What Sian says is mostly true, but I things are swinging back towards the native British breeds - in Orkney these are mainly Shorthorns and Aberdeen Anguses. The main Continental breeds - in Orkney mostly Charolais, and Limousin - have some advantages over the British breeds. The Charolais offers rapid growth to a fairly large size, and the Limousin offers excellent carcass confirmation, that is it gives larger quantities of beef for a carcass of a given size. The reason that the Continental breeds have achieved a position of dominance (which is declining from its peak of 10-15 years ago) is that the farmer gets paid for quantity of beef, not quality. This gives the Continental breeds the advantage over the British breeds. The British breeds offer the advantage of higher quality beef. This is in part due to the marbling that the beef from most British breed has, and the Continental breeds lack. Also recent research in Australia has discovered some of the genes responsible for making the beef tender, and some of the top stock bulls are now being tested for these genes. I don't know too much about this, but I believe that the British breeds tend to score well. Other advantages that the British breeds offer is general hardiness - particularly true of the Highland, but also the Shorthorn, and other British breeds - easy calving, a good temperament, and greater longevity. In general they are cheaper and easier to keep. This is becoming a greater advantage as production subsidies are phased out and farmers cut costs and farm more extensively as a result. The market for beef is changing and farmers are more likely to get paid for quality rather than quantity, in addition beef marketed as from a "traditional native British breed" can command a premium (in UK markets certainly) in addition to any premium due to superior quality. I would expect to see the numbers of native British breeds increase over the next 10-20 years, particularly Shorthorns and Aberdeen Anguses, with the main loser being the Limousin. I doubt that there will be many Highland cattle being farmed on a commercial basis - they are small, slow growing, have huge horns (try giving one of them an injection without anyone else to help you!), and I believe they can be quite bad tempered at times. They are very hardy, and can eat just about anything - and tourists love them. Robert On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:03:57 +0100 "Sian Thomas" <[email protected]> wrote: > I think the more "modern" breeds introduced into the UK >are more productive > for beef farming, such as Simmental, Limosin etc than >the traditional > Highland cattle. These are often crossed with "UK" >breeds such a angus, > hereford etc. Highland Cattle are not much good as >commercial dairy cows > either as they don't have a high enough milk yield. > > There are some Highland cattle in Orkney. Some at North >Walls (Hoy) and I > know someone who has a farm out at Sandwick who has just >purchased some. I > think they are perhaps considered more as a "hobby". As >you say, the blunt > economics of farming means they are not often seen on >these shores. > > Sian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- >From: "stephen davie" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:36 PM > Subject: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > >> One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle >>breed. Poor as >> they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on >>controlled >> programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", >>with slow >> growth and several unique qualities but with incredible >>personable >> traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the >>toughest of pasture >> and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. >>They have a >> great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great >>whacking horns to >> intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content >>measures less >> than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a >>dignified air to >> any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a >>barn roof. >> >> I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but >>indeed why >> are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not >>the original >> beasts up there? >> >> Stephen >> >> (google highland cattle association) >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' >>without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >message >

Isabella Moreland wrote: > I always understood the meaning of " muckle " to be - " much " ! > Isabella In the Orkney Dictionary, edited by Margaret Flaws and Gregor Lamb, Muckle is defined thus:- muckle (adj) big. (n) much, especially in the negative sense 'no muckle'. Muckle Supper - a harvest home feast. Similarly in the Shetland Dictionary, compiled by John J. Graham, Muckle is shown as (adj) large. -- Mike Clouston

In his books "At Scotland's Edge" and "Scotland's Edge Revisited" Keith Allardyce states that Muckle Flugga, when translated from the Norse name, means 'Big Bird Island'. These books give a history, along with some beautiful photography, of many of the lighthouses around the Scottish coast. There are no manned lighthouses anywhere in the UK now. A way of life gone forever. My father and grandfather both served on the Northern LIghthouse Ship 'Pole Star'. Had I not joined the Royal Navy the 'Pole Star' might have been my destiny too. Incidentally, while Muckle Flugga is the most northerly *lighthouse* in the UK, Out Stack is the most northerly land, as this map will show http://tinyurl.com/2rucup -- Kind regards Mike Clouston

