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

Bruce, thanks for the update. I can vouch for "hen-dogs". My hens arrived before the henny-hoose was ready so stayed at a neighbouring farm. Piper, the sheep dog was sent out to herd the hens into the hen house at night. Now months later I can yell "Go get, Piper!" and the hens run for the hen house - despite Piper being over a mile away! Sian Graemsay

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 > > > ==== 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 > >

Again enjoyed your update on Stronsay life and livestock, Bruce, much appreciated. Love your story of the protective hen! On my visit to Orkney last July we popped on on Kirkbister Farm and there we saw a proud hen leading her flock of 6 wee ducklings - yes, ducklings! Apparently hens make much more protective mothers than ducks. Wonderful sight. Is there anything particular happening on Stronsay the week of 18th to 23rd July? I'll be staying on Mainland around then. Can't wait! And am i right in thinking there are no foxes on the Orkney Islands? Fiona (in York UK) _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool new emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo

Our car is now 8 years old and needed some minor repairs so last month I took it to the garage in Stromness as there is no vehicle mechanic on Stronsay. There is an opening on the island for any enterprising vehicle mechanic worth his/her salt, I am sure that there is more than enough work maintaining and repairing cars and agricultural equipment to support such a venture. And there is a 3 bedroomed detached house with a large garage for sale just down the road - offers over £82,500. Taking a car on the ferry costs £26.20 return plus £11.60 return per person (£5.80 OAP) so it is not a cheap option and many people prefer to do their own servicing or just "let nature take its course". Maureen decided that she would not accompany me on my car servicing visit thus avoiding having to brave the perils of the deep and tempting Fate yet again. Instead she opted to stay at home and do some work even though I tried to bribe her with a bar lunch in the Stromness Hotel. In the event the crossing was made on a flat calm sea. Several of the "regular" travellers remarked that it was extremely rare to have flat calm sea around these parts and even rarer to have flat calm sea on both the outward and return journey. It must be the season for unusual events because on the previous day the haulier who takes freight and post between the Stronsay and Orkney Mainland saw a pod of killer whales off the island of Shapinsay for the first time despite commuting on the ferry 4 or 5 times a week for over 12 years. After arriving back on the 6:00 pm ferry on 22 June I barely had time to have a bite to eat before going straight out again because as part of the St Magnus Festival an ensemble from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra was putting on a concert in the Stronsay Kirk at 7:30 pm. Maureen and I attended the concert along with about 80 others and enjoyed it, despite the extremely hard Kirk chairs that appear designed specifically to prevent anyone dozing off during a sermon. The musicians had been on Stronsay since early that morning and had spent most of the day working with the children in the school. At the start of the month we spotted a few notices announcing a wedding celebration in the Community Centre on the evening of Saturday 19 June to which the whole island was invited. On Friday 18 June the poor groom was driven around the island in an extremely tatty vehicle as part of the traditional, noisy rite known locally as "blacking". This involves covering the poor man in anything smelly, dirty or difficult to remove then publicly displaying the resulting mess. Each part of the British Isles seems to have a similar rite albeit going under different names. As we did not know either of the families it didn't seem right to just turn up at the Community Centre but it seems that although this is not something that happens very often it is quite common for a general invite to be extended in this way so next time we shall be aware of the protocol. The cockerel and his entourage have not visited us for several days now. Perhaps it was the sight of Maureen bearing down on him with the dreaded mop or maybe it was because Maureen threatened to confiscate any eggs that were laid by the cockerel's harem. After reading the latest Saga a friend in Yorkshire advised us to acquire a hen-dog (not a sheep-dog, a hen-dog) such as a Jack Russell terrier. It seems that he had one such dog that fancied itself as an ace chicken chaser and would take on the biggest cockerel. If the bird stood its ground the dog ran round the back of it and pulled out its tail feathers. After that he never had any trouble rounding the chickens up on a night. As soon as they saw the dog they hightailed it up the ramp into the hen house. The dog never actually harmed any of them but seemed to take a delight in sending them packing. In a previous saga I mentioned the lambs who had hi-jacked the henhouse. The lambs are now far too large to get into the henhouse but if it rains they stick their heads in the door, leaving the rest of their body out in the rain and preventing the hens from getting shelter. The croft that has the lambs and hens also has a lot of cats which now give all the hens and their chicks a wide berth since one cat tried to grab a chick and the mother hen leapt out of the hedge, jumped on the cat's back and began pecking, flapping its wings and squawking furiously. The croft also has a pair of collie pups who are now almost a year old. So far they have eaten several dog-baskets (plastic and cane) together with large quantities of carpet but now appear to have settled to a more normal canine diet. The geese and their goslings I mentioned a few weeks ago are doing well as are the hen and chicks (4 survived out of 5) who were rescued from the top of pallet of compost. The owner of the hen and chicks is Maurice who owns and runs the shop at Olivebank in the "middle" of the island. Olivebank is an Alladdin's Cave that sells just about everything. Where else could you go with a hand basket, go around the shop collecting items and arrive at the counter with a lettuce, a joint of Orkney beef, a bottle of cider, a 60 watt light bulb, some electric cable clips, a card of fusewire and a pair of gents slippers (size 12) all just picked up off-the-shelf - and the owner did not blink an eye when he rang the items up on the till. The other shop on the island is Ebenezer Stores in Whitehall village. The owner, Mike, is putting in a new floor so that he can replace his old chest freezers with super, new (but very heavy) upright freezers. Last week Maureen looked out of the kitchen window and saw our next door neighbour going out to take dry clothing off his clothes line. Rocky was trotting alongside like a tame dog whilst Socks was walking behind the pair of them, both no doubt expecting food at the end. Our neighbour, who used to keep sheep, says he will be hand-shearing Rocky soon so I shall try to get some "before & after" photographs. The Stronsay Regatta was due to take place on 26 June and posters were all over the place. However, the even was cancelled and I'm not quite sure why. No doubt someone will tell me in due course. Such a pity as it was a lovely day on 26 June. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/

