Hello Everyone, I have been in Deerness 3 wks. with 2 more to go. It is wonderful being here. The weather doesn't affect my love for Orkney. I, too, feel as though I'm being drawn back here, year after year and wish I could just stay here forever like some of you have managed to do. Peggy (Va. USA) In a message dated 7/10/2004 10:44:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> writes: >Charlie, What a treat it must have been for you to experience the variety >of weather >Orkney provides. I was expecting something like what you described, >before I arrived in Stromness. Except for the brief period of morning >drizzle >on July12, last year, it couldn't have been more consistently "nice" >weather-wise >whilst I was there. > >Having just signed up for the newsletter, I've not had access >to the tales of Bruce Fletcher and Sian yet; but I've had a powerful >yearning in >my soul to return to Orkney from the day I left the place. Orkney is the >only >place on this planet that has given me an instant sensation of >having found HOME. It's comforting to know I'm not the only person >who has been touched by the magic of Orkney. >Katherine >Plum City, WI/USA >---------- >> From: Charlie Petersen <charliep@olypen.com> >> To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time >> Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 8:17 PM >> >> Katherine, I was there in April, not nearly long enough - 4 days - but I >> experienced every kind of weather from very wet gales to brilliant >sunshine. >> Any weather there is okay with me! I hail originally from Milwaukee & >> Chicago, but now live, "retired" in the Pacific Northwest after 40 years >in >> the hospitality industry in Colorado. This weather here, the seashore and >> the people remind me a lot of Scotland - but the tales I'm reading from >> Bruce Fletcher and Sian make me very "homesick" for a place I've only >> visited. >> Charlie Petersen >> Port Townsend, Washington >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> >> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:11 PM >> Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time >> >> >> > Ted, I understand what you mean. For me, it's the feeling of being >drawn >> by >> > the ancient connectedness to the earth, the changing seasons, and the >play >> > of light of land, sea, and sky. It's very frustrating living in >> land-locked >> > Wisconsin, not having access to an ocean, let me tell ya (I grew up on >the >> > central coast of California); I alleviate that frustration somewhat by >> > driving down to Lake Pepin, which is a 28 mile long, 3 mile-wide >portion >> of >> > the Upper Mississippi River. At dusk, I can almost successfully pretend >> > it's a Scottish Highland loch, or a Norwegian fjiord, but I can't quite >> > pull it off because we have too many trees on the bluffs! >> > >> > However, next month, I'm moving to Cedar Falls, Iowa to attend graduate >> > school at the University of Northern Iowa, and I'll have new scenery, >and >> a >> > slightly different climate, even though I'm trading one land-locked >state >> > for another one. My road back to Orkney leads through Iowa, first, I >> guess. >> > >> > This is my wish for you: that when you have the opportunity to travel >to >> > Orkney and Shetland, the weather is your version of perfection, too. >(If >> > you're anything like me, and are affected by the magic of  Orkney, once >> you >> > get there, you won't want to leave. Last summer, I wept when I boarded >the >> > ferry to begin the return journey to Edinburgh, via Scrabster (but, I'm >a >> > hopeless romantic)). >> > >> > Cheers, >> > Katherine >> > ---------- >> > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net >> > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >> > > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time >> > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:41 PM >> > > >> > > Katherine,  It is good to know that there are so many people in the >> > U.S.A. that are interested in Orkney.  I am about 5% Highland Scot. >There >> > is something that attracts me to to the islands.  Standings stones, >> otters, >> > close families.  Hope to stay in touch.  --- Ted --- >> > > > >> > > > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> >> > > > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:02:20 EDT >> > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >> > > > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time >> > > > >> > > > Hello, >> > > > My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly >> > sunny >> > > > and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a >love >> > for >> > > > Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my >> life, >> > so >> > > > far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of >summer >> > school >> > > > through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near >Edinburgh. >> > It >> > > > was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last >> > year, I >> > > > was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been >> > "spoiled," >> > > > though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, >with >> > high >> > > > fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not >too >> > hot. >> > > > The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday >> > morning >> > > > dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it >> > lifted >> > > > by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough >of >> > > > Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in >> Orkney >> > > > when I finish graduate school, somehow. >> > > > >> > > > Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather >> > vocabulary >> > > > you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term >is a >> > > > "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like >a >> > > > tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase >> > down >> > > > the streets here. >> > > > >> > > > Katherine >> > > > Plum City, WI/USA >> > > > >> > > > ---------- >> > > > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net >> > > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >> > > > > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time >> > > > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM >> > > > > >> > > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom.  I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it >is >> > 85 >> > > > degrees and raining.  I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years.  In >> > 2002 in >> > > > visited Inverness and Edinburgh.  My next trip I will visit Orkney >and >> > the >> > > > Shetlands.  This web site is wonderful.  --- Have a good day  --- >Ted >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >> > > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with >> the >> > > > word >> > > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to >orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >> > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with >the >> > word >> > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >> > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the >> > word >> > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com >> > >> > >> > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >> > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the >word >> > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com >> > >> > >> >> >> ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >> To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the >word >> 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > >==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word >'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >

