beautiful, so refreshing and peaceful - lush. The West coast of the island didn't have cliffs but had great rocky slats into the sea, good fun climbing over. Sinking #3 - green (stagnant) seaweed - not sure my feet could get worse so oh well! Changed direction walking inland up to the RSPB reserve... ironically got attacked by skuas - can I just say I'm not over-exaggerating or being dramatic for effect - these birds are known for 'dive-bombing' - quite scary to hear a whooosh past your ear and look up to a large bird! They also attacked towards me, thankfully the former RSPB warden staying in the hostel had taught me they attack for your highest point, so raise your hand! I think its unlikely they'd actually touch you, but I certainly did raise my hand (and duck). Not sure if they were arctic or great skuas, I think great... After the RSPB hut I walked along the main road (sun, no clouds) - happening across the most adorable signs:

 

Ended up at a church (I forget the name), very small but you can tell it was restored with love.. back along the coast path (lunchtime!!) sinking #4 probable cow poo.... Visited the famous Knap of Howar (oldest still standing human existence in western Europe i think..) Visit to the local shop, a co-op - lovely little shop, much nicer than here, and selling fresh herbs, salad and garlic - amazing! Saw a sign - help yourself tea/coffee/homebakes for a donation.... obviously then visited the hostel (chocolate chip brownie) & also 'borrowed'/'stole' a carrier bag for my shoes... sad to leave Papay - although I'm sure not forever.

I was terrible at evening clinic - not in the medicine zone... (probably wasn't a great start when I had to borrow the GP's shower to wash my feet and then leave my shoes outside...) last chance to get Westray fish and chips - chips eaten on the way home then back for tea! Chatted to some new guests at the barn... ended my evening outside in the freezing cold with two lovely men, (possibly from the middle-east ?), listening and dancing to Bob Marley - we acknowledged the contrast between here and the Caribbean....

 more Papay photos to come when I next get internet... time for more surgery...

apologies

it can be tricky to get internet to keep up with uploading my blog - I've managed to upload a few more today!

#12 - Tuesday 24th

 sunny

Pierowall in the sun

 

Sunny Tuesday, thats what I'd told the whole of Westray. Everyone I met I enlightened them to the 'sun without cloud' forecast I'd seen predicted - from two different sources no less. I was so convinced of this radiant, burning heat and sun I set my alarm clock for 3:29am, just enough time for me to wake up, dress and cycle to the sunrise... one look outside changed my mind, far too cloudy. Still cloudy when I got out of bed at 8.... (rhubard and yoghurt for breckie). Said bye to some other fellow hostel friends and cycled to work. Blood clinic, seemed to get one vial of blood but not the next, tricker patients I think... didn't let a patient faint though! Clinic was alright, dermatology heavy today - computers still not right, no visits so home again by lunch... (rhubarb crumble snack) The sun was going to break through the clouds soon so I sat outside and did some medicine work.... brrr... two fleeces & my fingers were still like ice blocks. It's amazing how moody you can get just from being cold - decided the way to warm up was to run... Ran down from Pierowall bay along the west road to Turquoy bay, really, really beautiful, made the mistake of running along the sand and was chased, quite agressively by the flock of turns... it kept me moving quickly shall we say! Thankfully around the corner, my girls cheered me up - a field of cows either side of me decided to race with me... they got me up that hill! Glad to be 'home', decided I'd have to leave my soggy shoes outside, my room was developing a lingering damp smell...hm... (on a more positive note, 24hours since the rain my towels on the washing line are DRY). Late lunch and possibly a cake stop at the Haff Yok this afternoon prior to maybe attempting kayaking... !


On another side note, I love the house and street names here, very Lord of the Rings: Kalisgarth, Chalmersquoy, Ha'brek etc... apparently they're actually from Viking times... my favourite's 'Lastigar'.

The day thankfully picked up a bit, we got the kayak on the water & i got 'life-jacketed' up.. then slightly terrifyingly I was out in the bay with just a paddle... absolutely amazing, one of the best experiences of my life... as I began paddling I got a little too close for around a dozen seals laid out on the seaweed, they all jumped into the water... far too curious to disappear, lots of pairs of eyes kept popping up above the water.. after watching for a few moments they'd dive again... and then resurface to watch some more. A few seals followed me all the way to the other end of the bay, I was about 3m from one, so beautiful. Great fun playing the games with the seals, they'd follow, as I stopped if I waited a moment... their heads would pop just above the surface... as if to see why I'd stopped/what had happened?! Picked up a few more seals on the way back up the bay. If i turned my head sharply or sometimes if I just spotted them you could hear and see the scurry to get back underwater... they were silent when they surfaced but noisy going back under! oh & to put the cherry on top, the clouds had blown away and the sun was shining gloriously... for the first time in a while I was possibly warm...! (&still dry!!) Beautiful sunset tonight - made it just in time as there were some clouds on the horizon, other people about but no one on the beach... 

still dry!

