A Northern Journal

For anyone who is interested, I have copied the posts I made in the original BBC Island Blogging site into a page.

Original Blog Posts

So I sit here with only a day or so before I go back to work (Uggg!). We have had a fortnight of snow, well I hesitate to call it snow, as it has been frozen solid for much of that time and the drive and road is glass-like.

Christmas was spent quietly with parents visiting but we were ice bound for much of the time and I had a nasty cough. M & B managed to get out for a handful of walks, but not as many as they would have liked - and I had big plans to get out walking too.

Eventually I felt well enough to venture out properly and the four of us piled into the Trooper and hubby carefully drove us up to the wind turbine where we went for a short walk crunching through the icy crust on the snow. I had hoped to walk further into the hill track but the going was too tough and potentially soggy under the ice. M & B decided to walk home (about 2-3 miles) and I decided to join them. Hubby went off with the car to go to the shop. It was nice to be out and about after being confined to the house but boy it was cold! We stopped in briefly to visit Gem and her pal Murphy. I promptly managed to frighten her by taking a photo with a flash. It was a good walk, but I did hitch a lift the last half mile with hubby returning from the shops as I was puggled!

Parents safely got back to the West Coast and hubby and I plodded along doing very little expect eating leftovers. The road into ours and another four houses had only seen a gritter once. My wee car hasn’t moved for nearly two weeks now… but at least it is in the shed.

The ponies are doing incredibly well with very thick fluffy coats but with the frozen snow can’t get to much grass (not that there is much left on the field) so they get some hay ouside. They both, despite being natives like coming into the stable at night.

Today I was sitting idly browsing the net and being bored when I saw a gritter come up the road and back down again… yet again it didn’t come in by us. Doesn’t our council tax pay for this service? An angry Facebook comment later, and I found the OIC roads dept number and gave them a ring. I got an answer and whilst I was on the line the person at the other end radioed the gritter which only 5 mins before had missed us. Low and behold, it returned and did our road. Now that is service for you!

So, it is 2010 - it has a nice sound to it. What will it bring? I don’t know but I’ll just take it as it comes.

… one member of our menagerie spent most of the icy season asleep…

Christmas presents unwrapped, paper all over the floor and Malfoy finds somewhere to go to sleep. Stretched out on a piece of wrapping paper felt to him, a very good idea but he was rudely awoken by an interloper into the household. “Pss Psss Pss”, I says to him and he blinks his eyes open to be faced with a papier maché cat. He blinks again not sure on what he has seen.

Out stretches a paw to give the newcomer a tentative blat, then shock and horror, it moves. Malfoy was very very unhappy as shown by his racoon like tail!

Well, you would throw a cat treat in here!!!

Gimmee gimmee gimmeeeeeeaow!

Good Frances went to fetch her ponies in on a cold and wintry evening. The snow lay roond aboot getting deep and even. Brightly shone the outside light and the frost was very cruel, when two hairy ponies came in sight desperate for their fo oooo oood!

Winter has (at long last) hit with a vengence. After what feels like months of continual rain the chill north winds has brought snow, only a dusting, mind you as most of it is being blown horizontal across the landscape, not being give the chance to settle properly. I woke this morning to the hail rattling the window and I looked out and my first thought was to get to the shops asap to get some food in… you know just in case the snow lingered longer. Next task was to clean the stable out but didn’t put the ponies out as  had the mad idea that I would go and deliver my local Christmas cards. This is an annual event where the ponies suffer the indignity of being tinseled up and adorned with jingle bells and we tootle down the road to deliver cards. With the forecast not looking good for Sunday, I made the decision to go for it.

Dressed in layers - 2 pairs of jodhpurs, 2 pairs gloves and socks, thermal layers, tee-shirt and fleece and padded jacket I mounted up (carefully - I hadn’t ridden for about 8 weeks) and we set off, with Sigurd trotting along side. Within a short time the horizontal hit, but luckily it was coming from behind us, as Thorf carefully picked his way down the road. No shoes on mean he has a little more grip in icy conditions, but even so, I mostly rode him on the verge. I have him trained to take teeny weeny slow steps if we do have to cross icy stretches. Nine households were visited, but we only lingered at a couple for any length of time one for a dram and the last one for a hot toddy which both Thorfinn and I enjoyed very much. I do wonder whether one can get done for being ‘drunk’ in charge of a horse, or could one argue that the horse knows his way home and was actually in charge! The ponies also partook of pan drops and carrots (spoilt or what?).

So, that’s the card deliveries done for this year and it is now time to get into the final preparations for the festive day itself.