Ah....so. the old scottish poem about the g cramp being a Mickle weer not a muckle. Thanks for the info...hmm On Sep 19, 2007, at 3:07 PM, Norman Tulloch wrote: > stephen davie wrote: >> Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being >> either a lot or a little. >> > > I don't think so. Muckle used as an adjective means big or used as a > noun means a lot. > > In Scots, there is also the word mickle, meaning a small amount, hence > the saying, "Many a mickle makes a muckle": many small things can > make a > big one. Just to confuse things further, Burns often uses "meikle" to > mean the same as "muckle". > > I don't think the word "mickle" is used in Orkney, though. > > Norman Tulloch > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Actualy Royce it is the actual neap itself that is fed to the sheep and kye. apparently they really love them in winter, chewing on them. Goodness knows how! Humans of course will eat the neeps too, one of the main ingrediants in "clapshot". It hadn't occured to me who or what eats the green bits. Will enquire.... Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 7:32 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Graemsay Economy > > It's surprising the difference between places sometimes. You raise neaps > > for > animal forage and the humans eat the left over bottoms? Over here we eat > both ends. Nothing better than a big bait of turnip greens!! Our friends > if > the Highlands sent a video clip once of her and their son out in the "back > garden" harvesting the neeps. They were cutting off the tops and tossing > them in the composite pile. Don't know which of us was more surprised, > them > at the idea that humans eat the tops, or me at the notion that the tops > were > only good for livestock...<G> > R > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Sian Thomas > Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 3:35 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Graemsay Economy > > If it's a recent picture you would see hundreds of black and green round > silage bales! Half the island is owned by one farmer, who keeps about 120 > head of cattle plus "followers" - calves. His herd is all home bred, 3 > bulls being bought in over the years. He also has about 150 sheep plus > lambs. Three other crofters keep about 10 head of cattle each, plus about > 100 lambs. And another so called "hobby farmer" has about 50 sheep. All > farmers will have some fields which they will cut for winter feed (silage > and hay), and will have fields of "neaps" again for winter feed. A small > field of oats may be grown, but generally no arable crops. > > Due to various Government schemes there are also areas of "set aside" > where > farmers are paid to plant trees and just leave the land. And there are > still some large tracts of natural heathland, very ancient. But the > majority of this is owned by the crofters and may in time be fenced in and > grazed. > > Several others (myself included) have a few acres attached to the house. > I > have a 3 acre field behind my house, leading to the shore. I wanted to > make > > certain no one could build and obscure the stunning view from my > conservatory! I allow a neighbouring farmer to use it for summer grazing > in > > return for delivering my oil (for central heating) and petrol cans, plus a > myriad of other jobs he does for me. I like seeing livestock out of the > window but without the hassle of needing to do anything, apart from phone > the farmer if anything is in trouble or looks sick. I have learned various > bits of useful information - if a cows ears are horizontal all the time, > it > ain't feeling well......! > > Crofting tends to be subsistence living, so additional employment is > needed. > > One crofter is also the harbour master, cleans the waiting room, mows the > grass at the kirkyard and collects the refuse. He is also the local > supplier of calor gas. Another is also the postman, another runs the post > office, while her husband works offshore on a supply ship for the oil rigs > off shetland. I work from home full time as a medical researcher employed > by various Universities throughout the UK. The rest of the folk on the > island are either retired or at home raising the kids and working on the > farm. > > Incidentally the kids go across to Stromness to school. Under the age of > 14 > > they have a "minder" employed by the local authority to sit with them on > the > > boat and deliver them/collect them from school. One child aged 3 goes > over > to Stromness to Nursery twice a week. If the weather is very bad they > stay at home, otherwise they journey on the ferry each day from the age of > 5. > > Sian > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Shipping cattle and sheep to the Mart in Kirkwall is something of a challenge. Co-ordination is required between ferry company, hauliers and the Mart in Kirkwall. Usually livestock has to be kept overnight at the Mart, so is shipped from Graemsay at least a day before the sales. Cattle and sheep are transported or walked to the pier and put in pens erected along the pier. Cattle are loaded individually into a crate which is then winched via the normal Graemsay ferry crane onto the deck and the animal let out into another pen. Once all the cattle are on board they are taken back to Stromness, sometimes they are winched off singly again at the STromness pier, but more often now the boat goes to the Hamnavoe ramp and the cattle are driven off into the back of a livestock transporter lorry which then takes them to the mart where they are sold in the weekly sales. . Depending