THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
This really is an amazing place! Even although you’d think that being so separated, it might have gotten left behind, there might be more history to see here than any other place we’ve been to so far! Skara Brae is the best preserved neolithic village in all of Europe! And there are loads of other less famous, but just as spectacular examples of life over 5000 years ago! Incredible to think about this civilisation so long ago.
There are lots of different standing stones all over the place! One has a ditch all around it, which had to be dug from solid rock! I mean, lifting 60 or so massive stones is one thing, but digging through rock with nothing but stone tools is mind-boggling! Not something I think I’ll be giving a go any time soon!
We were also at the Sanday Arts and Crafts this weekend. We saw some really great exhibits, and heard some great music too! It’s always good to experience the local cultures of a different area. Orkney definitely has its own special feel!
I suppose I’d best be off. I’ll write again from the next place a lot further south than Orkney! I’ll keep you guessing?! :¬)
Chì mi sibh an ceartuair!
Melodaidh xXx
POSTED BY MELODAIDH AT 18:37 PM - 0 COMMENTS
SUNDAY, SETPEMBER 9, 2007
We’ve been busy here! Yesterday, I took part in a triathlon! At first, I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to take part at all, since I didn’t have my bike with me. And because of the triathlon, there were very few left available. But eventually I managed to get one. Or at least some sort of machine that might have been related to a bike.
My surfing background definitely helped me with the swimming section though, and the time I gained there saved me being last across the finish line! And after the 12-mile run Munro and I did just last week, I was well prepared for the running section, too!
It was ripping fun, actually … felt great!
Seanair’s off on a mountain leadership and basic survival trip just now. I’m not sure that there’s anything left for him to learn about the outdoors, but he says that it’s always good to learn more! I guess when it comes to outdoor survival, you can never know too much!
I’d best go off to bed. Tha e anmoch, is tha mi a’ fàs sgìth! Oidhche mhath!
Mel xXx
POSTED BY MELODAIDH AT 23:43 PM - 0 COMMENTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
Hi! Tha sinn air tìr-mòr fhàgail a-rithist, is tha sinn a-nis ann an Arcaibh! We’re in Orkney this month! There’s already a lot happening!
Our first few days are going to be spent at the Orkney International Science Festival! Scotland has a history of great scientists. Scots played important roles in the invention of television, telephone, radar and the steam engine, among many others. But lots of people know that! This festival is celebrating the life and work of James Clerk Maxwell! He was an important guy in physics during the 1800s.
So, like my famous country woman Olivia Newton John, let’s get ‘Physics-al’ … boom, boom!!
Me and Munro also went for a run on our first day here! It was the Bisgeos 12-mile run for charity. It was a great idea! Help charity, and stay fit. What else can be better? We managed to do it in a pretty good time. One of the islands here is home to an international runner, William Sichel, so it’s probably not surprising that we didn’t win!
Tìoraidh! xx
Mel
POSTED BY MELODAIDH AT 20:57 PM - 0 COMMENTS