Bruce I am so enjoying your saga and truley feel that slices of life you give us are not only for our enjoyment, but invaluable for future generations. Writings such as yours enable us to capture the realities as well as the flavors of life that history books cannot begin to touch. Thank you so much Kathy __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

If you're ever in any doubt, Karen, send them an e-mail. They will always reply and let you know what is happening. Sometimes they don't know they have a problem until somebody tells them :-) Mike KJEMEM@aol.com wrote: > Thanks Mike. I know you always listen (or try to) long before I do. > Probably before I'm awake. What you describe seemed to be what I was seeing, but I > always wonder if it's just me. > > 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 > > >

Hi Karen Radio Orkney had a desk fault on Monday, they should have been OK on Tuesday but the BBC has a major fault today - this is the techy reply I got when I reported the fault Hope it helps. Mike Clouston <quote> Ops are experiencing a major network problem with the Real Media servers, which is affecting every single area of the BBC currently producing Real Media audio/video clips (live streams don't seem to be affected yet), including News, Radio etc. It means that all automated/scheduled audio is only recording 58 seconds, then ending - and it is not recoverable. <unquote> KJEMEM@aol.com wrote: >Am I the only one having trouble this week getting the Orkney Radio News on >line? > >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 > > > > >

"Sometimes they don't know they have a problem until somebody tells them" ....and sometimes they're in the middle of a mess and tired of people telling them about it. I hate to ask 'till I know it's not just me. They're such a great group of people, I hate it when things aren't going right. And, of course, I worry that I'm missing out on some important news. Karen

Thanks Mike. I know you always listen (or try to) long before I do. Probably before I'm awake. What you describe seemed to be what I was seeing, but I always wonder if it's just me. Karen

Am I the only one having trouble this week getting the Orkney Radio News on line? Karen

Stronsay Hotel changed hands a few weeks ago. If email bounces let me know and I'll pop around there and enquire. -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/