So enjoyed your fascinating insight into Graemsay life - it's an island i haven't taken much notice of up until now! Sounds like you are living thee dream - and in a dream location. Earlier this evening i spent about an hour browsing thru your website - you've certainly worked hard to achieve this dream, well done! Thanks, Sian! Fiona from York UK who will be on Orkney soil a week today... >From: "SIAN.THOMAS" <Sian.Thomas@btinternet.com> >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [<orcadia>] Life on Graemsay >Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 07:49:19 +0100 > >Well Fiona & Charlie, you did ask..... _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

Charlie, What a treat it must have been for you to experience the variety of weather Orkney provides. I was expecting something like what you described, before I arrived in Stromness. Except for the brief period of morning drizzle on July12, last year, it couldn't have been more consistently "nice" weather-wise whilst I was there. Having just signed up for the newsletter, I've not had access to the tales of Bruce Fletcher and Sian yet; but I've had a powerful yearning in my soul to return to Orkney from the day I left the place. Orkney is the only place on this planet that has given me an instant sensation of having found HOME. It's comforting to know I'm not the only person who has been touched by the magic of Orkney. Katherine Plum City, WI/USA ---------- > From: Charlie Petersen <charliep@olypen.com> > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 8:17 PM > > Katherine, I was there in April, not nearly long enough - 4 days - but I > experienced every kind of weather from very wet gales to brilliant sunshine. > Any weather there is okay with me! I hail originally from Milwaukee & > Chicago, but now live, "retired" in the Pacific Northwest after 40 years in > the hospitality industry in Colorado. This weather here, the seashore and > the people remind me a lot of Scotland - but the tales I'm reading from > Bruce Fletcher and Sian make me very "homesick" for a place I've only > visited. > Charlie Petersen > Port Townsend, Washington > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> > To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:11 PM > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > Ted, I understand what you mean. For me, it's the feeling of being drawn > by > > the ancient connectedness to the earth, the changing seasons, and the play > > of light of land, sea, and sky. It's very frustrating living in > land-locked > > Wisconsin, not having access to an ocean, let me tell ya (I grew up on the > > central coast of California); I alleviate that frustration somewhat by > > driving down to Lake Pepin, which is a 28 mile long, 3 mile-wide portion > of > > the Upper Mississippi River. At dusk, I can almost successfully pretend > > it's a Scottish Highland loch, or a Norwegian fjiord, but I can't quite > > pull it off because we have too many trees on the bluffs! > > > > However, next month, I'm moving to Cedar Falls, Iowa to attend graduate > > school at the University of Northern Iowa, and I'll have new scenery, and > a > > slightly different climate, even though I'm trading one land-locked state > > for another one. My road back to Orkney leads through Iowa, first, I > guess. > > > > This is my wish for you: that when you have the opportunity to travel to > > Orkney and Shetland, the weather is your version of perfection, too. (If > > you're anything like me, and are affected by the magic of Orkney, once > you > > get there, you won't want to leave. Last summer, I wept when I boarded the > > ferry to begin the return journey to Edinburgh, via Scrabster (but, I'm a > > hopeless romantic)). > > > > Cheers, > > Katherine > > ---------- > > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:41 PM > > > > > > Katherine, It is good to know that there are so many people in the > > U.S.A. that are interested in Orkney. I am about 5% Highland Scot. There > > is something that attracts me to to the islands. Standings stones, > otters, > > close families. Hope to stay in touch. --- Ted --- > > > > > > > > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> > > > > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:02:20 EDT > > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly > > sunny > > > > and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a love > > for > > > > Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my > life, > > so > > > > far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of summer > > school > > > > through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. > > It > > > > was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last > > year, I > > > > was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been > > "spoiled," > > > > though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, with > > high > > > > fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not too > > hot. > > > > The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday > > morning > > > > dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it > > lifted > > > > by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough of > > > > Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in > Orkney > > > > when I finish graduate school, somehow. > > > > > > > > Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather > > vocabulary > > > > you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term is a > > > > "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like a > > > > tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase > > down > > > > the streets here. > > > > > > > > Katherine > > > > Plum City, WI/USA > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > > > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM > > > > > > > > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is > > 85 > > > > degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In > > 2002 in > > > > visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and > > the > > > > Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with > the > > > > word > > > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > > word > > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > > word > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

