stavenatives

The Swan…

Davy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:47:02 +0000

The last ‘Fifie’ herring drifter built in Shetland, in 1900, restored in the 1990s, heading North through Yell Sound towards the open sea.

Skipper: Magnie Sinclair

Thanks to David Simpson (friend of the family and one of the passengers) who brought this YouTube video to our attention.

Chooks!

Davy — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:30:45 +0000

We have chickens! Okay, so it’s only four and it’s only chickens… but, it’s exciting! We’ve only had one egg so far and the flickr gallery I have added shows that very product!

I don’t think they enjoyed the NW’ly gales we’ve been having over the last couple of days, they all ran inside as if to cluck WTF is this place that we’ve ended up! Perhaps not? Do they think?

Rammstein – Feuer Frei

Davy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:36:17 +0000

This made me laugh! I like this band anyway, but if you haven’t seen this or even heard of these guys, check ‘em out!

Happy St. Swithun’s Day!

Davy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:26:00 +0000

St. Swithun was the Bishop of Winchester who died July 2, 862.
Whilst he was dying he asked to be buried out of doors, where he would be trodden on and rained on, in the following century he was regarded as a saint, and the then Bishop had his bones reburied in a shrine inside the cathedral on 15 July 971.

The story goes that as St. Swithun was being exhumed, it started to rain. Unfortunately the rain didn’t stop for forty days and forty nights… sound familiar? Apparently this was St. Swithun showing his disapproval and punishing the monks.

I wish we could all be that certain in our forecasts!

St. Swithun’s Day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days, it will remain:
St. Swithun’s Day, if thou be fair,
For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.

According to the Meteorological Office this is untrue. They have tested the myth on 55 occasions and each time 40 days of similar weather did not follow.

Now, this is Stromness in Orkney… what’s the likelihood of no rain today? Looks promising just now, bright but misty! It’s early though… (yawn)

The fly of the dragon

Seona — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:04:16 +0000

This post is by Seona: I got freaked out earlier, I was sitting in the tunnel area having my morning ‘think’, and an ENORMOUS insect caught my eye – a dragonfly maybe, I’ve never seen the like – a noise like a helicopter, looked like a helicopter and as it got closer it looked even more huge! So then I freaked out as I thought it might eat me! What’s going on!..

The reply from the British Dragonfly Society…

Hello Seona,

The only large blue dragonfly previously recorded from Orkney is the Common
Hawker (Aeshna juncea). I suspect that this was the insect you saw. No need to flee though! Dragonflies are completely harmless to humans though they do eat enormous numbers of flies, mosquitoes and midges.

You can see some information and photos of this species at the British Dragonfly Society

Chickenfoot

Davy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:15:33 +0000

Joe Satriani, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar are Chickenfoot! I must say that this is one musical collaboration that you should definitely have in your collection unless of course you’re a dance muso in which case a guitarist, bassist and drummer don’t apply!

Anyway, it’s brilliant. So, head on over to your record store of choice, pick up a copy, have fun with the Thermochromic ink cover and rock on!

Dog-puss destruction!

Davy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:38:17 +0000

You can perhaps guess what happens when one of our cats (Dog-puss) gets stuck in the tunnel overnight! Well, take a look at the latest image here, this kind of ventilation is now in various places all over the tunnel!

I reckon that if it can stand this kind of abuse, then there’s a fair chance it’ll stand the winter… we’ll see.

Four weeks old today!

Davy — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:05:06 +0000

It’s unbelievable the growth rate that happens in the tunnel, we knew things were going to be quick but we are now scoffing salad, spinach and various other green leafy delicacies such as pak choi, rocket, coriander…
Can’t wait until all the proper hot food starts to fruit! Freshly picked chillies for me at breakfast time. Chilli and banana smoothie, chilli and apple smoothie, chilli and orange roughy! (Not exactly what I meant, but if you like fish…)

9° Celsius until BANG!

Davy — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:50:38 +0000

I went up to the tunnel at lunch time to check on our thirsty little vegetables and the temperature was at a scorching 41° C! (105.79° F) It’s not even a particularly hot day here today, 9° C with a fairly fresh wind from the West. Going to need some serious ventilation in there when it does start to get warm outside. Anyway, the chillies are loving it, maybe it’s time to plant the Okra.

Gallows – Grey Britain

Davy — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:31:40 +0000

One year later and another album from the fine hardcore punk band Gallows! I listened to it this morning on my daily mile and a half stroll to work, howling wind, thoughts of polytunnel flying past! Well, it’s another awesome piece of work, seems like a fuller sound but still has the rawness of Orchestra of Wolves.
I’ll give it a proper listen later on but I reckon it’s going to be another favourite album, also the track Graves features Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro.