Island Blogging - All Blogs

Arnish Lighthouse » Seaweed

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:44:52 +0000

Seaweed

For hundreds of years, the seaweed growing on the shorelines of these islands have provided a source for various materials.

Economically, the kelp became a major contributor towards the economy of the Scottish islands in the 19th century. Napoleon’s navy was blockading the United Kingdom 200 years ago, and there was no way that the source material for gunpowder, ...

Musings from Millport » the landlady’s award ceremony

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:00:18 +0000

Well what a summer it’s been ! The weather during the school holidays wasn’t brilliant, but it didn’t seem to put my renters off enjoying their seaside break in my flat. As well as my own, I had Jane’s mum’s flat rented out too -which was quite hard work, but it seemed better than it sitting empty.

It was a bit ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » St. Kilda Field Mouses The Truth

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:21:35 +0000

According to the BBC news, nearly 6 million peoples of this

land that we reside in,have not been paying the correct

amount of tax.

Apparently it is not the fault of the "Nearly 6 Million"

and they will have to repay the short-fall.

Another story, that caught my attention, was that banks are taking money out of peoples accounts, without informing ...

Through the Viewfinder » Once more unto the breach dear friends

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:24:53 +0000

Oh dear oh dear. Toys are now being thrown out of the pram and all I can do is laugh my head off.

A few months ago I made a little fopar and blogged about someone who read it and became all prickly about it. The reason was because she saw what I said as an attack on her belief ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » A Sideways Gaze

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:03:12 +0000

I was reading, in one of those black & white things that are re(a)d all over, a newspaper, that this woman in Iran was getting stoned. I thought that whatever an adult does in their own home, & was not hurting anyone else ( well alcohol does so much damage) then that’s fine by me. But then I realised that there ...

calumannabel » Le Guga est arrive - sorry my pooter doesn’t do acute accents

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:38:51 +0000

Gastronomic highlight of the Ness year, Dods MacFarlane and the boys are back with a boat full of guga.

Ness exiles from other parts of the island are busy collecting their orders from relatives for it is all to order nowadays - no more buying off the pier at Port of Ness - in fact a few more storms there will ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Nicolson Institute

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:04:15 +0000

Just sharing a few images of the area around the Nicolson Institute on Springfield Road in Stornoway. The Pink School, Springfield South, has been knocked down - this is one of the necessities for the building of a new Nic. As the pictures show, this permits some novel views. For a while, at any rate.

Springfield North, Nicolson Institute

...

Arnish Lighthouse » Pairc buy-out

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:09:05 +0000

More developments on the Eastern Front, also known as the Pairc community buy-out bid. I am linking to the article on Hebrides News, but do draw the conclusion that the landlord, Barry Lomas, is actively working to thwart the buy-out bid by every means possible. Apart from that, he is also working to divide the community amongst itself by manipulating those ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » Don’t Get ME to Help

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:51:05 +0000

A friend of mine was going into hospital, for an operation, I will not go into details of the op. it just would not be right, and there might be some men reading this whilst eating lunch/dinner, so for that reason, I won’t go there. My friend had quite a few people who depended on my friend, but now my friend ...

calumannabel » Gazette letter about Callanish Visiting Centre

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:25:15 +0000

Someone called Donna Smith has written to the Gazette complaining about a lack of facilities on a Sunday at Callanish. Having married into a New Tolsta family she says she understands the island customs but finds this too much.

My cousin Donald has just married into a primitive New Guinea tribe ( to get away from Chrissie Mary) and in his ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Cliffhanger

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:42:18 +0000

On Saturday (August 27th), Dave Macleod and Tim Emmett climbed Sron Uladail in North Harris. It took them six hours to climb this 600 feet high outcrop, an event televised live on BBC 2 Scotland. Apart from the climbing, which was hair-raising to watch, there was also a nice bit of information about the culture and natural environment of Harris. Although ...

Arnish Lighthouse » St Kilda - 80 years on

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:37:12 +0000

the villagers of St Kilda were packing up their belongings, before leaving the island of their birth forever. Some left a bowl of grain on the table, with the Bible open at the chapter of Exodus. A community, a culture, a way of life was coming to a close after thousands of years. Life on their outpost in the Atlantic had ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Pollution

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:49:51 +0000

MV Isle of Lewis, 13 December 2009

Calmac, our ferry operator, could face prosecution under pollution laws over the exhaust fumes of the Isle of Lewis ferry. Since this boat was converted to burning heavy fuel oil last year, it has been belching out thick fumes every day, prior to departure. Those who are ever in Stornoway town centre at ferry ...

calumannabel » A short message to all Hebridean new born lambs

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:52:00 +0000

Gambol responsibly

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » Not Time Four Bed

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:55:53 +0000

At the end of every summer there are too many sad chores.

In a barrel of Granny Smiths you’ll find plenty of rotten cores

A man can still ride his bike with an abundance of saddle sores

A young couple playing tonsil-tennis not caring who scores

Another young man dies fighting a war in a mountain of ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » The Carnival Ain’t Over Yet…..

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:14:16 +0000

Here is a link to the flash dance in Stornoway, at the 2010 carnival. The beautiful lead dancer, is none other than my darling daughter ( known in my Virtual Blogging World as Little Herself, or LH for short)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLzr8RRzQ4c.

You can click onto link, or copy and paste, whatever you find easiest. The sharp eyed amongst you, may spot me, ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Acclaim

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:24:36 +0000

The Arnish Lighthouse is pleased to note that it has won critical acclaim in the most recent posting on The (Made Up) History of Stornoway journal. In a run-down of SY rhyming slang, the Arnish Light is equated to a Load of Sh*te, so talking Arnish is talking a - you know what I’m saying.

Conversely, saying someone is an Arnish Welder ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » My Coffee Break.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:43:11 +0000

Hi, it’s me again, just spilled my coffee, again. I’d just like to, for once, be able to make and enjoy a cup of coffee, without spilling any. I put water in the kettle, I turn the kettle on, eventually, then get a cup or mug, I pop a couple of sweeteners into the vessel, then try to spoon in some ...

Arnish Lighthouse » August

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:47:06 +0000

The Arnish Fabrication Yard has received an order for a tidal energy generator device, which will be trialled in the sea narrows between the islands of Islay and Jura. This is good news, as they are presently completing their last order on the books. Over the past few weeks, two barges with attendant tugs have been moored at the quayside in ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » HEADLINERS

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:00:30 +0000

There was a competition in the P&J to “WIN A FANTASTIC ipad”. Now the iPad may be fantastic, but are there other iPads that are NOT fantastic? If I were to go into a shop that retails iPads, would I get a “Fantastic” iPad, or would they fob me off with a “Mediocre” iPad?

There was also a disturbing headline “Monkey ...

Barebraes » Shapinsay Show

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:06:08 +0000

Most of you in Orkney are probably having a great time at the County Show. Beer tent, Prize Giving, Farm Machinery and lots of fun and excitement. Those of you who are outwith Orkney will be wondering what you are missing. Well to help you understand what it is all about, I will try to capture the flavour of the ...

View from the Helm » Westside Show

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:11:05 +0000

The 29th Westside Show was held at Barvas Machair last Friday (20th July) and we spent a pleasant couple of hours there in the rain. It wasn’t a good day at all weather-wise but as the guy opening the show said ‘It wouldn’t be the Westside Show if it wasn’t raining’!

It wasn’t a huge show but it is always fascinating ...

Through the Viewfinder » The Rising Tide.

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:17:49 +0000

After the rather frantic last few weeks I am now entering a quieter patch. Even if only for a few days I have absolutely nothing planned at all, and that is rather nice to know. This gives me a chance to;

A.) Tidy up the studio (And boy does it need it!)

B.) Catch up on some paperwork. ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » MANAGE A D’UN?

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:43:06 +0000

For sale 1 slightly plumpish male. In need of a complete overhaul, although can be used in present condition. No M.O.T. or tax. Has been fully serviced, but could do with a major service. Is handy about the house, toilet trained, is very reliable, however the most reliable element of this model is unreliability. Has a current, clean ( ...

View from the Helm » Never close the curtains

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:02:58 +0000

Our rented house sits quite high on the hillside above Newmarket with great views over The Minch so we don’t bother to close the curtains when we go to bed - just in case there is a sunrise worth seeing. It’s been almost a month now with little to get excited about but yesterday morning I woke about 5.15 am and ...

