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.

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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

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Quote of the month

(from Ecological Consciousness Facebook page)

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Books of the month

Thank you Helen for our lovely gift.

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

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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)

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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

💘 💘 💘 💘 💘 💘

Happy New Year to you all

a great way to start the new year with

wild waves and wild women

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Wilma always gives me plenty of photo opportunities and I always seem to have a camera to hand. It has of course been a hectic time for Wilma.

" Of course I'm comfortable "

" I was just a little tired, that's all "

" with a little yawn ..."

" and a stretch ..."

" I'll be raring to go again "

" when's supper ? "

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Our geese have survived another Christmas and took part in a little synchronised swimming to celebrate

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Christmas morning wouldn't be the same without a bit of cold wet fun !! 

You're never alone with a wetsuit.

Lunch always tastes better after a swim.

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Poem of the month

I fly on the wind,

I fall with the rain,

I float on the sea salt air.

I roll with the waves,

I'm one with the sea,

White horses race me back to the shore.

On a far away island with you, my love,

On a far away island with you.

Dark skies wrap around me

like a soft velvet cloak,

Moon beams light my way home.

I run on white beaches

with sand 'tween my toes

gathering treasures and shells.

On a far away island with you, my love,

On a far away island with you.

Gulls cry overhead 

"Come, come and be free.

come, come and just be"

On a far away island with you, my love,

On a far away island with you.

June Purvis

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Book of the month

Thank you Dorje for the loan of another great book !

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from Tom Gauld , Guardian cartoonist

Taking down a book from the shelf and flicking through it's pages the other day, much to my surprise a butterfly flew out !

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Remembering all those loved ones who are no longer with us to celebrate 

the new year

"I asked the leaf whether it was scared because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling. The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was very alive. I worked hard and helped nourish the tree, and much of me is in the tree. Please do not say that I am just this form, because the form of leaf is only a tiny part of me. I am the whole tree. I know that I am already inside the tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. That’s why I do not worry. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.'" ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

from Tao & Zen Facebook page

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 from Scottish Women's Institute Facebook page

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 wishing you all joy, magic, miracles and good health for a fabulous 2022

Malcolm and June

💚 💛 💜 💛 💚

November 2021

 

Welcome everyone to our November 2021 blog. It's a short blog posting this month, probably because it's been a rather wet month and I haven't taken so many photos.

This little fella loves to come and sit with me while I enjoy my morning coffee

Isn't he just adorable ?

Yet another traffic jam in Aultbea while the sheep are escorted to their winter grass.

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This is the underside of the Herdwick sheep fleece rug/throw that I started a few weeks ago, showing the felted "skin".

This is the top showing the longer fibres.

Unlike traditional sheepskin rugs where the animal is killed for it's skin and fleece, this method enables the sheep to live on and grow another fleece for the next few years, everyone wins !!

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This coming Saturday Aultbea is being treated to a filmed live performance of The Nutcracker,

complete with ice creams and popcorn at cosy tables for two,

looking forward to a brilliant afternoon.

Thank you Stan for organising this event.

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Book of the month

thank you Dorje for bringing this book to me, I'm loving it ! ! xx

(from Courtney Be More With Less)

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Tom Gauld is a cartoonist for the Guardian and I just love this one, which one are you ?

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Poem of the month

Are my eyes open ?

The blackest of black.

Nothing moves.

Silence.

Nothingness.

Just am.

Without knowing have I passed from life to death?

~~~

The dog snores at the end of the bed.

~~~

June Purvis

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Pause for thought

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One of my daily pleasures is to say goodnight to pony Zara and sit with her while she munches her way through some hay, in her eagerness she sometimes surprises me over the railing in the shelter and looks rather spooky in the light of my head torch !

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Quote of the month

(from Tao & Zen Facebook page)

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If anyone would like to swim on Christmas Day morning we will be at the Boom Beach at 11am,

you will be most welcome to join us

Wishing you all a calm, peaceful and loving December

🌟

🎄

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🎄🎄🎄

🎄🎄🎄🎄

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

💛💛💛

Malcolm & June & the gang