Thank you Fiona. Unfortunately the Stronsay Hotel website no longer works, which caused me to wonder if they were still in business. It redirects to generic search page (that has NOTHING to do with Stronsay). Apparently they have lost the domain name. I did send off an email to the address given, however, I fear that it really won't get to them. I feel that a phone call is in order. I hope that your 4th visit is a real treat. I know that this one won't be my last. So many islands, so little time :-) Tony Pavick Pittsburgh PA USA At 12:10 27/06/2004, Fiona wrote: >Have just had a look in my wonderful, gorgeous 2004 brochure for the >smaller Orkney Islands, and the website for the Stronsay Hotel is: >www.stronsayhotel.com >3 star rating, members of the Orkney Tourist Board >Blurb; "Stronsay Hotel - Recently refurbished hotel, 4 bedrooms with >en-suite facilities, special needs facilities. All meals provided >including picnics, seafood is a speciality. All major credit cards >accepted. Mr & Mrs Richards Tel for Reception: 01857 616473 >email: info@stronsayhotel.com >Hope this helps! Sounds great, doesn't it? > >4 B&Bs listed - not members of OTB >Stronsay Bird Reserve B&B full board, camping. John & Sue Holloway, >Castle, Mill Bay Tel 01857 616363 >Then, Clestrain B&B full board Mrs Harcus Tel 01857 616340 >And, Claremont B&B full board Mr & Mrs Abrams Tel 01857 616478 >And, B&B or Dinner, B&B Barbara & David Brightwell at Helmsley Tel 01857 >616369 open all year >There's also a camping barn! > >I'm also looking forward to my 4th visit to Orkney - mid July, can't wait! >Best wishes, >Fiona (in York UK)

Have just had a look in my wonderful, gorgeous 2004 brochure for the smaller Orkney Islands, and the website for the Stronsay Hotel is: www.stronsayhotel.com 3 star rating, members of the Orkney Tourist Board Blurb; "Stronsay Hotel - Recently refurbished hotel, 4 bedrooms with en-suite facilities, special needs facilities. All meals provided including picnics, seafood is a speciality. All major credit cards accepted. Mr & Mrs Richards Tel for Reception: 01857 616473 email: info@stronsayhotel.com Hope this helps! Sounds great, doesn't it? 4 B&Bs listed - not members of OTB Stronsay Bird Reserve B&B full board, camping. John & Sue Holloway, Castle, Mill Bay Tel 01857 616363 Then, Clestrain B&B full board Mrs Harcus Tel 01857 616340 And, Claremont B&B full board Mr & Mrs Abrams Tel 01857 616478 And, B&B or Dinner, B&B Barbara & David Brightwell at Helmsley Tel 01857 616369 open all year There's also a camping barn! I'm also looking forward to my 4th visit to Orkney - mid July, can't wait! Best wishes, Fiona (in York UK) >From: agp@telerama.com >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [<orcadia>] My forthcoming 4th visit >Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 15:05:47 +0000 > >Hello Orcadia > >This autumn I will be making my 4th trip to Orkney. When I first set foot >there in 1990, I never dreamed I'd be returning so many times, and >certainly never thought that it would be so frequent after my visit in >2000! So many islands, so little time :-) > >I've popped in and out of this list over the years as was needed to ask >questions .. and so here I am back on again, with a few .... if you don't >mind. > >First -- I might as well start with the most obscure of all. During my >visit 2 years ago, a wonderful woman from Loganair at Kirkwall airport >offered tremendous assistance in pulling together everything for my visits >to Westray, Papay, and North Ron. Her assistance as the local Loganair rep >was invaluable. I wish to contact her again to assist in getting to >Stronsay, Sanday, and Eday. Does any list member in Orkney possibly know >her name? I believe it was one of the more common Orkney surnames. > >Second, I'm looking for accommodation on Stronsay. Can anyone comment on >the Helmsley B&B and Stronsay Hotel. I can't find a website for the hotel, >but did find one for the B&B. Neither seem to be in the downloadable pdf of >accommodations from the OTB. > >Thanks in advance -- here's to Orkney 2004! > >Tony Pavick >Pittsburgh PA > > > > >==== 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 > _________________________________________________________________ Want to block unwanted pop-ups? Download the free MSN Toolbar now! http://toolbar.msn.co.uk/

