OK,, this may not work, but it's free so I thought we would give it a try. I have a paid Flickr online photo site. It's part of the AT&T DSL package for the computer at home or I wouldn't have signed up for the paid version as the free account gives you rather a lot of room to put photos online anyway. Anyway, short version I have unlimited storage, and Flickr is one of the better of this type of service. Soooo..I have created a "set" (rather like a folder on a computer) for our Orcadia group. Now we have a place for those that would like to share photos to put them. What made me think of it was the great pictures of everyday life on Graemsay that Sian showed us on her neighbors website. I am rambling.. right? So my suggestion is that anyone that wants' to share pictures of your part of the world,,anything you think the rest of us might be interested in..new grandbaby,,the deer that walked into your living room, (happened to a friend in Canada), the new post office,, sunsets, cactus,,snow.festivals in your area,,,dances at the local hall...you get the idea. No pictures of male strippers!!! <g>. You can email them to me and I will upload them to the group's set. Some folks are spooky about having their pictures online,,that's understandable,,so don't send those unless you are comfortable with it. Just FYI,,,when I caption pictures online I never use the persons real name anyway. Usually the nickname that the members of whatever group it is will recognize. The "testing" stuff yesterday was me making sure that I could get the link to this groups set to come through in the footer,,,look down at the bottom. You should see the link. That way we can remember where to find our photo album when we want to look at what someone has up,,or has just added. I "seeded" the set with a couple of pictures if you want to take a look. This is totally up to the group,,if no one wants to use it,,that's fine.those that do,,that's also fine. Charles..as far as I know you are the only professional photographer we have. I have set the options for this set to "All Rights Reserved".but I am not sure that protects the pictures from being downloaded..so if you chose to share a bit of your work (which would thrill the rest of us) be aware that you may not want to share anything that is marketable. In your case,,I would put your attribution and web address in the description block. Questions??? Good idea??? Bad Idea??? Thoughts??? R
There is a picture on the wonderful Orkneycommunities site showing something along these lines: http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/picture/number2594.asp?st=hamnavoe Better still is the link in one of the comments below the picture, showing a movie of the boat leaving Hoy Sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsBfNxWILg It was lovely on Tuesday though. Cheers, Steven --- Steven Heddle, Newington, Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1PY --- E: [email protected] W: http://www.stevenheddle.co.uk --- T: 01856 877119 M: 07719 762165 F: 08714 335639 Skype: therealkw15 ----- Original Message ----- From: Sian Thomas To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 8:16 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney The first winter the Hamnavoe came into service there was a set of pictures circulating where the bow seemed to disappear below the waves and the stern stick right up. It looked horrific. However I spoke to someone who was on the boat that day, and to the credit of the ship design, they said it wasn't quite as bad as it looked from the outside! Incidentally on our Graemsay ferry film clip although it looks very rough, I, too have often been on the boat when it is bouncing like that. It's actually not too bad when it does its roching horse type motion from bow to stern. The one that gets me is rocking side to side. Thankfully for Graemsay it is only usually a 15 minute journey so I keep asking myself "how bad can 15 minutes be...."? Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:34 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney >I have seen pictures of you "bit of breeze and slight swell". Our email > friend that lives in the Highlands (grew up on Orkney) was a captain on > the > offshore service ships for many years. I have a picture he sent me years > ago > that one of his crew took from the bridge of their ship with a camera with > a > long lens. They and one of their sister ships had left Scotland and were > headed across the Pentland to a rig they were going to move the anchors > for. The other ship is about a half mile ahead,,in the picture she has her > bow buried in a wave clear up to the middle of the bridge tower. I don't > mean spray,,,she was half way under water! Her stern was sticking up so > high > that the screws were out of the water and heeled over so far to port that > her starboard thrusters were showing.!! Billies caption was "Just another > day at the office in the Pentland"..........errrrrrr,,,,,ahhhhh,,,No > Thanks! > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Sian Thomas > Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:05 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > What - you let a bit of a breeze and a slight swell put you off? You have > to be tough to live on a wee island - tough and with a large freezer to > enable one to look at the boat bouncing across the waves from the confort > of > > the conservatory with no need to venture forth for several days! > > Sian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 6:11 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > >> Jeepers!!!! Just had a look at his video clip of your wee Graemsay coming >> across in the winter!! Forget the light house!!! I am a flat lander!!!... >> A >> DRY flat lander! That water is neither Flat nor Dry!! >> <goes to find a towel to dry off and get warm again> >> R >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > 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 > > > ------------------------------- > 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
