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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Scotland the Brave 2017
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
Quite right, PG. Slainte mhor!*
* OK, that's Gaelic, which doesn't happen in Orkney, but you get the idea. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pangolin Guerre:
I think that I should go pour a dram of Highland Park just now.
Is there ever a time when it isn't a good time to pour a dram of Highland Park?
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
No.
(BTW, stor seier, wot Mr. Google says is Norwegian for slainte mhor, and therefore perhaps more appropriate for Orcadia).
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Jack the Lass
Ship's airhead
# 3415
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Posted
This weekend saw the opening for the 2017 season for the Bo'ness and Kinneil steam railway, so as the weather was so lovely we spent this afternoon there. It was lovely - well worth a trip for those of you near the central belt.
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"My body is a temple - it's big and doesn't move." (Jo Brand)
wiblog blipfoto blog
Posts: 5767 | From: the land of the deep-fried Mars Bar | Registered: Oct 2002
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North East Quine
Curious beastie
# 13049
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Posted
I had a great night last night at the announcement of the winner of the Wallace Monument hall of heroes heroine.
Both Mary Slessor and Jane Haining were in the top five in the public vote.
There was a poetry reading by Gerda Stevenson and a speech by Dolina McLennan. I found myself looking at Dolina thinking that I'd love to be so slim, so well dressed and so bright as her. She's 79, so I have 27 years to work on it.
Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Jack the Lass
Ship's airhead
# 3415
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Posted
Last weekend we had a lovely long weekend on the island of Gigha, in the southern Hebrides. It was such a simple place - one shop, one hotel, one decent restaurant, one fancy house with gardens (beautifully and vaguely weedy), and lots of tiny beaches with perfect white sand. We had enormous cooked breakfasts in our B&B which set us up for the day, then mooched around and explored, it was glorious. I must say (again) how tempting island life is (that feeling was particularly acute once I went back to work. And was reinforced by waking up on Friday and discovering we're now living in a Tory constituency).
I'd need to find something to nuke the midges though. We've been back since Tuesday and I'm still scratching the bites.
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"My body is a temple - it's big and doesn't move." (Jo Brand)
wiblog blipfoto blog
Posts: 5767 | From: the land of the deep-fried Mars Bar | Registered: Oct 2002
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
I'm heading over for a spot of Island Life this week; flying to Glasgow on Tuesday and on up to Orkney with my sister on Friday to see my dad (who's 92 and failing) and take in a few concerts at the St. Magnus Festival, which I haven't been able to get to since 1988.
Looking forward to it! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Wet Kipper
Circus Runaway
# 1654
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Posted
welcome back !
will you just be up north ?
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- insert randomly chosen, potentially Deep and Meaningful™ song lyrics here -
Posts: 9841 | From: further up the Hill | Registered: Nov 2001
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kingsfold
Shipmate
# 1726
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Posted
quote:
posted by Jack the Lass:
I'd need to find something to nuke the midges though. We've been back since Tuesday and I'm still scratching the bites.
I feel your itch. I got well-midged in Ullapool over a week ago on the way out to the Outer Hebrides. Fab break, but still scratching....
Posts: 4473 | From: land of the wee midgie | Registered: Nov 2001
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Arethosemyfeet
Shipmate
# 17047
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Posted
Midges are very rare out here - you'll only see them on really still days. A good sea breeze is the thing: they don't like it up 'em!
Posts: 2933 | From: Hebrides | Registered: Apr 2012
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Wet Kipper:
welcome back !
will you just be up north ?
Thanks, WK - I'm flying to Glasgow tomorrow night and I'll be in Edinburgh until Friday, then flying up to Orkney until Tuesday and back to Edinburgh until the Friday after that, then home on Saturday. I did wonder about arranging a meet, but sort of didn't get round to it (you know how it is).
Re: midgies and islands - the edges of the islands might be fine, but I remember Dad having to give up after half an hour of picking blackcurrants in his garden in Kirkwall because he was being eaten alive.
I have bite-gel in my suitcase ... ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
eta: they don't just live in Scotland either - when we moved here last summer I was bitten to buggery. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
[ 12. June 2017, 19:21: Message edited by: Piglet ]
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
Is it one of those "more Scottish than Scotland" places, trying to out-Scottish the rivals with added authenticity?
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Arethosemyfeet
Shipmate
# 17047
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Posted
Surely every Orcadian knows that Kirkwall doesn't count as island - it's on the mainland after all.
Posts: 2933 | From: Hebrides | Registered: Apr 2012
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
Fair point, Arethosemyfeet! Doesn't keep the midgies away though ...
I don't even know if the New Brunswick bugs are what we'd call midgies - they're maybe more likely to be mosquitoes - but they don't half bite.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668
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Posted
One of the best ever trips back to Scotland in May, visiting family, friends and familiar places; also some new places. A week on Orkney was heavenly - will be back there before long. Perfect weather the whole time, even on Iona. Then we drove to New York to visit the latest granddaughter and her family last week - too much! I will never be a city boy. Orkney is perfect for me.
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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)
Posts: 905 | From: On the traditional lands of the Six Nations. | Registered: Sep 2011
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Arethosemyfeet
Shipmate
# 17047
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Posted
May is a good time to be in the Inner Hebrides - we get the best weather in May/June usually - and it was especially fine this year.
Posts: 2933 | From: Hebrides | Registered: Apr 2012
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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:
May is a good time to be in the Inner Hebrides - we get the best weather in May/June usually - and it was especially fine this year.
