October 2025

 Hello everyone, welcome to the delights that October brought us

The North Ronaldsay seaweed-eating sheep like to keep an eye on the weather, the wind and storms are a sure indication that there will be an abundance of seaweed to eat.

With plenty of seaweed and "tangles" brought ashore this month they certainly didn't go hungry

and they always have their favourite sheltering places  

Storm Benjamin finally did for our beloved "Joycie"

being by the seasalt air for fourteen years has sadly taken it's toll, but although she may be legless now we hope to find a place up against the wall where she can still photograph the passers by and still make them smile as usual.

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Malcolm has been showing off again with his carrots 

and his leeks

and the house and shed are full of his onions

Zara has good days when she loves rolling in the mud and others when those knees just won't cooperate.

Mr Blonde doesn't need rugs, little tough soul that he is and isn't bothered by any wind or rain that this island can throw at him !

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The North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory folk have been over the moon this month, with spotting and getting a close up look at a male Siberian ruby throat !

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Book of the month

This is Charlie Mackesy's second book,

magical, enchanting, soulful, beautiful !!

Love it.

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Celebration

Billy, our lovely Lighthouse Keeper and his delightful wife Isobel celebrated their

 50th Wedding Anniversary this month.

It was a joy and an honour to be invited to share in their celebrations. 

A celebratory song for Billy & Isobel

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As they glanced across the dance floor she saw the twinkle in his eye,

he was so very handsome, he was so very shy.

With tender love they married back in nineteen seventy five

and still they keep their love so very much alive.

Chorus

On a far away island they fell in love.

On a far away island they're still in love.

A crofter and a builder, a home he built at Hooking,

keeping his strength the while on Isabel's fine cooking.

Over their years together, with the seeds that they have sown,

their family has flourished and has grown.

Chorus

Billy, our lighthouse keeper, has earned his MBE,

for more than fifty years now he's safeguarded men at sea.

As UK's hardest working man, he's achieved a lot in life,

but beside him there, you'll surely find, a strong hard-working wife !

Chorus 

                                                                from June

Well done Billy and Isobel

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The celebrations were held at the Lynnfield Hotel in Kirkwall, a wonderful place to eat and stay, highly recommend it.

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Remembering Jane Goodall 

primatologist, anthropologist, conservationist and humanitarian

1934 - 2025

words from The Old Wisdom

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If you are looking for a beautiful and inspiring

Calendar for 2026,

you may well enjoy this one from 

The Landworkers' Alliance

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Pause for thought

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Wishing you all a happy  Samhain,

stay safe, warm and healthy throughout  November,

from June and Malcolm

and the gang

🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