Tails from an Island

Word is sweeping the Isle that the racing correspondent from that esteemed publication, the Daily Re Cord is going to Garry’s show to report on the sheep racing. No doubt he, at least I presume it’s a he – it usually is a he for that sort of job, and I use the term ‘job’ loosely – no doubt he is really coming as he has read about my impending appearance. Since I am well known around the racing courses – at least some of the more up-market ones like Ascot, Cheltenham and Towcester - I shall just have to get out my Ladies Day hat for the occasion.
I have been making some enquiries about the form for the race and found out the following from my local sheep herder. He assures me it is inside information;

Gormelia Fluffbots III – in good form and won the last mass trot to the feeding bucket this week. 8/1 on
Salmonalexia – one of the favourites but likely to give up at the first opportunity. 10/1
McShergar – can’t be found at the moment but probably a fast runner. 50/1
Murdo – the local runner with plenty of form – one way or another. 25/1
F Misles – runs strongly when near Stornoway but weaker the further north she goes. 100/1
Cal McNobrain – could be strong runner but rather depends on the weather. 20/1

Have fun my dahlinks

Toodle do
Alpinia

Over the last few weeks I have been noticing a lovely aroma emanating from houses round about. A sort of soft woody smell with strong after notes. More towards the Laphroaig than Famous Grouse. And also the little piles of stuff outside the houses - looks so lovely all arranged in a particular way like a old dry stone wall. I believe its The Pete. Only trouble is I can't seem to be able to buy a pile like that anywhere. I thought it would look just 'so' in my croft garden thing.
Meanwhile, since I am sure you have all been awaiting my next post, I can tell you I have been busy attending a wonderful concert at The Lantair the other evening. I have never seen so many Harps together and the sound they made was just enchanting. One of the soloists played and sang folk songs; another was almost rocking - I was half expecting her to lift the harp up to her lips and play the thing with her teeth before setting it on fire - only she didn't. That was a tad dissapointing. But I did have a most lovely evening with a wonderful crowd of people and I shall be booking my seat again for the next Harp do dah.
Toodle doo
Alpinia

.. for that rather lucid last post. As you might imagine it wasn't me at all but Jeremy who has been visiting me at my little pad for a few days - and he is somewhat green in his views. Not that I don't agree mind you, I just don't understand it!
Anyway, I notice on my travials in the island that the village near the 'road that goes nowhere' sort of place is having a fete soon. On the beach of Garry's I'm led to believe - although I don't actually know who Garry is. Anyway, it should be just so much fun - the poster says they have sheep racing. Imagine that? Is it a local custom since there is no racecourse? Who are the local trainers? I'm just so excited - I may just search out my shooting stick and all just to get into the swing of it.
Bank Holiday Monday August 6th it is - just in case you fancy the idea as much as I do. I shall be pootling over in the bus - please note Jeremy.
Toodle doo
Alpinia

If you have not read Mr Peastack’s post on environmental concerns and peat on the islands, I suggest you put a moment of our precious time on this world to one side to do so. It is well written, concise and addresses many thoughts that a lot of people seem to be having at the moment on Lewis.

I took an hour or so from my busy schedule learning what turns out to be Polish [interesting though] and working to take off to visit Callanish to see the wondrous stones that have lain there for some eons of time. I believe it was J Matheson who saw fit to clear the layer of thick peat away from this area – amazing when you think that peat can usually regenerate at the rate of only about 1mm per year and the layer cleared was several metres deep. With superb weather – again, the visit was spiritually uplifting and I find myself having to readdress my whole life. I shall get back to that later.

With all the talk about wind-farms and the ‘economic-development’ that would come from it, I feel I want to have my say – for what it’s worth as a recent incomer but hopefully long time stayer. Much of this I am sure has already been said and more succinctly too but I shall say it none the less.

Having already looked at the three windmills that sit on the skyline above Stornoway – the three SMALL windmills that is – you can see the mess they have made of the land immediately surrounding them. Imagine the devastation that would be caused by the many many huge windmills planned to the fragile land and all the interruption to the fauna and flora in an area that has been considered to be pristine and unique. Consider the traffic on the roads while these things are being built, the atmospheric pollution from that [from the manufacture of the windmills, the trucks, the fuel used to transport them or their constituent parts here and so on]. What would we be left with? An island devastated, possibly economically a little better off but culturally, visually, ecologically and probably aurally bankrupt.

I see these huge windmills as a flag for a wrong turn in the way our world is taking. We are not addressing what is the most fundamental and important aspect; that of entropy. [best do a google search for this]. This is something I will attempt to look at in a later post.

I feel the most important thing would be for us, everyone – especially me – and especially us who have the pleasure of living on this wonderful group of islands – to look at ourselves and consider how much we can reduce our consuming and particularly our energy consumption. If we want to persuade these purveyors of yet more destruction of our world of the necessity to look to a new way to live then we must perhaps try and live that life ourselves first. Why not put ourselves forward as a model for contemporary, sustainable ecologically positive living where the need for energy is reduced rather than increased; where the need to consume overtly is decreased; where the cultural, visual and aural beauty of the islands is maintained, not as a stagnate museum piece but as a dynamic developing place where sustainability is the keystone.

I am sure you can all see many holes in this argument and I welcome your thoughts on it.