on size, four or five sheep can be loaded into the same crate, and then the process is the same. Sometimes, weather permitting, the sheep can be herded down a ramp onto the boat but this doesn't seem to be done very often. And yes animals escape. As you can imagine it's often very distressing for the animal to be even ON the pier with the waves, water etc. never mind being herded into a crate. Last year I saw three sheep jump off the pier, they were all rescued with boat hooks. Again last year a cow jumped off and started swimming out into the Sound until the Ferry herded it back towards the shore, it ran up the road back to the farm. It sounds pretty inhumane and I must admit to not liking being around when it all happens. There are various EU regulations regarding moving of livestock etc in terms of animal welfare, but Orkney has some exemptions as it is just impossible on islands like Graemsay, North Ronaldsay and possibly Papa Westray, where there is no option due to lack of Ro-Ro ferry. Some animals from Graemsay are sold for immediate slaughter and others are sold as "stores" to be bought as young stock and "finished off" - that is grazed on another farm before being sold for slaughter. Incidentally if people have to be medically evacuated on a stretcher they too are put into the cattle crate and winched on and off the boat! But usually not at the same time as the kye! Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 7:32 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Graemsay Economy > Well the low res satellite images that Google/MS use for Orkney barely > shows > a blurry impression of the topography,,,never mind hay bales,,even the big > round ones. > I would have guessed that livestock would be the main activity. Actually > sounds like more than I would have thought. Which brings up an interesting > question, how do they get their critters to market? The little ferry > doesn't > look up to hauling a bunch of calves and sheep over to Mainland. Or do > they > send them someplace other than Mainland? Maybe across the Firth to > Scotland? > It's surprising the difference between places sometimes. You raise neaps > for > animal forage and the humans eat the left over bottoms? Over here we eat > both ends. Nothing better than a big bait of turnip greens!! Our friends > if > the Highlands sent a video clip once of her and their son out in the "back > garden" harvesting the neeps. They were cutting off the tops and tossing > them in the composite pile. Don't know which of us was more surprised, > them > at the idea that humans eat the tops, or me at the notion that the tops > were > only good for livestock...<G> > R > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Sian Thomas > Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 3:35 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Graemsay Economy > > If it's a recent picture you would see hundreds of black and green round > silage bales! Half the island is owned by one farmer, who keeps about 120 > head of cattle plus "followers" - calves. His herd is all home bred, 3 > bulls being bought in over the years. He also has about 150 sheep plus > lambs. Three other crofters keep about 10 head of cattle each, plus about > 100 lambs. And another so called "hobby farmer" has about 50 sheep. All > farmers will have some fields which they will cut for winter feed (silage > and hay), and will have fields of "neaps" again for winter feed. A small > field of oats may be grown, but generally no arable crops. > > Due to various Government schemes there are also areas of "set aside" > where > farmers are paid to plant trees and just leave the land. And there are > still some large tracts of natural heathland, very ancient. But the > majority of this is owned by the crofters and may in time be fenced in and > grazed. > > Several others (myself included) have a few acres attached to the house. > I > have a 3 acre field behind my house, leading to the shore. I wanted to > make > > certain no one could build and obscure the stunning view from my > conservatory! I allow a neighbouring farmer to use it for summer grazing > in > > return for delivering my oil (for central heating) and petrol cans, plus a > myriad of other jobs he does for me. I like seeing livestock out of the > window but without the hassle of needing to do anything, apart from phone > the farmer if anything is in trouble or looks sick. I have learned various > bits of useful information - if a cows ears are horizontal all the time, > it > ain't feeling well......! > > Crofting tends to be subsistence living, so additional employment is > needed. > > One crofter is also the harbour master, cleans the waiting room, mows the > grass at the kirkyard and collects the refuse. He is also the local > supplier of calor gas. Another is also the postman, another runs the post > office, while her husband works offshore on a supply ship for the oil rigs > off shetland. I work from home full time as a medical researcher employed > by various Universities throughout the UK. The rest of the folk on the > island are either retired or at home raising the kids and working on the > farm. > > Incidentally the kids go across to Stromness to school. Under the age of > 14 > > they have a "minder" employed by the local authority to sit with them on > the > > boat and deliver them/collect them from school. One child aged 3 goes > over > to Stromness to Nursery twice a week. If the weather is very bad they > stay at home, otherwise they journey on the ferry each day from the age of > 5. > > Sian > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

