There weren't any permanent traffic lights (or roundabouts) when I lived in Orkney. When they got their first mini-roundabout, there was a diagram in the Orcadian the week it was opened, explaining how to use it ...
Reminds me of someone from the Isle of Man I knew in the early 1970s. He said there was confusion when traffic lights with a filter arrow were installed in Douglas, as people didn't know what to do.
Facebook has just suggested that if I like my church's Facebook group, I might also like the following groups: Wild Swimming in Scotland, Pubs on the N500, and Keto recipes for beginners.
Wild Swimming (presumably nekkid?) in Scotland sounds cold, Pubs on the N500 might be fun (if anyone knows where the N500 - a road? - actually is), whilst Keto recipes sound as though they might have something to do with fugu...
An interesting selection...somewhat random, methinks?
I must rescue @North East Quine ’s reputation by saying that wild swimming is not nekkid, or not necessarily. It just means swimming in rivers, lochs and the sea. The N500 is a network of roads which takes you round the coast of Scotland north of Inverness in 500 miles. A lovely idea which has become a bit of a casualty of its own success, especially this year.
I think the random selection means that some people who also like the NEQ church page are members of such groups. FB often wants me to join a motorhoming group, which would be anathema to me, but I know it is because my little brother will be part of such a group.
Data collection is a very funny thing. Sometimes the extrapolations are eerily accurate ("Ooh, yes, I'd like that, please") and sometimes apparently randomised ("Wha...?!?"). That said, a bracing skinny dip followed by a fireside pint and slice of flesh sounds like a fun Saturday afternoon.
The N500 sounded as though it might be in Parts Foreign (like France), but ISWYM.
I enjoyed travelling around, north of Inverness, some mumble mumble years ago, but I went by train...which of course, only really helps if you want to go to Wick/Thurso, and Kyle of Lochalsh. Other bits of that coast are accessible by road (or sea!), but it's a pity they never built a railway to Ullapool (one was proposed).
I did get to Oban and Mallaig, too, but they (IIRC) are actually south of Inverness...
I'm feeling smug about Facebook. I finally signed up, thinking it might be useful to be able to read one or two sites without participating. The next time I tried to log in was told I was banned, having offended their terms of service. They never said why and didn't even give me an opportunity to thank them. You'll never be able to learn any more about my vices (mostly relating to the presbyterian church and steam locomotives).
I am in the younger half - just- of the members of our church facebook page and so I am intrigued as to which of the others is wild swimming, going to pubs on the N500 and trying out keto recipes.
@Bishop's Finger - I did the N500 with my penpal and her husband four years ago and it was brilliant. I had already been to all the places at one point or another, and some bits I knew extremely well, but doing it as a 9 day long holiday (including two nights on Orkney) was one of the best holidays of my life.
It is true, though, that it is becoming a victim of its own success.
I tried to find a clip of Billy Connelly talk about children swimming from Aberdeen beach a few miles from the rigs where there's a requirement to wear survival gear since a few minutes in the water could be fatal.
I'm getting a tattoo when I get down to 12 stone, too! I've chosen the design and everything, I just need to lose *mumble* stones.
I've had an interesting day. I was supposed to be leading a walk for Aberdeen Uni's WayWord Festival next week, but unsurprisingly it was cancelled. Instead I was filmed doing the walk today, and it'll be watchable (via Zoom, I think) at the time it should have happened, while I answer questions in the sidebar.
It began in St Nicholas graveyard where, five minutes before we were due to start, a pigeon perched in one of the trees shat on me. So that was a good start.
I've managed to lose a little weight since I moved back to Scotland, just by (mostly) sensible eating and by having a 10-minute walk every day (weather permitting), and occasional longer walks with my nieces and their dogs.
I don't know how much weight, as I hate weighing myself, and just don't do it - but when my summer clothes arrived from Canada my trousers were much looser than they were when I last wore them, and my family have noticed that I'm a little less rotund ...
I'm feeling smug about Facebook. I finally signed up, thinking it might be useful to be able to read one or two sites without participating. The next time I tried to log in was told I was banned, having offended their terms of service.
I know I'm a little late responding. This echoes my experience with Twitter. Many years ago I followed a random bit of advice somewhere on the net and got a Twitter account, with the idea that I'd already be there with my own name.
