Barebraes

 All of you  bloggers you will know that  Hooch has been a part of this and the BBC blogs since it started way back when. Unfortunately we had to take him to the vets on Thursday and it was decided that there was nothing we could do  for him.

He has been  with us for  over 6 years and  having being a rescue dog I am sure that  he has enjoyed his time with us as much as we have with him.

He was a characture and my everlasting memories of him  will be  when he was at his happiest  neck deep in the ocean cooling off.

Although I am very sad that he has gone, I am glad that  I was able to share  some time with him.

Girls outing to Stromness

As I sit here I find it hard to beleive that my last post was over 3 months ago. Shame on me !!!

Well what has been going on  here, to be honest I couldnt honestly tell you, Old Father Time has  stolen  last year from us and we are hurridly hurtling into 2010 without our seatbelts on. Someone save us from ourselves.

The winter weather is  with us and as usual we are having to dig ourselves out of  here with shovels.  Snow  has fallen  fairly lightly so far but more is forecast for tonight so I guess that  tomorrow I will have to take  a walk to the top of the Brae where my little car is sitting safe and ready for its terrifying  exit down the brae slipping and sliding on the sheet ice that has  settled and stayed on the long track.  One ex resident of Barebraes  had visitors on skis as the  track was  unpassable for days. 

Poor Hooch needs a sled as  his poor paws slip and slide on the frozen stuff and he  decides to  sit and look helpless when  his  legs  give way underneath him, trying to pick him up is a mammoth  task when you cant keep your own feet.

Apparently Harray Loch  was frozen and Mainland Orkney saw numerous accidents.  The Christmas and New Year Ba was held and some  pictures can be viewed here:

http://www.bagame.com/main.html

By all accounts they were splendid game with the Doonies upsetting the Uppies and  winning the Mens New Years Day Ba.

As for us at Barebraes we have been enjoying the festivities and look forward to a productive New Year, this mainly due to the fact that we have been very  busy doing other things and  the poor house has been  neglected. One day we will get it finished.

We wish everyone a  Happy New Year and a great 2010

Yesterday the phone rang at Barebraes and upon answering it I  was reliably informed that the Barge  bound for the Fair Isles  laden with  pods  for the  bird observatory  was leaving Hatsons Pier.  After  a short while I  took the  binoculars and peered over towards Kirkwall and there it was, lead by the pilot boat heading  along the String out  towards its destination.

As it passed very slowly I got a good view of the  contents of the barge, Little  houses all stacked  on the decks. The name of the Barge is Salina and it was accompanied by the MTS Vengeance.  The  day was  bright and  clear and  not too windy and I wondered  how long it would take to get to the destination as the speed  it was going was very  slow.

As it headed out into the  String I got ready for work at the  Thomas Sinclair. 

On arriving  at work  we could see on the horizon  what looked like a  huge moving hill, this was the barge but it seemed to be  getting nearer instead of farther away.  On inspection through binoculars we could see that she had turned around and was heading back towards Kirkwall  

 Apparently  they had decided that the weather window was too narrow and the swell too much to chance the journey and  back into port to wait another day they came.

Well when she goes again I hope that she makes her long journey and safely  gets to  the Fair Isles.

Here is a Link to the  Bird observatory site :

http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/NewObservatory/Appeal_update.html

Well I am not  practicing for  a tongue twister competition just trying to keep you up to speed on the past few weeks in Shapinsay.

As mentioned in the previous post  it was the Shapinsay Horticultural Show.

What a turnout.
Despite the weather  being  far too dry for the veg the  folk of Shapinsay  did us proud. The Hall was a wash with  flowers, veg, crafts, baking, photographs, jams  and  dairy produce.  The judges had a hard job but rose to the  challenge and awarded the  prizes to the best in the  classes.

I managed a few  prizes for  some art work  and photographs  but alas  didnt feel that the  entwined carrots would  pass inspection.  The tattie in a bucket competition was a grudge match between Rousay and us and I am glad to say that the  heaviest bucket belonged to Shapinsay.

The  next day we were all back in the hall for the  RNLI fete.   A Bad forecast had  changed the venue from the  Village Green to the Community Centre. The Barbecue was set up outside the hall and side stalls  were both inside and out.  Sausages, burgers, steak rolls and various  relishes and  pickles provided by  Mrs O from  Orkney Island Preserves were devoured.  The  weather was  better than we had expected and apart from one  heavy downpour the sun shone and the money rolled in.

The  entertainment came from The Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society,  The girls of the Pipe band and  a local ensemble of musicians. In the afternoon there was a Sumo Wrestling Competition for all ages.  I can tell you those suits are some heavy and hot. I mananged to get knocked out in the  1st round mainly  due to the fact that  I couldn’t fight for laughing so much.

The Round Shapinsay  Sailing Regatta also took part and the  crews of the boats were invited to the function.

The Grand total  raised was just under £1000 which was a great acheivement.

The  frivolity lasted late into the evening and  we were all there the  day after to clear up the mess.

Well done Shapinsay

Well This year I have  eventually  got round to  growing a few Veggies, not that we will need a lot just for the two of us but its a start.

Its been a bit hit and miss as  the lovely Cabbages  were demolished overnight by a swarm (not sure if this is the correct terminology) of Creepy Caterpillars who devoured every  leaf and  stem. The tatties are looking good as are the  beetroot and carrots and we are awaiting the  produce from the Parsnips.

As the Show season is upon us  I  thought  it only fit to mention that the Shapinsay Agricultural Show was a huge success with hoards of visitors  attending and the poor MV Shap  being full to the  brim on at least 3 crossings, forcing the nice man from Radio Orkney to have to find altrernative  means of transport to  cover the prestigious event.

The  competition is heating up too on the Horticultural front with the Tattie in a Bucket Comp  being fought over between Rousay and Shapinsay.  The Horticultural Event is to be held on the 14th August and  usually a grand event to attend and to take part in.

I am going to  see if I can get  my  Prize Carrot into the  record books

 What do you think will it win any prizes

My how time flies…. here we are past  the longest day and heading back into shorter days.

Shapinsay has  been turned into a patchwork of  Greens and Golds, silage stipes and Hay bales are everywhere. They say its been an exceptional  year for the Silage, plenty of dry weather and  most of the  farms  all stocked up for the winter months again. The Haylage is  slowly being  cut and baled and  the feilds are awash with  golden  rolls. 

I love this time of year, Liners pass by the house on there  way to Kirkwall, people with smiles on their faces happy  with the warm weather.  All the tracks awash with  flowers and  the  Marsh Lillies out waving their yellow heads in the  breeze.  Hooch just lies in the garden  huffing and puffing at another warm dry day , his only respite being a  cool  dip in the ocean.  He  wallows  with his head  visible in the cool  water, not a care in the world and not  a thought  for the  gulls that fly above his head squawking.

Along the track to Barebraes we have had  lots of breeding oystercatchers and curlews and  on  entering  the track you can catch glimpses of the  adult and baby birds  practicing  flight.

Its fast approaching  the time  for the Annual cattle and Horticultural Shows as well as the RNLI Fete.  Shapinsay will  provide  a good show at all these events and many  cakes and cuppas will be  consumed.

As for us at Barebraes we have  been  busy trying to earn enough money to finance the  rest of our  building project and have hardly enough time to scratch our ***** :) , But  I have managed to  sew some seeds and  the  veggie patch is coming along.  So If your in the area and want to pop over to Shapinsay ,. I am  sure that you will get a good  warm welcome .

Well Day  Two and the Tea Cosy  was kindly invited to a Jaunt  at Haughland House. There was a spinning weekend and yours truly and the Cosy  decided that we needed to learn the art of  spinning and plying.

So off we went

Taking life in its hands on the open road

We arrived at Haughland in time for  Tea and Biscuits and were shown the fine art in  spinning with wheels and other implements…..

After Lunch we  went for a stroll aroung the grounds and found a few things to  look at

As you can see the Cosy was well and truly spoilt to a truly  interesting day

What  other  adventures will it have

Yes Its Here !!!!

The very Nice DragonLady sent me ‘The Tea Cosy’ and now I am in possesion of a very fine  peice of craftiness.

As you can see the  natives have been very interested by the  new edition to Barebraes and have taken no time in  making the  Tea Cosy  feel at home.

I intend to  find a few more photo opportunities over this coming weekend but heres a taster of the things to come !!!

First  things first  the opening ceremony

The  package was no sooner opened and in use

First  inspection  came from the 3 most  nosey inhabitants of Barebraes

Then a  tour of the  abode

I think Hooch thougth that if he  barked loud enough it would come and play with him

Well things have been ticking over but to be honest since my last blog I cant  understand that were nearly into April and I have no news or pretty pictures of any significance whatsoever.

Life seems to have sucked Barebraes into a huge big black hole and days pass by without any excitement or  catastrophe.

This is the turning point I think …. things need to move on

Spring is round the corner and Im going to dust off the  Winter and set free the Summer.

No more moping around the house  looking at unfinished walls and  un rendered brick .  Its time to take action and embrace the good feeling that Summer brings. Although looking out the window today (yes I have a window) I can see a grey sky and  various ducks and chickens scrapping around in the drizzle wishing they were somewhere else.  Now the clocks have changed it is nice to be able to  see things at 8pm and hopefully that will spur me into action

I hope that we have a good Summer and perhaps my next post will show a few changes around the place

The residents of Shapinsay had a poll over the last few weeks to raise money for the Comic Relief cause.

On Saturday 2 poor chaps had their legs waxed for charity due to popular demand. you could hear the screams from here

What did you do or have done for charity ?