These are such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing them with us. Isabella 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 > > > >

On 07 June 2004 10:50, Andy Sweet wrote: >> A recent pilot study has provided further, tantalising new evidence >> regarding the origins of the Orkney vole (and by proxy the early >> human settlers). See for Keith Dobney's paper on this at http://www.orkneydigs.org.uk/dhl/papers/kd/index.html The study is ongoing - as a the fridge full of dead voles in the Orkney Museum will testify (all died through natural causes, I should add, and sent in from across the islands after an appeal for samples) -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

thought this e-mail from Britarch might be of interest Cheers Andy The Megalithic sites of Perthshire: http://www.andysweet.co.uk/stones/ Begin forwarded message: > From: Zim Babwe <tbk22222@YAHOO.CO.UK> > Date: Mon Jun 7, 2004 12:48:14 am Europe/London > To: BRITARCH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Re: Bronze Age exports of tin from Britain > Reply-To: British archaeology discussion list <BRITARCH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> > > A little off-subject, but the Orkney Vole (Microtus arvalis > orcadensis) is an oddity in the British fauna, being most closely > related to Continental forms. It is assumed to have been introduced by > neolithic settlers. A recent study indicates a southern Spain origin > before 1400 BC (older studies also hypothesised neolithic > Mediterranean origins). > > Abstract of the study is reproduced below. Source: > www.geo.ed.ac.uk/nabo/Abstracts.pdf > > New evidence for the colonisation history of the Orkney vole (Microtus > arvalis orcadensis): a proxy for reconstructing the origins of early > human settlers in Orkney > > *Dr Susan Haynes, *Dr Jeremy Searle, **Dr Keith Dobney *Dept. Biology, > University of York **Dept. Archaeology, University of Durham > > The only Microtus in mainland Britain is M. agrestis, while in Orkney > the sole species is M. arvalis, which otherwise occurs widely in > Continental Europe between 41-58°N (Mitchell-Jones et al. 1999). Much > debate concerns the origins of Microtus arvalis populations in Orkney. > The long-held assumption that the Orkney vole is a relict population > of M. arvalis, left over from the last glaciation, has in the last > decades been comprehensively challenged. Human introduction is > nowadays generally accepted as the means by which M. arvalis reached > Orkney, although when, where from and why are still a matter of > conjecture. The Orkney vole is, therefore, not only of interest in > itself, but can, most importantly, tell us about the humans that > introduced it, providing a model for the concept that studies of > animal colonisation history may act as a proxy for elucidating human > colonisation history. > > The recovery of numerous fossil remains of M. arvalis from a variety > of archaeological excavations in Orkney provide evidence that the > species has long been present in the islands, although common problems > of site taphonomy (often associated with micromammal remains) have > sometimes cast doubt on their archaeological associations. Radiocarbon > dates (BP) of 3590 ± 80 and 4800 ± 120 from two vole bone samples > excavated from the Links of Noltland clearly indicate their presence > during the Neolithic period. > > Early attempts at addressing the geographic origin of the Orkney vole > by Berry & Rose (1975) using the frequency of non-metrical skull > variants as phenotypic markers for M. arvalis from Orkney and sites in > Continental Europe, concluded that the Orkney samples were most > similar to those from Yugoslavia, indicating a possible origin for the > Orkney populations somewhere in the E. Mediterranean. A more pragmatic > view would be that the source area was the closest part of the M. > arvalis range in Continental Europe (i.e. Denmark or the Netherlands). > > A recent pilot study has provided further, tantalising new evidence > regarding the origins of the Orkney vole (and by proxy the early human > settlers). The analysis of complete mitochondrial cytochrome b > sequences from Orkney and 20 sites scattered throughout Continental > Europe demonstrated a very clear phylogeographic pattern which > strongly suggests that the source population for the colonisation by > M. arvalis of the Orkney archipelago lies in S.W. Europe (specifically > France or N. Spain). This appears to support a claim by Corbet (1979, > p. 136) who postulated a Spanish source area on the basis of the > similarly large size of the Orkney (M. arvalis orcadensis) and Spanish > (M. arvalis asturianus) voles. This scenario is intriguing with regard > to the origins of the early human settlers of the Orkney islands, > since there are known similarities between the Neolithic cultures of > Orkney, France and N. Spain, in particular, specific features of > megalithic tomb art and architecture. > > Berry & Rose (1975) J Zool 177, 395 > Corbet (1979) In Investigations in Orkney ed. Renfrew