Sian Thomas wrote: > The first winter the Hamnavoe came into service there was a set of pictures > circulating where the bow seemed to disappear below the waves and the stern > stick right up. It looked horrific. However I spoke to someone who was on > the boat that day, and to the credit of the ship design, they said it wasn't > quite as bad as it looked from the outside! > > Incidentally on our Graemsay ferry film clip although it looks very rough, > I, too have often been on the boat when it is bouncing like that. It's > actually not too bad when it does its roching horse type motion from bow to > stern. The one that gets me is rocking side to side. Thankfully for > Graemsay it is only usually a 15 minute journey so I keep asking myself "how > bad can 15 minutes be...."? Today (Friday) is a bit windy (up to gale F8) and I see that North Ronaldsay has had its weekly ferry cancelled "due to adverse weather and tidal conditions" -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"
James Thompson wrote: > Well, Charles, it's not entirely a quote, since Brown didn't say what > he's quoted as saying. It definitely refers to his (along with others) > boarding "the Hamnavoe", which didn't exist when he died. That sounds very odd, James. Clearly there are many genuine GMB quotations on the "Hamnavoe". From the somewhat out-of-date George Mackay Brown website: "*GMB at Sea* NorthLink Ferries have recently introduced their new Orkney and Shetland fleet. The Hamnavoe [Scrabster to Stromness] is lavishly decorated with GMB quotations etched on glass, captions to photographs, and the lounges and bars are named for Hawkfall, Greenvoe, Brinkie's Brae." http://www.georgemackaybrown.co.uk/gmb/Events.htm I can't understand why Northlink, or whoever advised them on their use of GMB quotations, would have thought it a good idea to invent a fake one, and if they had been foolish enough to do so, surely the matter would have been publicised before now? Norman Tulloch
The first winter the Hamnavoe came into service there was a set of pictures circulating where the bow seemed to disappear below the waves and the stern stick right up. It looked horrific. However I spoke to someone who was on the boat that day, and to the credit of the ship design, they said it wasn't quite as bad as it looked from the outside! Incidentally on our Graemsay ferry film clip although it looks very rough, I, too have often been on the boat when it is bouncing like that. It's actually not too bad when it does its roching horse type motion from bow to stern. The one that gets me is rocking side to side. Thankfully for Graemsay it is only usually a 15 minute journey so I keep asking myself "how bad can 15 minutes be...."? Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:34 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney >I have seen pictures of you "bit of breeze and slight swell". Our email > friend that lives in the Highlands (grew up on Orkney) was a captain on > the > offshore service ships for many years. I have a picture he sent me years > ago > that one of his crew took from the bridge of their ship with a camera with > a > long lens. They and one of their sister ships had left Scotland and were > headed across the Pentland to a rig they were going to move the anchors > for. The other ship is about a half mile ahead,,in the picture she has her > bow buried in a wave clear up to the middle of the bridge tower. I don't > mean spray,,,she was half way under water! Her stern was sticking up so > high > that the screws were out of the water and heeled over so far to port that > her starboard thrusters were showing.!! Billies caption was "Just another > day at the office in the Pentland"..........errrrrrr,,,,,ahhhhh,,,No > Thanks! > R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Sian Thomas > Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 4:05 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > What - you let a bit of a breeze and a slight swell put you off? You have > to be tough to live on a wee island - tough and with a large freezer to > enable one to look at the boat bouncing across the waves from the confort > of > > the conservatory with no need to venture forth for several days! > > Sian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Royce Perry" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 6:11 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > >> Jeepers!!!! Just had a look at his video clip of your wee Graemsay coming >> across in the winter!! Forget the light house!!! I am a flat lander!!!... >> A >> DRY flat lander! That water is neither Flat nor Dry!! >> <goes to find a towel to dry off and get warm again> >> R >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > 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 > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >
Even on Graemsay which is only 15 mins by ferry to Stromness, I am in the minority, preferring to go across to the Mainland about once a week in the Summer, and about every 10 days in the winter. Quite a few folk only go to the town every 3 to 4 weeks, particularly in the winter when there are less activities going on. Incidentally our winter ferry timetable now allows us boats on TWO weekends of the month instead of the previous one. Although not many of us go "across" in the winter, neighbours have grand-kids come to stay for the weekend plus it is a chance for folk working in the town to visit family here, and for our school kids to go across and spend the day with friends. Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:19 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Orkney Ferry Services...an observation from afar > stephen davie wrote: >> So from a totally removed >> viewpoint, I think it would be nice if for three every year, all >> ferry service in Orkney was cancelled. Thanksgiving week....stay on >> your own island...meet with your neighbors...relax...and reflect way >> back and count your blessings. Then refreshed, head back into the >> world on your fourth day. > > I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I think you'll find that most folk > on the Northern Isles stay on their island for most of the time and > don't go gadding off to mainland once a week to do their shopping. > -- > 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 > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >
Had an intersting exchange in our Gunn international eGroup earlier in the week. Cat in south Australia was commenting that they hadn't had their spring rains yet, and they were late. Next post up was Debbie in Manitoba telling about her wild scramble to get her potted plants in the house because they had just had their first snow of the season..a month early....and here south Texas just got drowned,,,,Again...and my lawn needs mowing....neither of which is per schedule! Strange! R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sian Thomas Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 6:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney Bit of a breeze today so I see the Hamnavoe has two sailings cancelled, ditto pentland ferries, and a couple of the North Isles boats. Winter has come early...... Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Heddle" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > There is a picture on the wonderful Orkneycommunities site showing > something along these lines: > http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/picture/number2594.asp?st=ha mnavoe > > Better still is the link in one of the comments below the picture, showing > a movie of the boat leaving Hoy Sound: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsBfNxWILg > > It was lovely on Tuesday though. > Cheers, > Steven > > --- Steven Heddle, Newington, Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1PY > --- E: [email protected] W: http://www.stevenheddle.co.uk > --- T: 01856 877119 M: 07719 762165 F: 08714 335639 Skype: therealkw15 > 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
> James Thompson wrote: > > Well, Charles, it's not entirely a quote, since Brown didn't say what > > he's quoted as saying. It definitely refers to his (along with others) > > boarding "the Hamnavoe", which didn't exist when he died. > > That sounds very odd, James. Clearly there are many genuine GMB > quotations on the "Hamnavoe". From the somewhat out-of-date George > Mackay Brown website: Norman, The man working in the lounge confirmed to me that it was a GMB quote, though I can't place it in his published works. I wonder if Northlink simply substituted "Hamnavoe" for "St Ola." If anyone on this list takes the boat soon, perhaps they would jot down the quote for us and then someone can find it in print. Jim --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using the UIA Web Mail Server. ULTIMATE Internet Access, Inc http://www.uia.net/
Well, Charles, it's not entirely a quote, since Brown didn't say what he's quoted as saying. It defintely refers to his (along with others) boarding "the Hamnavoe", which didn't exist when he died. Jim > You are talking rubbish - it is just a quote. > > > ------------------------------- > 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 > --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using the UIA Web Mail Server. ULTIMATE Internet Access, Inc http://www.uia.net/
Charles Tait wrote: > You are talking rubbish - it is just a quote. Sorry Charles, can you quote a bit of that to which you are referring. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"
stephen davie wrote: > So from a totally removed > viewpoint, I think it would be nice if for three every year, all > ferry service in Orkney was cancelled. Thanksgiving week....stay on > your own island...meet with your neighbors...relax...and reflect way > back and count your blessings. Then refreshed, head back into the > world on your fourth day. I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I think you'll find that most folk on the Northern Isles stay on their island for most of the time and don't go gadding off to mainland once a week to do their shopping. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"
You are talking rubbish - it is just a quote.
