±«Óãtv

Happy New Year Everybody and welcome to all the new bloggers, looks like a bunch of people used the Christmas break, (or should that be the 'Winter Holidays') to get online and get writing.

Great stuff, I also have heard rumours that a husband and wife 'team' will be writing seperate blogs very soon. Should be entertaining.

And in the Western Isles all power to the fank organising committee who continue to do sterling work to unite waifs, strays, lame ducks, would-be-gigolos and all of humanity in romantic fervour.

On another note...

You can now search by island

Still quite a few of the outlying islands we need to find bloggers, calling Papa Westray, Hoy and Burray...

It's just been pointed out by my glamorous colleague - Anne from Aberdeen - that there are some spectacular Epostcards on the Where I Live site. Are Aberdonians allowed at the fank?







and



My plan is that we should recruit new bloggers from the vacant islands by Epostcard...'Featured Blog' spots for every fresh recruit from an unrepresented island. Bribery, it's always the best way.

There was a great piece on MacAulay & Co this morning on Radio Scotland. just click on the Listen Again button (top right handcorner, then choose the show)...with Tim Worstall editor of '2005 Blogged'.

Only one problem - there was no reference to Island Blogging (shurely shome mishtake?)

By the way - apologies to anyone finding a technical problem this morning, this is now fixed.

Hi Island Bloggers - can all new bloggers make sure they have emailed us at islandblogging@bbc.co.uk

This is standard for everyone, and I promise you there is no more rigmarole after contacting us, but we need to have an 'offline' way of contacting you.

If you don't do it we won't publish your posts. No more Mr Nice Guy!

thanks
Mike

Just like to let everyone know that Island Blogging has been nominated for an award in the interactive section of the Celtic Film and Television Festival.

Other ±«Óãtv nominees include:

The BAFTA-Winning Gaelic song site

the childrens Fantasy Drama series:

and the combined Welsh and Gaelic learner site.

I just sent them a link and said: "Is the sort of Interactive project you're looking for?"

You can see the site here, and the
So positive thinking, and the power of prayer required to get us from shortlist to award!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed...

Friday is my last day at the ±«Óãtv as I'm going off out into the big bad world from under Auntie's skirt-tails. Thankfully as soon as I'm off, Island Blogging will be taken over by Graham - a trusty colleague who can still be contacted via islandblogging@bbc.co.uk and will take over the IBHQ moderators blog.

The project was first set up in North Argyll a pilot project on the back of the Argyll Islands Digital Community scheme, which gave each households in the North Argyll islands free internet access for one year, as well as a computer, webcam, scanner and printer. We talked to them about creating a project that allowed users to create their own content, and explore hw to use their new-fangled equipment. It has since grown South, then across the North-West and round the top.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed writing and photos from start to finish like and and and

Island Blogging has given me the chance to roam about the country 'promoting the project'. I've visited islands I'd never been to: Gigha; wild wild Jura; sampling local uisge beatha on Islay; stunning Orkney; amazing Tiree and the Uists. All places I had not trod. It was also a great opportunity to re-visit some of my favourite islands: Mull, Skye and Lewis amongst them.

For the future I hope we can get ALL the islands onboard (come on Rum, Eigg, Eriskay, South Ronaldsay and Papa Westray! Papa Stour, Hoy and Barra, let's hear you). So to leave you here is a random batch of photos collected from round about, and wish you all the very best....

P.S. see you at the Fank!

It's my last day (!) and great to see another island 'inhabited', so a big welcome to

Thanks to everyone leaving comments.

To everyone offering drinks around the islands, don't worry these invitations will be accepted!

Sunny I hope too I won't "disappear completely" either - I'll have to check the small print of the contract....


Mike