GallowayHermit
@windnrain.bsky.social
Books, books, politics, books, books, Scotland, books, books, natural world, books, books. And books.
No DMs please.
No DMs please.
Orkney had Norwegian flags flying alongside Orkney's and the Union flag when I was there in late May, for Norway day. Shetland too.
December 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Orkney had Norwegian flags flying alongside Orkney's and the Union flag when I was there in late May, for Norway day. Shetland too.
I posted a photo of the same plant back in September and thought it was doing well then. I expect this is a final flourish - but on 12 November? Bless its little roots!
November 12, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I posted a photo of the same plant back in September and thought it was doing well then. I expect this is a final flourish - but on 12 November? Bless its little roots!
Rescued this one as a straggly six -inch, one-leaf plant in July. No blooms till September. Not bad for Scotland, even in a summer house. Much bluer than the sky!
September 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Rescued this one as a straggly six -inch, one-leaf plant in July. No blooms till September. Not bad for Scotland, even in a summer house. Much bluer than the sky!
Taken in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall during the dry, sunny spell in May. The window is high up in the nave, and the sun was high in the sky. There are much larger, more splendid windows there, but this caught my eye. Foolishly failed to note the subject.
#StainedGlassSunday #Orkney
#StainedGlassSunday #Orkney
July 20, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Taken in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall during the dry, sunny spell in May. The window is high up in the nave, and the sun was high in the sky. There are much larger, more splendid windows there, but this caught my eye. Foolishly failed to note the subject.
#StainedGlassSunday #Orkney
#StainedGlassSunday #Orkney
So that's where you've been hiding, you little devils.
July 14, 2025 at 8:46 PM
So that's where you've been hiding, you little devils.
Smoke bush in my garden after fine rain.
July 9, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Smoke bush in my garden after fine rain.
The 5000 year old Ring of Brodgar, panning across to the nearby sites of the villages at the Ness and Barnhouse, more stones at Stenness and nearby Maeshowe cairn.
Can't get Alt text to stick on videos, so blue skies, gently rolling green hills, a causeway between calm blue waters,/more
Can't get Alt text to stick on videos, so blue skies, gently rolling green hills, a causeway between calm blue waters,/more
June 11, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The 5000 year old Ring of Brodgar, panning across to the nearby sites of the villages at the Ness and Barnhouse, more stones at Stenness and nearby Maeshowe cairn.
Can't get Alt text to stick on videos, so blue skies, gently rolling green hills, a causeway between calm blue waters,/more
Can't get Alt text to stick on videos, so blue skies, gently rolling green hills, a causeway between calm blue waters,/more
I've listened to some of his - what, rants? Seen some of what he's posted. He's been charged with similar criminal offences in three different countries. I've made it clear I believe that legal process should follow its course.
If he isn't convicted, he walks.
Got it? Good.
Slainte.
If he isn't convicted, he walks.
Got it? Good.
Slainte.
May 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I've listened to some of his - what, rants? Seen some of what he's posted. He's been charged with similar criminal offences in three different countries. I've made it clear I believe that legal process should follow its course.
If he isn't convicted, he walks.
Got it? Good.
Slainte.
If he isn't convicted, he walks.
Got it? Good.
Slainte.
Ok Stiles, be kind. This on Mainland, Shetland. Is that a stile or just a bit of add-on fence?
@lakesstiles.bsky.social
@lakesstiles.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Ok Stiles, be kind. This on Mainland, Shetland. Is that a stile or just a bit of add-on fence?
@lakesstiles.bsky.social
@lakesstiles.bsky.social
Kirkwall was awash with Norwegian flags and the Pipe Band were doing their stuff. Unexpected bonus for visitors and sunny too.
May 18, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Kirkwall was awash with Norwegian flags and the Pipe Band were doing their stuff. Unexpected bonus for visitors and sunny too.
The beach next to Skara Brae, where people made their homes more than 5000 years ago. We don't change much, do we?
Sound up.
Sound up.
May 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The beach next to Skara Brae, where people made their homes more than 5000 years ago. We don't change much, do we?
Sound up.
Sound up.
Enlarge the sign to read it. This is on the A9 in northern Scotland. Brilliant.
May 14, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Enlarge the sign to read it. This is on the A9 in northern Scotland. Brilliant.
Rush hour in Galloway
Alt text Done button elusive, so:
Sheep and lambs bleating loudly and galloping up a sloping field - sorry folks
Alt text Done button elusive, so:
Sheep and lambs bleating loudly and galloping up a sloping field - sorry folks
May 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Rush hour in Galloway
Alt text Done button elusive, so:
Sheep and lambs bleating loudly and galloping up a sloping field - sorry folks
Alt text Done button elusive, so:
Sheep and lambs bleating loudly and galloping up a sloping field - sorry folks
Oi! You ewe, you!
Get back to your lamb!
I can hear it yelling Maaaam. And I'm quite worried the rest of the flock will hop over the wall.
Get back to your lamb!
I can hear it yelling Maaaam. And I'm quite worried the rest of the flock will hop over the wall.
May 8, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Oi! You ewe, you!
Get back to your lamb!
I can hear it yelling Maaaam. And I'm quite worried the rest of the flock will hop over the wall.
Get back to your lamb!
I can hear it yelling Maaaam. And I'm quite worried the rest of the flock will hop over the wall.
20 seconds of calm by the River Cree. Sound up.
April 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
20 seconds of calm by the River Cree. Sound up.
Trump is drunk on power.
We're not the lady, we're the pig.
We're not the lady, we're the pig.
April 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Trump is drunk on power.
We're not the lady, we're the pig.
We're not the lady, we're the pig.
Finally, the blossom arrives just before the wind and rain return to Galloway. Sigh. And the lambs are growing up.
April 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Finally, the blossom arrives just before the wind and rain return to Galloway. Sigh. And the lambs are growing up.
Well, it was a mistake to make a wry comment about the wind still blowing. There's a wildfire over that hill, still burning. Helicopters still trying to put it out. And here's the kicker:
This is happening in the west of Scotland in April. Drizabone.
Huh?
This is happening in the west of Scotland in April. Drizabone.
Huh?
April 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Well, it was a mistake to make a wry comment about the wind still blowing. There's a wildfire over that hill, still burning. Helicopters still trying to put it out. And here's the kicker:
This is happening in the west of Scotland in April. Drizabone.
Huh?
This is happening in the west of Scotland in April. Drizabone.
Huh?
More than 25 years on from the fraudulent article published then retracted by The Lancet, the harm goes on.
April 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
More than 25 years on from the fraudulent article published then retracted by The Lancet, the harm goes on.
I keep expecting it to rain or cloud over. At least the wind is still blowing.
April 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I keep expecting it to rain or cloud over. At least the wind is still blowing.
This is my third spring in this garden, and the prunus is going to do it again despite the current spell of lovely weather. Leaves unfurling before blossom appears.
Darn, I miss the tree in my former garden. Sigh.
Darn, I miss the tree in my former garden. Sigh.
April 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This is my third spring in this garden, and the prunus is going to do it again despite the current spell of lovely weather. Leaves unfurling before blossom appears.
Darn, I miss the tree in my former garden. Sigh.
Darn, I miss the tree in my former garden. Sigh.
Glorious Spring day in Galloway. Cree river view upstream from the Sparling footbridge
April 3, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Glorious Spring day in Galloway. Cree river view upstream from the Sparling footbridge
Also: see that heron?
March 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Also: see that heron?