stephen davie wrote: > Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being > either a lot or a little. > I don't think so. Muckle used as an adjective means big or used as a noun means a lot. In Scots, there is also the word mickle, meaning a small amount, hence the saying, "Many a mickle makes a muckle": many small things can make a big one. Just to confuse things further, Burns often uses "meikle" to mean the same as "muckle". I don't think the word "mickle" is used in Orkney, though. Norman Tulloch

Yes genearlly everyone gets on well on Graemsay, although we do have our odd periods of falling out! One can either join in and take a full part in island life, or become a recluse. Either choice is respected. I really enjoy feeling part of a community, something I certaiinly didn't feel down in Kent in the suburbs of London, UK where I spent most of my life. Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 4:13 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Graemsay > Sian, > Thanks for taking the time to share "life" on your island. So interesting. > Seems some have to work hard to maintain a lively hood to stay in that > great > place. Nice that you can work and live there. Seems like there is great > comradery among all of you. > Wanda > Minnesota US > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > http://www.aol.com > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I think the more "modern" breeds introduced into the UK are more productive for beef farming, such as Simmental, Limosin etc than the traditional Highland cattle. These are often crossed with "UK" breeds such a angus, hereford etc. Highland Cattle are not much good as commercial dairy cows either as they don't have a high enough milk yield. There are some Highland cattle in Orkney. Some at North Walls (Hoy) and I know someone who has a farm out at Sandwick who has just purchased some. I think they are perhaps considered more as a "hobby". As you say, the blunt economics of farming means they are not often seen on these shores. Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "stephen davie" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:36 PM Subject: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > One of the favorite beasts here is the Highland Cattle breed. Poor as > they are on the test stations for daily rate of gain on controlled > programs, they have become hereabouts "estate cattle", with slow > growth and several unique qualities but with incredible personable > traits. They are frugal keepers, existing on the toughest of pasture > and in the worst of weather with little or no shelter. They have a > great fury hide to tan like a buffalo, and great whacking horns to > intimidate city folk intruders.Ttheir back fat content measures less > than skinned boned chicken breast. They inspire a dignified air to > any country place, like a cupola and a wind vane on a barn roof. > > I understand the blunt economics of the cattle biz, but indeed why > are there not more highlands in Orkney? Were they not the original > beasts up there? > > Stephen > > (google highland cattle association) > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

stephen davie wrote: > Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being > either a lot or a little. > > A cauld needs the ceuk sae muckle the doctor. > I need it like a hole in the head. Interesting. According to an entry in the Oxford Dictionary: Mickle (also muckle) is archaic or Scottish & N. English. It can be a noun (a large amount) or an adjective (very large). Proverb "Many a little makes a mickle" (also "many a mickle makes a muckle") i.e. many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount. The forms mickle and muckle are merely variants of the same (now dialect) word meaning ‘a large amount’. However, the alternative form of the proverb (originally a misquotation) has led to a misunderstanding that mickle means ‘a small amount’ -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

Peedie in Orkney, peerie in Shetland -- Kind regards Mike Clouston Royce Perry wrote: > I have only heard/seen it used to mean big. The same people that use > "muckle" for large use will sometimes use "peddie" or peedie" for small. The > later I think (dangerous habit) may be particular to rural Caithness. Is it > used in Orkney..or some variant? > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of stephen davie > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:34 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [ORCADIA] a muckle confusing? > > Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle being > either a lot or a little. > > A cauld needs the ceuk sae muckle the doctor. > I need it like a hole in the head. > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Anne Slater wrote: > And what, pray tell, is a "snicket"??? A narrow street or, more usually, passageway between buildings. Called an alley, ginnel, gennel or snicket - it all depends which part of Britain you come from. There's a handy website at <http://www.omniglot.com/blog> for regional dialect words. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

As in "Many a mickle makes a muckle".... which I got from my grandmother Anne On 9/19/07, Isabella Moreland <[email protected]> wrote: > I always understood the meaning of " muckle" to be - " much " ! > Isabella > > > stephendaviewrote: > > > Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle > > being either a lot or a little.

Flint tools discovered in Stronsay. Article in "Orkney Today" at web page <http://www.orkneytoday.co.uk/news_item.asp?newsItem=2445> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

Lisa, As an ex lightkeeper myself (Copinsay while in Orkney) I'm wondering if I know your cousin Regards, Ron. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lisa Conrad" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 2:43 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Highland Cattle > > {> on 9/18/07 7:37 PM <} Tuck wrote -- > > All > > If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle > Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? > _____________ > > I looked in a book I have, "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - Journeys in > Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], to see if "flugga" was defined .... > no luck there. I'm not sure what it means. > > I have a cousin who was the keeper at the lighthouse there (during the > time > when keepers were still needed) ... I could try emailing him to ask him, > Tuck, if you are still wondering? > > - Lisa > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

