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Yesterday Mr B and myself attended the Shapinsay School Play. This event was to be a first in a lot of ways. The children of Shapinsay and the children of a Norweigen School in Grinder presented a joint production without either parties leaving their respective classes. How you ask ?

Well by the means of t'internet a few well placed web cams video cameras laptop pcs and an awful lot of hard work from both schools.
The folk of Grinder and Shapinsay were told the story of an unfortunate Bear 'Spencer' who looses his boots whilst on a trip to Grinder. And on his journey to get them back learns a lot about Christmas traditions and customs and why we celebrate Christmas.

As usual the children stole the show with performances from very young pre school children to the older ones. The performance went without a hitch and by the look on all the childerns faces they thoroughly enjoyed the moment.
It was a shame that the people who had wanted to come from the Mianland were unable to attend because of high winds and the postponement of the Ferry, as I am sure that they too would have been delighted with the efforts put in by the children , teachers and all the helpers.

Thats what Christmas should be about. forging new friendships with people, sharing new traditions and having a wonderful time.

Well done Grinder and Shapinsay.

And a Merry Christmas from all at Barebraes Too..........hic !!!

Well we woke to a glorious sunny day, no rain , no wind , just blue sky and calm seas. When you think that the previous month had seen gales and enough rain to float the house from off the top of the hill it was a godsend. Christmas dinner was consumed and washed down with the odd bottle of fizz. Coats donned we took the Hooch for a walk to help digest the feast, We were followed by two cats down the track. Theres nothing like it.

We had decided to hang up our tools for the day and enjoy it. The following three days were fine too and we were able to felt the roof without being blown from the top.

All in all the Christmas break was relaxing and the Kirk Service on Christmas Eve was very symbolic with all the congregation taking a candle and passing the light around the Kirk. The children from the music group played and various people read scripts from the bible. The nativity was re-enacted by the children placing the statues in the manger and we all sang carols.

I hope that you all had a Peaceful Christmas and an even better New Year

Friday 29th December

The weather had been forecast for severe winds lasting all Friday and back again on Sunday. From early Friday morning the wind began increasing and by the time I had to go to work we had already lost a sheet of felt from the roof. Mr B attempts to secure extra batons on the roof halted the onslaught and by the time I returned from work the top sheet of felt was in tatters.

We laid in bed all Friday evening running into Saturday morning wondering what would be left of the roof. The wind sounded so bad that you could feel the walls shaking from inside the bedroom and the drone of the howling wind made me bury my head under the duvet and put my fingers in my ears.

Morning broke and the wind had subsided enough for us to realise that a further 2 sheets of felt were hanging from the roof and there were small peices of felt attached to various fences. All in all I think we got off lightly even though at the time it felt like the end of the world. At least it was only the felt we were having to replace.

Footnote ..... more batons required next time !!!!!

I took the Hooch monster up to Mor Stein to watch the sea battering the coast, we could see the waves crashing over the rocks from the house. Hooch was rather interested in the Huge Standing Stone that is called Mor Stein. I wonder if he thought it was a good place to cock his leg?

Well Off to Kirkwall soon to purchase more felt and back up the ladder to finish the job again.


You cant defy the weather.