Hello Orcadia This autumn I will be making my 4th trip to Orkney. When I first set foot there in 1990, I never dreamed I'd be returning so many times, and certainly never thought that it would be so frequent after my visit in 2000! So many islands, so little time :-) I've popped in and out of this list over the years as was needed to ask questions .. and so here I am back on again, with a few .... if you don't mind. First -- I might as well start with the most obscure of all. During my visit 2 years ago, a wonderful woman from Loganair at Kirkwall airport offered tremendous assistance in pulling together everything for my visits to Westray, Papay, and North Ron. Her assistance as the local Loganair rep was invaluable. I wish to contact her again to assist in getting to Stronsay, Sanday, and Eday. Does any list member in Orkney possibly know her name? I believe it was one of the more common Orkney surnames. Second, I'm looking for accommodation on Stronsay. Can anyone comment on the Helmsley B&B and Stronsay Hotel. I can't find a website for the hotel, but did find one for the B&B. Neither seem to be in the downloadable pdf of accommodations from the OTB. Thanks in advance -- here's to Orkney 2004! Tony Pavick Pittsburgh PA

Bruce, thank you very much for your descriptive submission. Ever think of operating a B and B for the summer at least? Cheers!///// Stepehn On Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at 01:33 PM, Bruce Fletcher ((Stronsay)) wrote: > There are at least two cockerels and several hens who run "free range" > in > the village. One of the cockerels has taken a fancy to our garden and > Maureen's vegetable patch (more of which later) and has had be > "shooed" out > on several occasions, usually extremely early in the morning. He > virtually > ignores waving arms, shouts, clapping hands, etc. and only moves just > before > we lay hands upon him. However, Maureen discovered that he was > petrified of > the old-fashioned mop when she flourished at him the other day. It was > almost a scene from a silent film - Maureen flourishing the mop and the > cockerel fleeing in terror around the hedge only to come face to face > with > next-door's cat, Socks, who had come around to do a bit of quiet > bird-stalking. Both cat and cockerel leapt in fright and disappeared in > opposite directions whilst Rocky the ram popped his head over the wall > to > see what on earth it was that was disturbing his nap. A few days later > I > heard the cockerel calling in the yard just as dawn was breaking. I > put on > my dressing gown, went to the back door, flung it open and was waving > the > mop at the cockerel when an extremely startled black cat shot out of > the > coal-shed where she had been up to no good, rooting through our plastic > rubbish bags; my fault for not closing the coal shed door the previous > evening. > I have received several requests for an update on Rocky, the ram who > keeps > our next door neighbour's lawn neatly trimmed. Rocky seems to be OK and > enjoys the titbits that we give him, especially tortillas if we have > been > eating exotically. However, he steadfastly refuses to touch Maureen's > Yorkshire Pudding - such an appalling lack of taste - and he simply > ignores > pitta bread whether garlic flavoured or plain. I have not heard from > his > previous owners who were supposed to be arranging to collect him when > they > found a suitable piece of land near their new home. > > My last Saga on 05 June mentioned a hen sitting on a clutch of eggs > atop a > full pallet of bags of compost in a shed at the rear of one of the > shops. I > am pleased to report that the hen eventually hatched five chicks and > the > whole family have now been safely moved so that the store owner can > gain > access to his remaining