James Thompson wrote: >>> The Hamnavoe was impressive. More posh than I expected, but I > certainly wouldn't complain about that > > Have you noticed that in the Deck 6 lounge, astern, there's a G M > Brown 'quotation' on the glass partition which refers to his boarding > the Hamnavoe? Remarkable, considering that he died long before the > Hamnavoe was built. Tsk tsk, Northlink. > > Jim I haven't noticed that, Jim. Can you remember what it says? It definitely refers to the boat rather than to the town of Stromness/Hamnavoe, does it? Norman Tulloch
OK...that seemed to work,,,, R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Royce Perry Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ORCADIA] Just a test Don't mind me.just testing something R 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
Don't mind me.just testing something R
I love how "inclusive" the dances here are. The ones on Graemsay have slowed down a bit due to the age and incompetence of a number of the participants! We do a very slow motion version of most of the traditional dances, but I love it as for the first time in my life I can keep up with folk! My favourite party in the season is the Children's Christmas Party where party games are played - of course. Due to the lack of children to play the games ALL the adults are expected to join in. My favourite game is "Musical Arms" - this is an Orkney tradition based on "musical chairs" but in many of the old halls there were no chairs, only benches so it was more difficult to play. So instead half the folk stand in a line and are instructed by the game leader to put a hand on either the left or right hip, drop their arms etc and we all have to run round in the same way you would for musical chairs. It is so hilarious to see the rufty tufty crofters trying to remember which hand to put on which hip! There is a children's version of pass the parcel, and an adult variety where the sweeties are chocolate liquers and the prize is a miniture of whisky! At the end of the games Father Christmas appears - each year we try and get someone the kids (particularly the youngest) won't recognise, although the older boys generally twig but know to keep quiet because once they no longer "believe" in Father Christmas they get less presents! The evening is then finished off with a supper, and a bit of community singing to various Christmas songs on tape. Incidentally in the photos of the Mock Wedding you can see our hall - it's a tin hut (only we frown on that description) and is completely wood lined. The hall was built by the "men of the island" just after WWII using materials from the old wartime huts etc on the island. We have just secured a grant to get electricity installed, but we still have no running water and er - no toilets. Officially it doesn't meet any building standard these days but as it is just for private use we carry on using it. But we can't have functions where we sell tickets or hire it out etc. But it still suits our purposes and we love our old hall! Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:27 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > Whenever there is a wedding on Stronsay there is a dance in the > Community Centre to which everyone on the island is invited. Young and > old dance together without a trace of self-consciousness, no > "wallflowers" or moody teenagers. > And there is at least one blackening during the week before the wedding > <g> > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > > ------------------------------- > 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 >
Recently I visited Shetland and also had the opportunity to stay on Yell for a few days as well. I really could not believe the difference between our ferries and the one travelling to and from Yell - not quite like the Hamnavoe but most impressive anyway. Maybe we could learn from their experience and design the new ferries for the Northern Isles along the same lines? I thought the following article quite interesting: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/yell/ferry/index.html. We don't need mini-cruiseliners, but a bit more comfort, especially on a choppy day, would be most welcome! And yes, reliable and intelligible timetables both for ferries AND buses would be an added bonus (ever tried to work out how to get from Kirkwall to Norseman Village by bus?). Beatrice -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sian Thomas Sent: 13 September 2007 11:47 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ferries and quality I do agree that all customers deserve a quality service in all respects, and something that, to use the latest current phrase "is fit for purpose". However as a tourist travelling around on various ferries worldwide over the years - I require a reliable timetable on vessels with comfortable seats and decent coffee, but I would rather pay a little less and forgoe all the chrome and plushness. Unless I chose to go on a cruise then I would