From: "Darryl" <stoutd@shaw.ca> > I'm curious about the source of utilities on your island and on other small > Orkney islands. Does each island have it's own diesel generator? Any > windmills? How do you get telephone and internet service? How about sewage > treatment? Stronsay has running water. It received mains electricity about 30 years ago, prior to that each household had its own small generator. We do have telephones - most cables are underground these days. Terrestrial TV reception is a bit ropey but Sky TV is OK. Broadband internet access may reach us in a year or two; in the meantime my 56K modem is fine. There is no main sewage system - either you have a septic tank (like us) or a pipe into the sea. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/

Katherine, I was there in April, not nearly long enough - 4 days - but I experienced every kind of weather from very wet gales to brilliant sunshine. Any weather there is okay with me! I hail originally from Milwaukee & Chicago, but now live, "retired" in the Pacific Northwest after 40 years in the hospitality industry in Colorado. This weather here, the seashore and the people remind me a lot of Scotland - but the tales I'm reading from Bruce Fletcher and Sian make me very "homesick" for a place I've only visited. Charlie Petersen Port Townsend, Washington ----- Original Message ----- From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:11 PM Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > Ted, I understand what you mean. For me, it's the feeling of being drawn by > the ancient connectedness to the earth, the changing seasons, and the play > of light of land, sea, and sky. It's very frustrating living in land-locked > Wisconsin, not having access to an ocean, let me tell ya (I grew up on the > central coast of California); I alleviate that frustration somewhat by > driving down to Lake Pepin, which is a 28 mile long, 3 mile-wide portion of > the Upper Mississippi River. At dusk, I can almost successfully pretend > it's a Scottish Highland loch, or a Norwegian fjiord, but I can't quite > pull it off because we have too many trees on the bluffs! > > However, next month, I'm moving to Cedar Falls, Iowa to attend graduate > school at the University of Northern Iowa, and I'll have new scenery, and a > slightly different climate, even though I'm trading one land-locked state > for another one. My road back to Orkney leads through Iowa, first, I guess. > > This is my wish for you: that when you have the opportunity to travel to > Orkney and Shetland, the weather is your version of perfection, too. (If > you're anything like me, and are affected by the magic of Orkney, once you > get there, you won't want to leave. Last summer, I wept when I boarded the > ferry to begin the return journey to Edinburgh, via Scrabster (but, I'm a > hopeless romantic)). > > Cheers, > Katherine > ---------- > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:41 PM > > > > Katherine, It is good to know that there are so many people in the > U.S.A. that are interested in Orkney. I am about 5% Highland Scot. There > is something that attracts me to to the islands. Standings stones, otters, > close families. Hope to stay in touch. --- Ted --- > > > > > > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> > > > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:02:20 EDT > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > > > Hello, > > > My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly > sunny > > > and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a love > for > > > Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my life, > so > > > far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of summer > school > > > through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. > It > > > was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last > year, I > > > was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been > "spoiled," > > > though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, with > high > > > fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not too > hot. > > > The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday > morning > > > dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it > lifted > > > by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough of > > > Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in Orkney > > > when I finish graduate school, somehow. > > > > > > Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather > vocabulary > > > you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term is a > > > "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like a > > > tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase > down > > > the streets here. > > > > > > Katherine > > > Plum City, WI/USA > > > > > > ---------- > > > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM > > > > > > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is > 85 > > > degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In > 2002 in > > > visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and > the > > > Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > > > word > > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > word > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > word > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >

Karen, Me too, enjoying the experinece. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about Scotland. Stay cool and enjoy the MEM BBQ. ---Ted---- > > From: KJEMEM@aol.com > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:45:23 EDT > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > Hello Ted. > > I'm down the road from you in Memphis -- hot and humid. A year ago I was in > Orkney in June, wearing sweaters, and trying not to get blown away in the > wind, and loving every second of it. I'm headed back next June and wish I were > there now. > > Karen > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >

Ted, I understand what you mean. For me, it's the feeling of being drawn by the ancient connectedness to the earth, the changing seasons, and the play of light of land, sea, and sky. It's very frustrating living in land-locked Wisconsin, not having access to an ocean, let me tell ya (I grew up on the central coast of California); I alleviate that frustration somewhat by driving down to Lake Pepin, which is a 28 mile long, 3 mile-wide portion of the Upper Mississippi River. At dusk, I can almost successfully pretend it's a Scottish Highland loch, or a Norwegian fjiord, but I can't quite pull it off because we have too many trees on the bluffs! However, next month, I'm moving to Cedar Falls, Iowa to attend graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, and I'll have new scenery, and a slightly different climate, even though I'm trading one land-locked state for another one. My road back to Orkney leads through Iowa, first, I guess. This is my wish for you: that when you have the opportunity to travel to Orkney and Shetland, the weather is your version of perfection, too. (If you're anything like me, and are affected by the magic of Orkney, once you get there, you won't want to leave. Last summer, I wept when I boarded the ferry to begin the return journey to Edinburgh, via Scrabster (but, I'm a hopeless romantic)). Cheers, Katherine ---------- > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 2:41 PM > > Katherine, It is good to know that there are so many people in the U.S.A. that are interested in Orkney. I am about 5% Highland Scot. There is something that attracts me to to the islands. Standings stones, otters, close families. Hope to stay in touch. --- Ted --- > > > > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> > > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:02:20 EDT > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > > > Hello, > > My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly sunny > > and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a love for > > Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my life, so > > far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of summer school > > through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. It > > was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last year, I > > was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been "spoiled," > > though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, with high > > fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not too hot. > > The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday morning > > dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it lifted > > by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough of > > Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in Orkney > > when I finish graduate school, somehow. > > > > Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather vocabulary > > you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term is a > > "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like a > > tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase down > > the streets here. > > > > Katherine > > Plum City, WI/USA > > > > ---------- > > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM > > > > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 > > degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in > > visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the > > Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > > word > > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

Hello Ted. I'm down the road from you in Memphis -- hot and humid. A year ago I was in Orkney in June, wearing sweaters, and trying not to get blown away in the wind, and loving every second of it. I'm headed back next June and wish I were there now. Karen