pallet of bagged compost. > > The farmers on Stronsay have been even busier than usual during recent > weeks. As it is now broad daylight by 04:00 yet still light enough to > work > outside at 23:00 they are taking advantage of the long hours of > daylight to > cut silage from the lush pasture grass. Calves and lambs can be heard > calling at all hours of the day and the number of birds who dine in > our back > garden has increased dramatically. Maureen has a small vegetable > garden in > some large plastic buckets. So far the potatoes, cabbages, cauliflower > and > broad beans appear to be thriving providing that the birds, the cats > and > that d****d cockerel leave them alone. I've been ambitiously > converting a > lawn into a vegetable patch, it's hard work but I might just have it > dug > over in time for the winter weather to break up the turves. > > Stronsay Gala was held on the afternoon of Sat 12 Jun. It was held on > and > around the freshly trimmed and decorated football field on the edge of > which > three marquees swayed in the stiff breeze whilst the burger van emitted > mouth-watering fumes all afternoon. Fortunately the weather was > moderately > clear and the rain held off for most of the day. I counted over 50 > cars in > the field and I estimated that there were about 70 people present at > any one > time. Half a dozen vintage cars were on display, their bodywork > gleaming, > whilst folk gazed at and the older folk reminisced over some lovingly > restored 60 year old petrol and diesel engines that chugged away in a > corner > of the field for most of the afternoon. The craft display marquee was > shared > with the members of the pipe band from Kirkwall who led the parade > around > the field at the start of the event and provided musical entertainment > for > the rest of the day. A very crowded sales marquee housed tombola, > face-painting, plant stalls, raffle etc. The beer tent opened for > business > as soon as the floats had been judged. The parade consisted of a few > fancy > dress costumes and just four floats which contained between them an > alien > invasion, a corner shop, a pirate galleon (complete with cannon and > mainsail) and a representation of the dance routines from "Grease". It > is > amazing what changes can be wrought to two silage trailers and two > flatbed > trailers when skilled, enthusiastic hands get to work. There is no > public > address system so I never did find out when the judging took place or > who > won but the children (and the adults) all seemed to be thoroughly > enjoying > themselves. > > I'm still playing the keyboard for the small RC church that is housed > in a > converted warehouse just opposite the Harbour Office in Whitehall > village > and run by the monks from Papa Stronsay. The exterior of the church > belies > the interior of the church which is dry, warm and, thanks to corrugated > plastic inserts in the roof and several fluorescent lamps, very well > lit The > walls are plain, emulsioned plaster and there are three rows of six > chairs > with an aisle down the centre facing a traditional RC altar with a > life-size > figure of the Virgin Mary to the left. At the back of the church is the > entrance and a single row of stacking chairs with some spare chairs. > The > keyboard is located just inside the entrance doorway so I can see what > is > going on (even if I don't fully understand a lot of it). A lot of the > music > is unfamiliar to me but I like it, especially the unaccompanied > Gregorian > chant, and have begun reading up on the history of the Mass. My musical > journey over the last 50 years has now ranged from Primitive Methodism > to > the Tridentine Mass via the Kirk and Anglo-Catholicism! > > 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 >

