Here Come the Girls

Today I experienced a warm haar. I think that may be an oxymoron. I woke up to a white world where nothing existed past the end of the garden. It says much about my tiredness from lack of sleep the night before that I didn’t hear the Hamnavoe’s fog horn as it left on its crossing to Scrabster at 6:30, but I certainly heard it loud and insistent when it returned at 10am appearing as it did out of the mist like a ghost ship.

Six of us had an ethereal swim at 9am in a sea like a mill pond and totally shrouded in a warm haar. It was just us in our own little world of water and certainly an experience to remember.
As we were ready to depart a running man appeared out of the mist to inquire if one of us was Lady Blipper. The finger was pointed in my direction and I discovered that Tryfan46 had made the effort to come to the slip to meet me. It was just a pity that my carriage awaited and I couldn’t speak to him for longer. However I have given my particulars to Elaine in the wool shop so that we can communicate further.

I started my packing before going for a coffee and getting into a conversation with a lady from Glasgow who comes up to Stromness for about 6 months during the winter months to avoid any tourists. She must have been one unhappy visitor today as the Street was heaving with lost souls from 2 cruise ship docked in Kirkwall and shunted through on buses to Stromness to stravaig the Street. It almost felt like George IV Bridge back home.

Suddenly as if a switch had been turned off at 11am, the haar disappeared and the world was revealed in all its glory. It was even so warm that I had to dispense with my jacket….that’s quite an occasion.

I’ve said my au revoirs and after one more sleep I’ll be winging my way home. It’s been a wonderful fortnight and I have enjoyed every minute of it. My Selkies have made it very special for me, they are all stars. Thank you ladies!