Grobust beach

Grobust beach looking over to the lighthouse at Noup Head

#11 - Monday 23rd

sleepy

 

Scottish Ambulance

 Did not want to get out of bed. Morning clinic, some tricky cases but not too bad, computers down. Thankful for the cup of tea before home visits. Three home visits to the elderly, one woman really wanted to chat & show me her paintings, oh I love the elderly. Unfortunately one elderly lady was sick and we had to make the decision to call a helicopter. Logistically quite complicated, (especially when the air ambulance didn't confirm a time... we ended up rushing a little!) Louise the ambulance driver, Cheryl the nurse, Jonathan, I and met at the house to help transfer the patient. I stood in an ambulance for the first time! All the equipment is high tech and compact/foldable - very complicated. I'd kind of expected the ambulance to be a normal car... but no its a real, working ambulance! apparently on the Channel Islands they have an 'ambulance' that is pulled by a tractor... due to a car ban on the island... hmm! The firefighters and 'airport staff' were also present as we watched the helicopter arrive and then leave for Kirkwall, where I'll be working next week... In the midst of all this Mum texted me "check BBC news, woman in Orkney rescued by helicopter and two kayakers... was that you?" - I can confirm it was not me... I later found out the gossip, this happened off another island - where people gather for the summer solstice. Anyway after seeing the helicopter off we had time to visit the 'Wheeling Steen Gallery', some stunning photographs of the northern lights, sighted from Westray last year. Delicious americano and pecan slice - still struggled to stay awake! Evening surgery was more straight forward, pasta for tea. Was the sun going to come out for sunset? I cycled over... but no - not tonight! So cold here, usual two fleeces and a waterproof still sometimes isn't enough!

Everyone coming together

#10 - Sunday 22nd

walking

 Long lie. Poached eggs on toast. Cosy new accommodation - was lovely to meet and speak with some new guests last night. On two occasions, two separate people said I should write a book! - Was I talking too much... or just very interesting....? Left my washing out as it was still a little damp. Did the West Westray Walk, along the west side clifftops, beautiful views and terrifying heights - not many fences either... took off my waterproof and unzipped the fleece - it was getting hot! This wasn't to last and after completing the walk by Noup Head Lighthouse, with still 4+ miles to home... the rain started and hasn't yet ceased. (Sunday evening). Quite a 'plod' home again. Wet West Westray Walk & Wet Washing. GP cooked tea, butternut squash and blue cheese risotto - really tasty & more rhubarb crumble (think mine was a little better...) & then we had a home visit.. Made it back to the Barn & spent the evening chatting to more visitors, very interesting. One man a former RSPB warden is doing some research into people's attatchment to sea birds, we all had some discussions and I learned alot. Problem free warm shower & ready to leave the misty day behind and crawl into bed.

 

photo of my new accommodation from Saturday - sea view still

some of the cliffs along the westside of Westray

'dead mens' livers' - the local name for these orchids

Especially for Dad, guess how many guillemots in Orkney? 200, 000 & I've seen & can now identify, guillemots, puffins (actually aggressive birds), skuas, turns, fulmars, oyster catchers, gannets and curlews! Do you know what an 'Aak' is?
& before I forget there was a killer whale sighting between here and Papay a few days ago... hopefully I'll come out on our way to clinic Wednesday....

#9b - Saturday 21st

summer solstice

 Grobust beach

Despite the rain and descending fog I decided to commit to my romantic idea, to watch the summer solstice on Grobust beach on Westray. I was still optimistic of a sunset.. even whilst cycling over, rain dripping off my hood. Have you ever felt in the right place/right time?/as if a moment was just for you? - without wanting to sound too self-centered or dramatic... I arrived at the coast and the rain had ceased, over the west coast there was a beautiful pink strip of sky lighting up the coastline. I sat propped up against a Cairn while I counted down the six minutes until sunset at 22:22... It was beautiful, not quite spectacular. So glad I made the effort to go down. I stood up and looked back at my resting post - here's the sign on the Cairn...