Barebraes » Pauline !!!!!!!!!!!

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:02:41 +0000

Only a man would name a barge Pauline !!!!

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » IF I…………….

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:48:31 +0000

If I tell you a secret, will you tell me a lie?

If I said I was sorry, would you still say goodbye ?

If I said that I loved you, could you still walk away?

If I knelt down before you, will you marry me today?

If I offered to change, could you change life as well?

If I ...

calumannabel » Stornoway - a dirty town?

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:15:49 +0000

I was catching up with the Stornoway Gazette when I chanced upon a letter from a Harry Kear from Lydney in Gloucestershire. He complained that while on a recent cruise his enjoyment of Stornoway was marred by its dirtiness and he was staggered that there was no Harris Tweed Visitors’ Centre on the Quayside. I guess Mr Kear is a civil ...

nats blog » 1 year

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:05:20 +0000

It is hard to believe that we have been here a whole year (plus an extra few days).

The time has gone so fast, and with so many different eperiences from growing veg to bottle feeding a lamb.

The weather seemed a lot better this time last year though.

Lottie is growing into a beautiful fat sheep, she ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Lady Matheson’s Memorial

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:14:47 +0000

Lady Matheson's Memorial

This small memorial stands prominently above Cuddy Point in Stornoway. It is a memorial to Sir James Matheson, proprietor of Lewis from 1844 until his death in 1878, erected by his wife. The memorial was recently restored and a ceremony was held to celebrate the event.

Sir James was a controversial figure in history, both on the ...

Fletcher Saga » July 2010

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:53:53 +0000

How time seems to just zip past. It certainly doesn’t seem like 3 months since my last blog. All the county shows will be taking place next month, when they are over it will be almost winter and yet another year will have passed! During the summer we had the usual RNLI buffet lunch which raised over £1,800 but the Stronsay ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Switched off

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:57:56 +0000

Achmore and Eitsal

Fifty minutes ago, just after midnight, the signals for the remaining analogue channels from the Eitsal transmitter at Achmore were switched off. Their frequencies will now be allocated to more digital channels for the benefit for Freeview users across Lewis and parts of mainland Scotland. It brings to an end 38 years of analogue broadcasting from Eitsal, ...

Barebraes » Windmills, Drainage,Rendering and Tourists

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:30:17 +0000

When I look back at my last post which was in January its hard to beleive that its been just over 5 months. The grass has grown and been cut the silage has been gathered and soon the fields will be full of golden bales. I love this time of year, the island seems to come alive with activity, tractors back ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Hebridean Celtic Festival

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:48:22 +0000

Last night, Saturday night, I attended a concert by folk-rock band Runrig, which was the star attraction for the Hebridean Celtic Festival this year There appear to have been 5,000 people in the big blue tent (this picture from 2007)

What was not very well organised was the provision of refreshments. Runrig last played in Stornoway in 2005, and at the ...

Musings from Millport » You never saw me ,right??

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:45:53 +0000

Millport occupants have been horrified by a spate of break ins recently, one while the house’s occupants were still in their beds. They appear to be targeting big houses, (sensibly enough, I suppose..) and if they break into George St, the only thing they could possibly nick is some poly filler and a slowly deflating air bed.

However it’s alarming residents, ...

The Soaplady » Packaging-recycling drive …

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:36:55 +0000

These days, I aim to buy no packaging at all for my mail-order business …

This has been the case for the past three years …

All my packaging is recycled, and I can confirm that my customers don’t mind getting their soap enclosed in a clean Felix cat-food packet, or a re-mastered cardboard box … (well none of them ...

THE MIDGE » AYE THE FAIR

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:25:03 +0000

AYE THE FAIR

The train comes ta a shuddering stop
Maw gets up puts on her coat
Wake up yer dad hes been snoring
Since we left glesga this morning
Were doon the water fae the fair
Me Maw and Daddie
The rain is falling at Wemyss Bay
The steamer is nae running
Up the pier comes a big fat ...

View from the Helm » Greetings from Lewis

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:51:42 +0000

After a rather tumultuous nine months (which have been mentioned elsewhere) we arrived on the Isle of Lewis on Thursday 1st July about 5 weeks ahead of our ‘deadline’. We did well! Of course, this being island life, the broadband connection was completed only today. Actually that’s not quite true as it was connected on Tuesday but in doing so BT ...

calumannabel » Some things for the weekend

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:05:17 +0000

Chrissie Mary Morrison (Miss) is now back home in Fivepenny after her release from the Tropical Diseases Ward at the Western Isles hospital (it’s round the back near where the helicopter lands). The malaria she suffered is now subsiding and she is expecting a bevvy of VIP visitors nwo that the HebFest is upon us. Rapper Uilleam I Am is said ...

Through the Viewfinder » Let’s start a list

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:36:14 +0000

My head, my chest, every single vertebra in my spine, my nose the inside of my mouth and finally what remains of my legs. What do all these items have in common? You guessed it they all bloody HURT!!! Just got off the ferry after 7 days and 1,600 miles and my body is a total shambles.

...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » Rainy Days & Big Foot

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:29:57 +0000

Is this it?

I mean is this all there is to look forward to?

The future?

Well if this is the future way of things, I’m glad that I’m not going to be around to see it. I’m not expecting to die any day soon, it’s more me being old, or getting older, or feeling older. I hope ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Pointless

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:11:13 +0000

I have used the title of this post advisedly, and I hope nobody in Point will take this too personally. The Norwegian energy company Statoil has proposed to build two windfarms in the Minch, off Bayble and between Ness and Cape Wrath. The structures, towering 100 metres above the water and an equal length below, would be build in clusters. Each ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Eishken East

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:18:01 +0000

Eishken Estate owner Nick Oppenheim has unveiled plans to build 6 turbines in addition to the recently approved Muaitheabhal windfarm, consisting of 33 turbines. 1% of revenue from this windfarm, entitled Eishken East, will be placed into a community fund by Mr Oppenheim.

Although I do not (yet) know the geographical location of this community windfarm, it would appear to be ...

The Soaplady » Time goes by …

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:14:13 +0000

Hello everyone … :- )

I am writing this blog in a ridiculous position from a very low chair, giving myself a back-ache and arm strain … Why …?!

Because the cat is on my ergonomic office chair, that’s why …

(Note to self: I have just turned 51 years old, and I am not even the mistress of my own ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Stornoway Windfarm

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:52:48 +0000

Two years ago, the Scottish Government refused planning permission for a 181-turbine windfarm stretching from Port of Ness in the north of Lewis through Bragar south to Stornoway. The developers, AMEC, have now announced they are considering a smaller development of some 30 turbines, stretching from the Pentland Road in the north to Achmore and Loch Leurbost in the south and ...

calumannabel » New Immigration Proposals

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:46:25 +0000

The Home Secretary has announced temporary caps on immigrants this morning. I hope these caps are to be made of Harris Tweed as it will do much to stimulate the island economy. Perhaps some gloves in locally produced wool might also be a good idea or is this asking too much?

Calum

The Soaplady » Expressing a point of view

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:51:29 +0000

I made my usual visit to Callanish Post Office this morning …

What I found did not uplift me …

Apparently the Callanish Visitor Centre at the Standing Stones site is in the process of applying to open on Sunday. There is also talk of a liquor license being applied for too.

In the Post Office, there has been ...

Arnish Lighthouse » Town Hall refurbishment

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:20:28 +0000

There has been a silence of several months surrounding the controversial refurbishment of Stornoway Town Hall. Hebrides News is now reporting that the Scottish Government has passed the plans, as submitted and later amended by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The group of people who are opposed are incensed and have lodged complaints with the Standards Commission against the Comhairle. Individual officials ...

Thewhitesettlers' Piece of the Blogosphere » Falling Into A Nightmare…

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:04:43 +0000

I had a dream last night, again, it is roughly the same dream that I’ve had in other sleeps.
It begins with a man and a woman being chased, by whom? I do not know. Why were they chasing this man and woman? Again I know not. I believe that the man could be myself, but I can’t see the faces ...

THE MIDGE » T IN THE PORT Tomorrow

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:33:35 +0000

Tee in the Port 2010 A musical day in a magical setting

Port Bannatyne Golf Club have organised a day to remember with a very varied programme of artists performing from 2pm through to 10pm on Sat 26th June on the golf course.

There will be seven bands performing on the day, along with ...