Paper 53 and drawing

Since leaving Orkney on Saturday, I've downloaded the hundreds of photos I took onto my iPad. As I look at them arranged on the screen, I'm struck by all the hills, islands and stretches of water that appear in them. They offer so many possibilities.

I've also been playing with the drawing package Paper (by 53 and a free download). I've had it downloaded and waiting to be used almost since I bought my iPad a few months ago but have had only had the very briefest of plays with it so far. As we have a few days remaining before we return home finally at the end of this week, I'm spending a gentle evening combining the two thoughts in some monochrome experiments. I include the two most successful below. 

Although I'm not sure this offers everything I'm looking for in a drawing package, it is simple and easy to use. I will experiment further to improve my control of the size and outline of the shapes as I draw them.

The Italian Church Orkney

I had not planned a second post today but this morning we visited the Italian Church on Lamb Holm and I felt so moved by what I saw that I wanted to share its story.

It is a tiny Orkney church with a poignant history. It was begun in 1943 to serve the population of Italian prisoners of war who were stationed at Camp 60 on the island.

After their capture in North Africa, the prisoners were brought there to construct barriers (Churchill's barriers) across the channels between the small southern islands of Orkney to prevent access to Scapa Flow. It was strenuous work and they were far from home. The chapel provided much needed solace.

It was built from two Nissen huts, placed end to end, bleak and stark without the extraordinary
paintings inside and the ornate facade at the entrance. This was planned and executed by the prisoners under the guidance of Domenico Chiocchetti, an Italian painter. He and the other prisoners painted the interior to resemble carved stonework and tiles.

He painted a Madonna and Child behind the altar replicating a painting by Nicolo Barabino, a copy of which he had carried with him from Italy.

Most touching of all for us was the dedication of the chapel to the Queen of Peace, all the more so because of the many Italian visitors who were visiting the site at the same time as us. The little chapel is now carefully preserved and is the focus for connections between Chiocchetti's home village of Moena and Orkney. Children from local schools and musical groups make regular exchange visits. A lasting friendship has been forged from the hardship of war.

Orkney landscape

The Orkney landscape is beautiful - green fields, gently rounded heather-covered hills and views of water everywhere you turn. The islands are small so the sea and the coast are never far away - lovely little bays and fjord-like fingers of tidal water edged with acid green seaweeds. Inland, there are dozens of small lochs reeded and brilliant blue when the sun shines.

There are lovely views across the harbours and small towns, in this case of Stromness on the western side of the Msinland.

And lots of ruins ...

of which more, much more, later ...

Large skies and a ferry trip

The wide open spaces of the north of Scotland give grand and impressive skies when the weather relents and the rain stops. Perhaps in fact these skies result as much from the variable and unpredictable weather itself as from the character of the landscape. Either way, it is one of the pleasures of visiting this area for me.

I've taken many photos over the years but for this post, I've chosen five favourites from this trip. The first was taken on the beach at St Cyrus on the Aberdeenshire coast last week.

Then there are three from the Orkney Islands during the brief spell of warm sunny weather of the last three days (how lucky we've been).

The final photo shown was taken last Saturday in John O' Groats on the Scottish mainland just before we boarded the ferry to Orkney.

Walking, jumping and looking

The other day, we walked up to the Burn O'Vat (near Dinnet in Aberdeenshire) with our grand children and son in law. It was a lovely short walk just suited to small legs with lots of opportunity to look at frogs and flowers, and at fish in the burn and to jump in muddy puddles (I was very tempted to join in), to wade through the clear flowing water and to climb up the rocks of the waterfall.

... And yes they did get wet (very) but the weather relented and the sun came out and no one minded at all. 

But now we have all moved on. They have gone to meet up with the other grand parents on the west coast of Scotland and we are on our way to the Orkney Islands for a week of bird watching and visiting the sites of ancient habitation to be found all over the islands.

Scottish holidays

Summer in northeast Scotland is so often fickle - there's little sitting on a beach or enjoying hot sunshine - but much beautiful scenery, many long walks and things uniquely and unmistakably Scottish to enjoy.

On Saturday, we went with the grandchildren to the Highland Games at Aboyne. It is sport and entertainment like nowhere else. There are massed bands, highland dancing, a tug of war contest and races and competitions and dizzying fairground rides ... and mostly this time the rain held off.