Katherine, It is good to know that there are so many people in the U.S.A. that are interested in Orkney. I am about 5% Highland Scot. There is something that attracts me to to the islands. Standings stones, otters, close families. Hope to stay in touch. --- Ted --- > > From: "Katherine V. Gannett" <kvg@nelson-tel.net> > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 03:02:20 EDT > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > Hello, > My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly sunny > and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a love for > Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my life, so > far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of summer school > through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. It > was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last year, I > was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been "spoiled," > though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, with high > fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not too hot. > The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday morning > dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it lifted > by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough of > Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in Orkney > when I finish graduate school, somehow. > > Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather vocabulary > you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term is a > "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like a > tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase down > the streets here. > > Katherine > Plum City, WI/USA > > ---------- > > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM > > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 > degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in > visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the > Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the > word > > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >

Judy, It was August. I went to the Tattoo in Edinbourgh . 85 is "cool" in Georgia in July. Very humid now that the rain has stopped and the sun is out. --Ted-- > From: "Judy" <j_pz@adelphia.net> > Date: 2004/07/10 Sat PM 02:05:41 EDT > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] First time > > Ted, when you visited Scotland in 2002 was it summer or winter? > It's 65 and cloudy here in Maine today--65 is warm to Mainers. > Judy/ Maine US > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 1:55 PM > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com > >

Ted, when you visited Scotland in 2002 was it summer or winter? It's 65 and cloudy here in Maine today--65 is warm to Mainers. Judy/ Maine US ----- Original Message ----- From: invoicer@bellsouth.net To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 1:55 PM Subject: [<orcadia>] First time Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

I was wondering about utilities also. Thanks Bruce for clearing up the situation! Always interesting to hear... How are your animals doing Bruce? Judy/ Maine US ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay) To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 1:33 PM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Life on Graemsay From: "Darryl" <stoutd@shaw.ca> > I'm curious about the source of utilities on your island and on other small > Orkney islands. Does each island have it's own diesel generator? Any > windmills? How do you get telephone and internet service? How about sewage > treatment? Stronsay has running water. It received mains electricity about 30 years ago, prior to that each household had its own small generator. We do have telephones - most cables are underground these days. Terrestrial TV reception is a bit ropey but Sky TV is OK. Broadband internet access may reach us in a year or two; in the meantime my 56K modem is fine. There is no main sewage system - either you have a septic tank (like us) or a pipe into the sea. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/ ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

Hello, My name is Katherine Gannett. I live in Plum City, WI. It's mostly sunny and the heat is rising to the upper 80's today. I was born with a love for Scotland, and have had the blessing of visiting there twice in my life, so far. Most recently was during last summer, for seven weeks of summer school through the Wisconsin in Scotland program in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. It was a grand time of learning and making friends. This weekend, last year, I was in Orkney. I wish I was still there, too! I may have been "spoiled," though, because the weather was, to my senses, perfect: Sunshine, with high fluffy clouds scudding across the sapphire sky, and warm, but not too hot. The wind blew with some force, but wasn't a full gale. The Saturday morning dawned with a sea-haar sitting on the streets of Stromness, but it lifted by 8:00 a.m. The memories of standing on the cliffs at the Brough of Birsay, looking out over the sea are vivid. I'm going to live in Orkney when I finish graduate school, somehow. Sigurd, I very much enjoyed learning about the Orcadian weather vocabulary you presented to us this morning. Thank you. My favorite new term is a "kithy-wind," whilk I imagine is a whirlwind on a grand scale like a tornado or a cyclone, rather than the little dust-devils that chase down the streets here. Katherine Plum City, WI/USA ---------- > From: invoicer@bellsouth.net > To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [<orcadia>] First time > Date: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:55 PM > > Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted > > > ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word > 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

Hello, My name is Ted Odom. I live in Marietta, Ga. Right now it is 85 degrees and raining. I have loved Scotland all of my 50 years. In 2002 in visited Inverness and Edinburgh. My next trip I will visit Orkney and the Shetlands. This web site is wonderful. --- Have a good day --- Ted