See http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/brodgardig.htm for full details. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Thank you Bruce. I'm vicariously enjoying your adventures with you. Actually, I think you've gathered quite a crowd around doing the same. Hope you don't mind the company. I'd love to hear more about the church music, as well as the assorted animals who come to enlived things in the garden. Karen (Memphis, Tennessee, USA)

Really enjoyed your Orkney island epistle again, Bruce. Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you might end up being Rocky's new guardians, has he been abandoned to your kind care?? Am i right in saying the weather hasn't been too brilliant up there recently? I find it hard to understand why Orkney isn't always under clear blue skies, romantic soul that i am, but i did somehow think that the windy conditions, the lack of mountains, would be condusive to clear skies more often than not?!? It was one of my daughter's birthdays on the 12th June, the day of the overcast Stronsay Gala, and here in Yorkshire the weather was glorious, and hot too (sorry!). Fiona (in York UK) _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

There are at least two cockerels and several hens who run "free range" in the village. One of the cockerels has taken a fancy to our garden and Maureen's vegetable patch (more of which later) and has had be "shooed" out on several occasions, usually extremely early in the morning. He virtually ignores waving arms, shouts, clapping hands, etc. and only moves just before we lay hands upon him. However, Maureen discovered that he was petrified of the old-fashioned mop when she flourished at him the other day. It was almost a scene from a silent film - Maureen flourishing the mop and the cockerel fleeing in terror around the hedge only to come face to face with next-door's cat, Socks, who had come around to do a bit of quiet bird-stalking. Both cat and cockerel leapt in fright and disappeared in opposite directions whilst Rocky the ram popped his head over the wall to see what on earth it was that was disturbing his nap. A few days later I heard the cockerel calling in the yard just as dawn was breaking. I put on my dressing gown, went to the back door, flung it open and was waving the mop at the cockerel when an extremely startled black cat shot out of the coal-shed where she had been up to no good, rooting through our plastic rubbish bags; my fault for not closing the coal shed door the previous evening. I have received several requests for an update on Rocky, the ram who keeps our next door neighbour's lawn neatly trimmed. Rocky seems to be OK and enjoys the titbits that we give him, especially tortillas if we have been eating exotically. However, he steadfastly refuses to touch Maureen's Yorkshire Pudding - such an appalling lack of taste - and he simply ignores pitta bread whether garlic flavoured or plain. I have not heard from his previous owners who were supposed to be arranging to collect him when they found a suitable piece of land near their new home. My last Saga on 05 June mentioned a hen sitting on a clutch of eggs atop a full pallet of bags of compost in a shed at the rear of one of the shops. I am pleased to report that the hen eventually hatched five chicks and the whole family have now been safely moved so that the store owner can gain access to his remaining pallet of bagged compost. The farmers on Stronsay have been even busier than usual during recent weeks. As it is now broad daylight by 04:00 yet still light enough to work outside at 23:00 they are taking advantage of the long hours of daylight to cut silage from the lush pasture grass. Calves and lambs can be heard calling at all hours of the day and the number of birds who dine in our back garden has increased dramatically. Maureen has a small vegetable garden in some large plastic buckets. So far the potatoes, cabbages, cauliflower and broad beans appear to be thriving providing that the birds, the cats and that d****d cockerel leave them alone. I've been ambitiously converting a lawn into a vegetable patch, it's hard work but I might just have it dug over in time for the winter weather to break up the turves. Stronsay Gala was held on the afternoon of Sat 12 Jun. It was held on and around the freshly trimmed and decorated football field on the edge of which three marquees swayed in the stiff breeze whilst the burger van emitted mouth-watering fumes all afternoon. Fortunately the weather was moderately clear and the rain held off for most of the day. I counted over 50 cars in the field and I estimated that there were about 70 people present at any one time. Half a dozen vintage cars were on display, their bodywork gleaming, whilst folk gazed at and the older folk reminisced over some lovingly restored 60 year old petrol and diesel engines that chugged away in a corner of the field for most of the afternoon. The craft display marquee was shared with the members of the pipe band from Kirkwall who led the parade around the field at the start of the event and provided musical entertainment for the rest of the day. A very crowded sales marquee housed tombola, face-painting, plant stalls, raffle etc. The beer tent opened for business as soon as the floats had been judged. The parade consisted of a few fancy dress costumes and just four floats which contained between them an alien invasion, a corner shop, a pirate galleon (complete with cannon and mainsail) and a representation of the dance routines from "Grease". It is amazing what changes can be wrought to two silage trailers and two flatbed trailers when skilled, enthusiastic hands get to work. There is no public address system so I never did find out when the judging took place or who won but the children (and the adults) all seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. I'm still playing the keyboard for the small RC church that is housed in a converted warehouse just opposite the Harbour Office in Whitehall village and run by the monks from Papa Stronsay. The exterior of the church belies the interior of the church which is dry, warm and, thanks to corrugated plastic inserts in the roof and several fluorescent lamps, very well lit The walls are plain, emulsioned plaster and there are three rows of six chairs with an aisle down the centre facing a traditional RC altar with a life-size figure of the Virgin Mary to the left. At the back of the church is the entrance and a single row of stacking chairs with some spare chairs. The keyboard is located just inside the entrance doorway so I can see what is going on (even if I don't fully understand a lot of it). A lot of the music is unfamiliar to me but I like it, especially the unaccompanied Gregorian chant, and have begun reading up on the history of the Mass. My musical journey over the last 50 years has now ranged from Primitive Methodism to the Tridentine Mass via the Kirk and Anglo-Catholicism! Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/