#9 - Saturday 21st

"fastest thing on the island"

my favourite room on the island: Haff Yok Cafe

Lie in this morning! Thankfully slept through a text from the GP at 4am, he rang again at 11, and I thought he was suggesting there were some patients to see - always clarify on the phone... I'd inadvertently committed to a run... finished the run and was told I was now the 'fastest thing on the island' - I'll take that! Moved into my new accommodation, very cosy and treated myself to lunch at the Haff Yok (pea soup and coffee cake), entered a sugary, sleepy haze. I'd forgotten the post office closed Saturday afternoon until Monday, if I want to go to Papay tomorrow, I'll need my remaining cash (problems of island living!) so I now IOU the Haff Yok, as she said.. she knows where I live! This definitely epitomizes the fab Orkney spirit... Spent the afty doing touristy things, the craft centres and Heritage Centre, saw the 'Westray Wife' and the 'Westray Stone' - famous archeological findings. Tour of the Chalmersquoy accommodation - all very 'fine'. Spent a few hours sat in the sun outside, facetiming Parul in Holland and chatting to some fellow holiday-makers. Saturday night is chip shop night... might even buy some mushy peas from the shop & I'll hopefully see the longest day out on Grobust beach.... As you've probably guessed the weather here's not perfect... but it is fantastic for grass. The Orcadians are very proud of their grass, rightly so - the long days and rain do produce lush green carpet covering most of the island... it grows so quick, I've heard you can almost see it growing! I think I noticed the difference since my last run... but maybe I'm imagining it! & finally guess how many people here? 600. How many cows? 3000!

 i'll try and upload a photo of my new view, tomorrow - the internet's not playing!

#8 - Friday 20th

history

one of the island's three shops

 - notice the petrol pumps? and bottled gas? - no piped gas here.

Blood clinic. Challenging consultations, lots of mental health. Lazy lunchtime, caught up with Corinne and then spent my afternoon exploring, wandered the bay collecting shells. Felt like a little girl again, washing shells, lining them up and choosing a few favourites. Noltland Castle, although didn't appear much from the outside, was quite spectacular, very pretty stone 'paving?' Pierowall Church also worth a visit, I should probably have taken in more of the history of the place... From the graveyard I spotted at least thirteen seals, they all had their heads and tails in the air - looking very silly! Quick run ending with a lovely cool down, paddling knee deep in the bay - aren't cold showers/baths supposed to be good after sport? Evening surgery was alright and then finally home again after a brilliant, difficult week!
 
Due to popular demand (Phil Wickens) I've added some extra photos from today. Westray life:

Noltland Castle

The bank, open twice a week

The surgery is next-but-one to the crab processing factory, the white building

Pierowall church

Pierowall bay

Westray - unfortunately the map is upside down!

 

#7 - Thursday 19th

cycling

meet Buttercup, Dolly and friends

Just morning clinic on Thursdays, two patients, cake break at 9:30 and a visit to the local sheltered housing (very nice). Afternoon off, returned 'home' - people trying to fix the shower! Decided to be brave and take the bike out for a spin (whilst the sun was shining no less). Set off for the westside road, followed a sign for 'Fitty Hill Viewpoint", after climbing over some barbed wire I got back on track between two cow fields.  Surprisingly had phone signal and decided to ring Gran, during this call the cows, starting with 'Buttercup' came over to investigate me.... looked up to over twenty cows interested, bit scary and a little smelly - said bye to Gran... progressively more cows (and a terrifying bull) lined up along the fence to see what I was.... reached the end of the field where the next field full of cows were ready... very welcoming and I felt very loved to have almost forty cows lining up and clambering over each other to 'wish me well'... Anyway made it to the top of 'Fitty'  - lovely views, obviously very windy! Began some more cycling back towards the main road and down to the southern most tip - 'Ness'. I scared a number of animals, they scared me too. Odd 'teashop' at Rapness - but in desperate need of a cuppa.... beautiful bays and views over to the other islands from the south end. Cycling back the wind was no longer with me and I dreamed about 'David Miller's' shop for most of the return journey:an apple/nectarine/fudge/fruit&nut bar and some water were fantastic, I'm not sure I've ever enjoyed a snack as much.... I'd offered to cook the GP tea as he keeps feeding me, suddenly ran out of time and had to cycle again - picking rhubarb from the surgery garden and nipping to the shop (struggled to locate custard) - managed to speedily knock up pasta and a guesstimated rhubarb crumble. GP worried I might leave this placement skinnier (?how?) so he brought me some malteasers and chocolate croissants... along with the ample lemon drizzle cake and crumble left I'm more worried I might be over the plane's weight limit... never mind my suitcase! Evening cleared as we explored 'Noup Cliffs' with the lighthouse, lots of Gannets, Guillemots and a few puffins too. I'm going to miss the cows when I leave!

#6 - Wednesday 18th

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.

#5 - Tuesday 17th

foggy

north Westray, the air strip

Today started with a blood clinic (these only happen twice a week). Top tips: 1. wishful thinking can coax the blood out 2. if you happen to spill blood on the sole practice's pillow - there are two sides to it, subtly turn this over before inviting another patient in... Chatted to some patients for a 'peedie' while, lunch (not soup). Followed a sign for free range eggs, couldn't find anyone but found the hens..The fog seems quite normal now, it can come and go within the shortest time. Unfortunately today it meant the planes were cancelled and the bloods needed to be taken to Rapness and sent aboard the ferry to mainland, Rapness wasn't quite so attractive. Still not sure when/if the helicopter made it off Papay... Diabetic video conference this afternoon, all a little bit technical. Realized I know very little about farming, and its not a topic you can pretend to understand... same can be applied to Scottish and Orcadian accents... Jonathan and I ran again tonight, he wasn't as hard to keep up with today! After tea I cycled up to the air strip (the bike is permanently in its lowest gear - so it remains at a nice, gentle 'tension' whilst cycling, nice slow pace, only problem is that when this gear might be useful, ascending hills - it decides to try and change gear...  ) Learned a lesson from yesterday and only "mooo-ed" to cows when no one was walking near me... I hope the guy yesterday thought I sneezed or something... The small 'house' in the picture above is the 'airport', behind is the landing strip, to the left is the helipad, how exciting! Home again and have a lemon drizzle cake in the oven...

#4 - Monday 16th

commute

Pierowall bay, 9am

Woke up through the night and somehow, possibly sleepwalking, took a photograph of the sunrise over the bay. Waking a few hours later the sky was still clear and the sun shining which seemed miraculous after the forecast of heavy cloud. Won the battle with the cold shower then walked to work, barefoot across the sand which was simply idyllic. Feeling a little rusty with medicine, saw some patients, checked some medicines in the dispensary and had yet more soup for lunch (unfortunately just Heinz today). Spent the afternoon sat in the surgery garden checking the doctor's bag for expired medicines, with a cup of tea - wearing my stylish high-vis doctor jacket (very cosy). The sun hadn't lasted and things were a little more hectic on Papay, we called a helicopter that morning which then 'went technical' and broke down on Papay (one of the most remote islands), the patient wasn't then able to fly out on a scheduled flight either due to the descending fog, bit complicated but very little we could do from Westray. After a bit more medicine stuff I managed to do some shopping, getting some Scottish money out from the post office and then visiting both of the local shops, which are very cute, they do seem to stock absolutely everything. One has the sole petrol/diesel pumps on the island. Was just relaxing at 'home' when I realized I had the wrong evening surgery times and had to dash off, thrown into the consulting seat and finally cycled back through clouds and fog on the bike which frequently likes to change gear spontaneously, definitely ready for tea!

#3 -Sunday 15th

medicine

west-side cliff tops

Rainy, quiet morning. The afternoon however was non-stop, organizing a helicopter from Scotland to collect a patient, investigating problems on Papay, managing to squeeze in a quick lunch (more delicious soup at the Haff Yok Cafe) and then setting sail over to Papay to see a patient. Papay was stunning, absolutely beautiful - but I am told that on a bad day it's not so good! Stranded in Papay, Tommy thankfully collected us on his own boat, the boats were amazing, very unusual way to make a home visit. It was such a clear day I could see six of the Orkney Isles simultaneously, lovely views over the sea. Arriving back on Westray we had another patient, unfortunately after seeing him the shops were shut and takeaway was the only option for tea! The GP drove up to the west side and we ate our chips overlooking the sea, managed a little walk down to the cliffs and watched the birds flying around - even saw a couple of little puffins. Battled with the cold shower again but gave up and spent the remainder of the evening on the beach watching the fiery orange sunset. 

 

#2 - Saturday 14th

 introductions

 

pierowall bay, 8pm

 Day two started with surgery induction, I realized it might have been a good to idea to pay attention to some acute medicine - especially when Jonathan the GP put an extra 'DOCTOR" hi-vis jacket in the car... Westray are the last island to have their own dispensary in the surgery and they file their medical records by address...Quick home visit, little car tour and lunch at the most adorable 'cafe'; pea soup and chocolate cake. I felt more at home knowing I now have a 'local caf'. Foggy day but Jonathan and I timed a run perfectly, beautiful over the grassy tracks, onto the beach and through the sea as the sun came out. Thankful to the cow herd, blocking our way and allowing me to catch my breath. Low tide in the evening so I walked on the bay (covered in shells), inland past Noltland Castle and back down onto the beach. Beautiful exploring the coast and clambering over the rocks. I saw my first seal, he seemed very curious about this girl in bright red, watching me then swimming closer to watch again... two more seals in the bay when I returned. Bedtime at midnight, Teenie was right, I really could read a book outside - its that light here.