A new ring from Alison Moore

Almost the first thing I did once installed at the caravan site at Stromness on Orkney on 6 May last year was to wander into town that same evening, with the Leica X Vario camera that I've just sold, and my phone. Stromness is a gem of a place, basically one long narrow street full of old-fashioned-looking stone houses and shops that looks pedestrianised but isn't, as you can drive down it in both directions. In the evening light of last May it was a delight to see; and both the Leica camera and Samsung phone were able to do it justice, even as darkness gradually fell: it was pictures by lamplight only by the time I reached the harbour.

On my way in, near the centre of that long street, I came across Alison Moore's Stromness shop. 

She is one of a number of ladies who design and make jewellery that is specifically inspired by Orkney - what you find in the sea, or on the land, and in the historic traditions of the place, from Norse times onwards. I first came across her in 2022, when on a short one-night visit. At that time her workshop and HQ was in a village called Dounby. More recently she has shifted her HQ to a former small hotel in Stromness, now converted, the rooms upstairs proving ideal as workshops for her employees and co-workers. With the cruise ship trade in mind, there is also a shop in the main street of Kirkwall, Orkney's capital. But the actual work is done at Stromness, being the scenes. And having seen both shops, I prefer the Stromness one: it feels more relaxed, more informal; you can come inside and just take your time. 

Alison has strong competition, of course, from several other jewellery-makers, notably Sheila Fleet over at Tankerness, on the other side of the Orkney Mainland, which I also visited. Sheila has not only a big showroom in a converted church, but an adjoining restaurant. Both women offer things other than jewellery, such has home furnishings, but still using their own particular designs that are drawn from flora, fauna and special landscapes of Orkney. I think Sheila's business must the larger, because later on in my holiday, when visiting St Andrews in Fife, I came across a Sheila Fleet shop. Tapping into the tourist trade again, I'm guessing; although St Andrews is a well-off little town, famous for its University, and also for being the Home of Golf. 

Alison Moore's Dounby shop provided me with Starfishie, the little silver starfish pendant that I have worn every day since purchase. Starfishie is one of a number of designs inspired by Alison's diving forays around the Orkney coast. Here's Starfishie in my hands, and around my neck:

But now I've bought a ring as well. The morning after my atmospheric evening stroll into Stromness town, I drove Sophie there (as I was going onwards to Kirkwall). These shots, beginning with a morning view of Stromness, will show how narrow that main street can be - incidentally, there's a much wider back road that I towed the caravan on, from the ferry terminal to the site at the Point of Ness.  

I was lucky to find a free parking space. The gods were with me. Alison Moore's shop wasn't far off. That morning a very pleasant young lady called Sarah was on the counter. Note the diving photos behind her.

It wasn't as large a space as in Kirkwall, but there was plenty to look at. 

It was still possible to buy a little starfish.

But I was focused on buying a silver ring, as a souvenir of my second visit to Orkney, this time not just overnight but for a whole week. 

I considered buying a ring with a stone in it. They were very nice.

But the new ring would be going on my right hand, and could expect plenty of battering and hard wear. So something simple, resilient, yet distinctive was called for. I soon homed in on this hammered silver ring. The hammering created multiple facets that reflected light brilliantly, and it wouldn't matter at all if usage dented it further. Nor the weight of the stone and its setting make it revolve around my finger. The ring would look the same whatever position it settled into for the time being. So practical.

Sarah said that couples getting married sometimes asked for 'his' and 'her' versions, as it wasn't overwhelmingly girly. I rather disagree: it's definitely a feminine ring. Anyway it appealed to me, and I decided to buy one if she had my size in stock, although there was time enough in the days ahead to get one specially made if necessary. But again, I was in luck. Soon I was £110 lighter, and sporting my new ring on my right hand in the bright sunlight. It was very comfortable, and glinted beautifully. One of the guys camping at the site, Paul, was enjoying his morning coffee in the street and gave me a big hello. Here he is. I showed him my new purchase.

He was going to move on the the farthest-flung island, North Ronaldsay. That's the one where the super-hardy sheep are confined to the shore and eat seaweed, which gives their meat a special flavour. I hope he enjoyed his time there.     

Later on, back at the caravan, I examined my new ring closely.

Hmm - hallmarked Z for the year. That means 2024. 

This ring has proved to be a favourite of mine, and, like the two other rings I always wear, I never take it off. Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted it in the odd blog post photo, but I expect this may be the first time it gets noticed as part of my regular regalia.

So I've now got a ring on both ring fingers. I don't know if people read much meaning any longer into the rings one wears, but I'd like my own collection to convey the messages that 'I've been married' (true), that 'I'm also divorced' (true), but sorry, I'm not available (emphatically true). So far it's worked. I encounter friendliness wherever I go, both men and women seeming to enjoy a chat with me. But thankfully nobody has unnerved me by expressing too much interest! 

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