Welcome to our January 2023 blog, hoping you have enjoyed the festivities of the past two months.

A wintery scene from our cottage and now looking forward to longer days and sunshine !

Our geranium at least seems to think it's summer

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Quote of the month

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Books of the month

really loving this new book from the lovely bookshop in Kirkwall

there are some fabulous old photographs;

here is Hughie, a former inhabitant of our cottage with his hens, sheep and ducks

and earlier transport on the island

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Burn's Supper

North Ronaldsay put on a very special 

Burn's Supper for the island, the first since covid.

plenty of haggis and "clapshot"

(a traditional Scottish dish originated in Orkney combining turnips, potatoes and butter)

pipes, fiddles and accordian

speakers, dancing and singing

and a dram or two.

Thank you to everyone who made it so vibrant.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

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Pause for thought

from Tao & Zen Facebook page

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A trip to Kirkwall on mainland Orkney for dentist, theatre or just a day's shopping involves getting on the "air-bus" for a short fifteen minute flight, very cosy and compact !

and of course you get to see all the other islands from a bird's eye view

We do of course have two small shops on the island and most provisions come on the ferry but occasionally you need the mainland.

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The North Ronaldsay sheep carry on much the same as usual

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Not all moons are the same ....

love this artwork

Artwork by Lizzie Spikes - Driftwood Designs

Ecological Consciousness Facebook page

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Zara looking contented, her main hobby in life is eating, can't blame her for that.

So from us, 

in the most northern cottage 

on the most northern island of the Orkney isles

we wish you happy February days.

Stay safe and warm

Malcolm and June

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