November 2022

Welcome to our November blog 

photograph offerings, hope you enjoy them

Work on the stone roof of the barn has been completed !!!!

 all is now wind and watertight .

The next job (of many) is to point the stone walls on the inside

Wilma likes to be with us and involved in what we're doing even if she does sleep through it all, any old cardboard box will do.

November has brought some wild winds and a lonely swan made it's way to our temporarily swampy croft.

The wind has also brought plenty of seaweed ashore giving the North Ronaldsay sheep an abundance of food

but even these tough sheep enjoy a bit of shelter now and again

There's always one that wants to go it alone

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Pause for thought

(from Tao & Zen Facebook page)

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Rainbows and a lighthouse, lovely

Where there's a lighthouse there's always plenty of rocks and waves

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As part of the island's dark sky status a group of us do regular night time walks to take and record darkness readings, our latest walk was amazing with a beautiful clear night and an aurora.

The North Ronaldsay Astronomy Group has a Facebook page with some photographs you may enjoy.

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Books of the month

With the longer darker evenings you can't have too many books to read !

Thank you Janet and Peter for this lovely book with it's beautiful illustrations, 

it's got all the things we are interested in, 

well found !!

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recommended by "Out Of Doors" Saturday morning radio programme on Radio Scotland

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watch this space, haha

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Written by Christine Muir who lives on North Ronaldsay this is a delightful read.

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Quote of the month

(from Tao & Zen Facebook page)

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So from Tilly cat,

Zara pony

and Miss Wilma 

and us,

 we wish you all a peaceful December

 and send you winter blessings

✨✨✨✨✨✨

October 2022

Welcome friends, old and new, to this month's blog offering, hope you enjoy the photos.

The roof stones seem to be getting bigger !

Hard hats definitely needed for the skillful job of placing the stones just in the right place.

Malcolm assessing the next job of cutting the stones along the ridge

Two happy lads ! 

The next stage is to point between the stones with lime mortar.

Thank you Billy, we couldn't have done it without you, your tremendous skill, knowledge, patience and your JCB.

The catch-phrase of the month coming from the JCB cab was "Noooo !!!!! not like yin !!!"

we learnt a lot !

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Our front door of the cottage was a very sad affair

and definitely needed cheering up.

So with a cheery coat of paint to match the abundant dandelions we now have a more welcoming entrance

and with a new pane of glass, we now have a wonderful view towards the sea

Just need some paint on the inside now.

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Although Wilma is almost fourteen she thinks she's tough enough to take on the sheep and pretend to be a collie dog, from the safety of being the other side of the gate anyway.

Zara pony had the vet out to her this month for her yearly dental treatment, tetanus jab and overall checkup.

She was a little star !

The wheelie bin came in handy as a make-do head stand as the vet couldn't bring one over on the plane, Zara didn't mind

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The "birdy people" as we call them, from the Bird Observatory, were delighted to spot a Central Asian lesser whitethroat in our garden.

 It is only the eleventh time one of these birds has been sighted in the UK since 2003.

The little bird was caught and details recorded

shortly before being released again. 

This tiny bird breeds in Europe and Central Asia and should be wintering in North Africa, the Middle East and India.

wishing him a safe onward journey.

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Quote of the month

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RNLI survival advice

This is something that I have only recently become aware of and thought it would be good to share

"FLOAT TO LIVE"

have a look at the very short RNLI Youtube video, you never know it may save your life one day.

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Books of the month

With the days getting shorter it's always a good excuse to get some more books ready for cosy evenings !

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This next photo was kindly sent to me by

 Michael Cook who came on one of the recent lighthouse tours.

love this photo !

You may like to have a look at Michael's blog:

www.wildscot.blog

Michael's latest blog "Birding on North Ronaldsay"

is a must read with some amazing bird photos from his trip to the island this month. 

Thank you Michael

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Pause for thought

( courtesy of Scottish Women's Institute Facebook page)

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and so from little Wilma 

(for all her fans out there)

and us

we wish you a 

happy Halloween

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