Safe haven

I was a little bit surprised by the snow, which has whipped around on and off for most of the day.
I was very surprised by arriving in Stromness and feeling love at first sight.
It may have been because I was so grateful to be on dry land. The Pentland Firth was like a saucepan of Boiling water and I spent the whole crossing from Scrabster not during to get up in case I fell over or felt sick. I noticed that all the chairs in the cafe were wired to the floor.. I wonder why.
I spent a long time in the Stromness Museum, which is a wonderful place. The ticket is good for a week, so I may go back.
I caught the bus to Kirkwall, where I'm staying in the Youth Hostel, a former army barracks. It's very quiet..
This wee close in Stromness is next to the museum, and is where they used to haul up the pilot boats which guided vessels into the harbour.