And then there is....

 

.... the drone plane delivering post to Orkney's most northerly island, North Ronaldsay.  I should have added a link to that yesterday.  So here it is now

And a youtube video from Orkney.Com - link here

Meet Larch....

 

Larch on the pier on a cold and frosty morning!

In November I was approached by Hans from MWLC in the Netherlands to see if Graemsay folk would be interested in being a pilot project for testing of an electric autonomous vehicle (AVs). No not a "remote" car, but something that might be able to deliver parcels or similar.  This project is funded by HITRANS (the Highlands and Islands Regional Transport Partnership). The Orkney project base is at the Orkney Research & Innovation Campus in Stromness.

So, after some discussion it was agreed that the small AV (rover) would run tests between the Graemsay pier and my house, along the public road.  So Larch duly arrived on Graemsay and began the pilot.......  

Folk on the island were aware of what time the trials would take place, and were invited to come and watch, ask questions, raise concerns etc. and yes smile and make jokes!

For the pilot Larch was connected via the 4G mobile network to MWLC in the Netherlands and they could control Larch, and see through the camera.  The idea was that Larch would first learn the route before being able to do this automatically.

Larch leaving the pier.....

Larch at Sandside

Larch heading up the road back to the pier....

Off it goes....

Unfortunately, despite this side of the island generally having an excellent 4G signal, Larch ran into difficulties on the Windbreck brae and had to be guided down to the pier, as the camera wasn't working.

What happens if it meets oncoming traffic I hear you ask?  Well it then stops and sends a signal back to the operator who takes control and moves Larch off the road.  And yes there are high verges and ditches - again this is why pilots are necessary to test in real world situations.  There were some tractors and cars heading to the pier for the cargo run so Larch got some practice in getting out the way.  Though I think at one point due to loss of signal it was hauled along on a piece of baler twine.

Larch is a prototype and full of electronics, and not, as yet, able to manage any kind of parcels or other "freight".  But that's what research and development is all about - getting things to work operationally.

Despite the problems losing the 4G connection, and poor Larch needing to be carried or dragged along,  the team in the Netherlands were largely pleased with the trial as it enabled them to collect a lot of data.

Though there was much skepticism and amusement on the island as to the practicality of such vehicles being useful here, it was interesting to see.  It was also good to be able to provide real-world situations for future development.

On one of the more northerly of the Orkney Islands, Papa Westray, the local school are running the project with the children able to be involved.  They are transporting food from the school and community garden to the school kitchen etc.  So a great opportunity for the children to learn about what are likely to be future developments and take part in the pilots.

Here - well Larch is due back in January so we will see how it gets on this time!

Do take a look at MWLC Global's website (click here) - and you can see more practical uses and models.

So..... back at the end of November.....

 

Photo by Charlie Groundwater over in Stromness

.... we had snow!  It's unusual for Orkney to get much in the way of snow.  This is largely due to us being in the Gulf stream.  As you will see from these photos, even when there is a layer of snow over Orkney - Graemsay remains resolutely green!  This is much to the disappointment of anyone wanting to go sledging.  Most of the children grow up not getting much opportunity to make snow creatures, snowball fights or sledge.  Instead of snow, our Winter is characterised by wind (lots) and/or rain (lots).  Today we have both wind and rain...... so.... a reminder of brighter days!

The photo above shows lots of snow being dumped in the vicinity of (but not on) Graemsay.  This picture was taken by Charlie Groundwater who goes on a daily morning walk around Stromness and the shore with his camera.  He gets some lovely shots and is happy for me to share them.

When we can, Button and I like to take morning tea (well ok that bit is just me) on the bench outside the front door.  So despite snow on hills, there we were....

Earlier in the morning - a sprinkle of snow on the grass.

Sun rising over Windbreck hill

Meanwhile down at the hen house - snow over the Orkney Mainland...

Looking towards Stromness

Stromness under a blanket of cloud and snow....

The Hoy Hills looking glorious!

Looking across Sandside bay - Community hall, and Hoy Hills

Sheep may safely graze....