Hello Sigurd: Wonderful article describing terms for weather on the Orkneys! I've printed it and will hand it out to interested folks here in Alfred, Maine. Language can describe a culture oftentimes better than the archeology. The many words for rain, sky, sea, wind lend the mental picture of a place where the windy, grey atmostphere and sea spray dictate people's lives. This is the Orkney I had imagined! When I do finally get to Orkney to visit, it will be in winter. I want to experience the power of an "ugsome, stark, skreever". (Am not sure if I have my terms right....) Now I know why people built houses underground in the Orkneys--it makes logical sense. Here in North America Neolithic peoples did not build their housing into the ground. I suppose we could argue whether or not the Anasazi cliff dwellers of the southwest US did not build "into the ground", but there again it appears as though people were trying to: 1) hide from enemies or 2) escape from heat. Those are the two theories advanced at this point anyhow. In any case, environmental factors dictated housing--as always happens. Does Orkney experience the aurora borealis? From the terms describing a kind of 'phosphorescence' it appears so. Or are the phosphorescent terms describing another kind of atmospheric phenomenon present in the Orkneys? Thank you so much Sigurd for your website, this e-mail connection and, of course, all the updates too. For those of us so far away, we feel we can at least keep in touch with you folks 'over there'. Thank you, Sian Thomas' for your "Life on Graemsay" and website also! They are terrific touchstones for us 'far away people' to glimpse life on the islands. And of course, Bruce Fletcher, thank you for your stories which add to the mental pictures. Judy Platz Maine US ----- Original Message ----- From: Sigurd Towrie To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 4:56 PM Subject: [<orcadia>] Dialect terms for weather It's taken me a while, but an article on weather words in Orkney dialect now online at: http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/dialect/weather.htm -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com

