A wonderful day on Orkney Part 1

































June 21 Oh what a beautiful morning! Passenger ferry from John O'Groats to Orkney, Churchill barriers, Scapa Flow, Kirkwall for coffee where we saw an Orkney chair, lunch at Stromness. The Churchill barriers came about during World War 2. A submarine got between the sunken ships in the channels to get into Scapa Flow and sink the Royal Oak. The Navy had thought the flow was impregnable. Churchill ordered that the 2 channels be filled and Italian prisoners of war were told to do the work. At first they refused saying it was war work but in being told causeways were being built betweeen the islands they agreed. Huge rocks and lumps of concrete had to be dropped into the water at places 50 feet deep. It took most of the War for them to be built.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas letter

 The letter drafted. To Mass at Beckenham via Penge. Fr Ashley is going to West Wickham. Fr Steve hobbled in on crutches to tell us all. Saw the Tobins. Strictly, Picasso part 1. King's troop part 1.  Christ the King. Played Crown imperial. My back was bothering me. Carols practice. Changing planet a very good series. To QEH on a filthy night and buses delayed, Allowed in during reading by Rory Kinnear and in fact the seats were better than where we would have been sitting! Bevan family consort - what a treat! Strictly result.  Monday chat to Ann and to see Dr who is very nice. Referred to Kings again for hand, Daktacort, physio next Wednesday on back. Swim and aerobics. Antiques roadshow, Maria Callas interviews with Lord Harewood. Picked up Henry from school and he made up the Advent wreath and painted his Diwali cake which has hardened and the salt shines out! Mastermind, Only connect, University challenge, Masterchef. Tuesday boiler serviced.  Wed to Kendal arriving in the dark
Read more

Vigil

 Saturday a memorable day. SM walk in Muswell Hill. To Parliament and met up with Kate, Lyn and Graham. So many people and buggies! The tourist trade has clearly revived. Glad I took my chair and the 2 hours went quickly. Ecological Stations and Rosary and Laudate Deum meditation. William Rhind and animators came. Sean and Ciaran came and Louise and Tom went to a party in Coulsdon. We went to Mass and I spoke to the lady from CAFOD. Petition nearly at 1000! Sunday Lent 1 Played Demessieux on Attende domine which Linda and I sang. Prelude and fughetta Franck. A mosy enjoyable family lunch at Westow House. Lamb and lemon posset. Had a sleep! Evensong Howells Like as the hart. Wierd hymn Christian dost thou see them to St Andrew of Crete by Dykes. Throwdown was good. Ben Fogle in the Congo. Antiques roadshow. Petition passed 1000!  Monday woke at 6 and 9.15. Chat to Ann. Swim and aerobics. Barbara's Mum had died last week - she is Jamaican. CMF zoom on the situation with Tim Livesey a
Read more