Solstice report

Picture taken at four o'clock yesterday morning, as we left the house to walk down to the end of the island, beyond the castle, the point from which we traditionally watch the sun rise - or more often, struggle up from behind a band of cloud on the horizon. This year, not so much of a 'band' - the sky was clear, with just a few scatter clouds (like scatter cushions, plump and fluffy, but more decorative than functional). Except for a big mound of solid grey, piled up behind the castle.

Still, it wasn't too cold, and it didn't rain, and eventually the heap acquired a gleaming edge of copper lustre, and the rather fluffier clouds back on the other side of the castle turned marshmallow pink, and we went home and - variously - made coffee, or went to bed, or ate breakfast.

And in the evening Iwalked out along the Heugh, and watched the sun set slowly behind the causeway, while the seals sang to each other around Saint Cuthbert's Isle.

Today being the actual solstice, we could, of course, have set the alarms and tried again. But somehow, we didn't.