Bravo! Another splendid slice in the life of a courageous couple. Can you give us a little description of the actual Church and the attendees- a sort of a glimpse of the details of the surroundings? I too was raised Anglo/Catholic but spent some time in a Roman Catholic Boarding School. Aside from the Doctrine of Trans-Substantiation( I think I remembered that correctly) thee seems not to be too much difference, the statement of faith being identical to the word. Henry VIII wasn't actually my idea of a person who should re-shape a Church. Makes one think of what the "changeover" felt like for the average Church member at the St. Magnus Cathedral. Anyways, sounds to me like the Monks appreciated your offer and your talents, failing which you perhaps would not be up for the encore. Well done again! Stephen > I sent the Fletcher Saga for 25 May 2004 to the usual email list but > accidentally added the Orcadia-L email list address > (www.orkneyjar.com/maillist.htm) because I'm still not used to using > Microsoft Outlook Express. To my amazement I received several > complimentary > emails from people who actually liked reading it. > We have been attending the local kirk (Church of Scotland) since we > moved to > the island. I offered to help out with their organ rota but the kirk is > extremely fortunate in having two organists who are quite content to > play > for all the services between them. When I heard that the local Roman > Catholic church had no "official" organist I volunteered my services > although I am of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, have never attended a > Roman > Catholic service and have no intention of "moving over to Rome". But > it was > Pentecost and it seemed right and proper to offer my meagre gift of > musicianship. On Sunday 31 May I found myself playing for a Tridentine > Mass > in the tiny church on the Stronsay jetty. The church, which seats > about 30 > people, is only a few hundred yards from our house and is run by the > monks > from Papa Stronsay (www.papastronsay.com). Like many people I thought > the > Tridentine Mass was "illegal" after Vatican II in the early 1960s but > it > isn't and its use appears to be on the increase. Gregorian chant is > something that I was aware of - I attended a very short evening course > at > Tewkesbury Abbey a few years ago - but am not really familiar with it > so > accompanying it was quite a challenge. The church has a keyboard which > looks > a bit like the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise and can produce > an > amazing number of sounds, not all of which are appropriate to the > Tridentine > Mass or any other church service, so I have been allowed to take the > keyboard back home and find out how to get the best sounds from it > before > next Sunday morning's service. I think that I managed to play the right > thing at the right time thanks to the helpful priest who stood next to > me > and indicated what I should play and when I should play it. It is a > good job > that all the monks are so familiar with Gregorian Chant that my > mistakes did > not put them off too much. Anyway, they have asked me to play for them > again > next Sunday. I was too busy keeping up with the music to pay too much > attention to the precise order of service but it seems terribly > complex (and > is in Latin as well!) so I shall have to start studying it. That's one > of > the joys of retirement - having the time to do something completely > different (in theory anyway). > In this part of the world Bank Holidays do not appear to be noticed by > anybody apart from the churches, the tourists, the Post Office and the > doctor's surgery. Each and every Sunday one of the two shops closes > for the > whole day and the other only opens for a couple of hours over > lunch-time > (but cannot sell alcohol before 1230). However, for the remaining six > days > of the week both of the shops open very early and close very late. > In one of my previous Sagas I mentioned the garden ornaments that we > had > brought with us from Scarborough. One of these is a large and very > heavy > stone carving of a wild boar (emblem of Richard III) that was a gift > from a > friend many years ago. Maureen is a keen Ricardian and insisted on > calling > the boar Antonius but I prefer to call him Horace. Well, Horace has > now been > installed in his new location in the garden and looks quite splendid. > The > reason I mention Horace is that Maureen was delighted on Wednesday > when she > saw a wren sat on the wall, just behind Horace. The wren did not stay > long > but it is good to know that at least one of them is around. > When I was collecting a sack of compost from one of the shops this > week the > proprietor was concerned that he would soon have to open a new pallet > which > would mean disturbing a hen that had decided to sit on a clutch of eggs > right on top of the last pallet. However, I believe that most of the > chicks > have now hatched thus relieving the proprieter of the problem. > Regards, > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/ > www.caytonwitheastfield.btinternet.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 >

In a message dated 6/7/2004 5:51:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, lists@andysweet.co.uk writes: > http://www.andysweet.co.uk/stones/ > This is wonderful!! Thank you so much!! Beth Livingston Greenville, SC, USA

Bruce, really enjoying reading your "Sagas". I live on Graemsay and it's interesting hearing about life on the other isles. Keep the stories coming! Sian Graemsay Orkney -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Fletcher [mailto:ricardian@btinternet.com] Sent: 04 June 2004 20:57 To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Fletcher saga 05 June 2004 I sent the Fletcher Saga for 25 May 2004 to the usual email list but accidentally added the Orcadia-L email list address (www.orkneyjar.com/maillist.htm) because I'm still not used to using Microsoft Outlook Express. To my amazement I received several complimentary emails from people who actually liked reading it. We have been attending the local kirk (Church of Scotland) since we moved to the island. I offered to help out with their organ rota but the kirk is extremely fortunate in having two organists who are quite content to play for all the services between them. When I heard that the local Roman Catholic church had no "official" organist I volunteered my services although I am of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, have never attended a Roman Catholic service and have no intention of "moving over to Rome". But it was Pentecost and it seemed right and proper to offer my meagre gift of musicianship. On Sunday 31 May I found myself playing for a Tridentine Mass in the tiny church on the Stronsay jetty. The church, which seats about 30 people, is only a few hundred yards from our house and is run by the monks from Papa Stronsay (www.papastronsay.com). Like many people I thought the Tridentine Mass was "illegal" after Vatican II in the early 1960s but it isn't and its use appears to be on the increase. Gregorian chant is something that I was aware of - I attended a very short evening course at Tewkesbury Abbey a few years ago - but am not really familiar with it so accompanying it was quite a challenge. The church has a keyboard which looks a bit like the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise and can produce an amazing number of sounds, not all of which are appropriate to the Tridentine Mass or any other church service, so I have been allowed to take the keyboard back home and find out how to get the best sounds from it before next Sunday morning's service. I think that I managed to play the right thing at the right time thanks to the helpful priest who stood next to me and indicated what I should play and when I should play it. It is a good job that all the monks are so familiar with Gregorian Chant that my mistakes did not put them off too much. Anyway, they have asked me to play for them again next Sunday. I was too busy keeping up with the music to pay too much attention to the precise order of service but it seems terribly complex (and is in Latin as well!) so I shall have to start studying it. That's one of the joys of retirement - having the time to do something completely different (in theory anyway). In this part of the world Bank Holidays do not appear to be noticed by anybody apart from the churches, the tourists, the Post Office and the doctor's surgery. Each and every Sunday one of the two shops closes for the whole day and the other only opens for a couple of hours over lunch-time (but cannot sell alcohol before 1230). However, for the remaining six days of the week both of the shops open very early and close very late. In one of my previous Sagas I mentioned the garden ornaments that we had brought with us from Scarborough. One of these is a large and very heavy stone carving of a wild boar (emblem of Richard III) that was a gift from a friend many years ago. Maureen is a keen Ricardian and insisted on calling the boar Antonius but I prefer to call him Horace. Well, Horace has now been installed in his new location in the garden and looks quite splendid. The reason I mention Horace is that Maureen was delighted on Wednesday when she saw a wren sat on the wall, just behind Horace. The wren did not stay long but it is good to know that at least one of them is around. When I was collecting a sack of compost from one of the shops this week the proprietor was concerned that he would soon have to open a new pallet which would mean disturbing a hen that had decided to sit on a clutch of eggs right on top of the last pallet. However, I believe that most of the chicks have now hatched thus relieving the proprieter of the problem. Regards, Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/ www.caytonwitheastfield.btinternet.co.uk/ ______________________________

I sent the Fletcher Saga for 25 May 2004 to the usual email list but accidentally added the Orcadia-L email list address (www.orkneyjar.com/maillist.htm) because I'm still not used to using Microsoft Outlook Express. To my amazement I received several complimentary emails from people who actually liked reading it. We have been attending the local kirk (Church of Scotland) since we moved to the island. I offered to help out with their organ rota but the kirk is extremely fortunate in having two organists who are quite content to play for all the services between them. When I heard that the local Roman Catholic church had no "official" organist I volunteered my services although I am of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, have never attended a Roman Catholic service and have no intention of "moving over to Rome". But it was Pentecost and it seemed right and proper to offer my meagre gift of musicianship. On Sunday 31 May I found myself playing for a Tridentine Mass in the tiny church on the Stronsay jetty. The church, which seats about 30 people, is only a few hundred yards from our house and is run by the monks from Papa Stronsay (www.papastronsay.com). Like many people I thought the Tridentine Mass was "illegal" after Vatican II in the early 1960s but it isn't and its use appears to be on the increase. Gregorian chant is something that I was aware of - I attended a very short evening course at Tewkesbury Abbey a few years ago - but am not really familiar with it so accompanying it was quite a challenge. The church has a keyboard which looks a bit like the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise and can produce an amazing number of sounds, not all of which are appropriate to the Tridentine Mass or any other church service, so I have been allowed to take the keyboard back home and find out how to get the best sounds from it before next Sunday morning's service. I think that I managed to play the right thing at the right time thanks to the helpful priest who stood next to me and indicated what I should play and when I should play it. It is a good job that all the monks are so familiar with Gregorian Chant that my mistakes did not put them off too much. Anyway, they have asked me to play for them again next Sunday. I was too busy keeping up with the music to pay too much attention to the precise order of service but it seems terribly complex (and is in Latin as well!) so I shall have to start studying it. That's one of the joys of retirement - having the time to do something completely different (in theory anyway). In this part of the world Bank Holidays do not appear to be noticed by anybody apart from the churches, the tourists, the Post Office and the doctor's surgery. Each and every Sunday one of the two shops closes for the whole day and the other only opens for a couple of hours over lunch-time (but cannot sell alcohol before 1230). However, for the remaining six days of the week both of the shops open very early and close very late. In one of my previous Sagas I mentioned the garden ornaments that we had brought with us from Scarborough. One of these is a large and very heavy stone carving of a wild boar (emblem of Richard III) that was a gift from a friend many years ago. Maureen is a keen Ricardian and insisted on calling the boar Antonius but I prefer to call him Horace. Well, Horace has now been installed in his new location in the garden and looks quite splendid. The reason I mention Horace is that Maureen was delighted on Wednesday when she saw a wren sat on the wall, just behind Horace. The wren did not stay long but it is good to know that at least one of them is around. When I was collecting a sack of compost from one of the shops this week the proprietor was concerned that he would soon have to open a new pallet which would mean disturbing a hen that had decided to sit on a clutch of eggs right on top of the last pallet. However, I believe that most of the chicks have now hatched thus relieving the proprieter of the problem. Regards, Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/ www.caytonwitheastfield.btinternet.co.uk/

Dear Bruce - How utterly charming and interesting your saga is - I look forward to more installments! Charlie Petersen, Washington state ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher" <ricardian@btinternet.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 12:57 PM Subject: [<orcadia>] Fletcher saga 05 June 2004 > I sent the Fletcher Saga for 25 May 2004 to the usual email list but > accidentally added the Orcadia-L email list address > (www.orkneyjar.com/maillist.htm) because I'm still not used to using > Microsoft Outlook Express. To my amazement I received several complimentary > emails from people who actually liked reading it. > We have been attending the local kirk (Church of Scotland) since we moved to > the island. I offered to help out with their organ rota but the kirk is > extremely fortunate in having two organists who are quite content to play > for all the services between them. When I heard that the local Roman > Catholic church had no "official" organist I volunteered my services > although I am of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, have never attended a Roman > Catholic service and have no intention of "moving over to Rome". But it was > Pentecost and it seemed right and proper to offer my meagre gift of > musicianship. On Sunday 31 May I found myself playing for a Tridentine Mass > in the tiny church on the Stronsay jetty. The church, which seats about 30 > people, is only a few hundred yards from our house and is run by the monks > from Papa Stronsay (www.papastronsay.com). Like many people I thought the > Tridentine Mass was "illegal" after Vatican II in the early 1960s but it > isn't and its use appears to be on the increase. Gregorian chant is > something that I was aware of - I attended a very short evening course at > Tewkesbury Abbey a few years ago - but am not really familiar with it so > accompanying it was quite a challenge. The church has a keyboard which looks > a bit like the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise and can produce an > amazing number of sounds, not all of which are appropriate to the Tridentine > Mass or any other church service, so I have been allowed to take the > keyboard back home and find out how to get the best sounds from it before > next Sunday morning's service. I think that I managed to play the right > thing at the right time thanks to the helpful priest who stood next to me > and indicated what I should play and when I should play it. It is a good job > that all the monks are so familiar with Gregorian Chant that my mistakes did > not put them off too much. Anyway, they have asked me to play for them again > next Sunday. I was too busy keeping up with the music to pay too much > attention to the precise order of service but it seems terribly complex (and > is in Latin as well!) so I shall have to start studying it. That's one of > the joys of retirement - having the time to do something completely > different (in theory anyway). > In this part of the world Bank Holidays do not appear to be noticed by > anybody apart from the churches, the tourists, the Post Office and the > doctor's surgery. Each and every Sunday one of the two shops closes for the > whole day and the other only opens for a couple of hours over lunch-time > (but cannot sell alcohol before 1230). However, for the remaining six days > of the week both of the shops open very early and close very late. > In one of my previous Sagas I mentioned the garden ornaments that we had > brought with us from Scarborough. One of these is a large and very heavy > stone carving of a wild boar (emblem of Richard III) that was a gift from a > friend many years ago. Maureen is a keen Ricardian and insisted on calling > the boar Antonius but I prefer to call him Horace. Well, Horace has now been > installed in his new location in the garden and looks quite splendid. The > reason I mention Horace is that Maureen was delighted on Wednesday when she > saw a wren sat on the wall, just behind Horace. The wren did not stay long > but it is good to know that at least one of them is around. > When I was collecting a sack of compost from one of the shops this week the > proprietor was concerned that he would soon have to open a new pallet which > would mean disturbing a hen that had decided to sit on a clutch of eggs > right on top of the last pallet. However, I believe that most of the chicks > have now hatched thus relieving the proprieter of the problem. > Regards, > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com/ > www.caytonwitheastfield.btinternet.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 > >

Wonderful, Bruce, your writing is great. \i'm in Stromness myself for the week enjoying the Folk Festival here, staying in Andy Fawcett's delightful BandB. Such music and voices brought to gether here. I highly recomend it to everyone for next year if you can. \i came not knowing what to expect and can't beleave how lucky I am to be here. Kathy --- Bruce Fletcher <ricardian@btinternet.com> wrote: > Our trip to Kirkwall last week was uneventful > despite Maureen's belief that > the boat was doomed to plunge into the depths every > time it rocked. The > outward and return journey took about 90 minutes > each instead of the usual 2 > hours because the boat did not call at Eday or > Sanday. It seemed strange at > first to see all the traffic and people in Kirkwall > even though it was less > than two months since we left 'civilization. > However, I remembered to keep > looking in my rearview mirror and we soon adjusted > to looking both ways > before crossing the road and fastening our seatbelts > every time we got into > the car. The main purposes of the trip were to visit > the hairdresser/barber, > stock up with some seed potatoes, onion sets etc. > and to bulk buy some > frozen food. We achieved all these objectives and > still had time for a > leisurely lunch in the Kirkwall Hotel. An added > bonus was spotting and > buying some fresh strawberries that had been grown > on Papa Westray - much > tastier than the huge, forced strawberries that > appear in some mainland > shops at this time of year. > There were several monks from Papa Stronsay on the > ferry to Kirkwall. On the > return journey they were laden down with a variety > of mysterious parcels > including an extremely long curtain rail that was > particularly difficult to > control in the stiff breeze. I always thought that > monks were quiet, > thoughtful, rather lugubrious people but the > Transalpine Redemptorists from > Papa Stronsay seem perpetually happy and cheerful. > The chap who does various electrical and plumbing > jobs that are beyond my > capabilities (i.e. most of them) keeps hens on his > croft and has just > acquired five lambs, two to keep as pets and three > for the freezer. Last > week he thought that the lambs had escaped because > there was no sign of them > in their field. Just as he was about to commence a > search of the area his > wife called his attention to five lambs that were > squeezing themselves out > of the tiny henhouse entrance followed by one hen. > Fortunately the lambs > will soon be too big to get into the henhouse so the > hens will have the > place to themselves again. > We have just one wagtail who has visited us almost > every day since we moved > in. For almost a week now we have been delighted to > see that he/she has > brought a baby wagtail into the garden and has fed > it while we watched > through the kitchen window. There are plenty of > local birds - sparrows, > starlings and blackbirds - just as there were in > Yorkshire but we hear > curlews, oystercatchers and lapwings calling all the > time. The two greylag > geese near one of the two shops are now the proud > parents of two goslings > and emit warning hissing noises if they think that > anybody is too close to > their offspring. The sparrows and starlings are all > very tame and appear to > have no great fear of humans. When either of us goes > into the garden the > birds immediately take to the air but as we walk > about they will land right > behind us and carry on as though nothing had > happened. It is not uncommon > for Maureen to shake the washing line to make the > birds fly off it so that > she can peg out some clothes. Maureen puts out food > scraps for the birds > every day and they are soon gobbled up but some > birds are very ungrateful > and leave multiple tiny, dirty claw prints or, > worse, their 'calling cards' > on her clean washing. > -- > 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 > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com/

