Looking south to some of the tiny isles between here and Burra.

I realised I'd started a post a few weeks ago but must have got distracted! So, this post is a bit later than originally planned.

The end of July and into August every year my cousin comes home for a few weeks with the bairns, I'm quite often working but usually find a few days to spend with them. One of the best things we do when she's home is go out in my Uncle's boat around the small, now uninhabited, isles off of Burra! I didn't manage to get out with them properly but after finishing a half Saturday at work I did meet up with them a bit further north. As soon as I finished work I got ready to drive out to the end of South Whiteness, then found the little track road that leads over the back of the hill to a tiny pier. The boat picked me up here and crossed over Stromness Voe which only took a couple of minutes.

In between these two houses, although not visible in the photo, is the mouth of Stromness Voe.

I was starving by the time I'd finished work and drove out to meet them so I was ecstatic when I saw my Uncle filleting the mackerel they'd caught during the run over from Burra! One of my favourite summer foods has to be mackerel freshly caught and cooked, eaten with white bread and butter - so so good!! They'd also caught some crab which was wrapped up in foil and left to bake in the embers of the barbecue. I love the iridescent colours of the mackerel skins contrasting with the bright pink flesh, and the way the crab legs turn bright orange when cooked.

After a good feed, which included Mam's home-made rock buns, all washed down with lovely hot cups of tea we explored further up the hill. I was quite a bit ahead of everyone which was fortunate considering what happened next... The grass was so long here as it's such a big area with relatively few sheep, so I blame that, and the fact I was looking off in the distance to all the isles when I embarrassingly fell over having stuck my foot in a ditch. As the grass was long and bouncy it fairly cushioned my fall! I jumped up pretty quickly and looked behind me but no-one had seen so I just laughed at myself!

It was so lovely and sunny that day, with every step I was met with the warm sweet smell of heather and all the other tiny hill flowers. The afternoon went by too quickly, and although I hadn't made it out for the whole day I was very appreciative of the time I did get to spend with my family and particularly to have a good catch up with my cousin. Shetland in summer is the most perfect place to be...

Summer Catch Up: Part 1