Summer

I don't remember a better June in Shetland. We have had a month of sunshine and warmth after a pretty good May too. Today, it's 22 apparently, too hot to be working outside in the afternoon. Judd told me that a neighbour of his could not face clipping his sheep in the heat of the day, so started at 10pm and finished at 5am!
All the little boats are tied up at the jetty and people are buzzing in and out in the evenings and at the weekends. The evenings have been brilliant with the sun setting at around 10.30pm, wonderful sunsets, mauve horizons and limpid sea.

The good weather seems to have suited the birds. There's a baby (rather gangly) oystercatcher at the front ... whose parents always remind me if I decide to have a stroll that way. The arctic terns have chicks too and the swans have cygnets on the lochs. Even Polly is finding it a bit hot!

The flags are flying at Bousta for Maya's birthday on Thursday!

I am on the last piece of the garden wall. Begun building up the end (with the good stones) where I will put a gate. When I am finished I won't be able to see the new house from the sitting room ... that's the plan.

Late the other night (around 11pm), a lone yachtsman passed through the Sound of Papa Stour.

The weather is set to stay for the week and I hope it lasts until Sorley and Ben come on Sunday.

Took an ice cream into Mum's this afternoon and we sat outside (in the central bit) while she took great bites of a Magnum and I tried to intercept the drips and flakes of chocolate. I think nshe enjoyed it.