The key word is "usually"... Last year when I went at the beginning of May it snowed the day before I got there and the bus had trouble crossing Mull. The previous year in May it never stopped raining. But this year was the driest I've ever seen it, and even the mill stream beside the Abbey was almost dried up. Most other years I've gone in October, which generally takes the uncertainty out of getting rained on. The lady at whose B&B I usually stay reckons she can predict the weather by my travel plans.
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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)
Posts: 905 | From: On the traditional lands of the Six Nations. | Registered: Sep 2011
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North East Quine
Curious beastie
# 13049
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Posted
We are supposed to be experiencing Storm Caroline, but it hasn't hit yet. It's a bit breezy, but that is all.
Anyone else?
Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Mild and blustery (SW wind) down here in the bottom right-hand corner, but the forecast is for NW wind later - and much lower temperatures, and even sn*w...
Not wishing her on you, NEQ, but maybe Caroline's running a bit late?
I blame Tr**p.
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
We had a good soaking last night. But, nothing extraordinary. Not even that my car chose that moment to suddenly grind to a stop so the AA man and I got drenched - him while dismantling the brake that fell apart and jammed on as I was driving (fortunately very slowly, backing into a parking space ... dread to think what would have happened had I been doing even 20mph) so the car could be towed to a garage, me to sign various things on the tablet thing where he recorded what he did.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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North East Quine
Curious beastie
# 13049
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Posted
Caroline has arrived, about 6 hours late. She was supposed to have been past and leaving by early afternoon.
High winds and driving rain here.
Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007
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kingsfold
Shipmate
# 1726
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Posted
Hold onto your hats.....
(It was a bit breezy here last night, but nothing really OTT)
Posts: 4473 | From: land of the wee midgie | Registered: Nov 2001
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Alan, thank God you weren't driving at any speed, or on the open road.
Why do these car calamities always happen when it's pissing down with rain or sn*w?
Meanwhile, down here out of Caroline's Evil Clutches, we've had a fine orange sunset, but the temperature is falling.... ![[Help]](graemlins/help.gif)
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Jack the Lass
Ship's airhead
# 3415
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Posted
A bit of wind and rain here in Stirling too, but nothing particularly out-of-the-ordinary. Hope NEQ and cattyish have battened down the hatches though.
Windy Wilson is forecasting Baltic temperatures on Sunday though (Do you know Windy Wilson? Scotland's best (and sweariest) amateur weatherman, well worth a follow on facebook).
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"My body is a temple - it's big and doesn't move." (Jo Brand)
wiblog blipfoto blog
Posts: 5767 | From: the land of the deep-fried Mars Bar | Registered: Oct 2002
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
There were some quite good photographs of the effects of Caroline on the Orkney photographic page on Facebook this morning, and the Scrabster/Stromness ferry got stuck.
Of course, in Orkney that's just "a peedie bit breezy" ...
In other news, the Big Tree in Kirkwall has been named as Scotland's Tree of the Year.
![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
I thought you meant that the ferry had stuck on a reef or sandbank or something, but not so - she simply couldn't get safely into harbour.
News Report
Looks like a well-appointed vessel, so let's hope she's well stocked with such delicacies as GIN, WHISKY, PIE, CAKE etc. for those on board overnight...
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
The Hamnavoe is a well-appointed ship, but D. and I never use her if we can avoid it because (a) she comes in at the wrong end of Orkney; and (b) even on a normal day takes half as long again as the Pentalina, which comes in at the right end and is owned and run by a bloke who was in my class at school.
The Pentland Firth is a very nasty piece of water (you've got the Atlantic meeting the North Sea in a channel less than 20 miles wide), and can be treacherous even on what appears like a calm day. I have less-than-fond memories of the first roll-on/roll-off ferry they had on the Stromness-Scrabster run (she came on in the mid-1970s and at the time was the only way to get cars to Orkney). For whatever reason, she had been built just the wrong size for the size of the waves you get in the Firth and even on a calm day she had a horrid corkscrew-like motion - and she took 2 hours.
[ 07. December 2017, 20:50: Message edited by: Piglet ]
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
I see that MS Hamnavoe eventually docked earlier today (presumably having run out of WHISKY, GIN etc. etc.).... ![[Snigger]](graemlins/snigger.gif)
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
On reflection, I seem to be casting unfounded nasturtiums on the habits of sea-bound Orcadians.
Umble Apollo Gees.
It does sound as though Storm Caroline has brought Scotland some windy weather, complete with sn*w, all complete, and got up regardless.
Nothing out of the ordinary, then.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
Indeed. I don't envy the passengers one bit.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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M.
Ship's Spare Part
# 3291
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Posted
Not a hint of a snowflake around the Falkirk- ish area yesterday, not even on the hills. The only snow I saw was a bit on the step of the train going to King's Cross as I got on.
M.
Posts: 2303 | From: Lurking in Surrey | Registered: Sep 2002
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Nor down 'ere neither, not yet.
Who knows what tomorrow might bring? Rain and wind, it seems, but little or no sn*w (so a few of the faithful - the Usual Suspects - might make it to church....).
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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North East Quine
Curious beastie
# 13049
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Posted
Took the train to visit my parents today and some of the snow covered scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.
Lots of other people were also taking the train instead of risking the roads and the train was jam packed. It was an ...interesting ....journey.
Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
We seem to have acquired about 6 inches of snow this evening.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
Oh dear,fly-tipping is really getting to be a problem!
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
Time to tidy away this old thread and start a new one.
Thread closed.
Piglet, AS host
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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