Several years ago, my cousin from Sacramento and I went over to Balfour Castle for "tea".  It was a package deal (ferry and tea - one price).  It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed strolling around the extensive and very lovely gardens with a forest of trees in the back.  We were also given a tour of the castle.  Their coat of arms has an otter in it.  It was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.   Peggy (rainy here in WV today)    

We have both these acreages on the island. The snowy one is my sons. You can see the lighthouse. The greener one is my latest acquisition, a mile on the shore. The water is gorgeous...clean...and the fishing is just the best for salmon, lake trout, whitefish, cisco and rainbow. Deer are abundant, and lots of birds.

Tuck....You can't put a price on yer heritage and food fer yer soul. I will probably end up with jist enough property there for a cairn. Indeed, there was a lovely 50 acres with an old rickpile of a house, on the water not far from Finstown. Some Italian duckhunter bought it! Paid enough to buy about a hundred thousand ducks. I have the solution to your formula problem. Ya line up some relatives or friends, and form a trust. I call it my "share the pride" program. cheers...Stephen On Mar 28, 2009, at 11:17 AM, Tuck Langland wrote: > All, > > Several years ago, while visiting in Orkney and lusting after buying a > small house there, I spoke to a local and said, > > "New let's see if I've got this straight. I buy a house for a hundred > thousand, spend a second hundred thousand fixing it up all nice, and > now I own a house worth a hundred thousand. Is that right?" > > And he replied, "You've got it exactly right." > > So perhaps now I can knock those numbers down a bit, but the principle > remains the same. > > I guess I'll wait. > > > Tuck > On Mar 27, 2009, at 9:51 PM, stephen davie wrote: > >> I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of >> properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that >> I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is >> this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on >> here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the >> economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. >> >> One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you >> could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the >> rush hour traffic lately? >> >> Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka >> Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually >> justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't >> so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 >> bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty >> structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that >> the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It >> would be the ultimate b and b. >> >> All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not >> seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects >> below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. >> >> Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty >> five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on >> Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from >> Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. >> >> It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new >> world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, >> people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. >> Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within >> a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies >> on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That >> frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value >> methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will >> continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest >> in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world >> class attraction. >> >> So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two >> feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. >> Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. >> >> Cheers....Stephen in central Canada >> >> ( the doonies in 2009!) >> _______________________________________ >> 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 >

Heather Gehron-Rice wrote: > I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief - one of the things I want to do for my > 40th (I know I'm a puppy, but it's huge to me) birthday trip to Orkney is > spend one night at Balfour! > Thanks for the happy news this morning > Heather > Heather Gehron-Rice, M.Div. > 131 N Charlotte St > Lancaster, PA 17603 > USA > (717)393 4323 The Balfour's website <http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk> does not seem to have been updated and still shows the Zawadzki family as the owners. Presumably the contact details still hold good -- 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?"

Certainly contact them! Don't know if they plan making changes before they re-open,or indeed if they will run as a regular hotel. As I say news is sketchy at the moment, though they have applied for an alcohol license so are likely to trade. I think the previous owners in recent times generally had it as a place for weddings etc rather than as a general hotel. But hopefully you will get your wish! Sian Heather Gehron-Rice wrote: > I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief - one of the things I want to do for my > 40th (I know I'm a puppy, but it's huge to me) birthday trip to Orkney is > spend one night at Balfour! > Thanks for the happy news this morning > Heather > 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: Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:39 AM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Orkney Properties... > > > >> Balfour castle now has new owners. Little is known about them at >> present, or their intentions for the castle but it sounds like they >> intend continuing running it as an hotel. The first thing they did was >> put wi-fi internet access in! >> >> >> >> stephen davie wrote: >> >>> I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of >>> properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that >>> I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is >>> this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on >>> here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the >>> economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. >>> >>> One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you >>> could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the >>> rush hour traffic lately? >>> >>> Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka >>> Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually >>> justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't >>> so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 >>> bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty >>> structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that >>> the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It >>> would be the ultimate b and b. >>> >>> All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not >>> seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects >>> below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. >>> >>> Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty >>> five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on >>> Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from >>> Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. >>> >>> It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new >>> world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, >>> people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. >>> Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within >>> a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies >>> on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That >>> frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value >>> methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will >>> continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest >>> in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world >>> class attraction. >>> >>> So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two >>> feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. >>> Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. >>> >>> Cheers....Stephen in central Canada >>> >>> ( the doonies in 2009!) >>> _______________________________________ >>> 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 > > >