Thanks so much group! This has certainly been informative, and very interesting reading. Thanks everyone! Beth Greenville, SC, USA

Judy, as far as Lascaux is concerned, light is a problem, but a minor one. More critical was the overall humidity within the cave, brought in by thousands of tourists and their "evaporations" ... Old Pinakothek is a gallery in Munich founded by the Bavarian kings and specialising in old paintings from medieval times til the 18th century ... details follow off list ... cu Wolfgang

>So, it the flash that is the issue. Does that mean you could take photos without a flash? Depends on what is on show but in most cases: NO! ... at least not such things like the hood or similar stuff. The shots I talked about where taken under "laboratory conditions", will say using as little light as possible, lights of specific wave lengths that does not harm the object so much und/or using extrem long "exposure times" (sorry, don't know the proper English expression). @ Judy: It is in fact nearly the same problem as it is with old paintings where not only the colors of the top layers are affected but the underlying grounding as well. Under "heavy" light the whole system is "weathering" ... within relatively short times or only small figures of flash lights as intensive studies at the Old Pinakothek in Munich have proved (and I am sure in other places as well).

Wolfgang-- I knew about color of paint being dulled by exposure to light, but I did not know that the underlying "grounding" of paint would be disturbed. Ah, fascinating! Are both the surface light problem and 'grounding' the reasons that Lascaux has been closed up? I understand it is opened for only two months a year and one has to make reservations a year ahead to visit. A poet friend of mine visited the caves a number of years ago with a NEA grant and wrote some marvelously insightful poems about the animal paintings. Yes, I have heard that a "long exposure camera setting" (say 3 to 5 seconds) absorbs less light and somehow I guess the less light absorbed, the less damage done? Wow! So we are speaking microscopically then? I am very curious about the "Old Pinakothek in Munich" to which you refer. I am assuming this is a Neolithic dig somewhere around Munich? Is there a website about it and could you send the link? (This will mean a 'new e-mail heading for us all though.) But it sounds very interesting. I'm an amateur (but interested) archeology buff even though I am a poet. Sounds like this site has been well researched and documented if studies have been conducted about 'light' degradation. Judy Platz (US Maine) ----- Original Message ----- From: Wolfgang Schlick To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Re: Orkney hood-reply to Fiona >So, it the flash that is the issue. Does that mean you could take photos without a flash? Depends on what is on show but in most cases: NO! ... at least not such things like the hood or similar stuff. The shots I talked about where taken under "laboratory conditions", will say using as little light as possible, lights of specific wave lengths that does not harm the object so much und/or using extrem long "exposure times" (sorry, don't know the proper English expression). @ Judy: It is in fact nearly the same problem as it is with old paintings where not only the colors of the top layers are affected but the underlying grounding as well. Under "heavy" light the whole system is "weathering" ... within relatively short times or only small figures of flash lights as intensive studies at the Old Pinakothek in Munich have proved (and I am sure in other places as well). ==== 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

