Natural Delights

Much as I love seeing new things and enjoying different experiences it's always the glimpse of a new-to-me flower or a creature which gives me the greatest thrill. These are some of delights from Orkney.

Firstly we have the floral ones:  Lousewort, Spring Squill, Heath Spotted Orchid, Ragged Robin, Cotton Grass and Northern Marsh Orchid.

Closely followed by the avian ones: Curlew, Hooded Crow, Razorbill and Oystercatcher.

Well then there are these two which win the prize for most adorable [yes I am having a very rare cutesy moment]. You can make up your own mind which one you plump for:

Either:

Or: Muffin. Shetland foal. One month old.

That is the last of the planned holiday posts. I could continue but I do appreciate that not everyone finds old stones and burial mounds fascinating like me. I'll probably put up an odds and sods post just to round it all off.

Arilx

Maverick Marketing.

When you're stuck on the M6 in tediously slow traffic with the rain sheeting down it's easy for me at least to be amused by small things. I rather liked  the "No pies kept overnight in this van" sticker I spotted on the back of a Transit and then the rather witty advertising slogan on the rear of a TK Maxx lorry which read "Does my chassis look big in this?"

Last night, feeling ever so virtuous post very short run, I decided to cast aside the halo and sabotage any good work I might have done by cracking open a beer. In fact to be more specific this little number from the Ringwood Brewery [I have discovered that Lidl sell the artisan beers I like at very reasonable prices]:

Apart from thoroughly enjoying my tipple I snorted at the write up on the back which I feel duty bound to share:

"We take two things seriously at Ringwood Brewery- our beer and leisure time. Along with creating quality craft ales, we are relaxation enthusiasts.
Our motto is to "Visit the Winding Downs"- a place to enjoy some quality time with friends."

So pass the nuts will ya and All Hail The Ale!!

Aril

P.S. I now find that a boondoggle is a pointless business trip where the emphasis is upon fun and relaxation rather than work.

Buying Second Hand Clothes.

I have scarely bought any new clothes since I was a student at college in the 1980s. Back then it was partly down to making my grant last and to support my expensive Laura Ashley habit [long since fled the building phew]. Even at that age though this choice matched my determination to recycle and meant that I could be sure that I wouldn't walk into a room wearing the same as any one else. Besides I have a rather eclectic taste in clothes which frankly no shop is ever going to be able to satisfy! Since those days I have remained committed to this and beyond buying new undies I have continued in this vein. In no way does this make me a paragon of virtue but having watched this video it reminds me why it is important for me to carry on.

Arilx

Necessity is the Mother of all Invention.

The quote that makes up today's title is a personal favourite of mine. It never ceases to amaze me what the human race can achieve when they are up against it.

In October 1939 Orkney suffered the tragic loss of 834 lives when HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U Boat which had managed to break through the defences in Scapa Flow. Drastic action was called for and extra boats, taken out of commission, were deliberately sunk to block any existing navigable routes. I personally found these rusting wrecks quite disturbing.

Further defence measures saw the construction of the so called Churchill barriers which linked four of the islands by the Italian prisoners of war. Built from huge blocks of concrete it must have been backbreaking work for men away from home living in an environment far removed from their familiar Mediterranean climate without loved ones. Their need for the support of their faith and a dedicated place of worship was recognised by the far sighted camp commandent Major Buckland and he gave the green light for an Italian chapel to be built. An artist, Domenico Chiocchetti, was given permission to gather a group of craftsmen from the barrier builders on the understanding that the remaining prisoners would take on their workload and from there they created this beauty.

However, things aren't always what they seem and the chapel is a triumph in the art of illusion. This is it from the side view and it's actually two Nissen huts.

The interior is equally stunning as these small selection of photos show. Again all the effects are created by a clever use of perspective and Trompe L'oeil. Many of the images are based around peace.

Lacking access to items with which to furnish the building the prisoners were forced to think laterally which they did with great skill and aplomb. Beyond the innovative use of paint effects the prisoners swam out to the the block ships and plundered them for metal. The candlesticks are made from stair rods and the lanterns from bully beef tins.

Originally more than one chapel was built but the other one was destroyed. Chiocchetti returned in the 1960s to repair this one and it continues to be used today by the islanders for weddings and the families of the original POWs who regularly return from Italy. Last year three of the stations of the cross were stolen. Despite appeals for their return these fell upon deaf ears. Amazingly though the Chiocchetti family were able to get replacements made by the original firm.

A little bit of Italy lives on in Orkney.