Doing well. Prayers are working. Checkups all good ones. Going to have carpal tunnel surgery April 22 and after recovery from that, I am going to make some plans to go to Orkney. I have only heard about Manitoulin Island in a song and believed it must be beautiful. Stay well. Cheers. Marion

All, Several years ago, while visiting in Orkney and lusting after buying a small house there, I spoke to a local and said, "New let's see if I've got this straight. I buy a house for a hundred thousand, spend a second hundred thousand fixing it up all nice, and now I own a house worth a hundred thousand. Is that right?" And he replied, "You've got it exactly right." So perhaps now I can knock those numbers down a bit, but the principle remains the same. I guess I'll wait. Tuck On Mar 27, 2009, at 9:51 PM, stephen davie wrote: > I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of > properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that > I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is > this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on > here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the > economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. > > One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you > could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the > rush hour traffic lately? > > Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka > Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually > justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't > so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 > bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty > structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that > the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It > would be the ultimate b and b. > > All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not > seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects > below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. > > Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty > five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on > Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from > Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. > > It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new > world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, > people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. > Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within > a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies > on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That > frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value > methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will > continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest > in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world > class attraction. > > So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two > feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. > Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. > > Cheers....Stephen in central Canada > > ( the doonies in 2009!) > _______________________________________ > 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

Haha...send all the geese back that you want. Must be a few we missed in the fall! We have zillions of them, and they are becoming a real nuisance, but nonetheless, goose sausage is quite tasty. How are you doing? Still have you on my prayer list for the cancer thing, but I had heard last time that you were doing well. We have properties up on the Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island on the planet, and which is in Lake Huron. Spring up there is so nice. Huge bays and inlets of treed shore, lots of ducks and geese and eagles and sand hill cranes. Millions of shore birds and thirty thousand deer on the island alone. Spring is such a bursting open event. Nice hearing from you. Stephen On Mar 28, 2009, at 9:51 AM, <marion@fairpoint.net> <marion@fairpoint.net> wrote: > Still snow here to, in Naples, Maine. Much less of it on the > Coast, 35 > miles south. > Be gone snow! I have seen a couple flocks of geese heading > your way > Stephen so Spring must be coming. > Marion > . >> >> So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two >> feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. >> Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. >> >> Cheers....Stephen in central Canada > > _______________________________________ > 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 >

Balfour castle now has new owners. Little is known about them at present, or their intentions for the castle but it sounds like they intend continuing running it as an hotel. The first thing they did was put wi-fi internet access in! stephen davie wrote: > I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of > properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that > I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is > this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on > here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the > economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. > > One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you > could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the > rush hour traffic lately? > > Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka > Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually > justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't > so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 > bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty > structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that > the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It > would be the ultimate b and b. > > All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not > seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects > below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. > > Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty > five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on > Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from > Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. > > It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new > world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, > people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. > Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within > a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies > on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That > frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value > methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will > continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest > in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world > class attraction. > > So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two > feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. > Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. > > Cheers....Stephen in central Canada > > ( the doonies in 2009!) > _______________________________________ > 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 > > >