expect the vessel to be a floating 5 star hotel! <> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Tait" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; "Samantha Hill" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:24 AM Subject: [ORCADIA] Ferries and quality <> > The point is many people are apprehensive of ferries, get seasick etc. A quality > service experience is thus very important.. > > Of course the OIC is now discussing new ferries for the North Isles. > They will have to meet different regulations than the previous ones, and > will hopefully be designed from the deck up for passenger comfort. Of > course there is the utilitarian need for cheap transport, but to design > a ship from the point of view of its cargo should not be more expensive. > > Finally as chairman of Orkney Tourism Group I am very committed to > improving and maintaining the overall experience our visitors get whilst > in Orkney. These include people on holiday from outside Orkney and > those visiting other parts of the islands. > > The future wellbeing of Orkney depends fundamentally on having a > successful and thriving tourist industry. Whether you like it or not > the North Isles are part of that. You are never going to have a huge > influx of visitors, but instead of a few hardy and interested souls who > make it to your island you may get a few more, who in turn will spend > some money on the island. > > However the ferry experinece is not the only thing the isles need to > look at. Subtle things can make a big difference, such as rod signs, > parking places, opening times to suit ferry times, and maybe above all > information. > > I do not propose excessively fancy ships or services, but i do feel that > you are taking quite the wrong approach when you suggest "any old thing > will do". In fact the further out you get the MORE important is > assurance of quality. > > Sorry but I feel strongly about this.
>>The Hamnavoe was impressive. More posh than I expected, but I certainly wouldn't complain about that Have you noticed that in the Deck 6 lounge, astern, there's a G M Brown 'quotation' on the glass partition which refers to his boarding the Hamnavoe? Remarkable, considering that he died long before the Hamnavoe was built. Tsk tsk, Northlink. Jim --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using the UIA Web Mail Server. ULTIMATE Internet Access, Inc http://www.uia.net/
Condensed thoughts/comments on recent discussion -- on ferries The Hamnavoe was impressive. More posh than I expected, but I certainly wouldn't complain about that--though a little less could have probably been as good, it certainly makes a positive impression as a major entryway to Orkney. On a beautiful midsummer day most everyone was outside. The majority of visitors probably take that route for the view, but I'm sure in worse weather there are many making use of the inside facilities. People who travel that way often for work or family connections surely appreciate a place to be comfortable and a choice of food and drink. The smaller ferry to Westray was quite a change. As long as I got there safely, I wasn't overly concerned about conveniences and appearances, but a little makeover would do nicely. The most uncomfortable bit was the climb up the narrow steps, didn't seem to far in the morning, but after a day with a lot of walking it looked a long way up. To enjoy the view and see the relationship of the islands we were passing involved climbing back down to a rather small, and crowded if many were interested, area, or standing up and leaning over a bench to look out some small windows. There were two women from Kirkwall taking a friend from Edinburgh on a day out. One had married a man from Westray and was anxious to point out sites along the way, but had trouble finding a good view to do so. She was rather apologetic about the environment and talked wistfully about her hopes that they would someday have a nice new boat. I didn't find ferry or bus schedules difficult to read. Just takes a little time to piece together the possibilities. A map showing ferry points and actual bus routes (with the name of the road) instead of just listing the main stopping points would be helpful to those using public transport. The buses are great about letting you off or picking you up along the way, but it's hard to tell from the schedule map exactly where that is in some areas. There are still places I haven't been as I couldn't tell if I'd ever get back. I know some people just go and worry about returning when they are ready, but I don't function that way. (No that was not me calling for rescue from the Brough of Birsay. I checked the times carefully. If I had got stranded I'd have spent the night and hoped no one ever found out.) The sooner the next year's schedules come out the better. When I was looking for this summer's early last year everyone kept telling me to just wait, it's early. That may be, but if your trying to work out where you are staying, taking tours, etc., you have to know when and how you can get from point A to point B. If you want a room in June, now is not too early to book. But then you have to know when you'll get there and if that involves two planes, two trains, two buses and a boat, the sooner you have schedules available the better. Even then, of course, you have to have Plan B to allow for delays, but you need a place to start. on "A few more laybys where visitors can stop and take photographs would be nice, and a few more litter bins beside them.