These cattle have been moved into the sheds now for winter.....

Snowy over in Orphir....

Looking over the Graemsay post office to Orphir

Button is indoors keeping her paws warm with the underfloor heating, and the hens in their wee house also keeping snug with lots of hay to scratch about in, water and food.

Winter light...

 

These photos were taken on the winter solstice but I forgot to post them here!  As you can see it was a grey day, with the Hoy hills hidden beneath a blanket of cloud.  Still it was good to be out and about. Above - sheep enjoying their silage lunch.  Stromness and Orkney Mainland in the background.

Button having a mad cat moment on the beach!

A tiny bit of the base of the Hoy hills peeking out from under a duvet of cloud....

Yup really, under the cloud are hills.....

Lichen among the heather.....

The old croft of dean....

Er.... December

 

Not one of my better years for blogging.  But I've not been adventuring much due to risk of Covid, and generally lacking motivation for blogging.  Anyway... hopefully a few of you still enjoy the pictures from the wee island of Graemsay, so as we head towards the Winter Solstice, here are a few photos from around the shore in recent days....

Above, a lovely late afternoon sky as the sun sets behind Hoy.  Sunset today is 15.16.....

The moon outshining Hoy High lighthouse......

From the coral beach.  We've had lots of grey skies, and the light is definitely quite "blue" - rather than the sky...

Looking across to Stromness in the distance....

Button enjoying a perambulation with me along the shore.....

Her arthritis meds are making a difference for her.  She still hasn't got her "spring" so needs steps to get up and down things rather than jump.  But she's definitely moving more easily, and trots about when the mood takes her too.

Head between the tip of Graemsay on the left, the West Mainland of Orkney on the right and next stop Canada....

Hoy under a duvet.....

Creels on the old lighthouse pier.  The old Manse left in the background, the Community Hall and Old School to the right.

Heading back home through the old steading.  Stable on the left....

A lot of weather about...

 

Photo: Charilie Groundwater

There's been a lot of weather about this last weekend.  In the end Orkney fared far better than many other places on the North-East coast of Scotland and England.  We had a North-Easterly gale in Orkney, which is an unusual direction for such a fierce wind. It lasted for a couple of days, together with torrential rain and hail.  But Orkney is used to gales even in Summer and so most things are perpetually tied down - sheds, hen houses, wheelie bins, though not always trampolines..... ahem....

Anyway all is ok here with me.  I'm just not venturing far which is nothing unusual for me from November to March!  I hibernate, or at least go into sloth mode.  I did venture to Kirkwall last week for my covid booster and a chance to catch up with some friends (socially distanced as we had a large -for -Orkney spike in cases recently). But mostly I'm staying close to home.

Anyway the above photo was taken from the Stromness side of the water by Charlie Groundwater who daily walks along the shore.  This one shows an awful lot of weather over Graemsay, Hoy High (and me next door).

And (like a well know online retailer) "you might also like" this short video of Stromness uploaded in April 2020 but shots taken during the preceding year.

A walk to the beach - with Button!

 

I'm delighted to say Button is responding well to her anti-inflammatory meds and is venturing forth a bit more again.  We had our first walk to the beach in some time. Partly due to the weather and partly her reluctance to go that far.  She is still a bit wary going out - she knows she can't run or climb out of the way of the Graemsay bears and wolves - well that's her story....

Across the bay......

A seal popping its head up at the end of the old lighthouse pier....

You need to click on the photo to see a larger version but there ARE seals in this photo on the rocks - very well camouflaged....

Button inspecting the creels for any partans (crabs) left behind.

Calm day.....

Button is less than keen on seaweed....

Wonder what she is thinking?

On the old lighthouse pier....

Rock pools....

Old buildings at Sandside

Slime mould - bit sinister as it can move across the grass.  Common name - Dog vomit slime... you can see why it's so named....

Looking across to Stromness

An another gratuitous picture of Madam Button... who has just brought a mouse in....very much alive and currently behind a cupboard in the kitchen...... bloody cat!  I'm glad you feel up to catching mice but can you NOT bring them IN THE HOUSE!