The castle has applied for an alcohol license, though I don't know if that is in the name of the owner or the manager. I suppose in Orkney we are so used to knowing everything that goes on that it does seem a bit strange NOT to know the identity of the new owners. But I believe they are still South, with a manager in situ. Maybe there will be some announcements in the press once they are ready to go for opening. Or maybe they just wish to stay low profile. The hotel may buck the trend if it goes for "high end" and for conferences etc. It's a unique building in a unique location. Let's hope it becomes a success as it would be great for the island, local economy etc. But it is a money pit, no doubt about that..... If I hear any more news on the grapevine I'll pass it along. Sian Norman Tulloch wrote: > It's interesting to hear that so much work is being done on the Castle. > I still find it a bit surprising that the identity of the new owners > hasn't been mentioned in the local press, though maybe I've just missed it. > > There is a Balfour Castle website at http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk/ on > which one can enter one's email address for updates. Apparently tours of > the castle are to start in May, which obviously isn't very far away now. > > Some of the rest of the website hasn't been updated and still refers to > the Zawadskis as the owners, e.g.: > > http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk/history.html > > I wonder how profitable the Castle can be as a hotel? Though the Orkney > tourist season is much longer than it used to be, I’d have thought that > there would still be quite a bit of the year with very little business. > > Norman T. > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

It's interesting to hear that so much work is being done on the Castle. I still find it a bit surprising that the identity of the new owners hasn't been mentioned in the local press, though maybe I've just missed it. There is a Balfour Castle website at http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk/ on which one can enter one's email address for updates. Apparently tours of the castle are to start in May, which obviously isn't very far away now. Some of the rest of the website hasn't been updated and still refers to the Zawadskis as the owners, e.g.: http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk/history.html I wonder how profitable the Castle can be as a hotel? Though the Orkney tourist season is much longer than it used to be, I’d have thought that there would still be quite a bit of the year with very little business. Norman T.

Heather, if it's going to be a money pit, you'll have to pay for me!! Anne (in Ardmore, 70 miles east of her friend Heather) On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:19 AM, Heather Gehron-Rice < hgehronrice@verizon.net> wrote: > Sian - that would be me! Thanks for the update! > Heather Gehron-Rice, M.Div. > 131 N Charlotte St > Lancaster, PA 17603

Someone was recently asking about Balfour Castle on Shapinsay. Apparently the Castle is a hive of activity at present with workmen all over the place. I haven't heard what the new owners intentions are, but they are clearly spending a lot of money on the place, and putting money into the local economy (local workmen, local supplies to a certain extent) so it's looking positive for the future of the castle at any rate. I believe the new owners have also bought back the Gatehouse which was used as a bar but has been out of use for some time. So clearly their intentions are serious! regards Sian Graemsay http://sianthom.blogspot.com/ >