Bruce...I checked out the website and low and behold, a rare find in Orkney. Behind the Castle are trees....thousands of big mature trees! Almost looks like someone playing with photoshop software. Very impressive shot from the sea. Also, got one of my bi-monthly news updates from "Gerry" at Highland Park. Seems they were cleaning out a warehouse, and discovered 684 bottles of "repatriated" 1977 HP, which had been bottled especially for a market in Japan. So now they have decided to let this go, at the price of 250 pounds per bottle. Not so sure I am thrilled with the japanese wooden box. So it seems that his little warehouse cleanup will net about 171,000 pounds. Hmmm. Maybe I'll do a little spring cleaning in the garage. cheers...Stephen (Hi to your good lady and of course, Surrey the beloved and energetic attack cat) On Mar 28, 2009, at 9:37 AM, Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay, Orkney) wrote: > Heather Gehron-Rice wrote: >> I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief - one of the things I want to >> do for my >> 40th (I know I'm a puppy, but it's huge to me) birthday trip to >> Orkney is >> spend one night at Balfour! >> Thanks for the happy news this morning >> Heather >> Heather Gehron-Rice, M.Div. >> 131 N Charlotte St >> Lancaster, PA 17603 >> USA >> (717)393 4323 > > > The Balfour's website <http://www.balfourcastle.co.uk> does not > seem to > have been updated and still shows the Zawadzki family as the owners. > Presumably the contact details still hold good > -- > 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 >

Still snow here to, in Naples, Maine. Much less of it on the Coast, 35 miles south. Be gone snow! I have seen a couple flocks of geese heading your way Stephen so Spring must be coming. Marion . > > So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two > feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. > Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. > > Cheers....Stephen in central Canada

hmmmm. Wonder how close to the asking price they came. Based of replacement cost, the Balfour Castle listing appeared to be priced well, depending on the condition. I suppose someone buying it would not be dependent upon the bedroom income for a living. It certainly wold be a nice place for a wedding reception. The high speed interenet is a must these days. And the alcohol license! On Mar 28, 2009, at 6:39 AM, Sian Thomas wrote: > Balfour castle now has new owners. Little is known about them at > present, or their intentions for the castle but it sounds like they > intend continuing running it as an hotel. The first thing they did > was > put wi-fi internet access in! > > > > stephen davie wrote: >> I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of >> properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that >> I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is >> this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on >> here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the >> economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. >> >> One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you >> could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the >> rush hour traffic lately? >> >> Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka >> Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually >> justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't >> so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 >> bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty >> structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that >> the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It >> would be the ultimate b and b. >> >> All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not >> seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects >> below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. >> >> Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty >> five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on >> Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from >> Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. >> >> It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new >> world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, >> people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. >> Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within >> a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies >> on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That >> frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value >> methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will >> continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest >> in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world >> class attraction. >> >> So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two >> feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. >> Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. >> >> Cheers....Stephen in central Canada >> >> ( the doonies in 2009!) >> _______________________________________ >> 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 >

stephen davie wrote: > <snipped> > One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you > could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the > rush hour traffic lately? > <snipped> I've never been stuck in any traffic on Stronsay, rush hour or otherwise <g> However, rush hour on Stronsay is easily avoided as it occurs when the ferry makes its twice-daily visit and as many as 7 or 8 vehicles can pass our house on the way to the pier. There are several properties and building sites for sale on Stronsay, these are the main estate agents for Orkney: <http://davidgriffith.edition.net/lows/property.htm> <http://www.dreverandheddle.co.uk/property_search.asp> <http://www.orkneypropertycentre.co.uk/propertysearch.asp> -- 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?"

