Updates are getting rarer! A year since the last one, and back to tiny thumbnail photos, mainly 'cos there are so many. Click for higher quality.
This is something of a photo diary of 2008... apart from not all photos being quite in chronological order, and many omissions. Okay, a photo sketchbook?
We didn't have much snow last winter, but here's Gairsay with a dusting. |
One in the eye (literally!) for Jen. |
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Breck, the farm at the bottom of the hill. |
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We once had a seperate kitchen and dining room... |
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...and now have a porch, thanks to Keith. |
Murdan came from Turkmenistan to help. |
Valerie and Alec came for the Christening. |
Mick worked as Fred's labourer. |
Minor flooding. |
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Auntie Frances visited... |
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...everywhere... |
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...including Rousay... |
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...admired seals... |
...and was characteristically interested in research. |
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Alan visited... |
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...with Meg... |
...and admired Steve's first trout of the season. |
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A poor example of digiscoping. |
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Lambs started to arrive... |
...so cute... |
...ahhh! |
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Wilfred, |
Kit, |
Martin, |
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Jude |
and Harry... |
all tested the "new" Wayfarer, |
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and, of course, visited Gairsay... |
...in the inflatable. |
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The "Orkney Game" is developing as they add places visited. |
Glen canoed with Ingrid and Jen. |
Dad fished... |
...in Scapa Bay with the distillery in the background. |
Mum and Dad walked... |
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...to the Old Man of Hoy. |
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Gutting fish. |
Matt and Rebecca tested the new climbing equipment in Kirkwall... |
Supported by Auntie Jen. |
Andy and Lis admire the Gloup. |
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Exploring the Brough of Deerness |
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A sick eider duck just wanted to be left alone to die. |
We went home to sample a selection of local whiskies... |
...which seemed to have a profound effect on Andy. |
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Ploutering. |
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Story evening at Via House. |
An old hag. |
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Waulkmill. |
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Wayfarer trip to Fara... |
...perfect boat for family or single handed sailing. |
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Rhian joined in for walking... |
from Birsay to Skipi Geo. Keith and Steve were fishing! |
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Scapa Bay Mackerel fishing... |
...in two boats. |
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YES! |
Rebecca baked... |
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...while Matthew cooked... |
...and everyone ate. |
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Keith fished several lochs from the Wayfarer and float tube. |
Keith led fly tying seminars. |
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Lis and Andy joined the Steel House Trio for a jam. |
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Windy on the Sands of Evie. |
Lambs mostly grew bigger and fatter. |
Matt developed skills in trout fishing. |
Archaeological dig at Ring of Brodgar. |
Ali and Jack relax... |
...while Abi poses... |
...and Dave takes photos. |
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Jonathan went caving at the Brough of Birsay. |
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We had a smooth trip to the Smithy in Shapinsay. |
The Sunnybreck restaurant "Sleepy Selkie" was just as, urm, interesting. |
Immaculate waiting staff. |
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From Stromness to Hoy... |
...was a tricky trip against tide and wind. |
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Finally, Feli was ready for the water... |
...and after much help from Valerie and Alec, plus a loader... |
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...and four farmers, she floated. |
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Wendy, Zoe and Jessica enjoyed sunshine... |
...as we sailed to... |
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...the Smithy in Shapinsay! |
Val on Gairsay had a bumper crop of strawberries, and an hour's help from the girls. |
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Jessica models one of the two Orkney hair styles. |
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We flew on the shortest scheduled flight in the world from Westray to Papa Westray. |
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About 90 seconds. |
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Oldest house in Europe? Knap of Howar. |
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Deerness boat show. |
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Followed by amazing tea in Deerness Hall and hours on the zip wire outside. Hamiltons Returned! |
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The race to Egilsay - Jen and Jude on the ferry... |
Wilfred, Kit, Martin and Steve in the Wayfarer. Wayfarer won! |
St Magnus Kirk as the rain fell and wind increased... |
...persuading the kids to return by ferry. |
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Almost no wind in the harbour... |
...but we need the reefs as we skittered home. |
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Kit in another of the fleet. |
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Ploutering! |
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Wonderful little Newark Bay was a great starting point... |
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...to take two boats to Copinsay. |
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Fulmar chick in old fireplace. |
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Jenny was in command... |
...while Steve bought Jen a car on our passage to Eday. |
Big crane struggling to place a new tidal generator. |
Eday has a perfect harbour... |
View from Eday's incredibly welcoming "Roadside" pub. |
...but tiny. |
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Thanks to a borrowed (island!) car... |
...we explored the north of Eday... |
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...and, as the weather deteriorated, the south. |
Just beat the ferry away on a really breezy morning. Much tutting and head shaking from onlookers. |
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Swona with Pam Farmer. |
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Matt on sailboard behind inflatable. |
Hilary on Marwick Head. |
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Anne and Hilary on Birsay. |
The Smithy! |
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Sailing home from Shapinsay - Hilary and Pam. |
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Swona is an eerie place... |
...houses abandoned... |
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...almost as though people just forgot to return after a weekend away. |
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Tim takes school choir. |
Big fat lambs... |
...except our runt, Peedie, who had a cunning survival strategy. |
Sunnybreck boatyard continues to develop. |
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"You caahhn't slaughter me, I'm much too peedie!" |
Gairsay in December. |
Jock, the most wonderful dog. |
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Langskaill, Gairsay. |