Arilx

Zadok The Priest

I remember first hearing this piece of music as a child in 1977 as part of a TV series which was in some way related to the monarchy this being the year of the Silver Jubilee. Although I have long since ceased being a member of a choir I did have the privilege of singing this on a number of occasions and it makes my spine tingle to this day.

Arilx

The Ideal Home Show.

I am guessing that Ingvar Kamprad cannot have imagined in his wildest dreams that he would launch such a successful empire when he founded Ikea. "Easy" [that point is debatable methinks] to assemble furniture, innovative storage designs, lots of fun and funky items which transform a house into a home. He is now listed as one of the wealthiest people in the world yet his idea, although innovative for the time, was hardly new. Turn the clock back 5000 years to a time before Stonehenge and the Pyramids and what do we have.......

Why flat pack furniture and built in cupboards............Skara Brae

Box beds, a dresser with a hidden storage space behind to conceal treasured items [sounds like a stone age safe to me!] and cupboards which would have had to be planned as part of the construction of the external walls. Due to the delicate nature of the houses you can't wander around them but the reconstruction below gives you a good feel for what it might have looked like back in the day.

The visit was fascinating I have to say but a little too sanitised for my liking [a bit like when you go to see Stonehenge] so fickle bird that I am I have to say that I enjoyed Barnhouses just as much even a little more. Although they are less complete you can wander around and still get a feel for them in the context in which they were built- if you look in the background you can see how close they are to the Stones of Stenness.

Like us our ancestors were filling their houses with all sorts of bits and bobs that put their individual stamp on their homes. One of the houses at Skara Brae still has a visible pattern scratched onto the bed ends and the finds show they had time on their hands to create and decorate items. I strongly suspect that originally there might have been some form of paint on the walls here too as found at the ongoing Ness of Brodgar dig. The photo shows pots made from oyster shells, whale vertebrae amongst other materials which still contain red ochre mixed with animal fat.

This pot has been made based on pottery shards found and the patterns were made using shells and bones.

Neolithic jewellery and beads made from various materials including a dog's tooth.

A mystery object. When I mentioned to the chap from Scottish Heritage that I had seen similar examples in the British Museum last year he said that he'd recently had a conversation with a fellow who's seen these type of carved stones being used like talking sticks in certain African tribes.

Finally this antler pick which beats all the others hands down. It's got some incised marks at one end and incredibly I was allowed to handle it. Instantly it reminded me of how I've drawn spirals on my Morris sticks so that everyone knows who they belong to it. Loved the feeling of being in touch with my ancestors.

The exciting thing about the Neolithic history on Orkney is it's evolving all the time as more discoveries are made year on year. You can keep up to date with all the latest news on the archaeology blog which covers the  Ness of Brodgar annual dig here http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/nessofbrodgar/

Arilx

Caution! Slow Moving Muvva!

Being away on holiday, without the day to day distraction of everyday life and domestic trivia, not only gave me a much needed change of scene and pace but it also gave me thinking time. My anxiety by and large keeps my brain whirring and my physical self busy most of the time [or I'm conked out taking a much needed Nana nap] so it's a privilege I often deny myself. During the long drive up I was able to ponder various matters and the notes pane on my phone proved invaluable as I jotted down various musings before they disappeared into the ether.

There is no doubt that I have made progress these past few months since I have come off the old chuckle pills for the first time since 2009. Rescue Remedy has been my friend but even the need for that sort of crutch is dissipating. One of the decisions I had already reached prior to Orkney was to continue my gentle jogging as there is no doubt it helps me to keep the levels of adrenaline down and boost the serotonin. At one point I had decided to shelve the whole idea all together as I started to get caught up in all the hype around races but as I neared the 10k mark I gave myself permission to stop. I have no desire to run great long distances but just enough to keep me ticking over and keep my legs strong to help with the Morris stepping that's integral to our performances. I invested in some decent running shoes a few weeks ago so that I don't risk injury as I rely on the old bod to be able to earn my wonga as a housesparkling elf.

So as of this evening I've put a date in the diary for when I'd ideally like to be able to run a 5km Park Run again without stopping and set the timer on my phone for 10 minutes for a first trot out. Nothing is set in stone and I actually ran for longer than intended as I am still reasonably fit. Fear not I won't be dedicating endless posts to progress or otherwise- I simply intend to step outside my door and put one foot in front of the other. Simples. I honestly don't foresee me becoming a convert- if I was going to I think it would have happened by now....unlike another addiction of mine....erm did I ever mention that I'm a Morris Dancer?!! This is me at the weekend- I'm the one second in!

Arilx