It's taken me a while, but an article on weather words in Orkney dialect now online at: http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/dialect/weather.htm -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Sian: I'm curious about the source of utilities on your island and on other small Orkney islands. Does each island have it's own diesel generator? Any windmills? How do you get telephone and internet service? How about sewage treatment? Darryl ----- Original Message ----- From: "SIAN.THOMAS" <Sian.Thomas@btinternet.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 11:49 PM Subject: RE: [<orcadia>] Life on Graemsay Well Fiona & Charlie, you did ask..... Graemsay is one of the smaller of the Orkney islands and is about 1.5 x two miles in size. Currently there are 23 inhabitants living in 10 houses, but in it's "heyday" in the 1800's I believe the census shows nearly 200 folk living here. It must have been a bit overcrowded then!! I moved here from London 4 years ago, and part of the attraction of the island is that it is only a short ferry trip to Stromness on the Orkney Mainland. So we have the benefits of peace, quiet and remoteness but are only a short hop across to "Metropolis". Our summer ferry schedule allows us to visit the town just for a couple of hours or the whole day if we wish. Winter is less frequent, and some weekends we have no ferry at all, which I absolutely adore. There is nothing better than feeling cocooned on my wee island in the depths of winter! Although our ferry is ro-ro, our pier is not, so only passengers can travel, with everything else being winched on or off on the thrice-weekly cargo runs, that includes livestock, cars, oil for the heating system, diesel etc. "Arthur's Tractor" made the headlines in The Orcadian recently as it was too heavy to be lifted on and off our ferry so there was something of a kafuffle with alternative arrangements finally being made. We have no shop on the island, but almost all the shops in Stromness will deliver goods to the boat to be dropped off at our pier. I'm extremely fortunate living on the road to the pier so in the depths of winter gales neighbouring farmers will drop off supplies from the pier saving me having to venture forth for days! At this time of year I love the long days - daylight seems eternal. Sunrise is about 4am and sunset about 10.30pm at this time of year. But it doesn't really get dark in the bits between. I've walked back from a party at 2am and not needed a torch, which contrasts with Winter where at 4pm if I step away from the glow of the house lights I'm plunged into total blackness. Temperatures - well 70 is a heatwave here. As I live near the shore there is generally a light breeze too. Summer has possibly just arrived with temps in the high 60s but weather is very variable (be warned Fiona, back for changeable weather and bring gloves!!). Most folk on Graemsay work farms or crofts, with a couple of us working from home, and the rest being retired. There is one large farm on the island, two smaller farms and a couple of small crofts. Graemsay doesn't get many toursists as we don't have any "ancient monuments", but we often get school groups visiting, as well as some of the Clubs & Societies in Orkney who like walking around our small island admiring the wild flowers, birds and scenery. Depending where you are on Graemsay you can look toward Stromness, on a clear day see the wind turbines in Birsay, shadow-plays on the hills of Orphir, down the flow to Cava & Flotta, the Flotta Flare a year round beacon, or towards Ward Hill on Hoy. The scenery ever changing with the light, and you can watch the weather sweep in from the Atlantic, although we do benefit from some shelter from the Hoy Hills. Our house is one of only two two-storey houses on the island, the other being The Manse. This house was built in about 1860 and was the main farmhouse on the island. It was originally two houses, like a modern maisonette with an external staircase, very unusual for a rural location but we have no idea who designed it or why. It was built for two brothers, tenant farmers on the Sandside estate, Samuel & Alexander Sutherland, their wives and a host of children. At one time about 18 people lived in this house, and no it's NOT that big! I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like living with so many folk! When we bought the house we also bought the field behind it so that we could be assured of an uninterrupted view across to Stromness. We even have our very own beach and feel privileged when the seals choose to come and bask on "our" rocks. The field we rent out to a neighbouring farmer, thereby evading responsibility for livestock but getting the pleasure of watching the young calves and lambs enjoying the sunshine (because of course it's always sunny on Graemsay...). I do have a few hens, they will jump up onto the windowsill and rap on the window if I'm tardy with their feast of scraps, thereby terrifying Fitzi-cat, another refugee from London, but perhaps not so well adapted to life on Graemsay. I've some photos of Graemsay on my website if you'd like to take a look: www.graemsay.com Hope I've not bored you with my ramble. Feel free to ask questions - I love talking about the island and Orkney, just don't want to bore everyone to death. Sian Graemsay ==== ORCADIA Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the Orcadia mailing list, send an e-mail with the word 'unsubscribe' in the message body to orcadia-l-request@rootsweb.com --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.717 / Virus Database: 473 - Release Date: 08/07/04