Ah....almost predictable. Balfour snapped up in the worst of financial times since 1929. Declining international markets, frustrated capital in the hands of people who would wish for more than the miniscule returns from banks at today's pre-tax rates, and from stock portfolios rife with horror stories, deadfalls, losses, and outright wipeouts due to everything fro markets receding and worse, outright deception. When you look at that enchanting, newer castle property, at the price it was suggest that it was being offered for, the replacement approach to value report would have cried out "bargain" and the uniqueness of the history and location and "experience" there, would be sure to attract someone with those pent up anxious dollars. Lots of people could in this world, easily run through their economic security checklist and a qualified investment analysis, and deduce that is was a safe place to park anxious capital in this continuing worldwide economic drama. If not a Scot or a Norwegian (first choices due to history) I hope the new owners are from Europe or further afar, to take the direction of management in a new direction. I thought perhaps that our Royce had showed up there with some of that Texas oil money! Europe is big (economy, population) and yet very tight insofar as distances and the size of the tiny countries there. Thus, Orkney could apparently, attract more tourists from closer to home, albeit other countries like France and Germany and Italy. A farm we were considering there, was snapped up by an Italian chap who allegedly just wants to duck hunt in Orkney. As costs of air fare and general long-distance moves for tourists begin to climb away from many people, flitting around between Scotland and mainland Europe will be, or should be, more affordable and desirable as this meltdown plays out. Hoards of people here fly on a regular from Toronto to Florida to golf for a few days, as part of their routine....like washing the car or going to a hockey game. To hop from France to Glasgow or Edinburgh is what....a few hundred miles at best? By comparison, we here like many, drive further to our cottage on Manitoulin....five hours with two Tim Horton's coffee stops. When we started this string about Balfour, I had asked about the price, and indeed, compared to other properties of this type, it seemed cheap. In our part of the country, people will pay as much for an upper end cottage (google Muskoka cottages) to visit on weekends in the summer and falltime. It would be interesting to know if the Scottish government make it difficult in terms of laws, red tape and taxation, for a foreign corporation to buy a wee business property like that. This current world marketplace experience put Balfour Castle right in the column marked "Vulnerable" and as suspected, someone very quickly grabbed it and is cheering. In short form, it is a safe place for capital, given that the government wont victimize foreigners with "tax shock" which for example England is famous for. So much in life, and especially so crucially in business, boils down to timing. Ten years from now, this sale of that wonderful rocky seaside abode, will look like a virtual gift. Ah....the fortunes of the fortunate. Aren't they indeed privileged? Cheers all....Stephen On Apr 23, 2009, at 6:59 AM, Sian Thomas wrote: > Someone was recently asking about Balfour Castle on Shapinsay. > Apparently the Castle is a hive of activity at present with workmen > all > over the place. I haven't heard what the new owners intentions > are, but > they are clearly spending a lot of money on the place, and putting > money > into the local economy (local workmen, local supplies to a certain > extent) so it's looking positive for the future of the castle at any > rate. I believe the new owners have also bought back the Gatehouse > which was used as a bar but has been out of use for some time. So > clearly their intentions are serious! > > regards > Sian > Graemsay > http://sianthom.blogspot.com/ >> > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Sian - that would be me! Thanks for the update! Heather Gehron-Rice, M.Div. 131 N Charlotte St Lancaster, PA 17603 USA (717)393 4323 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sian Thomas" <sian.thomas@btinternet.com> To: <orcadia@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 6:59 AM Subject: [ORCADIA] Balfour Castle, Shapinsay > Someone was recently asking about Balfour Castle on Shapinsay. > Apparently the Castle is a hive of activity at present with workmen all > over the place. I haven't heard what the new owners intentions are, but > they are clearly spending a lot of money on the place, and putting money > into the local economy (local workmen, local supplies to a certain > extent) so it's looking positive for the future of the castle at any > rate. I believe the new owners have also bought back the Gatehouse > which was used as a bar but has been out of use for some time. So > clearly their intentions are serious! > > regards > Sian > Graemsay > http://sianthom.blogspot.com/ >> > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Yup that's right. Karen - the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands are British Crown Dependancies. They appear part of the UK but there are subtle differences - different laws, differenct government processes, even different bank notes! Sian Ginger Cutt wrote: > I would read it to say United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Island of Man, and > Republic of Ireland residents. > > HTH > Ginger > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: <KJEMEM@aol.com> > Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:32 PM > To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> > Subject: [ORCADIA] translation please > > >> Hoping one of you over the pond can decipher this to satisfy my >> curiosity. >> I know what UK stands for but the rest is a mystery. Thought maybe IoM >> was >> Isle of Man, but is that not in the UK and, therefore, wouldn't need to >> be >> listed separately? This is from the competition on the Visit Orkney >> site. I'm >> sure it excludes me, but who all is it referring too? >> >> >> "Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents" >> >> >> Karen >> **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 >> easy >> steps! >> (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID >> %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

I would read it to say United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Island of Man, and Republic of Ireland residents. HTH Ginger -------------------------------------------------- From: <KJEMEM@aol.com> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:32 PM To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Subject: [ORCADIA] translation please > Hoping one of you over the pond can decipher this to satisfy my > curiosity. > I know what UK stands for but the rest is a mystery. Thought maybe IoM > was > Isle of Man, but is that not in the UK and, therefore, wouldn't need to > be > listed separately? This is from the competition on the Visit Orkney > site. I'm > sure it excludes me, but who all is it referring too? > > > "Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents" > > > Karen > **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 > easy > steps! > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID > %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Open to all United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland residents. Channel Islands and Isle of Man are part of Great Britain but not part of the United Kingdom. Confused? You soon will be. -- Regards Mike Clouston On 06/04/2009 13:32:19, kjemem@aol.com wrote: > Hoping one of you over the pond can decipher this to satisfy my curiosity. > > I know what UK stands for but the rest is a mystery. Thought maybe IoM > was > Isle of Man, but is that not in the UK and, therefore, > wouldn't need to be > listed separately? This is from the competition on the Visit Orkney site. I'm > > sure it excludes me, but who all is it referring too? > > > "Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents" > > > Karen > **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 > easy > steps! > (http://pr.atwola. > com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww. > freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID > %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the message

Channel Isles Republic of Ireland but I agree a bit cryptic. Just been to Guernsey for firs time ------Original Message------ From: KJEMEM@aol.com Sender: orcadia-bounces@rootsweb.com To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com ReplyTo: orcadia@rootsweb.com Subject: [ORCADIA] translation please Sent: 6 Apr 2009 13:32 Hoping one of you over the pond can decipher this to satisfy my curiosity. I know what UK stands for but the rest is a mystery. Thought maybe IoM was Isle of Man, but is that not in the UK and, therefore, wouldn't need to be listed separately? This is from the competition on the Visit Orkney site. I'm sure it excludes me, but who all is it referring too? "Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents" Karen **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62) _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

In a message dated 06/04/2009 13:33:42 GMT Daylight Time, KJEMEM@aol.com writes: Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents Yes, you are quite right, the rest of it is: Open to all UK, C(hannel) I)(slands), I(sle)o(f) M(an) and R(epublic)o(f) I(reland) residents. Rather odd, Geoffrey

Hoping one of you over the pond can decipher this to satisfy my curiosity. I know what UK stands for but the rest is a mystery. Thought maybe IoM was Isle of Man, but is that not in the UK and, therefore, wouldn't need to be listed separately? This is from the competition on the Visit Orkney site. I'm sure it excludes me, but who all is it referring too? "Open to all UK, CI, IoM and RoI residents" Karen **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62)

<http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk/2009/04/05> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney UK <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk>

Royce Perry wrote: > Hummm...interesting stuff Steve...but we are straying well off topic here. It's a bit of a streatch to tie USA politics and Canadian achevements to things Orkney...give you credit for trying...but the thread is ever so thin. How abouts we try to stay a tad closer to the main topic... > > R the Cruel Indeed. How about the John Rae. Our MP, Alistair Carmichael, is seeking a meeting with the Dean of Westminster Abbey, the Reverend Dr John Hall to discuss the historical inaccuracies on the memorial to Sir John Franklin within Westminster Abbey. It was Rae and not Franklin who discovered the NW passage! -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney UK <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk> "I'm a cat person, myself," she said, vaguely. A low-level voice said "Really? Wash in your own spit, do you?"

Stephen, The pics of Odin on the Odin website are wonderful. All mine are slides - remember that archaic format? It's like those round black things with a hole in the center we used to play for music. All I can say about Odin is that everything else begins to pale by comparison - certainly for location. but I am sure that a careful perusal of the booklet from the tourist office will uncover other great places. There are so many in Orkney. Tuck On Mar 29, 2009, at 3:33 PM, stephen davie wrote: > Tuck...have you some pics of odin? > Stephen > On Mar 29, 2009, at 2:16 PM, Tuck Langland wrote: > >> Stephen et al, >> >> A further word about Odin. This is a quite remarkable house. There is >> a drive leading to the road, a drive about 50 yards long. It opens >> onto the road running between the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, the >> one that runs alongside the Ring of Brogar (or Brodgar). >> >> At the end of this drive, on the opposite side of the road, is the >> Watch Stone, about a 14 foot tall neolithic megalith. It apparently >> lines up somehow with Maes Howe and the Unstan Tomb across the water. >> In the back garden of the house is Barnhouse Village, an excavated >> and >> restored neolithic settlement. In the next field are the Standing >> Stones, with Maes Howe not far behind them. And down the road a >> quarter mile is Brodgar. (or Brogdar - I can't seem to find >> unanimity >> on the spelling.) My feeling is that this spot on which the house is >> built was the spiritual and probably political center of prehistoric >> Orkney. If the land were empty and someone wanted to build there >> today >> there is no way in hell permission wold be given. >> >> Further, the house is built from timbers, stairs, cabinets etc. of >> the >> old Mauritania. It has two en-suite double bedrooms, plus, upstairs, >> two single bed rooms, both en-suite, and one further bath downstairs >> just for fun. And out back, next to the loch, is a bird hide. Arctic >> terns nest on a tiny point just outside the sitting room windows, >> swans grace the Loch, and we counted some 25 or so species of birds >> seen from house windows. And it is walking distance to the Standing >> Stones Hotel, (you can see it from the front porch) which means a >> nice >> meal out with no worries of driving afterwards. >> >> Once, years before, we rented Braeside, near Twatt, next to Little >> Canada, overlooking Boardhouse Loch. This was less convenient since >> there was only one multi-purpose bath room, and we had about 8 people >> there, so there was, indeed, dancing in the streets, but it had a >> Rayburn, plus a regular cooker, and a nice fire in the sitting room. >> >> Stephen, you raise a very good point when speaking of we, as >> outsiders, taking a perfectly good house at bargain prices from >> perhaps a local couple who could well use it, putting it to better >> use >> than an occasional holiday cottage. Better, I feel, is renting, >> putting money into the Orkney economy, while disturbing it less. And >> of course the other advantages play as well, such as not having to >> worry about deterioration, etc., and being money way way ahead in the >> short and long term. >> >> The only thing that makes me want to own a place is pure romance - >> this is my piece of Orkney. But what with taxes, and the many >> bureaucratic hoops one must jump through, it seems more and more out >> of the question. >> >> However, if any here are planning a trip and planning to rent a house >> sleeping several, a little communication might get others to join up, >> saving money for each, and ensuring a good time for all. Travel wise, >> we are sailing on the QM2 in late July to England and will spend time >> there, culminating in our joining a choral workshop to sing at >> Worcester, Gloucester, and Great Malvern. The following summer, >> however (2010), might be a time to consider a few weeks in Orkney. >> >> >> Tuck >> >>> Interesting Tuck. Kewl place to stay you chose. good on ya! Some of >>> the land near the stones was old Isbister property. I have a Davie/ >>> Isbister relative who's old stone house overlooks that area and >>> indeed it is beautiful near there and must have been for you, a >>> great place to stay. Not too far from the hotel or to town for that >>> matter, but still very natural and rural. I had dinner one night >>> there with a lovely red headed lady from the USA in the stones >>> hotel. >>> Twas funny. The new english owners, were having pain because of a >>> handful of largely drunk young men out doing the warmup for the >>> blackening thing. Boy, the young proprietor's wife was somewhat >>> stressed, yet the wee celebrants were not aggressive or threatening >>> towards anyone. Just drunk. I guessed that they were at the Standing >>> Stones hotel, standing stoned and well, so it all made perfect sense >>> to me. >>> >>> >>> The place I found and loved, belonged to an aging fellow who knew >>> one >>> of my last relatives who lived there. He lived alongside some new >>> wave baronial wannabe from London who made his last years >>> uncomfortable to miserable some days, so rather than sell out to >>> the >>> guy, he simply canvassed the idea of selling to us. My countless >>> cousins here and in the USA were not organized to make the move, and >>> it became clear that the legal control affecting renovations with >>> additions, is something that bathes in bureaucracy like an otter >>> bathes in water. Just to develop a plan and budget requires a lot of >>> time and gabbing with officials. MOre hurdles than a steeplechase >>> event. While the protectionism is to be applauded, there still seems >>> some obvious mysteries involving the new houses there to some >>> extent, >>> and the location of some of them. Frankly, the old stone croft >>> dwellings have a lot of appeal to me, whereas some of the new >>> rectangular box, sheeting and parging look houses without the old >>> slate roof, equates to some of the vinyl and aluminum hasty-house >>> tragedies in this country. After all that "planning" some of the >>> results surly sway far from the integrity of the traditional. >>> >>> We had some stone masons in the family over there, which I thought >>> was interesting or unique, until I figured out that due to the time >>> to build with stone, before the day of the electric socket, power >>> mixers and hydraulics, masonry was a time consuming tedious pursuit >>> which involved the only readily available building material. >>> Stone. I >>> visited a thing called Davie's Brig near Finstown, with a reporter >>> from the paper there. Twas a fine example of what patience and a >>> trowel with a very strong back can achieve. I do not know how old >>> that bridge is, but I suppose it is very elderly for sure. Yet it is >>> sound, like so much of the old stonework. (ie St. Magnus Cathedral) >>> >>> In our case, the Hudson's Bay Company stripped our young men from >>> the >>> Isles there, from three and four successive generations. Thus our >>> name has been stricken from the phone book there. Relatives who have >>> visited there in the fifties through nineties, all sorta >>> say..."nice" >>> and return with a picture and a bottle of scotch or some jewelry. >>> However in the current generation, our own wing of the family is >>> over >>> 150 strong, and there is a keen interest to find a place there to >>> camp. But the approach has changed, which new approach is supported >>> by this global meltdown. >>> >>> So this time around, tis better to line up the partners first, and >>> when the funds are in the bag, then go shopping. I thing that the >>> next decade will give opportunity anew to people wanting to invest >>> in >>> property virtually anywhere in the world. A self styled syndicated >>> little "time share" operation is one way. The other is to buy and >>> fund and staff a b and b for members only, who would own a place >>> which would be available at an amazing rate for owners, but at >>> regular rates for others when the family was absent. It would be >>> good >>> employment for a couple, properly designed. >>> >>> An old and very wise business man once told a friend of mine, that >>> insofar as real estate is concerned, "ownership equals >>> responsibility." We found that even with properties in south >>> Florida, >>> and once in Costa Rica, without a solid management plan, the bloom >>> is >>> soon to fall off the rose, and your practical suggestion Tuck, of >>> renting, falls into play for all the right reasons. At this time, >>> from California to Panama, properties are offered at steadily >>> reducing prices, and to buy without knowing better what the economy >>> in the world will do, is to walk on thin spring ice. When I asked a >>> friend of mine wintering in Mexico if he would buy near Progreso/ >>> Merida where he was enjoying himself this winter, the virtually >>> accomplished old developer said..."why buy, there is no up?" He paid >>> fifty dollars a day for four thousand square feet of luxury on the >>> beach, with two boats, and a house full of hot and cold running >>> wonderful mexican staff to cook, adjust the pool settings, and to >>> take him fishing. A hurricane in the off season will not be his >>> responsibility or concern. >>> >>> A falling...or plunging market is a sad thing indeed. Strips away >>> the >>> positive feelings of younger people, and depresses the older ones. >>> But in the case of Orkney it may well give a few local kids a chance >>> to buy a home there, at prices not affected by the "invasion" of >>> outside money. Where I live here, prices are as sure to drop, as are >>> Bill Clinton's britches. So everyone is just scaling down for the >>> long haul back. Underline long. >>> >>> We now think that maybe buy the land and sit, and think and plan >>> the >>> structure, and then build an old new orkney place from scratch, not >>> snatching away an existing home from some young Orcadian couple, but >>> building additional tax revenue, and supplying some jobs in the >>> process. The green construction techniques are appealing, right down >>> to the mini windmills, infloor heat, and dc lighting and solar >>> panels. So that is where it ended. Wye or Finstown...but near the >>> water, with enough land for a highland cow or two, and some chickens >>> and maybe an alpaca. In truth, a person would be better to build a >>> day care facility with accommodation and leave something there to be >>> utilized in absence, in a way that benefits the place. Or an indoor >>> pool and spa with a unit or two. But as was suggested by our friend >>> from Lethbridge, we's have to bust out of the life of generalities >>> to >>> do something that astute. >>> >>> Tuck, my memory flashes back to somebody that was indeed an >>> architect >>> on this "chat and spat" expat site. Indeed I see you are a sculptor. >>> Wow. I am visiting a sculptor in Santiago de Cuba the end of next >>> month. Did you see the Haida pole that is installed in Orkney? >>> >>> Take care on this rainy windy spring "stay indoors" day. >>> >>> Stephen (Kol) Davie >>> On Mar 29, 2009, at 12:14 AM, Tuck Langland wrote: >>> >>>> Stephen, Robert, et al, >>>> >>>> My wife and I once spotted a wonderful little stone house with >>>> stone >>>> flag roof, right down near Scapa flow in Orphir, and thought it >>>> would >>>> make a grand place to own, but on a later trip we went to look at >>>> it >>>> and it was gone, torn down and replaced with a huge house being >>>> built >>>> by a guy who owns a disco or something in Kirkwall. Sad, but it >>>> would >>>> have taken so long and so much money and so much time spent there >>>> to >>>> make it habitable it was totally impractical for someone like me, >>>> with >>>> a career here, to be away that much and spend that much. But we did >>>> enjoy "planning" it in our heads, where the AGA would go, things >>>> like >>>> that. >>>> >>>> However, a house all ready to move into, paid for by about 8 people >>>> would be a different story. But then all 8 would be fighting for >>>> prime >>>> time in it, like the St. Magnus festival and so on, and no one >>>> would >>>> want it in February, so it would stand idle a lot. >>>> >>>> In the end, simply renting a self catering place is cheaper and >>>> easier, and then you don't feel pressured to go there every trip. >>>> We >>>> have rented Odin, the house with the red roof just beside the >>>> Stones >>>> of Stenness, three times now, and find it perfect. It overlooks >>>> the >>>> Loch, which is just a few feet from the front room, it has a >>>> beautiful >>>> front glassed in porch, a great living room with a fire, a >>>> wonderful >>>> kitchen complete with all mod cons, including a fan oven, plenty of >>>> cooking gear, nice wine glasses and so on, and sleeps 6, with 5 >>>> bathrooms for the six, so no one need stand dancing in the hall >>>> of a >>>> morning. At somewhere around 500 pounds a week you are a whole >>>> lot of >>>> money ahead in the long run - and the short one for that matter. >>>> >>>> But if someone comes up with a good bargain and a list of folks who >>>> want in, spread the word and there may just be interest anyway. >>>> >>>> >>>> Tuck, >>>> >>>> Sculptor, >>>> retired professor of Sculpture Indiana University South Bend. >>>> South Bend, Indiana >>>> On Mar 28, 2009, at 8:44 PM, Robert Sutherland wrote: >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> Orcadia Group Photo Album >>> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >>> request@rootsweb.com >>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and >>> the body of the message >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message >> > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message

