The light was bright on the flight from Edinburgh to Kirkwall on Friday. Thankfully I'd had a cancelled meeting that day so was able to head home, at last, a day early. Brilliant! Thank you to all those who visited the shop the evening before, for the brilliant Lambs Conduit Street Christmas Festivities!
Beautiful light as we were coming in to land at Kirkwall, really like a painting.
Charlie came to collect me. We just made our ferry home. Here's a scene from Island Life!
Then the ferry to Rousay. It was a mirror-flat day and the sea was sparkling!
The ferry at the pier.
And then home... that first glimpse of the Westness chimneys, always so welcoming.
We had a lovely wander in the garden looking at all the millions of changes.
Charlie has done the most incredible job clearing this wall, in the walled garden...
Which had previously looked like this:
in the veg garden, he'd done a huge clearance on this wall to plant an iris border. The stones at the back are spaces for climbing roses.
That's the old flower bed in the foreground but he's going to straighten the line of the edge.
The kennels all cleared...
Logs all stacked... so beautifully....
everywhere in the woods, bulbs are shooting up between the leaves.
In the greenhouse.
And a few shots in the house. All feeling so benign.
Amazing afternoon light and we headed out for a long walk.
Homeward bound... a little fishing boat.
The next day was wild and stormy, although I think we didn't get it bad compared to further south. We went for a walk up top.
Back home, here's our dry stone wall newly mended by the brilliant Jake.
After:
Before.
Then I had a deep sleep. Heaven. That evening it was the Rousay Harvest Home. Heaven, too. We got home at 2am!
This morning was beautiful, bright, warm and clear.
We had a wonderful walk up to the headland.
A view of the Midhowe Broch, a 2000 year-old house. What a position!
Down to the sea for a wash!
And then the laziest afternoon, sun streaming in through the windows.
Don't forget to get your copy of the new Bible of British Taste, just arrived in the shop now!
Back home... afternoon slanting light.
And sunset.
It's been the perfect day. Now it's evening, we're all tucked up, fires lit, and I'm catching up on things a bit. As we softly descend towards the end of the year, please do enjoy everything that Bridie and I have been finding for Christmas - so many good things and delights in the shop. Please visit in person or on the website and we'll be so happy to send out parcels from the Wren Street workshop imminently!
33 comments
Such beauty. And already so well organised. Thanks for sharing.
Health and happiness in your home. The house is wonderful and the landscape is stunning. Charlie and yourself make a great team.x
Your house ,with all your possessions & animals look as if you’ve lived there for years,instead of having just moved in!Charlie’s work in the garden is miraculous,as is the repair of the dry stone wall!It is all so beautiful,calm & tranquil,a different world!
What a wonderful setting, Sybil, Enid and Mavis look quite content, we wish you all a very Happy Christmas in your new home.
Angela & Clive.
Dear Ben & Charlie, You will be sadly missed in Dorset, your kindness and friendship to all is well noted, we wish you health and happiness in your new life.
Clive & Angela (£1. lady)
Beautiful scenery and that sunset amazing. Charlie has been so busy and accomplished a lot in the garden area and clearing and the greenhouse. Can’t wait until Spring to see how beautiful I am sure his garden will be. Also looks like you are getting your home cozy and your dogs seem to be enjoying their new home immensely. Can’t wait to go to your shop in January when I will be visiting London for a few days. Always something I find to bring home to Canada for many years now. Can’t wait to see how you decorate your new home for Christmas. All the best to you both.
Charlie has done a fantastic job in the garden in just a couple of weeks! Can’t wait to see what it looks like in a year.
I’ve never been to Orkney but used to live in the Faroe Islands so I know what a tough coastal location the area is. If anyone can create a magical garden in those conditions it’s Charlie.
Beautiful photos as always Ben. The house is looking wonderful too.
I find your blog respite from the world. Please keep posting!
What a truly wonderful place. I’m deeply envious!!
I was reading that the Museum of Scotland has re displayed the Viking chess pieces so that you can see them from all sides. Do look them up if you don’t know about them. Such astonishing detail with the little berserker’s (pawns) biting their shields and the king looking perplexed!! Ancient things to value in an uncertain world although that world looks to be far far on the horizon for you both. 💐
Beautiful home. Spectacular scenery so brilliantly captured.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures with us.Blessings on your new home and life in a magical place
Your home looks so cozy and comfortable already.
Wonderful!
That sky! Amazing! So beautiful to see a home and garden come to life. The start of a beautiful Era. I hope you and Charlie and the pets have a wonderful Christmas. Love from Karen NZ
I love your blogs and pictures! I have you delightful book as well. Thank you for sharing your wonderful life! There is a fiddler from Orkney whose music you might like: Louise Bichan. She lives in the states now, but you can find her on Spotify. It was so cool that you were able to attend a local festival!
Wishing all good things for you both!
Laurie Andes from Maryland, USA
Charlie has worked wonders in such a short space of time.
Charlie is doing a wonderful job with the garden/ there is a gardening book hibernating there. The house looks like you lived in the house for years…. Such fun🍀🍀🍀
Really enjoying your book and also loving your newsletter pre/post The Move. I want to make you a house warming present – please let me know the best/safest address to send it when I’ve finished it? Thanks, Holly
Those sunsets are miraculous!
I wonder will you be keeping the bothies, now that you have Westness?
Charlie must be in 7th heaven, with all that garden to command, and a greenhouse too.
I can’t wait to see photos of your first Christmas at Westness. I hope you will give the house an old-fashioned, fire and candlelight and greens everywhere kind of holiday. Westness seems made for decorating!
Oh my, are you lot ever utterly at home already! Look at that perfect dry stone dyke, and Charlie’s masterly gardening efforts – and a blooming Orkney rose! You, and your new home, are a match made in heaven.
Everything about this is pure magic! What a wonderful life you are creating for yourselves there. Charlie has certainly been putting in the hours with the gardens! Thank you so much for sharing this all with us.
What a gorgeous home! I look forward to more beautiful photos – especially of sleepy dogs!
Can. Not. Wait. To see what you do with the house in and out. I’m so happy for you guys!!!
So beautiful. Do you still have the bothy? Spell check really hates the word bothy. I also just finished your book which was brilliant. I appreciated the fact that you wrote the text explaining all. Really I’ve followed your blog almost from the start and so appreciated that your newest book feels so familiar. Thanks and what an accomplishment.
Charlie’s been a busy lad!
Your new home is lovely.
(Your latest book is, too.)
Your new house has already been miraculously transformed into a beautiful, cozy home. I was sorry Charlie wasn’t with you in New York, but he has been busy!
Heaven all around
Your photos are magical. I love the interior of the house, the cornices and woodwork, and your bookshelves as well as the beautiful mahogany bookcase.
Everything looks so comfortable already.
Absolutely love the blog. Such beautiful photos of a beautiful place. The house looks amazing. I don’t know if you know the handmade paper company on your nearby ISH island if Orkney but they might be worth checking out. Vintagepaper.co
Such a light! At a time of too many emails, many of which contain something less than good news… These postings resonate with their simplicity, humanity, and love.
It is unbelievable that you were able to get everything unpacked and curated in such a short time. I relive your journey with every post.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays in your new home.
Really lovely photos
Although I have not yet managed to get to Orkney I have been visiting Harris since the late 1980s and get the same sense of open skies, light and glorious wildness there (although far fewer trees mostly). Your new home looks heaven and I can so relate to the joy in clearing the garden and planting it and making your house even more beautiful.
I imagine you’re on the brink of establishing favourites walks and favourite views – and maybe favourite smells. Thank you for sharing your utter joy.