First entry

Friday 21st November

Weather: Alternate blizzards and beautiful sunshine

Soundtrack: Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode Film Review

We're here!!! First entry. I thought it might be easier to send pictures and boring general stuff to you via this blog rather than sending loads of individual emails to friends and family. Please email for amplification on specific areas. I've stolen the format from a chap on Westray who has an excellent blog - look here: http://the-edge-of-nowhere.blogspot.com/

We've just about got ourselves organised in sunny Sanday. We've confined all the boxes full of books and records to a spare bedroom and are slowly sorting out the millions of bits of paper that we seem to have accumulated but couldn't organise before moving. There was a major problem when we arrived here in that we assumed the house was unfurnished ---- but no! Beds, arm chairs, sofas etc etc. So we have two houses' worth of furniture in one place - it's cosy! The problem would not be so bad if the garage was dry and had heat and light. Still, it's a nice spot and the house is very snug.

This is the view over the computer monitor that I'm typing on

Five minutes later the sheep were hardly visible for snow!

We went to an excellent little concert in a local pub yesterday evening. The Sanday fiddle club - about 12 fiddlers - nice sounds and a very relaxed atmosphere.

Birds - one of the reasons I wanted to come was to see different birds. Highlights so far have been a male hen harrier (didn't have camera) and this sweet little redwing searching about for insects outside the window (sorry it's a bit blurred!)

A few people have asked about the Land Rover. It seemes completely recovered from it's traumatic journey up here. In case you don't know the fan belt died South of Birmingham causing some collateral damage. Here's a picture of the Maroon Monster for Steve.

We are going to see some baby seals on Sunday and to a Fair at the local school. We hope to meet the local pig farmer there to hatch some schemes for next year (and to buy some local pork!). People ingeneral very nice but not at all pushy or nosy. Everyone seems to know who we are before we open our mouths! There are supposed to be 500 people on the island but I'm sure I've been bombarded with more than a thousand names - not my strong point. Added to that there are few (obvious) landmarks and most of the houses have no signs outside. You need to be telepathic to know who/where is being talked about. An example might go:

- You need to ask Frankie about mutton

- Where does he live?

- Second house after the turn, if you come to Anchor cottage you've gone too far

- Where's that

- By the loch

- Does it have an anchor outside?

- Not for many years gone by...........

Still, it's small enough that you can't go far wrong and you usually come across interesting stuff by mistake.

That'll do for now - out into the bleak mid-winter now for milk and eggs at the shop 200 yards up the road - I may be quite some time......