Hi Everyone, I’ve moved! Appie’s has now been leased out to Clive and Rosemary Horton, www.appiestearoom.co.uk but don’t despair the menu will be staying more or less the same - at least for this year anyway. You’ll still be able to get your fix of Crab Soup, Smoked Mackerel Patties and Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble when next you come up to Orkney.

Ken, Smudge (the cat) and I have now moved into a wonderful house just outside Kirkwall, on the Old Finstown Rd. While full of space and light, more importantly, it has an abundance of storage space plus room for a workshop for me. So, I will be able to get back to doing more photography at last. I have really missed it. The tearoom was great fun and I loved meeting and feeding you all but it was always a struggle to find a balance between cooking and crafts. I’m afraid the cooking left very little time for anything else. Now I can indulge myself in taking photos, making hats, continuing with the jewellery, talking to Ken, stroking the cat and basically enjoying myself! Gardening and travelling around a bit more will also be high on the priority list.

With just Ken and Smudge to feed now I should also be able to find time to keep my website updated something that has been sadly lacking over the years, so please do keep checking for new items coming up. I already have ideas for a new range of photos featuring one of my favourite subjects - rust ( ! ) and have a new range of cotton sun-hats. Watch this space!

So, it just remains for me to thank you all for your support over the years – without you Appie’s would not have survived or become as popular as it is today. Best wishes to you all and if you fancy a chat or want to see more of my work (there will be a limited range still available for sale at Appie's) I'd be happy to speak to/see you.