Okay, so I had planned, long before now, to post further about the Rousay cycling trip and have even got most of it in a Word file (but not on this particular computer) - that will be for a later post when one wants to remember that distant hot summer.

So, where has all the time gone? Nobody warns you when you are kid, that as you get older the time scurries along at a rapid pace. Or is it just the fact we now live hectic, technology based lives which mean we need to have everything done yesterday? Have we had an October holiday or was that just my imagination? Is it really six weeks since we in the school choir have been rehearsing our carols for the school’s Christmas Carol Service? IS that really happening next Monday? Eeek! Have I really started letting the kids put up decorations in the library? Well, I had to as there are two weeks of term left despite my belief that my own tree in the house will not be going up until just before the day itself. HANG ON!!! It really can’t be Christmas two weeks on Friday! No way!

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall around 4:30pm, Monday 7th December 2009

Why do cats always find the smallest or weirdest places to sleep? Interesting, tho’ that it is the tabbies who appear to be caught in odd places more often, especially Merlin, the white chested one.

Merliln found sleeping in the plant pot 6:30am on 12th November

Malfoy in the newspaper recycling box on a high shelf

Perdi

A typical Merlin sleeping place - anywhere that he is too big for!

Looks cute, but Snitch is very aloof!

The latest venue for Merlin

Merlin lifts the lid to get in and hide

Glove and hat rack. Merlin somehow shifts the wood which is meant to stop him sleeping up there!

Malfoy likes bags

Malfoy also likes small places

I'm stilll not sure how Merl got into this one

Folders are fair game

Warm radiator (admittedly he had help :-))

Malf in another bag

An empty box is fair game

A young Malf

Both tabs on the shelf, not a common sight to see them together like this

Kitchen bin

Malf on Gem

Malf on radiator of his own accord

Merlin - not exactly cosy

Snitch & Merlin in a laundry basket. Snitch isn't too happy about sharing tho'.

I am surprised the cats continue to find the odd places to sleep. They surely must be getting fed up of having a camera (which I usually always have to hand) pointed at them.

I haven’t done much in the way of competition this year - some dressage, Riding Club Show and Dounby Show. I have got to the stage with Thorfinn that he has been there and done that and at one point or another won most types of competition I have put him in. He is one amazing Highland Pony who turns his hoof to anything asked of him. I now mostly enjoy hacking and driving out enjoying the Orkney scenery. We picked up a first at the RC show and got reserve champion ridden Mountain & Moorland. Thorf performed well at dressage league, but competition was much stronger this year so we picked up 4th place in the league. (He has won both the Intermediate and Open classes in his time). Dounby Show was one of the hottest days of the year which didn’t bode well for T as he doesn’t do well in the heat. I thought he was foot perfect and extremely well mannered in the ridden class, but the judge preferred lighter types. The driven class was at least 2 hours behind time (really really frustrating in that heat) and Thorf was a wee bit listless. Harness up, brass glistening in the bright sun, he perked up and was once again foot perfect. He took one fright whilst warming up at some kids (and an adult!!!) bashing water bottles against the ringside fence. He went on to be impeccable and to win all three trophies on offer. The three judges, especially the two men were absolute in their decision (only 2 in the class). I was chuffed. The best bit, better than any rosettes and silverware was the chap who entered the ring to shake my hand and tell me what a good job I did. He thought Thorf was a first class pony (but I know that anyway). My groom and I then drove Thorf the mile and a half home. A fitting end to a long day.

Orkney Riding Club Show

Dounby Show

A few weeks ago, I took both ponies to an Orkney Carriage Driving Group long reining event at the indoor school in Kirkwall.  This was an opportunity to introduce the peedie chap to other ponies and carriages. For Thorf it was just an outing and to keep Sig company. To begin with I long reined T, but he was a pain and not concentrating as he wanted to get back to Sig. Sig meanwhile, decided to throw himself around wanting to get to T. Someone went over to him, but I requested that folk ignored him. He is an intelligent bright spark and if he learns he can misbehave to get attention, I am in trouble. He has to learn to tie and stay still. He actually soon calmed down. I then took Sig out. I introduced him to the cones and other horses and carriages and he took it all in his stride. At one point Thorf came over and joined us, having somehow untied himself (???). What a bright spark Sig is. Before long, he was looking for the next turn through the cones. I also had a shot at driving Jethro, belonging to Gaira Driving Ponies in a 4-wheeled carriage. What a difference to my 2-wheeled one - great turning circle and Jethro was very kind to me, thankfully as it was the first time I had ever driven a different pony. After a break I gave Sig another turn round the indoor arena and even ‘drove’ him next to another Shetland in a gig. My little fluffy hobbit pony hardly bothered. We even ‘put him to’, well a friend held the gig whilsts Sig was placed between the shafts. He was great!

