Sea Snake

No not a real snake, but some photos (courtesy of Irene of Breckan) of the experimental renewable energy equipment using wave power. This is being trialled just off Billia Croo on the West Mainland of Orkney, and the "sea snake" can be seen going up and down the Flow to it's base at Lyness on the island of Hoy.

Christmas Shopping....

OK I admit I fall into the "Bah Humbug!" category of Christmas grouch. I don't begrudge anyone their fun at Christmas, just don't expect me to join in. Well unless there is mulled wine on offer... Anyway even I had to concede I needed to start shopping for Christmas gifts so last week ventured into Kirkwall. My first port of call was my favourite shop - Shearer's.  This is an old family firm which sells everything from seeds for farm crops, hardware, kitchen utensils, pet food, to groceries and cake. Yes all in one shop.  In the Spring time the upstairs is full of different seeds which are mixed by hand to suit the individual farm or field.  I had my walled garden grass seed mixed here with advice from Richard Shearer himself on which grasses and what density to go for.  I'd asked for something that didn't need lots of mowing ;-)  He said he had the solution - spray the grass with beer twice a week and it will grow half-cut.  Boom Boom! (as the slightly faded Basil Brush would say, sorry that joke will be lost on anyone outside the UK...).

Anyway, at this time of year the upstairs of the shop is turned into a Christmas wonderland - as you can see in the photo above.  The fire is lit (yes real fire!), and Christmas tree and chair ready for Santa, old lamps, tins and other oddments adorn the high shelves, while tables and cupboard are laden with all sorts of food goodies from far and wide.  I managed to not dribble all over the chocolate and this time just bought some bird seed and "fat balls" from the department downstairs.  (Why is it OK to feed fat balls to birds but I can't live off chips and bacon rolls?  Don't birds suffer from high cholesterol??!)

Then it was onto a well known Supermarket for more groceries. While I was browsing along the non-food items the clothes rails caught my eye and I was drawn to a rather fine pair of pyjamas.  Now in Orkney when one is looking at anything in a shop, if there is someone else looking too, well you strike up a conversation.  So there was this other lady also looking at these rather fine pyjamas and we were commenting on style, material, quality etc.  Then I said "But I don't know how practical they will be outdoors."  Small silence in the conversation (I swear the lady took a step back....).  "Um..." she said "you do know these are pyjamas..... for wearing in bed...?"  "Yes" I replied "it's just.....um..." at this point I realised I could not go on and say what was in my head given the look on her face so far, so just finished lamely saying something about needing to put the cat out etc.... Instead what I had been about to say was "well sometimes I need to go out to let out the mice the cat has brought in. Or to take a photo of the sun rising behind the cows from the corner of the road. But it's OK cos I do often put my wellington boots (rubber boots) on over my 'jamas, and a fleece too depending on the weather..... Some things are best left unsaid.....

Ship ahoy.....

Before the raging gales of the last three days our local Graemsay ferry managed to deliver my heating oil. You can see it being winched off the boat in the background to the photo.  The tank holds about 1,000 litres and the process of getting it to my domestic oil tank can sometimes be a challenge due to weather! The fuel is classed as "dangerous goods" so can only come out on certain runs. Unfortunately the weather closed in before it could be put on a tractor and trailer and be transported up to the house, and even then it was a case of waiting for the wind to drop before pumping it into the household tank at the back of the house (it's an electric pump but you have to stand over it!).  So advance planning is required when ordering fuel!

There was also another shipment of lambs going off to the Mart. The lambs have been in their fields since they were born earlier in the year and will probably go off for "store" lambs to be fattened up for future use. At least they had a calm trip over this time!

The gales raged for three days and apart from going out to feed the hens and Charlie the barn cat I haven't set foot outdoors!  I do however have a treadmill so have been getting *some* exercise.  Button disappeared under the sofa and emerged only when necessary.  Today the weather has improved considerably and Buttion is out "taking the air" as I type.....

Calm day....

Sunday was a beautifully calm day, some respite from the winds which are due back this week.  Though I have to say I treasure the calm days more just because they are rare in the winter!  Temperatures are mild though so that's something I suppose.  Though we have had quite a bit of rain and the fields are getting wet so the cattle are now beginning to come into the byres for the winter. Sunrise here is 0806 and sunset is 1547 as we speed to wards the "shortest day" (compared with 0720 and 1610 in London).

Knock Knock.....

I was quietly getting on with work the other day and I heard a tapping at the front door.  I opened the door - nothing..... just the hens on the grass scratching about.  Hmmmm did their air of concentration look a little too studied?  I closed the door and went back to my work.  A few minutes later there it was again.... tap..tap... tap.... I opened the door - just innocent looking hens...... O-kay...... back to work.... tap... tap... tap.... I thought "Right girls you're not going to get the better of me THIS time!!"  So I snuck out the back door and round to the front where the girls were all clustered around the door!  On closer inspection they were pecking at the putty at the bottom of the door guard!  I'm assuming the linseed oil attracted them or something.  I muttered darkly about consequences if my door leaked this winter and they wandered off to perfect their air of innocence......

Action Cat

I just love this photo of Button! The pure energy and grace of a hunting cat.  She was out in the field behind the house, having been cooped up for days indoors with gales and rain.  She just rejoiced in the freedom to explore the field. I saw her hunting and it was a pure fluke that I managed to capture the action shot!!

It has to be said she failed on this attempt, but did provide me with an "offering" later in the day. I told her to take it outside and dispose of it, opened the door and she went out muttering.  [The squeamish should not read further....!] I looked out the window to see her munching away in the light of the cat flap! She then popped back in and demanded a little light supper in her dish........ that's cats for you!

Note re waxwings - I mentioned waxwings a few days ago. Today I found this blog on Fair Isle (part of Shetland Islands) - do take a look at the amazing pictures!  It's a new blog so think we need to encourage more fantastic photos!

Harvest Home

Friday night was the island "Harvest Home". This is an evening  celebration of the end of the harvest period. All the parishes in Orkney hold them about the beginning of November to celebrate having brought in all the crops, tatties, neaps, and safely delivered livestock. 

The tradition is a meal, with music and dancing to follow.  The ladies on the island did a great job of providing the meal with plenty for everyone including the traditional "clapshot" which is mashed tatties (potatoes) and neaps (swede) and happens to be my favourite.....!  John Budge of Longhope gave an impromptu speech at the end of the meal while we had our coffee (it's traditional to have a "speaker" at such an event). We also had home-made shortbread and a new delicacy of shortbread with caramel, and white chocolate...... it was wonderful and I managed to bring a doggy-bag home of some too!

After the meal the tables were cleared and the musicians began.  We were really  fortunate to have Fran Gray and John and Leslye Budge from Longhope.  Fran and John played on accordions accompanied by Leslye on the bodhran (see photo above).  John also sang a selection of songs, some traditional Orkney songs like "Kirkwall Bay" and "Lonely Scapa Flow", as well as traditional Scottish songs and some country music type songs which we all joined in.  There was also some traditional dancing with the "Strip the Willow" going on for some time and getting faster towards the end.  I feared the "First Responders" might be required by the time the dancers finished!! 

The party went on into the wee small hours but I headed home about 2am.  Though rumour has it the party actually carried on until about 9 a.m.!

Anyway it was a great night and we're all very grateful to Fran, John & Leslye for coming over and providing such entertainment!  Now.... I need to work out how to get more of those biscuits......