I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief - one of the things I want to do for my 40th (I know I'm a puppy, but it's huge to me) birthday trip to Orkney is spend one night at Balfour! Thanks for the happy news this morning Heather 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: Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:39 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Orkney Properties... > Balfour castle now has new owners. Little is known about them at > present, or their intentions for the castle but it sounds like they > intend continuing running it as an hotel. The first thing they did was > put wi-fi internet access in! > > > > stephen davie wrote: >> I noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of >> properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that >> I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is >> this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on >> here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the >> economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. >> >> One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you >> could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the >> rush hour traffic lately? >> >> Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka >> Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually >> justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't >> so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 >> bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty >> structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that >> the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It >> would be the ultimate b and b. >> >> All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not >> seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects >> below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. >> >> Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty >> five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on >> Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from >> Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. >> >> It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new >> world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, >> people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. >> Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within >> a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies >> on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That >> frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value >> methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will >> continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest >> in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world >> class attraction. >> >> So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two >> feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. >> Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. >> >> Cheers....Stephen in central Canada >> >> ( the doonies in 2009!) >> _______________________________________ >> 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 noticed this evening, that there seems to be quite a raft of properties floating on the market in Orkney. Perhaps it is just that I found a website with the bulk of the listings, or perhaps it is this new economy speaking to people. Lots of "doubling up" going on here in Canada, with family members merging their housing, as the economy continues to shrink faster than GM's bailout money. One add which was cute, suggested that if you moved to Stronsay, you could avoid traffic jams! haha. Over to you Bruce. Bin stuck in the rush hour traffic lately? Then the Balfour Castle is for sale, and comparing it to a Muskoka Estate near my place, the price at 2.7 million pounds is virtually justifiable, in an economy with some long term prospects that aren't so unholy scary. Indeed, the photos are just lovely, and the 14 bedrooms and 10 baths are a delight. To ever replace the stoney lofty structure would be virtually unthinkable. I further did not know that the property is indeed one that affords world class waterfowling. It would be the ultimate b and b. All the places posted seem to reflect a drop in price. There did not seem many with acreages a few years back, and indeed the prospects below two hundred thousand pounds, were few and sketchy. Indeed two of the places for sale are priced at thirty five and forty five thousand pounds respectively. One of these has six acres, on Sanday in think, and the other little place, only six miles from Kirkwall in Tankerness.... a wee rocky fixer-upper. It will be interesting to see how things fair in Orkney in the new world economic storm. I suspect, that like farming communities here, people will do better there than in the big cities to the south. Farmers near here say that in light of the fact that they live within a budget, and have no propensity for unrestricted spending frenzies on borrowed money, that their lives will be the same, basically. That frugality is evident in Orkney, and will shortly prove it's value methinks. And the expatriated Orkney families of yesteryear, will continue to return and explore their roots, and in some cases invest in their heritage with a property there. Orkney is indeed a world class attraction. So, not much news from the green isles these days. I still have two feet of snow some places in my yard, but that will soon disappear. Spring here, as in Orkney, is a tonic for the soul. Cheers....Stephen in central Canada ( the doonies in 2009!)

In Scotland if you sell your house your septic tank or sewage discharge must be registered. In Orkney the majority of rural houses have a septic tank or sewage is discharged directly into the sea (as it is in Whitehall village, Stronsay). The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has a scheme whereby all septic tanks and sewage discharges must be registered, if you sell your house you will have to prove that your sewage scheme is registered. Up to 31 March 2009 it will cost one pound, thereafter it will cost one hundred pounds. Register here <http://www.sepa.org.uk/WFDREG/pages/LoginRegisterRequest.aspx> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney UK <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk>

<http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk/2009/03/03> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney UK <http://claremont.islandblogging.co.uk>

I was going through the archives and found messages about the Orkney wedding song. Link below has the words, including the translation. http://www.gaita.co.uk/unfortunate_programme.pdf _________________________________________________________________

A terrible story indeed. The court case was reported fairly widely in the UK media. Another report here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7871064.stm Such a waste of a life. Tragedy is an overused word, but I think it's justified here. Norman T.

Hallo all, Just found an article, isn't it the same matter someone posted about to our mailing list last year? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/4520514/Boy-15-admits-murder-of-Scottish-backpacker-in-New-Zealand.html Terrible story! All the best, Andrei