Resurrection Time

I feel the need to pull this blog kicking and screamimg from its dusty cyberspace resting place. Look out.

Another Years Break

I quite enjoy blogging, but it seems I need a year off every now and again.
I might start this again soon.

Surf and Turf

I can dimly remember a time when I lived in the hilly bit of Moray and a trip to Aberdeen a couple of times a year seemed like a Big Deal.
In fact seeing the sea was a wee bit of a big deal in itself. I even managed to work in Lossiemouth for a year without seeing much of it.
Well you can ditch that notion if you ever become involved with the denizens of the Northern Isles. I’ve never known a folk for not staying put, and demanding a fair degree of mobility from others to boot.
I know that I’ve been doing it for a while now, but I still can’t get used to all this surf and turf island hopping.
Since the last blog entry I zipped up from Orkney to Shetland for a couple of days, getting as far as Mid Yell before thinking it was time to head south again.
I got back to Inverness on Friday evening, which gave me a whole evening with the Viking Queen before having to drop her off at the airport on Saturday lunchtime for her flight up to the isles. Of course the Viking Queen hasn’t been able to catch up with her best pals because they have nipped out to Barcelona for a couple of days, where else?
I made the most of the weekend home alone by going walking with KK and Rowan in Torridon. I needed to get away from the sea and back into the hills I think.
Anyway, I’ve got the day off tomorrow to pick her highness up from the airport. Steaks are in the fridge along with the king prawns and wine.
I think we deserve a surf and turf welcome home dinner.

Travelling man

Having managed to avoid boats, planes and hotel rooms for almost two months I find myself in a 7 flights in a fortnight whirlwind to the isles again.
Long weekend in Shetland followed by a couple of days in Orkney, home on Friday night and back in Orkney today, Sunday.
Tuesday will be Shetland again and back home on Friday. Unbelievably there’s a hint of having to return to Shetland the following Monday, hope not though, you really can have too much of a good thing.
I read on a tourist leaflet on the plane up today that there is supposed to be a beer festival on today. Not sure where that’s being held as there was only three bikers drinking coffees and myself with a can of Rekorderlig Swedish Premium Pear Cider (not as sickly sweet as Koppaberg Pear Cider if you’re interested) in The Shore bar this evening. So an early night after dinner is planned.
I quite like The Shore hotel in Kirkwall, the rooms are nicely decorated, comfortable and I can relax in them, which is why I keep coming back, but there seems to be something Faulty Toweresque about their kitchens.
The first time I stayed here the smoked haddock was off the breakfast menu for three days because they had run out. Run out of haddock in Kirkwall? In the Orkney isles?
The next time I stayed I was sure that particular bolt of lightening couldn’t strike twice. Unfortunately this time they seemed to have run out of sausage, bacon and eggs as well as haddock. The kitchen had thrown in the towel on the breakfast menu and the hotel now only offers a “continental” breakfast. Not entirely sure which part of the continent enjoys a round of toast, a collapsed croissant and some cold cuts from Somerfield for breakfast though. Hungary perhaps.
Then there was the time I ordered a steak, at 6.45pm, forty-five minutes after the kitchens open, only to be told that they had run out. The hotel restaurant out of steak in the first hour of the evening.
Last time I was looking at the menu at 6.15pm only to see the waitress rub the crab cake off the specials board. Run out. In fifteen minutes. Surely a new record.
To be fair the board had said crab cake, singular. So maybe the chef had only made the one.
Not that there is anything wrong with the food when it arrives. Very tasty and in generous portions. Rice and chicken soup followed by Cajun chicken on noodles with veg and (of course) chips tonight.
It tasted much nicer than the Southern fried chicken flavour Pot Noodle that I had for lunch too.


STOP PRESS: Out of croissants this morning. Maybe I should ask which continent the "continental breakfast" is referring to.

I'd say roll on dinner time as every meal is another bewilderment, but no doubt they'll be out of rolls.

Week Off

Two cows standing in a field. How do you tell which one is on holiday?
It's the one with the wee calf.

C'mon, the clue was in the title.

Well that's me at the end of a week that started with completing the wallpapering of the hall and stairs, had a wee bit of tiling in the middle, and ended with the Viking Queen choosing more wallpaper in B&Q this afternoon.
This is not a good way to be finishing your hols, to be going shopping for more wallpaper I mean.

I did manage out to Coire Lair with KK and Rowan on Tuesday to enjoy a fine afternoon on the hills. Unfortunately I walked my boots to death. My favourite Demon boots which I've had for about 10 years, have covered hundreds of hill miles, have been re-soled once and were as comfy as slippers just disintegrated under me on the way up into the corrie. By the time we got back to the car the heels of both boots had just disappeared and the front of my right boot was flapping. Odd how they both just fell apart on the same walk after years of sterling service.
Talking of service maybe I should have the Rev Dave say a few words at their passing, they were almost part of the family after all.

Well I'm not back at work until Tuesday so I'm hoping to get out and about on Monday. There's an interesting looking loch in the Contin woods that I noticed on the map. A good excuse to break in my new boots I reckon. I've no idea what the weather forcast is for Monday but its been pretty wet all week so I can probably look forward to a drenching.

Mind you if I'm lucky I'll end up with a wee cough!

Timeslip

There is a rip in the time-space continium, and its in Dornoch.

Everytime I go near the place it takes me hours to get out.

Dornoch is only a small place and the site I visit isn't that remarkable, however its occupying more and more of my time every week.

I am not the only person who is experiencing this. I know this because generally, on a good day I should probably meet two people there maximum. However when I go there these days I see dozens if not scores of people milling about, all wondering why they are still there and when, if ever, they will get out of the place.

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting for a while. That's because a month ago I went to Dornoch for a day and just got back. Well thats what it feels like.

I shall have to continue to go to Dornoch for the time being. I may be sometime.

Watch this space. If I am not back in a couple of weeks or so please raise the alarm.

Back

After many password changes and general wrestlemania with Google and Blogger I've found a loophole and managed to sneak back here.
Now that I know how to get back online I'll have to go away and have a think about what to say.