It's taken me a while, but an article on weather words in Orkney dialect now online at: http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/dialect/weather.htm -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Well Fiona & Charlie, you did ask..... Graemsay is one of the smaller of the Orkney islands and is about 1.5 x two miles in size. Currently there are 23 inhabitants living in 10 houses, but in it's "heyday" in the 1800's I believe the census shows nearly 200 folk living here. It must have been a bit overcrowded then!! I moved here from London 4 years ago, and part of the attraction of the island is that it is only a short ferry trip to Stromness on the Orkney Mainland. So we have the benefits of peace, quiet and remoteness but are only a short hop across to "Metropolis". Our summer ferry schedule allows us to visit the town just for a couple of hours or the whole day if we wish. Winter is less frequent, and some weekends we have no ferry at all, which I absolutely adore. There is nothing better than feeling cocooned on my wee island in the depths of winter! Although our ferry is ro-ro, our pier is not, so only passengers can travel, with everything else being winched on or off on the thrice-weekly cargo runs, that includes livestock, cars, oil for the heating system, diesel etc. "Arthur's Tractor" made the headlines in The Orcadian recently as it was too heavy to be lifted on and off our ferry so there was something of a kafuffle with alternative arrangements finally being made. We have no shop on the island, but almost all the shops in Stromness will deliver goods to the boat to be dropped off at our pier. I'm extremely fortunate living on the road to the pier so in the depths of winter gales neighbouring farmers will drop off supplies from the pier saving me having to venture forth for days! At this time of year I love the long days - daylight seems eternal. Sunrise is about 4am and sunset about 10.30pm at this time of year. But it doesn't really get dark in the bits between. I've walked back from a party at 2am and not needed a torch, which contrasts with Winter where at 4pm if I step away from the glow of the house lights I'm plunged into total blackness. Temperatures - well 70 is a heatwave here. As I live near the shore there is generally a light breeze too. Summer has possibly just arrived with temps in the high 60s but weather is very variable (be warned Fiona, back for changeable weather and bring gloves!!). Most folk on Graemsay work farms or crofts, with a couple of us working from home, and the rest being retired. There is one large farm on the island, two smaller farms and a couple of small crofts. Graemsay doesn't get many toursists as we don't have any "ancient monuments", but we often get school groups visiting, as well as some of the Clubs & Societies in Orkney who like walking around our small island admiring the wild flowers, birds and scenery. Depending where you are on Graemsay you can look toward Stromness, on a clear day see the wind turbines in Birsay, shadow-plays on the hills of Orphir, down the flow to Cava & Flotta, the Flotta Flare a year round beacon, or towards Ward Hill on Hoy. The scenery ever changing with the light, and you can watch the weather sweep in from the Atlantic, although we do benefit from some shelter from the Hoy Hills. Our house is one of only two two-storey houses on the island, the other being The Manse. This house was built in about 1860 and was the main farmhouse on the island. It was originally two houses, like a modern maisonette with an external staircase, very unusual for a rural location but we have no idea who designed it or why. It was built for two brothers, tenant farmers on the Sandside estate, Samuel & Alexander Sutherland, their wives and a host of children. At one time about 18 people lived in this house, and no it's NOT that big! I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like living with so many folk! When we bought the house we also bought the field behind it so that we could be assured of an uninterrupted view across to Stromness. We even have our very own beach and feel privileged when the seals choose to come and bask on "our" rocks. The field we rent out to a neighbouring farmer, thereby evading responsibility for livestock but getting the pleasure of watching the young calves and lambs enjoying the sunshine (because of course it's always sunny on Graemsay...). I do have a few hens, they will jump up onto the windowsill and rap on the window if I'm tardy with their feast of scraps, thereby terrifying Fitzi-cat, another refugee from London, but perhaps not so well adapted to life on Graemsay. I've some photos of Graemsay on my website if you'd like to take a look: www.graemsay.com Hope I've not bored you with my ramble. Feel free to ask questions - I love talking about the island and Orkney, just don't want to bore everyone to death. Sian Graemsay

Thanks, Sian. And, yes, like Charlie, i love to hear anything about life in orkney, Graemsay, Stronsay...present or past... Fiona (York UK - but in Orkney mid July, lucky me!) Still cool and cloudy here in York.. >From: "Charlie Petersen" <charliep@olypen.com> >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Fletcher saga 01 July 2004 >Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 19:32:13 -0700 > >Hi Sian - What's the temperature at midday, and what time is it getting >dark >now? Here in Washington state, it gets dark about 2200+. We've been in the >low to mid 70s F- About 20 C, I think - a bit hot for me, the flowers need >water every day. I long for Orkney, since my first trip there in April was >entirely too short. I'd love to hear about life on Graemsay - off list is >fine. >Charlie Petersen >from Port Townsend, Washington > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "SIAN.THOMAS" <Sian.Thomas@btinternet.com> >To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 3:19 PM >Subject: RE: [<orcadia>] Fletcher saga 01 July 2004 > > > > Fiona, that's right there are no foxes in Orkney so we can let our hens >run > > free! And yes ducks are appalling parents - it's amazing the species > > survives. Although shelducks are better - often on the shore in the >shallow > > water you will see a couple of shelducks overseeing a large brood. > > Seemingly one or two females act as "child minders"while the other >parents > > are off feeding. Enjoy your visit in July. Summer finally seems to >have > > arrived today! > > > > Sian > > Graemsay _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool new emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo