Sphagnum Moss grows all over Orkney wherever the land hasn't been drained and improved. My father used to tell of gathering it from the hills surrounding Stromness Waterworks during the First World War. It's main property is that it is highly absorbent. It was sterilised and used in field dressings and bandages. You've probably used it yourself as a lining for hanging baskets for your summer flowers. -- Mike Clouston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fiona Pearson" <fcpearson@hotmail.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 12:01 AM Subject: [<orcadia>] spaghnum moss? > So, Steven, can you tell us the properties of spaghnum moss - and why there > was an abundance of the stuff in this area in Firth? Fascinating. Does it > still grow there - or did the good ladies of Firth extinctify it (!) i > wonder? > Fiona (York) > > > >From: <steven@kw15.co.uk> > >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > >Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 22:28:55 +0100 > > > >The area is one my granny used to always point out, saying that it was > >where > >the young women of Firth used to pick spaghnum moss during the First World > >War, to be sent off for field dressings for injured soldiers. > > > >Cheers, > > Steven

Janis / Trish Thanks for the welcome...Janis..it can't be bottled..its sort of like the "terrior" that is attributed to for a good wine..its the total effect. Only way I know to get it is by visiting! Vikram//.

So, Steven, can you tell us the properties of spaghnum moss - and why there was an abundance of the stuff in this area in Firth? Fascinating. Does it still grow there - or did the good ladies of Firth extinctify it (!) i wonder? Fiona (York) >From: <steven@kw15.co.uk> >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 22:28:55 +0100 > >The area is one my granny used to always point out, saying that it was >where >the young women of Firth used to pick spaghnum moss during the First World >War, to be sent off for field dressings for injured soldiers. > >Cheers, > Steven > _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

I'm sure many of us on the list would be very interested to read that article from the Nat Geo if you can get it type-friendly to email, Vikram. Thirsk, though i've never had cause to visit, is apparently only about 1/2 hour from York. Fiona (York - i put this cos there's Fiona in Orkney on the list too!) >From: VikramR@aol.com >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 16:44:12 EST > >Hello Fiona: > >Thanks for the welcome, and we too may visit in 2004. The National >Geographic >article i referred to in my mail was the June 1998 issue, and I will see >about getting this in an e-friendly format that I can email. I'm pleased >to know >that the list you mention of is global - but ofcourse, it should be >foremost >that us visitors (note that I did not use "tourists") must see that we keep >the >Islands in their splendid natural state as we found them. > >You indicate that you are from York, UK. How far from Thirsk? > >All the Best. > >Vikram//. > > >==== 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 > _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool emoticons - download MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

Ahhhhhhhhh Welcome to the 'List' Vikram Another one 'hooked' on Orkney. Goodness knows what it is that hooks people, but if it could be bottled it would be a best seller for certain. Regards, Janis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trish mail" <bstover@rogers.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 6:46 PM Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > Welcome to the list, Vikram. I envy you and your wife your trip to Orkney. > Hope I can report the same adventure someday soon. > Trish > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <VikramR@aol.com> > To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 12:40 PM > Subject: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > > > > Friends: > > > > My name is Vikram Rawal, I reside just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - > > USA, and am an Engineer/Business Owner (Automation Systems) by profession. > My > > wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting Orkney this past September > (2003), > > now that our youngest is in college, we have just begun to test the new > found > > "freedom" and pursue our first love - travel & poeple. Orkney became one > of my > > "must-visit" destinations, after reading about it in an exclusive article > in > > the National Geographic, several years ago. I was, as they say, smitten! > > > > Due to our schedule (we drove from Glasgow counterclockwise to Edinburgh > then > > along the coast, then Inverness to Orkney-then on to Skye, Loch Lomond and > > back to Glasgow) we were only able to visit the Mainland, and stayed in > > Stromness for 3 days. We ferried our car over and drove everywhere-all day > long! I > > must say that words escape me, when I try to describe the pristine beauty, > > history, and the ubiquitious Nature that we encountered. We hope to take > in Hoy, > > Flotta, South Ronaldsay, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay > (bird > > sanctuary), Papa Westray, Eday and Rousay in our next visit to Orkney. > > > > (I was tempted to send you our photos of wonderful Orkney, but Sigurd > > indicated "no attachments", and ofcourse I'd be sending most of you > pictures of your > > own "backyard"!) > > > > So that it for now. > > > > Vikram Rawal. > > > > PS: If any of you know Ann Sutherland and Jim Stockan tell them I said > > "hello". > > > > > > ==== 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 >

Hi is there anyone in Stromness,who knows a Ken and Julie Smith,please contact me if you have any info,many thank,s Carol in Aussie,born in Blackpool,

It is bottled. Highland Park Single Malt. Breathe it in, savour the hint of heather and the Firth Peat, and drink it down. Not a joke! On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, at 01:31 PM, Janis Counsell wrote: > Ahhhhhhhhh Welcome to the 'List' Vikram > Another one 'hooked' on Orkney. Goodness knows what it is that hooks > people, > but if it could be bottled it would be a best seller for certain. > Regards, > Janis > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Trish mail" <bstover@rogers.com> > To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 6:46 PM > Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > > >> Welcome to the list, Vikram. I envy you and your wife your trip to > Orkney. >> Hope I can report the same adventure someday soon. >> Trish >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <VikramR@aol.com> >> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 12:40 PM >> Subject: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >> >> >>> Friends: >>> >>> My name is Vikram Rawal, I reside just north of Pittsburgh > Pennsylvania - >>> USA, and am an Engineer/Business Owner (Automation Systems) by > profession. >> My >>> wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting Orkney this past >>> September >> (2003), >>> now that our youngest is in college, we have just begun to test the >>> new >> found >>> "freedom" and pursue our first love - travel & poeple. Orkney became >>> one >> of my >>> "must-visit" destinations, after reading about it in an exclusive > article >> in >>> the National Geographic, several years ago. I was, as they say, >>> smitten! >>> >>> Due to our schedule (we drove from Glasgow counterclockwise to >>> Edinburgh >> then >>> along the coast, then Inverness to Orkney-then on to Skye, Loch >>> Lomond > and >>> back to Glasgow) we were only able to visit the Mainland, and stayed >>> in >>> Stromness for 3 days. We ferried our car over and drove >>> everywhere-all > day >> long! I >>> must say that words escape me, when I try to describe the pristine > beauty, >>> history, and the ubiquitious Nature that we encountered. We hope to >>> take >> in Hoy, >>> Flotta, South Ronaldsay, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay >> (bird >>> sanctuary), Papa Westray, Eday and Rousay in our next visit to >>> Orkney. >>> >>> (I was tempted to send you our photos of wonderful Orkney, but Sigurd >>> indicated "no attachments", and ofcourse I'd be sending most of you >> pictures of your >>> own "backyard"!) >>> >>> So that it for now. >>> >>> Vikram Rawal. >>> >>> PS: If any of you know Ann Sutherland and Jim Stockan tell them I >>> said >>> "hello". >>> >>> >>> ==== 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 >

On 18/02/04 at 20:29 Carol Groves wrote: >Hi is there anyone in Stromness,who knows a Ken and Julie Smith,please >contact me if you have any info,many thank,s Carol in Aussie,born in >Blackpool, Replied off list. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com

On 17 February 2004 22:21, Valerie Shank wrote: > I would like to know if anyone knows the > approximate date of publication or any other information > concerning two books: AROUND THE ORKNEY PEAT FIRES - by W. R. > Mackintosh Kirkwall: printed at the "Orcadian" office. This was originally serialised in The Orcadian around 1899 and later published as a book. The ninth edition was reprinted in 1999. > THE ORKNEY BOOK by John Gunn published by John > Nelson & Sons. Jessie Scott from Dundas, Ontario is the > signature on the cover page. From memory, this one dates from 1909. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Hi everyone - my name is Valerie Shank and my mother's parent's families both came from Orkney - Jean Cutt and John Dearness. I would like to know if anyone knows the approximate date of publication or any other information concerning two books: AROUND THE ORKNEY PEAT FIRES - by W. R. Mackintosh Kirkwall: printed at the "Orcadian" office. This book came from J.S.Muir from Roek? and given to my grandfather, J. Dearness. THE ORKNEY BOOK by John Gunn published by John Nelson & Sons. Jessie Scott from Dundas, Ontario is the signature on the cover page. I believe they are both very old books and seem to have a wealth of information in them. Let me hear from you. Thank you.