Like you, I was suspended the next day. It didn't matter to me, since I'd pretty much accomplished my goal. I finally got the account un-suspended last year. I still don't use it much.
I wonder if other Scottish shipmates knew Eddie Small, who died yesterday? Eddie seemed to know everyone, it was impossible to have a quiet coffee with Eddie without other people gravitating towards him.
Eddie and I did our Masters together, then started our respective PhDs together. However, Eddie was in huge demand to write, teach, give talks etc which got in the way of completing his thesis. Nobody was clamouring for my talents, and so I was able to finish mine.
I tried to find a clip of Billy Connelly talk about children swimming from Aberdeen beach a few miles from the rigs where there's a requirement to wear survival gear since a few minutes in the water could be fatal.
"The North Sea? It's just the Arctic Ocean with a different name!"
My late Mother's family came from Dumfriesshire...albeit migrating to Ireland at some point (we have cousins in County Meath).
Ma moved back, as it were, and spent the last 17 years of her life in a tiny village near Thornhill - beautiful, beautiful countryside, albeit a bit damp at times.
(The 'Aye weel, he'll ken noo' bit came from the Jokes thread... ).
No news yet, I see, of the wretched Margaret Ferrier resigning, even though First Minister Sturgeon was quite robust (to put it mildly) in her condemnation of Ferrier's actions.
Is there NO honour to be found amongst MPs, even in Scotland?
Comments
An interesting selection...somewhat random, methinks?
I think the random selection means that some people who also like the NEQ church page are members of such groups. FB often wants me to join a motorhoming group, which would be anathema to me, but I know it is because my little brother will be part of such a group.
The N500 sounded as though it might be in Parts Foreign (like France), but ISWYM.
I enjoyed travelling around, north of Inverness, some mumble mumble years ago, but I went by train...which of course, only really helps if you want to go to Wick/Thurso, and Kyle of Lochalsh. Other bits of that coast are accessible by road (or sea!), but it's a pity they never built a railway to Ullapool (one was proposed).
I did get to Oban and Mallaig, too, but they (IIRC) are actually south of Inverness...
Naw... you wear a wetsuit if you're going in the sea around here, at least if you're going further than your knees.
@Bishop's Finger - I did the N500 with my penpal and her husband four years ago and it was brilliant. I had already been to all the places at one point or another, and some bits I knew extremely well, but doing it as a 9 day long holiday (including two nights on Orkney) was one of the best holidays of my life.
It is true, though, that it is becoming a victim of its own success.
They are not holding their breath.
I've had an interesting day. I was supposed to be leading a walk for Aberdeen Uni's WayWord Festival next week, but unsurprisingly it was cancelled. Instead I was filmed doing the walk today, and it'll be watchable (via Zoom, I think) at the time it should have happened, while I answer questions in the sidebar.
It began in St Nicholas graveyard where, five minutes before we were due to start, a pigeon perched in one of the trees shat on me. So that was a good start.
I don't know how much weight, as I hate weighing myself, and just don't do it - but when my summer clothes arrived from Canada my trousers were much looser than they were when I last wore them, and my family have noticed that I'm a little less rotund ...
Like you, I was suspended the next day. It didn't matter to me, since I'd pretty much accomplished my goal. I finally got the account un-suspended last year. I still don't use it much.
Be afraid...be very afraid...
Eddie and I did our Masters together, then started our respective PhDs together. However, Eddie was in huge demand to write, teach, give talks etc which got in the way of completing his thesis. Nobody was clamouring for my talents, and so I was able to finish mine.
Memory eternal, Eddie.
"The North Sea? It's just the Arctic Ocean with a different name!"
Is Mr Connelly likely to be a candidate for election as the first President of Scotland? His inaugural speech would be well worth hearing...
I'll get ma bonnet...
>killingme<
Alas, not as worth hearing as it might once have been given that the poor chap has been living with Parkinson's for some years.
Ma moved back, as it were, and spent the last 17 years of her life in a tiny village near Thornhill - beautiful, beautiful countryside, albeit a bit damp at times.
(The 'Aye weel, he'll ken noo' bit came from the Jokes thread...
Is there NO honour to be found amongst MPs, even in Scotland?