--" Well, if we're making a wish list, walking paths with benches to sit on and trail markers of signs with maps showing the location of publics WC's along the way---a pub at the end of each trail.... Ok, OK, thoughts not as condensed as I promised. I'll stop. Have to go find out what this Wicker Man is about. I learn the most amazing things from you people. Karen ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
The current string on Orkney Ferry Service, including the Shetland ferry site info and nice pictures from Beatrice Cook, has for me provoked deeper thoughts. That roro Shetland ferry is a piece of work to be sure. As one who was born a few hundred years too late, I am amused to think what our forbears would think of all this. I imagine our Kolbein/Grtimbister/Davie of old family would think it shockingly absurd that anyone would complain about a ship that doesn't require oar power, or in the case of a fair wind, a hefty crew none the less of truly physical men to handle the sail. They could never envision a modern ship almost unsinkable, made of a miracle metal and in which you can sit in comfort underway, and watch a challenging rolling sea or driving rains through insulated glass windows, while enjoying a beverage or a snack. My world war two navy veteran Uncle George told me that when he signed on before ww2, his old grandpa said "I mind my days at sea, when the navy involved boats of wood and men of steel." He then added (circa 1937)..."Today we have boats of steel !." Perhaps we have become somewhat wooden. Those old viking sailors were certainly steely men, body mind and soul. We have come so far forward in this world, yet we have learned nothing of the basics of our planet, it's needs it's vulnerable spots, and it's future. The world today is rife with war and hate, we have cut the forests and soiled and paved the best farming ground, depleted the fish stocks and laid waste clean air in all cities in the globe. Of this we are reminded, but we plow onward blinded by greed. We have ignored the values of traditional native peoples who thrived on nature unspoiled, and who never compromised it. Those people in many cases, were simply wiped out of the way and off the map. We are technologically brilliant yet practically and pathetically retrogressive in the big picture. Seems to me that oil aside, much of Orkney's strength and the bonds that surround Orkney (ie: this site) have to do with a natural, laid back less spoiled world, shut off somewhat from the whirling world of consumerism and lust for goods, by a boiling patch of sea that ebs and flows and gnarls it way between the mighty North Altlantic to the North Sea. As the computerization of planet earth creates more impact, and the lust for north sea oil and projects like a giant container terminal lurk out there, wee Orkney seems to shoulder the intruding world, and still provide for and allow a person to stand on a whispering castle ruin in Wyre, on amidst a standing stony sunset in Stennes, or aside the entrance of Mawshowe or on the crashing rocky east shore of Papa Stronsay, and take a long breath of fresh air and enjoy reduced blood pressure while reflecting on a past there that left so many wonderful footprints. That historic natural atmosphere is something to be cherished, and dare I say preserved. So from a totally removed viewpoint, I think it would be nice if for three every year, all ferry service in Orkney was cancelled. Thanksgiving week....stay on your own island...meet with your neighbors...relax...and reflect way back and count your blessings. Then refreshed, head back into the world on your fourth day. The island here we (family) occupy, has a huge ferry and a terrific cost effective service. But in the winter, everything freezes up tight. It is the largest fresh water body on the earth, and for people in the south, the access then becomes a 400 mile drive to the wee swing bridge on the north end, beneath La cloche mountain and the old Hudson Bay Company fort site. Seems you don't have to look too far to find someone worse off. Not in this shrinking world. Island living has it's own endemic culture and attitude and sense of independence. It is something to be celebrated, indeed cherished. The mosaic of the islands that are Orkney indeed are unique in the world. I hope they will always remain so. Sorry if this is offbeat. That's just me thinkin' out loud I guess. I can't wait to get back there. Stephen