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ON THE GRAM

Apr 19

Open post by karenlreyburn with ID 18388168777095609

Decided to wander Tobermory like I was visiting for the day.

Living on the island means some days I’m coming to these beautiful places with practicality and adulting life, rather than the “I have all the time in the world” life when I used to visit. I have a doctors appointment or need to pick something up or I’m only there after the shops are closed. And it’s been a long winter so it’s just lovely to see all the ships and restaurants open, serving, bursting with colour and cheer and good things.

So when I popped in yesterday to run some errands, after those were done i…

…got ice cream from @mullicecream (cherry and dark chocolate + Tobermory whisky marmalade, HELLO)

…had a lovely little crab sandwich from @fishermanspierseafood (fresh and light)

…wandered the light house trail and smelled all the wild garlic

…took the path I don’t usually take and made a full circle up and over the golf course

…met up with a friend for dinner and decided to try the new and updated @thegallerytobermory which was fantastic - the bourbon sour was spot on, the scallops light and charred perfectly, the focaccia light as a feather, and the people kind and attentive

Quite enjoyable all round! ❤️✨❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Apr 4

Open post by karenlreyburn with ID 18077606750166844

Happy…. *checks notes * ..April everyone!!

Think I’ll curl up by the fire with hot chocolate and watch some Lord of the rings films and watch the snow fall.

You know, classic Easter activities. ❄️☃️🎄☕️🫖🎅

Ps I love it. I really do love snow. It’s just SO WEIRD. And I’m very grateful I made it home ( I had considered staying up on Orkney for a few more days but was suspicious of the weather… and rightfully so…!)

Apr 4

Open post by karenlreyburn with ID 17934353517207390

Orkney.

Wild, windy, remote, far flung north, cold, beautiful, impressive, strong, fierce, intense.

I live on a remote Scottish island, so naturally when I take a holiday I go to… an even more remote Scottish island. Basically drive to the very tip of Scotland, the edge of the entire UK mainland, and THEN get a ferry to go further.

The landscapes were vast and the wind was constant. I’ve never in my life experienced wind like that. Knock-you-off-your-feet wind (literally), and there isn’t a tree or a mountain to break the fierceness. But there are sea cliffs everywhere - you’re always within minutes of being next to the sea and you see it constantly - and the views are spectacular and the power of the sea takes your breath away. (Again, literally.)

I’ll do a few series on Orkney , so this one features the vastness and fierceness - and a few beautiful landmarks like distilleries and old churches and standing stones. Those stones utterly fascinated me. At one point there are a series of stones stretching for six miles, and people put these things up by hand. Still standing today.

You feel very small in Orkney. The wind goes through you, the cliffs rise far above you, the sea could overpower you in a second, the fields stretch flat for miles and miles, the sky goes on forever, the rays of the sun extend out from one side of the world to the next.

And you feel very alive, too. Normally I feel very contemplative by the sea. Not this sea. I felt wild, open, free. I wondered why I ever open a laptop and have zoom calls when we have a world like this. I was reminded what a big beautiful strong world we live in: and of my own strength as I live in it (with all its challenges).

That’s the beauty of travel. It opens you up.

#orkney #islandlife #travel #windandsea #beautyeverywhere

Mar 19

Open post by karenlreyburn with ID 18091193474144913

Sunset view (starts pale, but wait for it)

Was working late tonight - faaaaar too many zoom meets but we do what we must - and I glanced out and saw this and… just stopped.

I went upstairs, made a cup of tea, and drank it while staring at this.

Sometimes the universe reminds us to pause and breathe and L👀K.

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