John Rae seems to be the acknowledged NWP guy over here. I guess the record keepers are the HBC archives in Winnipeg. Seem to remember Peter C Newman writing something in Caesars of the Winderness or Empire of the Bay...one of them.The references call him Scottish every time, but a few actually explain that indeed he was born in Orkney near Stromness. When I visited the Cathedral in Kirkwall, they were calling him the unsung hero which has to be the case. Anyone who would spend all those years in our arctic in winter, had to be tenacious and driven. On Tuck's line of sculpture, that is quite a thing they constructed in the Cathedral to honour this truly great explorer of the north. His stint as ship's doctor was an interesting starting place with the HBC, and his posting here in Ontario at Moose Factory was legendary. Great place for an introduction to black flies and mosquitos. Something about a boat race there...but I can't remember just what. His conduct with the native peoples was noted and I am sure, appreciated. On Mar 29, 2009, at 6:27 PM, Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay, Orkney) wrote: > Royce Perry wrote: >> Hummm...interesting stuff Steve...but we are straying well off >> topic here. It's a bit of a streatch to tie USA politics and >> Canadian achevements to things Orkney...give you credit for >> trying...but the thread is ever so thin. How abouts we try to stay >> a tad closer to the main topic... >> >> R the Cruel > > Indeed. How about the John Rae. Our MP, Alistair Carmichael, is > seeking > a meeting with the Dean of Westminster Abbey, the Reverend Dr John > Hall > to discuss the historical inaccuracies on the memorial to Sir John > Franklin within Westminster Abbey. It was Rae and not Franklin who > discovered the NW passage! > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney UK > <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk> > "I'm a cat person, myself," she said, vaguely. > A low-level voice said "Really? Wash in your own spit, do you?" > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

