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!
10 comments
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.