January 2022

Welcome to the first blog of 2022, hope you enjoy.

In a few weeks time Malcolm and I will be relocating our lives and animals to the furthest north island of the Orkney Islands,

 North Ronaldsay.

In preparation for the move we have spent part of this month on the island sorting out the cottage and stores and getting to know the islanders and it's ways. There is a lot to explore and a lot to learn.

We packed the car until there was no room left !

Tilly cat wanted to come too, but we had to explain that she would have to wait for another trip.

Our first hour-long ferry took us from Gill's Bay, near John O' Groats, to St Margaret's Hope on Orkney Mainland.

On board chips and coffee always taste good after a five hour drive.

After a short drive and an overnight stay in Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney Mainland, we waited at the ferry terminal early next morning for our second ferry for the two and three-quarter hour crossing to North Ronaldsay. 

Unlike most of the other ferries to and from the islands when you get to North Ronaldsay everything that comes on to the island has to be craned off of the ferry; cars, building supplies, oil, food, animals....  (haven't mentioned this bit to Zara pony yet !)

Once the wheels touched down we were ready to drive the three miles to our cottage and open the door to our new life !

Once at the cottage a selection of the ancient North Ronaldsay, shore-hugging, seaweed-eating sheep came to see what all the fuss was about. More about them another day.

The islanders make sure that everyone knows how to stay safe on the island.

The island of North Ronaldsay is only around four miles long by about one mile wide with nearly seventy residents, so nothing is very far away, 

but within about 400 yards from the cottage there is the lighthouse (so I can always find my way home in the dark)

a brilliant Seawatch hide to watch the waves, bird and animal life and the night sky, NR has International Dark Skies status

a foghorn

and during the winter months a Saturday morning bakery and small cafe at the lighthouse

where the homemade croissants are the best that I have ever tasted !!! and with great coffee

all on the furthest north of the furthest north Orkney island !! next stop Shetland.

For those of you who are wondering, yes we have running water, electricity, tv signal and internet !! 

and for the return journey the car had it's second flight through the air, a little lighter this time.

To all the people we have met on the island we thank you all for your kindness, generosity and enthusiasm and we will see you again very soon.

~~~~~~~

Poem of the month

Another place,

not so very far away,

yet other worldly,

they call it North Ronaldsay.

Those ancient sheep,

that roam along the shore,

eating seaweed,

nothing more.

The lighthouse-beams

shine out across the sea,

circling rhythmically,

automatically.

Raw and wild,

strong and free,

feel Nature's power,

just let it be.

~

June Purvis

~~~~~~~

Quote of the month

(from Ecological Consciousness Facebook page)

~~~~~

Books of the month

Thank you Helen for our lovely gift.

~~~~~

These two books have only just arrived but just reading the first few pages it looks like they are going to be brilliant.

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

Pause for thought

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing towards the future. Live the actual moment . Only this moment is life."

Thich Nhat Hanh

( from Tao & Zen Facebook page)

~~~~~~~~

For the next few weeks there will plenty of lovely things to do here in Aultbea and to savour special moments with our friends here.

We wish you all a warm and safe February and a

 happy Valentine's Day

Malcolm & June

💘 💘 💘 💘 💘 💘