Elephants, Leopards & Lobsters

Friday night saw a group of us headed to a local club for a charity event called Gogo Lobsters. This was a combination of a local band, Stereo Lobsters and a charity called Gogo Olives.

The charity raises funds by knitting and selling animals like the one pictured enjoying a pint. (they are usually better behaved, this one was led astray) Great fun was had by all. Lots of laughter, music and dancing. Half way through the evening one of the friends I arrived with disappeared off to the toilets and emerged a leopard. We couldn't help but wonder if she had been drinking more than the elephant. Everybody wants to be a cat, however if you want to own one you can purchase knitted leopards, but my crazy friend is not for sale. All in all a great evening and £2400 raised for a very worthy cause. Check out the website for more info. http://www.gogo-olive.com/

REBOOT- Back by popular demand

It's been literally yonks since my last Blog. Lot's of Christmas emails asking when I will be getting back into gear and updating it. It seems there is a genuine interest in my musings. You're a good lot.

2011 starts with my job hunting. I was made redundant on Christmas eve so not a great start to the New Year but I realise I'm amongst many others who are in the same boat. I refuse to let it get my down.

There will be other events happening this year which will mean big adjustments. My daughter will be leaving home if all goes to plan. This will happen about August, September time. Do you have any idea how blinkin' soon that will come round? I can hardly believe it. Two minutes ago it was all S Club 7 and babysitters club, now it's driving lessons and UCAS trauma.

I'm also going to lose more weight. I lost three stone in 2010 and was delighted. I want to continue and lose more. It's pretty much the same New year stuff I know but I have other more exciting plans. I'm just not going to tell you what they are yet. Keep you coming back. ;-)

Only in Orkney

My parents received this letter today addressed to

''Mrs ........ SRN on her birthday & Mr ......... & her daughter and her children at a newly built bungalow on the islands c/o postmen of the islands (if they would be so kind) The Orkneys Scotland''

Orkney is small but not THAT small and Orkney people do not like Orkney being referred to as The Orkneys. All in all a huge thumbs up and well done to the postal team for managing that one.

Wind,Westray and giant spacehoppers

I was due to go to Westray for the weekend on Friday and had been looking forward to it for several weeks. I've only had a brief visit there and was ready to see a bit more of the much talked about island. Some say it's where God goes for His holidays. Sadly the one day I was due to set sail was the day the winds really picked up. Not a bonnie day at it has to be said. I had read the forecast and was feeling slightly sick at the thought of being sick on a rocky boat. I was given a pep talk from a friend about the finer points of a boat's bottom. The outer isles boats have a flat bottom so they sit on top of the water. (or was it a flat bottom?) anyway I'll leave all the technical stuff to him. All I cared about was his reassurance that I would survive the crossing and emerge without looking green. I woke on the Friday morning with renewed bravery and vigor. I was ready to tough it out on the flat (or is it round?) bottomed boat and packed my overnight case. The winds had other ideas and and just over an hour before we were due to leave the boat was cancelled (along with nearly all the other boats I hasten to add!) So my visit to Westray is on hold and my breakfast lived to see another day. Shame. I was genuinly feeling braver than normal. Maybe I was just too proud to wimp out.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Instead of chilling out in Westray I found myself sitting on a giant space hopper at a church family fun night in aid of Sport relief. Most things in life seem to get smaller. (creme eggs, wagon wheels you ken the way?) but this was the biggest space hopper I've seen and I was itching for a go. I had to bounce round a course and didn't bounce very far! It was exhausting but a great way to keep fit. I think my space hopper days are over but I had ace fun. I've a feeling though it wasn't a good look. ah well.

Orkney hit by another two feet of snow!

White stuff, clever stuff and a bit o' ranting

For someone who always seems to have plenty to say I've had an epic fail at keeping this blog up to date. *must try harder*

Mark Twain famously said, 'Everybody complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” The complaining about the weather drives me insane. People saying the same thing over and over. However I have now been driven insane by the weather and find myself in the category of complainers. I am well and truly, completely and utterly sick of it. (snow that is) I am reliably informed that Orkney has had one of its worst winters since blah, blah, blah. See that's another thing. Whenever we are given an account of the weather on the news it's always 'since records began' The lady with the BBC voice calmly tells us it's been the hottest October, the wettest May, the snowiest June, the driest rainfall 'since records began' anyway, the bottom line is Orkney isn't that bad compared to many places (heck even Florida got snow!) but it's bad enough to make me grumpy. I had an attempt at trying to trick the weather by doing some spring cleaning the other day but it took no notice. It feels like Narnia. Hurry up Aslan, get on the move!

On to the clever stuff......
After 18 months being here I finally got to see the Northern Lights the other night. Otherwise known as the Merry Dancers. Now here comes the dumbed down science bit..concentrate.... apparently there has been very little activity over the last 4 years and Northern Lights sightings have been significantly reduced. However due to clever stuff with the sun and light and north pole and magnets etc it is set to improve greatly over the coming months and I was even told that by this time next year seeing the Northern Lights will stop being a novelty. Jury is still out on that one, but for the sighting I did get, I drove out to Birsay where it was pitch black. I stood outside my car and listened to the waves whilst looking up in wonder at the green and white lights dancing away and thought ''wow, this is clever stuff''

Octobrrrrr....

ok I admit the picture was taken a few weeks ago but isn't it beautiful? The weather has cooled down a little now but we had a glorious summer so can't complain. The exciting news is that my parents moved up here a week ago. Who'd have thought that when I set sail for these shores they would follow? They are settling in well and are enjoying exploring their new environment as well as the joy of time travel..... (back in time about 20 years.) I still have much to be thankful for and am enjoying putting down roots and forming solid friendships as I get to know who's who on a more firm foundation. I really enjoy going to Stromness Baptist church and after having a year off rotas I'm now taking my turn with a few jobs which have proved both challenging and fun. Last night we had the first of a regular Saturday night meal together. A Once a month get together for folk to eat and blether. It's held the first Saturday in the month so put it in your diary and come along. It'll be worth the journey up here, honest!