tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post6366142597548504392..comments2024-03-18T17:15:39.964+00:00Comments on Life on (nearly) a Small Island: The tradition of peat cutting - part threeSianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13827449325297069660noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-61298105048265332572021-02-16T20:41:16.067+00:002021-02-16T20:41:16.067+00:00i didn't realize there were so many layers. Th...i didn't realize there were so many layers. Thank you for the knowledge.Gwenhttps://arjuna-heart-palpitations-benefits.blogspot.com/2020/11/liquid-coq10-for-dogs.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-20404595348604997522019-05-15T11:32:27.939+01:002019-05-15T11:32:27.939+01:00Yes Ruth, Hi, I remember Pete, after an hour's...Yes Ruth, Hi, I remember Pete, after an hour's brain-wracking!<br />We have direct contact. More soon then ðerekderekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714640191647142893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-6315657514889668912019-05-15T08:59:24.158+01:002019-05-15T08:59:24.158+01:00Thanks Ruth. I've passed this onto Derek who ...Thanks Ruth. I've passed this onto Derek who wrote the post.Sianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15086990153239265950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-74356328336608110612019-05-07T14:11:27.826+01:002019-05-07T14:11:27.826+01:00I missed this Ian, a WHOLE year ago, sorry. Valuab...I missed this Ian, a WHOLE year ago, sorry. Valuable, thank you<br />ðerekderekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714640191647142893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-44698130359964491812019-04-24T19:11:51.863+01:002019-04-24T19:11:51.863+01:00I have been to Shetland (have a friend there) but ...I have been to Shetland (have a friend there) but not to Orkney. Understand you knew my husband Pete Knapton. Would love to hear how you are if still in Shetland... pete@prmakalu.plus.com.... your posts are really interesting. .. Ruth just mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15484721784242344149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-58920806044546419472018-04-04T21:56:24.785+01:002018-04-04T21:56:24.785+01:00in Shetland we use tushkers and call the small pil...in Shetland we use tushkers and call the small piles of peats raisings and the bigger piles rouges.Ian Williamsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-46908075864036808642013-06-15T11:33:06.164+01:002013-06-15T11:33:06.164+01:00Yes Tusker, your Tushker, is a Nordic word modifie...Yes Tusker, your Tushker, is a Nordic word modified by 'our' tongue "..from Old Norse torfskeri, from torf (“turf”) + skera (“to cut”)" Wikki.<br />But there some are delightful passages in Alexander Fenton's Book, The Northern Isles, which will be in your library.<br />I love this one (thinking of your Dad..) "The number of peats a man throws out in a short time is great, and the havock he makes, by the number of peat holes he digs, it is truly distressing to notice.."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001773382271453892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-47370313784941017312013-06-14T21:46:23.529+01:002013-06-14T21:46:23.529+01:00Dad tells me that he does still cut peat by hand, ...Dad tells me that he does still cut peat by hand, I've told him he can't complain about a bad back if that's the case! Interesting that the Gaelic name for a tushker/tusker is so similar given that Orkney and Shetland were never Gaelic speaking. I wonder if it came originally from the Vikings? <br /><br />Dad does like to get in a picture, he was friendly with Gunnie Moberg and is in her book 'The Shetland Story' - much younger and feeding some salmon. <br /><br />Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-42448482901204425122013-06-13T11:30:35.885+01:002013-06-13T11:30:35.885+01:00OOOh I love that it is a small world!! Amazing tha...OOOh I love that it is a small world!! Amazing that Derek met your Dad, posted the photo here and you see it!!Sianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15086990153239265950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-37671949126144972312013-06-13T11:16:22.553+01:002013-06-13T11:16:22.553+01:00Oh how lovely - I remember him well.
We had admire...Oh how lovely - I remember him well.<br />We had admired a recent nearby cutting in May 2008; returning to the road and our car we met your Dad (tending sheep I think) and I asked what sort of tool he used. He rushed somewhere, quite nearby, and brought us his well-oiled Tusker. He was jolly and full of interest and I got the impression that he was still cutting peat then.<br />What we like about the Shetland method is that it is done quietly by one person at the bed, simply moving quietly along the bed, cutting in one movement and laying in the next. This produces a wonderfully neat and ordered lengthening pile that needs no additional attention - just drying in the breezes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001773382271453892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-32327535608887967012013-06-12T22:17:06.664+01:002013-06-12T22:17:06.664+01:00Your model with the Shetland tusker is my father! ...Your model with the Shetland tusker is my father! Could you tell me where you got the image? It's a while since he's cut his own peat by hand so I think he's just modelling here, but he still shears the odd sheep with hand held clippers of the sort you can see in museums.Desperate Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-86657433975036333512013-06-11T21:43:59.750+01:002013-06-11T21:43:59.750+01:00Derek, thanks for your reply. I don't doubt th...Derek, thanks for your reply. I don't doubt there will be a lot of old tools hanging about - sometimes the most interesting things are just waiting to re-found! None in the shed at my house though, unfortunately! I know a peat spade as a 'tarasgeir' (tarr-ash-kerr); in Gaelic. The museum here on Islay (http://www.islaymuseum.org/) has a nice selection of implements, all related to croft and farm work. Recommended, and I'll have to go for another look with your articles in mind. Thanks, AnnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-36530785535372334782013-06-11T10:12:53.341+01:002013-06-11T10:12:53.341+01:00Anna, I'll BET that some of the older farmers ...Anna, I'll BET that some of the older farmers and cottagers have peat tools hanging in their old sheds. There will still be plenty of people who remember the older days too.<br />Have you watched this<br />http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/peat-cutting-on-islay-with-rachel<br />YOU can have-a-go here perhaps?<br />http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/islay-peat-cutting-workshop<br />I note the old flachter, bulling or delling spade being used<br />See (and hear0 Richard here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxYYZU1cOoE<br />Good wishes<br />ðerekAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001773382271453892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-47289976301974443382013-06-11T09:32:34.850+01:002013-06-11T09:32:34.850+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001773382271453892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-1754983670785158782013-06-10T19:35:36.656+01:002013-06-10T19:35:36.656+01:00I've really enjoyed this post, and the other p...I've really enjoyed this post, and the other peat-cutting ones too. I'm living on Islay at the moment where not as much peat is cut by hand as once was; for the most part it seems to be done by machine into 'sausages'. I wonder how different the traditional techniques down here would be? It's got me thinking! Thanks, Anna.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496522256748038434.post-6508358918749908132013-06-10T07:54:59.322+01:002013-06-10T07:54:59.322+01:00very interesting post ! :)very interesting post ! :)Babzy.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08726884546505964576noreply@blogger.com