>What would be the wisdom in disallowing a photo of the original? Actually, photos of the hood do exist: front, back, close-ups of various parts; I've seen them last year, when I visited the Royal Museum. They are all done for research and under 'labaratory conditions'. But when such things are on display, the public is not allowed to take any shots in general! I think that happened in Kirkwall as well. The reason for that is quite simple: Folks might use flash lights esp. from short distances and this lights do not only harm to the colors but to the fragile textile structures as well. A few couple of flash lights may have the same result as a display in bright sunshine for days. It is the same as it is with old paintings ... but such things as the hood will react even more sensible.

Got it to work OK, Bruce, using cut and paste. My browser (Firefox) doesn't like @ signs in URLs, it would seem. -- Mike Clouston Bruce Fletcher wrote: > Looks like you are missing the "at" and "btinternet.com" after "ricardian". > Full URL is as follows: > http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com > Bruce > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Clouston" <mike@mikeclouston.co.uk> > To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 12:18 PM > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Fletcher Saga 27 May 2004 > >>Link doesn't work Bruce > > >

Thanks Karen. I tried your suggestion just after I made my post and it worked for me too. Should have tried it before I posted - would have saved me having to extract my foot from my mouth :-) -- Mike Clouston KJEMEM@aol.com wrote: > It just worked for me Mike. Give it another try. I did do a copy & paste > rather than click on the link, it's usually more successful. > > The pictures of the winter and more are great Bruce. > > Karen

Looks like you are missing the "at" and "btinternet.com" after "ricardian". Full URL is as follows: http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Clouston" <mike@mikeclouston.co.uk> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 12:18 PM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Fletcher Saga 27 May 2004 > Link doesn't work Bruce

Oh, so flash camera light is an issue! Hey, I guessed right! Interesting that flash camera light has that potent a reaction on as you say "fragile textile structures". Amazing... (I know light has a deleterious effect on paintings, but thought that was a reaction specifically with paint compositions.) Thanks Wolfgang! Judy Platz (Maine) ----- Original Message ----- From: Wolfgang Schlick To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 10:45 AM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Re: Orkney hood-reply to Fiona >What would be the wisdom in disallowing a photo of the original? Actually, photos of the hood do exist: front, back, close-ups of various parts; I've seen them last year, when I visited the Royal Museum. They are all done for research and under 'labaratory conditions'. But when such things are on display, the public is not allowed to take any shots in general! I think that happened in Kirkwall as well. The reason for that is quite simple: Folks might use flash lights esp. from short distances and this lights do not only harm to the colors but to the fragile textile structures as well. A few couple of flash lights may have the same result as a display in bright sunshine for days. It is the same as it is with old paintings ... but such things as the hood will react even more sensible. ==== 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 the same, then thought it might have something to do with camera lighting or light itself destroying fabric that has been buried for hundreds of years, then dismissed the idea entirely because I really am such a novice at archeology. Sigurd, do you know? Judy Platz (Maine) ----- Original Message ----- From: stephen davie To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 11:51 AM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Re: Orkney hood-reply to Fiona What would be the wisdom in disallowing a photo of the original? On Thursday, May 27, 2004, at 03:50 PM, Sigurd Towrie wrote: > On 27 May 2004 23:29, Judy wrote: > >> Interesting discussion about 'the hood' here! And many >> thanks Sigurd for your wonderful web pages on the hood! The >> picture is worth a million words(at least). Judy Platz (Maine) > > I should stress that the picture is of the replica hood. You're not > allowed > to photograph the original.... > -- > 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 > ==== 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

Yep, got it just fine. Bruce, your saga is on my desktop now for future reference. Judy Platz (Maine) ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Fletcher To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:07 AM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Fletcher Saga 27 May 2004 Looks like you are missing the "at" and "btinternet.com" after "ricardian". Full URL is as follows: http://uk.geocities.com/ricardian@btinternet.com Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Clouston" <mike@mikeclouston.co.uk> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 12:18 PM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Fletcher Saga 27 May 2004 > Link doesn't work Bruce ==== 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