can a person post photos to Orcadia Group Photo Album without signing up for a Yahoo account and e m? Marion

This is a better (i.e. bigger) version of Jane Glue's Odin watercolour: http://www.shorelinesgallery.com/Calendar/2009%20Appointment%20Calendar/images/ATSB00006.jpg Norman T.

Odin features as the June picture on Jane Glue's 2009 calendar: http://www.shorelinesgallery.com/Catalogue%20Page%202.pdf It's a pity that the illustration on that page is so small; it looks a great deal better on the actual calendar. The Odin website is here: http://www.odinorkney.com/ I couldn't see much point in a group North Americans buying a house in Orkney. There's no shortage of self-catering holiday accommodation, and it seems to me that transatlantic property management could be tricky. Who would arrange for the property to be cleaned, for council tax payments to be made and utility bills to be paid? Who would deal with an influx of rats or mice in a property that would apparently be empty for most of the year? Who would see that storm damage or burst water pipes were repaired? Some Orkney Mainland self-catering properties listed here: http://www.visitorkney.com/accommodation/accommodation_info.asp?type=Self&loc=Mainland Norman T.

Yes...email them to me and I will put them up...It's actually an album on my Flickr account.. Be happy to put them up for you. R -----Original Message----- From: orcadia-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:orcadia-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of marion@fairpoint.net Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 7:28 PM To: orcadia@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Orkney Properties... can a person post photos to Orcadia Group Photo Album without signing up for a Yahoo account and e m? Marion _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message