Sigurd is now a year and a half old and has adopted his role of Thorfinn’s shadow with gusto. Wherever Thorf goes, Sigurd is not far behind. Both are now incredibly attached to each other and will neigh for each other if separated. Gem is keeping a horse, who lost his aged companion back at easter, company down the road and it is quite funny seeing this little ginger 35″ Shetland Pony bossing a 16hh horse under whose belly she could quite easily walk. Thorfinn is very fluffy by virtue of the fact I have not rugged him yet, like I have done in previous winters. I just felt it was time for him to be more natural in his upkeep. Even with the wet, I haven’t found him shivering in the field as his thick coat and layer of fat appears to be keeping him war. Rest assured, the ‘old’ guy (only 16 yrs young) will be rugged if I see he is not coping. The one downside of not rugging is the extra work needed in cleaning him prior to riding.

Sigurd is now a year and a half old and has adopted his role of Thorfinn’s shadow with gusto. Wherever Thorf goes, Sigurd is not far behind. Both are now incredibly attached to each other and will neigh for each other if separated. Gem is keeping a horse, who lost his aged companion back at easter, company down the road and it is quite funny seeing this little ginger 35″ Shetland Pony bossing a 16hh horse under whose belly she could quite easily walk. Thorfinn is very fluffy by virtue of the fact I have not rugged him yet, like I have done in previous winters. I just felt it was time for him to be more natural in his upkeep. Even with the wet, I haven’t found him shivering in the field as his thick coat and layer of fat appears to be keeping him war. Rest assured, the ‘old’ guy (only 16 yrs young) will be rugged if I see he is not coping. The one downside of not rugging is the extra work needed in cleaning him prior to riding.

Autumn has been one of the wettest I think I can remember. The field is squelching with mud, yet I am still having to strip graze as the grass is still full of too much goodness for native ponies. This really puts pressure on the land. To help Thorf will get his shoes taken off, as unshod feet don’t quite do as much damage as iron clad feet. I started to bring them in to the stable at night at the end of October, more to save the grazing than because of the weather. I have now got it so I don’t even have to halter them. I open the gate and they follow me to the stable. So we are now in the winter routine. Morning stables in the dark. Evening stables, in the dark and two ponies, despite being tough natives thoroughly enjoying their home comforts.

I sit here in Birsay Bay Tearoom on a wild and windy day looking across to the Brough of Birsay. The clouds hang low in the sky but as the wind is south-easterly the sea isn’t as rough as it might be presumed to be on such a wild day. Black cattle graze the links. The Brough itself is shrouded in a fine mist and the rain begins to fall in earnest. Few folk are outside and after a quiet start the tearoom is filling up with vistors, locals and tourists (even at this time of the year).

My mind wanders back to a fine hot summer that seems to have faded into the mists of time, even tho’ it was only a couple of months ago. On a warm August day, my parents and I stacked our bikes into the horsebox, and I drove us over to Tingwall for the ferry to Rousay. The ferry was packed with cars, bicycles and people. It seemed that everyone was heading to the island. The journey itself was smooth and we disembarked on the island to set out for a clockwise journey around the island. As we left the small harbour and cycled up the steep hill I wondered to myself what on earth was I thinking doing a cycle of 15 miles when I usually do 5-6 miles at the most. The weather was thankfully nowhere near as hot as the day before (Dounby Show) and there was a breeze to help keep us cool. At the top of that first hill, we found the entrance to Trumland House and noted that the gardens were open to the public so we decided that if we had time, we would have a look round before we got the ferry back.

Setting off, with the hill(s) of Rousay to our right and the turbulent waters of Eynhallow Sound to our left we cycled gently along between fences, walls and field of green grass and golden barley waving in the gentle breeze. At the Taversoe Tuick tomb, we stopped to have a look and clamber in this two-storey tomb and look at the views over mainland Orkney and take the first of many photographs. The cycle continued and stopped, and continued and stopped, as plenty of photo opportunities grabbed us. We didn’t bother visiting some of the other archaeological treasures as both my parents and I had visited them before. This trip was a cycle, not walk, and anyway, I doubt that I was fit enough to do both cycling AND walking!

I am a stubborn cyclist and really don’t want hills to beat me, but even on my shiny new bike the first long drawn out hill above the Midhowe broch and chambered tomb beat me! Well, actually, the car that careered past me on the single track road did. As I wobbled and ground to a halt - so I had to walk after all! On the bleak north side we looked (from a distance) at a clearance village (or should I say croft(s)?) set in the heather, the remains of the old field systems just visible. A little bit more of a climb took us to the brow of a hill, then the looooooong straight fairly steep road down towards the Loch of Wasbister (on which there is a crannog) where we sat eating our lunch in the shelter of the lichen covered wall of the graveyard on the loch’s edge. Woo hoooooo! That was a fast cycle down the hill – over 30 mph according to my cycle computer. 

After a while seated by loch edge munching my leftover sandwiches from the Dounby Show the day before, we got back on our bikes with the prospect of a long steep hill to climb which we could see long before we got to it. Resolutely, at 2mph I pedalled and pedalled and pedalled until eventually I decided to walk and found that I could actually walk faster than cycling. Once that was behind us we stopped at a monument / sculpture (or something) which was set on heathery ground looking out over the North Isles and beyond.

 

 

 

“Gods of the earth, Gods of the Sea”

 

 

 

The final stretch back to the ferry was upon us. The wind behind helping to get a turn of speed down another long steep hill that even I pulled back from. It was exhilarating, though! We arrived back at the gates to Trumland House, parked up the bikes at the back of the gatehouse, paid our £1.50 and walked up the long drive to the house and gardens which were (and still are) undergoing extensive restoration. And… this is another story, a hidden Jewel in the Orkney Islands! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beaquoyside was a hive of activity the other weekend. A neighbour was having silage bales wrapped and a combine was  at full pelt harvesting the last barley  in this area. The thrum of engines was all around. Autumn is well and truly upon us as the leaves of the trees turn colour - brown mostly, although this year there is a bit more variation in the brown than usual. I do still miss the colour south.

It was a productive morning. I sorted my tack shed so that anything (rugs, numahs, etc) appealing to mice is in cupboards or plastic boxes (can’t fit the plastic boxes in the cupboards tho’, whilst the ponies grazed on the drying green under the washing flapping in the strong breeze. I couldn’t quite believe it at one point, Malfoy puss nonchalantly walked under Thorfinn’s belly between his back and front legs - as calm as that pony is, he could still decide to lift a leg at the cat if he got a fright. The morning had started sunny and bright but it clouded over. The coos were lying down in the corners of the field which is usually a sign of bad weather to come. Hubby mows the lawn, which means the two bizarre grass rings are cut back… any theories?

Thorf is getting quite hairy now and as I am still riding him a little before a winter lay off, he needed to have some hair clipped off… to stop him sweating too much. I just take a bit off his chest and under his neck. Wee Sigurd also was clipped very slightly - more a training exercise as I like to ensure he is exposed to loads of different things. He didn’t particularly like the noise of the clippers but was okay with them on him. Awww! The little amount of fur I took off was so soft and black and fluffy. This also means he won’t get so hot when I take him for walks which I try to do as often as I can, whether being led from T when I ride, or whether I long rein him. I know he is young still, but long-reining is a really good way to train ponies to be forward going and not to rely on you being beside them. Sig is an argumentative little b…. at times, but he doesn’t appear to have a bad bone in his body. He just wants to do what he wants not what I am requesting.

Sig: “I am going to speak to those ponies in that field!”

Me: “No you are not!, Walk on!” Gentle tap with schooling whip on the roller (band round his belly). It makes a noise so he is not getting tapped.

Sig: “Nope! I am speaking to those ponies and I am now going to show you up in front of that tractor driver.”

Me: “Walk on! Get on with you!” Firmer tap, now on his shoulder, which is a command we use when driving ponies. He spins round, backs away from me. “Come off it! Stop being a wee sh.. and get on with you!” I have lost! Okay so I walks gently, calmy up to him without looking him in the eye and stand by his shoulder, give his mane a tweek at the wither, “Walk on!”

Huh! And he does as sweet as pie and I continue up the road behind him as he trots happily home!That’s ponies for you! Thorfinn now waits for his quota of hay every evening… standing at the fence watching my every movement in the kitchen / dining room or sitting room… standing, waiting, imploring to be fed… he isn’t starved by any means of the word, but he is a Highland Pony after all and they are rather well known to look after their stomach at all costs.

This time of year also brings with it my harvest of tomatoes. This year I had stripy ones, yellow ones, pear shaped ones, orange ones and bobbly ones. The cucumbers and courgettes have also been pretty good but these have tailed off now. I only managed to get tatties, cabbages and beetroot in the ground. Tatties are good, beetroot is doing okay and the cabbages somehow have survived after being made skeletal by caterpillars. Carrots were sown but didn’t germinate (yet again), neither did the spinach.

So the nights are drawing in, as they say and it is dark by just after 7 in the evening. Time to think about being creative and doing some writing or drawing rather than vegging in front of the TV.