All, Yes, a snicket is a narrow passageway between buildings, wide enough to walk through but too narrow for cars. I first heard the word when I lived in Carlisle in 1964/65, but have heard it a lot since. As for clapshot, it reminds me that not long ago I did a cooking show on local Northern Indiana television. The show is called "Dinner and a Book" and features a book which mentions or suggests food. In this particular show I used "Beside the Ocean of Time" by George Mackay Brown. We did four courses in 20 minutes of cooking time, and began with scallops sauteed in fresh butter with garlic and parsley. We cannot get scallops anywhere near as luscious as Orkney Seafare, but we did our best. Then came lamb shops with red currant jelly, and clapshot. We topped it off with a tinned pear, ice cream, whiskey sauce, and chocolate sauce. The tag end of the show was held at a local Irish pub called Fiddler's Hearth, where the host and I sat before a fire and compared Highland Park and Scapa. Naturally, the show concentrated on Orkney and on the works of George. It was a delight to bring a little knowledge of those magic islands to folks who generally have never heard of them. Tuck On Sep 19, 2007, at 9:54 AM, Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay) wrote: > Lisa Conrad wrote: >> Tuck wrote >>> If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle >>> Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? > >> I looked in a book I have, "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - >> Journeys in >> Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], to see if "flugga" was >> defined .... >> no luck there. I'm not sure what it means. >> >> I have a cousin who was the keeper at the lighthouse there (during >> the time >> when keepers were still needed) ... I could try emailing him to >> ask him, >> Tuck, if you are still wondering? > > > The name comes from Old Norse, Mikla Flugey, meaning "large steep- > sided > island". The original name was "North Unst", but in 1964 that was > changed to "Muckle Flugga". > According to local folklore, Muckle Flugga and nearby Out Stack were > formed when two giants, Herma and Saxa, fell in love with the same > mermaid. They fought over her by throwing large rocks at each > other, one > of which became Muckle Flugga. To get rid of them, the mermaid offered > to marry whichever one would follow her to the North Pole. They both > followed her and drowned, as neither one could swim. > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

I love clapshot. I made colcannon for tonight with sausages. On Sep 19, 2007, at 3:48 PM, Marion wrote: I am way behind on my e m - just got back from Pennsylvania Dutch Country - BUT I did pick up on the clapshot. I wish I had some right now! Marion - enjoying beautiful Maine weather. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sian Thomas" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 3:37 PM Subject: [ORCADIA] Neeps for the kye > Actualy Royce it is the actual neap itself that is fed to the sheep and > kye. > apparently they really love them in winter, chewing on them. Goodness > knows > how! > > Humans of course will eat the neeps too, one of the main ingrediants in > "clapshot". _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Evelyn, Emma, Robbie & Spencer Sweet Pea Digory waiting at the Bridge (12/8/89 - 11/8/96) Help support Corgi Aid -- http://www.corgiaid.org/ Ohio Corgi Picnic - June 22, 2008 in Marion, Ohio http://homepage.mac.com/evelynhlabse/Home/home.html If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

I am way behind on my e m - just got back from Pennsylvania Dutch Country - BUT I did pick up on the clapshot. I wish I had some right now! Marion - enjoying beautiful Maine weather. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sian Thomas" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 3:37 PM Subject: [ORCADIA] Neeps for the kye > Actualy Royce it is the actual neap itself that is fed to the sheep and > kye. > apparently they really love them in winter, chewing on them. Goodness > knows > how! > > Humans of course will eat the neeps too, one of the main ingrediants in > "clapshot".

I always understood the meaning of " muckle " to be - " much " ! Isabella ----- Original Message ----- From: Norman Tulloch <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 12:10 pm Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] a muckle confusing? To: [email protected] > stephen davie wrote: > > Seems like expressions of old bear out the idea of a muckle  > being  > > either a lot or a little. > > > > I don't think so.  Muckle used as an adjective means big or > used as a > noun means a lot. > > In Scots, there is also the word mickle, meaning a small amount, > hence > the saying, "Many a mickle makes a muckle": many small things > can make a > big one. Just to confuse things further, Burns often uses > "meikle" to > mean the same as "muckle". > > I don't think the word "mickle" is used in Orkney, though. > > Norman Tulloch > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Isabella

Lisa Conrad wrote: > Tuck wrote >> If "muckle" means big, then what does "flugga" mean, as in Muckle >> Flugga, the northernmost point in the UK? > I looked in a book I have, "IT's a Long Way to Muckle Flugga - Journeys in > Northern Scotland" [by W.R. Mitchell], to see if "flugga" was defined .... > no luck there. I'm not sure what it means. > > I have a cousin who was the keeper at the lighthouse there (during the time > when keepers were still needed) ... I could try emailing him to ask him, > Tuck, if you are still wondering? The name comes from Old Norse, Mikla Flugey, meaning "large steep-sided island". The original name was "North Unst", but in 1964 that was changed to "Muckle Flugga". According to local folklore, Muckle Flugga and nearby Out Stack were formed when two giants, Herma and Saxa, fell in love with the same mermaid. They fought over her by throwing large rocks at each other, one of which became Muckle Flugga. To get rid of them, the mermaid offered to marry whichever one would follow her to the North Pole. They both followed her and drowned, as neither one could swim. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"