On 15 February 2004 15:09, Sue Hamilton wrote: > My son sent me a story from the NEW YORKER (Jan > 21,2002) titled "Swept Away", by T. Coraghessan Boyle. > It was about an American Ornithologist visiting the > Shetland ISlands. It seemed to me that the names, the > surroundings, and the mythic quality greatly resembled those of > Orkney. > > How great are the resemblances? Is there now or was > there ever a lot of traffic/migration back and forth? The heritage is practically identical - i.e. placenames, folklore, language etc. However the landscape is distinctly different. Shetland is more rugged, and as such less importance is laid on agriculture. To quote an oft used saying: "Orcadians are farmers with boats...Shetlanders are fishermen with farms" A good introduction to Shetland is Charles Tait's new Shetland Guidebook. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Hello Fiona: Thanks for the welcome, and we too may visit in 2004. The National Geographic article i referred to in my mail was the June 1998 issue, and I will see about getting this in an e-friendly format that I can email. I'm pleased to know that the list you mention of is global - but ofcourse, it should be foremost that us visitors (note that I did not use "tourists") must see that we keep the Islands in their splendid natural state as we found them. You indicate that you are from York, UK. How far from Thirsk? All the Best. Vikram//.

My son sent me a story from the NEW YORKER (Jan 21,2002) titled "Swept Away", by T. Coraghessan Boyle. It was about an American Ornithologist visiting the Shetland ISlands. It seemed to me that the names, the surroundings, and the mythic quality greatly resembled those of Orkney. How great are the resemblances? Is there now or was there ever a lot of traffic/migration back and forth? Sue Hamilton __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html

Thanks Sigurd - hope to see it for myself in July Fiona (York UK) >From: "Sigurd Towrie" <sigurd@orkneyjar.com> >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 21:26:10 -0000 > >On 13 February 2004 20:34, Fiona Pearson wrote: > > > While i'm here (!) - can anyone tell me the whereabouts of > > Nabon/Nabbon in Firth? From census listings i'm guessing it's around > > the > > middle of the > > Finstown to Kirkwall road, between "Rossmyre" and "Hardhill" (both > > marked on my OS map). My Sinclairs lived there in 1871/81. Is it > > still inhabited? > >Nabban is indeed between Rossmyre and Hardhill on the Old Finstown Road. >Follow the road from Rossmyre towards Kirkwall and Nabban is at the >first turn (left). It's on a notorious stretch of road that ices up >badly in the winter. > >If memory serves correct there's a new (wooden) house there now, but the >original is, I think, derelict. Don't quote me on that though ;o) > >-- >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 > _________________________________________________________________ Use MSN Messenger to send music and pics to your friends http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

On 13 February 2004 20:34, Fiona Pearson wrote: > While i'm here (!) - can anyone tell me the whereabouts of > Nabon/Nabbon in Firth? From census listings i'm guessing it's around > the > middle of the > Finstown to Kirkwall road, between "Rossmyre" and "Hardhill" (both > marked on my OS map). My Sinclairs lived there in 1871/81. Is it > still inhabited? Nabban is indeed between Rossmyre and Hardhill on the Old Finstown Road. Follow the road from Rossmyre towards Kirkwall and Nabban is at the first turn (left). It's on a notorious stretch of road that ices up badly in the winter. If memory serves correct there's a new (wooden) house there now, but the original is, I think, derelict. Don't quote me on that though ;o) -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

Yes welcome to Vikram! I too am captivated by Orkney and all the islands, with my first two visits 2002, then again in 2003 - am determined to make a visit there every year! Am planning for summer 2004... Would love to have seen this National Geographic article that got you hooked on Orkney and you may be surprised to know but most of the folk on this list are from all over the globe - the charm of Orkney spread far and wide. Many thanks again to Sigurd for making this possible. While i'm here (!) - can anyone tell me the whereabouts of Nabon/Nabbon in Firth? From census listings i'm guessing it's around the middle of the Finstown to Kirkwall road, between "Rossmyre" and "Hardhill" (both marked on my OS map). My Sinclairs lived there in 1871/81. Is it still inhabited? Fiona (York UK) >From: VikramR@aol.com >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 12:40:05 EST > >Friends: > >My name is Vikram Rawal, I reside just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - >USA, and am an Engineer/Business Owner (Automation Systems) by profession. >My >wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting Orkney this past September >(2003), >now that our youngest is in college, we have just begun to test the new >found >"freedom" and pursue our first love - travel & poeple. Orkney became one of >my >"must-visit" destinations, after reading about it in an exclusive article >in >the National Geographic, several years ago. I was, as they say, smitten! > >Due to our schedule (we drove from Glasgow counterclockwise to Edinburgh >then >along the coast, then Inverness to Orkney-then on to Skye, Loch Lomond and >back to Glasgow) we were only able to visit the Mainland, and stayed in >Stromness for 3 days. We ferried our car over and drove everywhere-all day >long! I >must say that words escape me, when I try to describe the pristine beauty, >history, and the ubiquitious Nature that we encountered. We hope to take in >Hoy, >Flotta, South Ronaldsay, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay (bird >sanctuary), Papa Westray, Eday and Rousay in our next visit to Orkney. > >(I was tempted to send you our photos of wonderful Orkney, but Sigurd >indicated "no attachments", and ofcourse I'd be sending most of you >pictures of your >own "backyard"!) > >So that it for now. > >Vikram Rawal. > >PS: If any of you know Ann Sutherland and Jim Stockan tell them I said >"hello". > > >==== 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 > _________________________________________________________________ Use MSN Messenger to send music and pics to your friends http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

