On wind (again), stalking chickens and pavlova's

The cellist, previously out at Skara Brae in a moderate breeze.........

Well, its finally sinking in that moving, for us as a family, from the beautiful isolated spot we were in before to a more sheltered town location has been just the right thing to do. OK, so we've got neighbours, which is 'odd' but seems OK, so far so good and the cellist hasn't blown away (recently), so that's all progress isn't it? However, the main reason I'm happy with the move (aside the cosy woodburner) is the difference in shelter we've had so far for the garden. This weekend we've had a few days of gales again, mainly Easterly's this time, and I say 'mainly' as the direction of the wind in Orkney can be as random as the dear cellist. There doesn't appear to be a real 'prevailing' Orkney wind direction, annually its pretty diverse and can catch you so unawares.  As a gardener this makes life more than a bit of a pain. Unless you wrap everything up in wind break material - how on earth do you keep sane? If indeed keeping sane is your thing. I gave up years ago.

When it comes to attempts at activities such as gardening pursuits, in the great outdoors here the forecast is generally considered before anything else. And when I say the forecast, we, or should I say 'I' never look at temperature in Orkney. Nor if it might rain, it probably will at some point through the week, we'll not suffer much here from drought very often. The temperatures here are not as varied as mainland Scotland, we get a rather surreal average of 9oC annually and lots of course we get lots of rain. Whilst other's have frosts, we very occasionally have them, they are quite novel, but nothing so far. However, like many who live here, when considering how to plan the week, the weather forecast is consulted just to peer at wind direction and speed!  So when trying to plan this normal weeks work agenda and life, the wind is the main thing consulted, at least a few times a day.

 

And, this weeks forecast (wind) is quite light and diverse. We start with Easterly's, then ENE, then ESE, then E, then ENE, then NW, then Westerly's, then by the time we get to Friday I think its a bit windier and from the East again. Well its nice to mix up the directions isn't it....? Keeps life a bit interesting. The garden guru is off on holiday this next week and I've polytunnels to look after which directions changing as quick as a flick of a switch, I'd best keep on my toes. Easterly's don't bother the tunnels much but Westerly's can be more than a bit challening. Best keep an eye on the windsock - and actually find somewhere to put it up....

But, I have to say, looking on the bright side at home, despite the gales and the blasting sea air nothing outside is dead. It's not shrivelled, not burnt, not lifted out by its roots, not drowned from the deluge of rain we've had. All the meagre plants we've got 'out there' in the garden are actually quite green and unfettered by the wind. The lesson here. Easterly's don't bother the new peedie garden patch at all. That's one direction ticked off the list I guess! Aside the horizontal battering of rain on the windows (which are now nicley clean) there's no evidence of it having been very windy at all. How curious and I've asked them, they didn't feel a thing......

So far so good. Why all this obsessing about the wind I hear you say? We at island HQ were so chuffed to get a mention for this wind obsessed blog, in this month's 'Country Living'. Thanks chaps! That really lifted my spirits! Whilst I've written gardening columns for other magazines on occassion, it's a publication I do read, and I've always wanted to write for, so whilst this is a tiny teeny little mention, I'm so utterly chuffed. One day perhaps, one day..........And if the New Scientist is listening, I love you too and do have my own lab coat! And as I'm vaguely supposed to witter on a bit about gardening in the far windy north, I've updated the 'Garden' page with photo's of the new patch.............

As you can see from that page, there's no room for the beloved chookies, so they've been rehomed. The dear flock split nicely into two distinct camps. Einstien and the girls are but 10 doors away from the new cottage, living in a lovely garden with trees. So we pop along and say hello to them regularly. Fear not, we do actually KNOW the person who has them and she really doesn't mind....

The other 6 lasses are keenly looking out towards the Ring of Brodgar and keeping their new 'Novice' human companions very well on their toes. I visit both camps frequently, clutching straw or grain, in the manner of someone 'not really dropping in or actually stalking'  the girls - but saying hello. And, there you go - the reward this time was a lovely box of eggs - so we had ourselves a treat - a homemade Pavola (Mary Berry) was gorged at the first wee supper party we had last night. And despite the nerves, why does pavlova making always involve nerves? I've no idea, its relatively simple, honest, and turned out just lovely.

Who ever said stalking chickens wasn't rewarding! And, whilst I have a pathological hatrid of cake. I do love a bit of pavlova!

 

Gales, completely forgotten due to gorging.