Hello George, Further to your question - Is Hogmanay just an excuse for excessive drunkenness and bad behaviour, as is usually the case for our own New Year's Eve parties in the states? Not really my idea of a good time, but what do I know? No, Hogmanay is not just an excuse for excessive drunkenness and bad behaviour. It's a problem every week-end, especially amongst the teenagers, but never mind once Kirkwall's grand New Library costing 3.5 million opens that sort of behaviour will all stop won't it! These drunken kids will be flocking there in their droves getting drunk on Orkney Heritage, Tradition, Folklore etc, A few years ago when Kirkwall's new Leisure Centre was opened at Picky, kids petitioned for a Bowling Alley to be installed as well, but the OIC in there superior wisdom ignored their call. It then took a private individual to open a Bowling Alley instead, and of course as wisdom goes the Orkney Licensing Board granted a drinks license at the Bowling Alley for the teenagers to have a dram or a pint while they bowled. I hope I don't paint to black a picture on Orkney teenagers, as not all are inclined towards bad behaviour and drunkenness, but any behaviour of this kind amongst the young cannot be tolerated, they are the future of Orkney at the end of the day. I am sure the local constabulary will have the problem under control shortly when their new Police Station opens, I wonder if they have more cells than the old Police Station so as to keep on top of the increasing problem. Take care Grumpy -------Original Message------- From: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Date: 10 December 2003 13:13:06 To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [] Mike's trees Once y'all get those New Zealand trees and shrubs planted to serve as Yule logs you can revive the Stromness 'ba. I picture the sides, decorated with Maori tattoos, challenging each other with the haka before the game, then stalking the wily apteryx through the cold jungle for Christmas dinner. Plucking those hairy feathers must be quite the art. Is Hogmanay just an excuse for excessive drunkenness and bad behavior, as is usually the case for our own New Year's Eve parties in the states? Not really my idea of a good time, but what do I know? The Kirkwall Christmas lights are beautiful, thanks for that link and the one to Maeshowe. Love to all, and holiday blessings, George Sandy Coghill Olympia, Washington USA 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