You won't believe this. But on the Orknies cows are more intelligent than those in Letchworth and England.
Walking along country lanes here and they are fascinated by you. Watch you fervently. Come over to say hello. Whole herds make a beeline to get as close to you as possible; as if they want a moo-chat.
Which is fine.
The other day I was walking a cliff path, looking for puffins. Sheer 200foot cliffs as close as 2 metres on my left. And flimsy 3-strand barbed wire fence immediately on my right. And a herd of cows. Excited; frisky; interested in me.
"Go away!"
Moo! (jump up and down, kicking)
"Shoo!"
Moo! (mount each other)
Scary.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Free love and peace man
I visited a commune today. Have always quite fancied the idea of escaping modern day life for something more back-to-nature.. getting in touch with the inner self. Yeah! Peace man! Three wives; free love... that sort of thing... expected lots of hippy beads and laid-back attitude.
But what I found was the Findhorn Community. Wonderful. Designated working roles for all, lots of old fashioned village-life spirit; self financing (they run the caravan park profitably next door); self governed and lots of new age thinking and spiritual aspirations; and very ecologically driven. Own wind turbines; grass roofs; own sewage treatment works; grow all their own vegetables and they welcome thousands of paying visitors to stay for weeks at a time each year.
Found it fascinating. And if I had found it 30 years ago I might have been interested.
But why does it have to be 500 miles from home?
Anybody fancy starting one in Norton?
But what I found was the Findhorn Community. Wonderful. Designated working roles for all, lots of old fashioned village-life spirit; self financing (they run the caravan park profitably next door); self governed and lots of new age thinking and spiritual aspirations; and very ecologically driven. Own wind turbines; grass roofs; own sewage treatment works; grow all their own vegetables and they welcome thousands of paying visitors to stay for weeks at a time each year.
Found it fascinating. And if I had found it 30 years ago I might have been interested.
But why does it have to be 500 miles from home?
Anybody fancy starting one in Norton?
Friday, 3 June 2011
Pissport
Well. I never expected to be doing a blog tonight.
Have had a wonderful three days in Weymouth (not alone) we went to sub tropical gardens in Abbotsbury, got to know some some real life pirates, (well actors doing a smugglers walking tour...) and went to Chesil beach... all absolutely fab. And am home with just enough time to get hot bath, and check all is well for my 930am flight tomorrow to Inverness where I then go on to Orknies and Shetlands. Just so much fun.
Until I suddenly, with open mouth realised my passport is still at the Mongolian Embassy in London. Which will not be open again til 10am Monday.
Does not bode well for a Phileas-type-round-the-world-organising-by-myself traveller.
Oops!
Have had a wonderful three days in Weymouth (not alone) we went to sub tropical gardens in Abbotsbury, got to know some some real life pirates, (well actors doing a smugglers walking tour...) and went to Chesil beach... all absolutely fab. And am home with just enough time to get hot bath, and check all is well for my 930am flight tomorrow to Inverness where I then go on to Orknies and Shetlands. Just so much fun.
Until I suddenly, with open mouth realised my passport is still at the Mongolian Embassy in London. Which will not be open again til 10am Monday.
Does not bode well for a Phileas-type-round-the-world-organising-by-myself traveller.
Oops!
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