One issue I have giving much thought is that with reduced consumerism the economic model that the western world has forced upon us and we have all benefited from – both positively and negatively – would be under threat. I will address this is a later post.

Meanwhile, my life has changed.
I will lower my use of energy by doing the following.
• Replace all the electric bulbs in my house to low energy ones.
• Only heat one room in my house. Ensure my house is adequately insulated. [is it possible to use treated sheeps’ wool? I am told the crofters get very little for it a present].
• Only use my car for essential journeys that are time-limited. Otherwise use public transport and my trusty bicycle – after all the roads here are among the best in the UK for cycling.
• Reduce my use of flights to very essential – ie- emergency use only – not shopping/holidays etc.
• Recycle everything including furniture and the like.
• Consume much less frivolous items.
• Take note of air-miles and high energy consuming grown/processed foods.
• Never take plastic bags from supermarkets.
• Support local shops – where I can.
• Utilise the mobile library.
• And Sunday WILL be a day or rest for me. Why not have Sunday as a day when we never use motorised transport on the island – except in emergencies? Imagine; we might talk to each other more, appreciate the quietude and meditative qualities of this place and in process appreciate the pleasure from not rushing hither and thither seeking more and ‘better’ when all the time it is where were are; in ourselves if only we can find it.
I am not saying anyone else should do this. I am not trying to impose this, rather; I am putting his out for consideration discussion and development.
I'm off to meditate now.
Toodle doo
Alpinia

You see, I have already learnt some Gaelic!
I met this lovely couple in Stornoway whilst I sat gazing out to the harbour watching the boats moving hither and thither on the glistening water and hoping my hat – a gorgeous concoction I previously wore at Ascot – would not join the boats. I then became aware of the lovely tones of ‘The Gaelic’ as I believe one should call it, drifting lazily in the wind. I sat there entranced and musing over how long this beautiful ancient language had been around these lovely islands and thinking that I really must learn something. “Why not now?” I thought and being an action-oriented girl I leapt up and introduced myself to the Gaelic speaking couple. “I have just been listening to your lovely language” I said as I introduced myself, “and I would love to learn a little of it for myself”. So we sat on the harbour wall happily chatting – in English and now a little of The Gaelic for over an hour.
My first day of my new language learning – and what fun it was. My heartfelt thanks to islanders Olenka & Krzysztof who gave up their precious time for me.
Toodle doo
Alpinia

I forgot to mention I made it into the arts centre the other day. Most impressive it is too. A lovely place with a plethora of contrivances to delight the eyes and ears. And the nose actually since the lovely Murdo was brewing coffee as I passed by his little counter [with a smile for me I note].

I have always been a bit of a culture vulture with frequent visits to galleries in London – usually for an opening event where you meet the most interesting people. Anyway, so nice to see the local schools stuff up on the walls at the arts centre here which I really did think was first-rate and enjoyed looking at. Whilst I was there I took luncheon in the excellent café and whiled away an hour or so watching the working classes do their thing in the street below. I assumed they were working anyway. I suppose some of them might have been on holiday or retired of course. One really can’t tell these days – even though I haven’t got a cold. One thing I was going to mention to someone there but didn’t for fear of sounding rather superior, is that surely it should be ‘A’ Lanntair or better still ‘The’ Lanntair. Ah well, everyone to their own.
Toodle doo
Alpinia

A Great day for walk today after the hectic Point Show on Saturday. What a super event that was although I still have not worked out why they dye the sheep! They do look nice mind you but I would prefer highlights rather than orange. Having said that it did rather compliment my super outfit I bought for he occaision.
I drove down to beach this morning [Sunday] and find it was quite busy. Lots of those incomers for the Festival creating a disturbance that us locals are not too keen on. Never mind, next week it will all be back to normal again.
The neighbours round about are very nice, friendly and helpful. I found my washing all folded up on my doorstep today - most kind although perhaps they may have been a little too hasty in their attempt to make me feel welcome as it was still wet. Ah well, the sentiment was nice.
Anyway, I see posting pictures is the thing on this site so here's mine. I am rather a dab hand at ths digital camera thing and I must say I think I should have entered the photo competion a the Point Show yesterday.

At last I am online so will be able to post at home. This is lovely since I repose in the twee little house I bought on coming to the island. It's only four bedrooms - all en-suite - but it will do. Friends from London think I'm mad putting up with such a simple house but I like it that way. I have every intention of living the simple life, communing with nature and having a small carbon footprint to boot :-).

I was back communing with the stars the other day when I flew in from a little shopping trip to the mainland. Apparently The Proclaimers were on board but I couldn't actually see who they were as they would quite obviously liked to have met me. Anyway, the plane took a while to come in what with the awful weather and one chap was moved around the plane as ballast - which was a bit cruel - even though he was a tad chunky.

The evening came and I went off to hear these Proclaimer chaps in a big tent in the castle grounds. Not even a proper floor had been laid so my heels took rather a battering in the mud. Lots of nice men in kilts though. And the band singers did have good lungs I must say. No hospitality of note though so I came home for an early night.
My new life has commenced
Alpinia.

We're almost on our way. Cameras are packed up, van booked and our soon to be nieghbours shuddering as they think about who is moving in next door!
As soon as I manage to twist a few wires together, I'll see about regular posting. In the meantime you can see a few pics here http://boxesbellows.blogspot.com/