I told LL to come in May, as it is normally the driest month in Scotland. Well, she left in grey skies on June 1st, and it’s been sunny and warm from June 2nd on. Oops.
It’s light now from 4am to 11pm, and that is only getting longer as we get closer to the summer solstice. It’s truly lovely; I actually get out of bed even earlier than usual in the mornings, and sat out yesterday evening ‘sunbathing’ at around 8pm. But it does impact a good night’s sleep. I can close the blinds and the blackout curtains, and close the bedroom door (the front door is frosted glass, so light comes in all down the hall), but that makes the room too warm and stuffy. But if I open the curtains, a combination of sunlight and pre-dawn birdsong wakens both Scout and me. I’ve dug out an eye mask (thank you, Air Canada) and we’ll see how that goes. The mask is for me; not sure how Scout will cope.
Interestingly, the sun is having a another impact on my environment. Unlike most Orcadians I waited until May to turn off my heating; they all shut off their heat on the first of April! I have underfloor heating, which is not very responsive, and because the south wall of my house is two massive picture windows, the living room & kitchen get very warm in the afternoon. So I don’t turn the heat on in the mornings because it won’t make a noticeable difference before about dinnertime. But, it is Orkney in the spring, so the nights are cool. So I start every day quite briskly, and end up melting in the afternoon. Poor LL spent the last week of her visit in thick socks and a sweater while in the house (my Mum always did say not to make guests too comfortable, otherwise they never leave).
Rhododendrons and azaleas were absolutely everywhere when we were down south, and lots of shrubs and trees are starting to flower up here. But I think the flower of the month in June in Orkney is buttercups. I love yellow flowers.