One ring to bind them all
Posted: Monday, 27 February 2006 |
Missed the Norwick Up-Helly-Aa at the weekend. Consort & myself went on a wee sojourn to Orkney on a ring quest. We caught the ferry to Kirkwall on Fri night - getting to Kirkwall at 11pm. Herman was there to whisk us away to the newly redecorated Magnolia Towers. A wee catching up with news (over some Baileys) then time to retire to the Royal Suite. Herman still had up his New Auld Christmas decorations from last week (ask him!) so come midnight and the chimes of Big Ben on the radio, we toasted New Auld New Year and wished each other Happy New Auld New Year.
We forgot to take down some Unst beers for Herman - hope he's forgiven us.
The next day was the real reason for our being there. We visited a couple of jewellers to have rings made for us. We saw some absolutely beautiful stuff. We'd had to go to Orkney because we'd been unable to find what we wanted in Shetland. We wanted our own runic inscriptions on the rings but nobody in Shetland seemed to do them.
We were very impressed with what we saw in our chosen jeweller - no hard sell, made to feel valued as a person, not just a source of income, even getting a tour of the workshop. I think Herman enjoyed the day just as much as consort & I. Orkney has a whole lot of excellent craftspeople working in the islands.
We were due to get the ferry back at 11pm on Sat but a phone call from the ferry company informed us that, due to bad weather in Aberdeen, the ferry would be late. Instead we would have to check in at 5.30 on SUNDAY MORNING!!! That's why, as Herman has commented, we were obliged to spend another night (or part of it) at Magnolia Towers.
So no visit to the pub that night. We did have a wonderful meal in a hotel in Stromness, courtesy of Herman. I had locallly caught herring fried in oatmeal, served with tatties. Many islanders will already know just how tasty this is - and for those who have never tried it, do so and soon as you can. It's always been one of my favourites.
We absolutely stuffed ourselves - although we did ask for 1 banoffee pavlova but 3 spoons. As Herman has said we went for a walk through Stromness to let our food go down a bit. Stromness is VERY picturesque - loads of narrow streets & lanes, and houses backing into the sea.
At the moment it's snowing. We can only but wait for that phone call in the morning that says that the school's closed!!
We forgot to take down some Unst beers for Herman - hope he's forgiven us.
The next day was the real reason for our being there. We visited a couple of jewellers to have rings made for us. We saw some absolutely beautiful stuff. We'd had to go to Orkney because we'd been unable to find what we wanted in Shetland. We wanted our own runic inscriptions on the rings but nobody in Shetland seemed to do them.
We were very impressed with what we saw in our chosen jeweller - no hard sell, made to feel valued as a person, not just a source of income, even getting a tour of the workshop. I think Herman enjoyed the day just as much as consort & I. Orkney has a whole lot of excellent craftspeople working in the islands.
We were due to get the ferry back at 11pm on Sat but a phone call from the ferry company informed us that, due to bad weather in Aberdeen, the ferry would be late. Instead we would have to check in at 5.30 on SUNDAY MORNING!!! That's why, as Herman has commented, we were obliged to spend another night (or part of it) at Magnolia Towers.
So no visit to the pub that night. We did have a wonderful meal in a hotel in Stromness, courtesy of Herman. I had locallly caught herring fried in oatmeal, served with tatties. Many islanders will already know just how tasty this is - and for those who have never tried it, do so and soon as you can. It's always been one of my favourites.
We absolutely stuffed ourselves - although we did ask for 1 banoffee pavlova but 3 spoons. As Herman has said we went for a walk through Stromness to let our food go down a bit. Stromness is VERY picturesque - loads of narrow streets & lanes, and houses backing into the sea.
At the moment it's snowing. We can only but wait for that phone call in the morning that says that the school's closed!!
Comments
Congrats. from across the seas. Glad to hear you had a grand time. Good H. picked you up: I understand that, even with the golden gates in front of his house, you need GPS coordinates to find it (and I suspect he forgot to give those to you all). Boy, the image of those fresh herrings fried in oatmeal makes one hungry. Stromness is a treasure.
mjc from NM,USA
Are you copying my pictures now? Magnolia Towers has only just recovered from your (extended) stay. I had a fantastic weekend. No snow here (yet!) Radio Orkney forecasts it but said, at the end of the weather bulletin, "It may come to nothing". Mmmm. Does the Met Office know?
Herman from Orkney
Blog Title. Can you count Far North (soon to be Far Sooth)? I made it two rings myself. Does this make you one of the wizards?
Herman from Orkney
did you get what you were looking for?
bonniebairn from Shetland
Heard half a million pounds are being put into the economy as small compensation for the loss of RAF base. Organic salmon, oysters: Unst could use some designers/jewelers (brings other islanders and tourists in). We bought some locally designed jewelry for members of the family when we were in Orkney. Record nos. of cruise ships visit Kirkwall: I wish Unst had a Ring on the island. Instead, I hear (incorrectly?) a housing development is going atop (part of) some Viking ruins. Far North, care to name the hotel where you had that wonderful meal? Some snow flurries and some breeze, and you folks shut down: whatever happened to that Viking hardiness?!!
mjc from NM,USA
I have never been to Magnolia Towers
bonniebairn from Whalsay
You don't ken whit you're missing! (& its best that way).
Herman from Orkney
Having spent most of your life in the islands (but the better part outside?!?), please tell me whether the book Shetland Humor (Humour?) by Graham is any good. I just ordered his Shetland dictionary and grammar books through Amazon (but it takes some 6 weeks, and "extra sourcing fees" , to get them) - just for the heck of it. Why not? I already have books/tapes/dictionaries on e.g. Turkish and Gaelic, so what's a few more books gathering dust on the shelves. If I had the dictionary now, I would not have to ask the whole world what a "smooriken" is.
mjc from NM,USA
An insight into life in Shetland in general - and on Unst, the most northerly island in UK, in particular.
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