Welcome to the list, Vikram. I envy you and your wife your trip to Orkney. Hope I can report the same adventure someday soon. Trish ----- Original Message ----- From: <VikramR@aol.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 12:40 PM Subject: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > Friends: > > My name is Vikram Rawal, I reside just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - > USA, and am an Engineer/Business Owner (Automation Systems) by profession. My > wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting Orkney this past September (2003), > now that our youngest is in college, we have just begun to test the new found > "freedom" and pursue our first love - travel & poeple. Orkney became one of my > "must-visit" destinations, after reading about it in an exclusive article in > the National Geographic, several years ago. I was, as they say, smitten! > > Due to our schedule (we drove from Glasgow counterclockwise to Edinburgh then > along the coast, then Inverness to Orkney-then on to Skye, Loch Lomond and > back to Glasgow) we were only able to visit the Mainland, and stayed in > Stromness for 3 days. We ferried our car over and drove everywhere-all day long! I > must say that words escape me, when I try to describe the pristine beauty, > history, and the ubiquitious Nature that we encountered. We hope to take in Hoy, > Flotta, South Ronaldsay, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay (bird > sanctuary), Papa Westray, Eday and Rousay in our next visit to Orkney. > > (I was tempted to send you our photos of wonderful Orkney, but Sigurd > indicated "no attachments", and ofcourse I'd be sending most of you pictures of your > own "backyard"!) > > So that it for now. > > Vikram Rawal. > > PS: If any of you know Ann Sutherland and Jim Stockan tell them I said > "hello". > > > ==== 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 >

Friends: My name is Vikram Rawal, I reside just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - USA, and am an Engineer/Business Owner (Automation Systems) by profession. My wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting Orkney this past September (2003), now that our youngest is in college, we have just begun to test the new found "freedom" and pursue our first love - travel & poeple. Orkney became one of my "must-visit" destinations, after reading about it in an exclusive article in the National Geographic, several years ago. I was, as they say, smitten! Due to our schedule (we drove from Glasgow counterclockwise to Edinburgh then along the coast, then Inverness to Orkney-then on to Skye, Loch Lomond and back to Glasgow) we were only able to visit the Mainland, and stayed in Stromness for 3 days. We ferried our car over and drove everywhere-all day long! I must say that words escape me, when I try to describe the pristine beauty, history, and the ubiquitious Nature that we encountered. We hope to take in Hoy, Flotta, South Ronaldsay, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay (bird sanctuary), Papa Westray, Eday and Rousay in our next visit to Orkney. (I was tempted to send you our photos of wonderful Orkney, but Sigurd indicated "no attachments", and ofcourse I'd be sending most of you pictures of your own "backyard"!) So that it for now. Vikram Rawal. PS: If any of you know Ann Sutherland and Jim Stockan tell them I said "hello".

Sorry folks, but I lost this man's --mail. Dutch, I got your envelope for P.E.I this morning. wonderful copy of Beaver, with such detailed info about the HBC and the Orcadians. There is even a 1800's photo of a fort where a relative was the clerk! HBC has a good website, but this mag was so packed full with great photos. Thank you very much.....Stephen

This is an admin subscriber test. If you receive this message it means you are still subscribed to the Orcadia list. If you receive this message please ignore it. There is no need to reply or let me know that it has arrived. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk