On these isles where winters are long, dark and storms roll into one another, the security of having a multi fuel stove brings so much peace of mind - providing you have enough fuel to keep the flames dancing throughout the darkest hours.

As the blood line to the island is the ferry service, which relies on good weather, it is pretty important to order and have delivered firewood and coal whilst the ferries operate consistently.  Also, there is nothing worse than humping and dumping tonnes of coal and peat around during the wild Orkney weather.

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So, we have had our coal delivery already, along with an unexpected tonne of peat.  Our shipping container is bulging at the sides with sacks of coal and peat, along with the remnants of last years wood delivery and pallets waiting to be chopped into splinter thin cocktail sticks to get the fire roaring.

As there are very few trees on our island, scurrying around scavenging fallen branches is not really an option.  Driftwood washed up on the beaches is always a welcome find whilst out beachcombing, but, thankfully shipwrecks these days are few and far between.  Long gone are the days when locals would entice ships and fishing vessels onto craggy rocks with touches in the hope of causing a wreck! Broken shipping pallets which have been well dried out do make good kindling, although nails in the ash pan need to be removed prior to the ash added to the compost heap.  

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One thing that we do have an abundance of here on the isle is seaweed, and I am most interested in making seaweed briquettes to burn on the multi fuel stove.  If successful, then this could well be a very cost effective and very green source of renewable heating!

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There is something magical about being up before the sun peeks over the sea and being up before the rest of the household emerge from their state of slumber. A tranquility and peacefulness that allows plans for the day to be drawn and quiet jobs to be completed, so good morning all! 

We have recently taken you on a tour of our home, and it is about time that we showed you around the outside and around our land.  We have split the video into two parts because our internet upload speed couldn't handle such a big file. 

There are already signs of spring, the grass is starting to grow and the horses are molting their winter coats - which wouldn't normally happen until March if the worst of winter was not behind us.  We have even planted a variety of herbs on the kitchen windowsill, and they are starting to grow.  Our sense of what to plant and when seems to be a little askew as we are not used to this environment just yet.  It is far milder here then South Wales, but we do have to contend with low light levels and strong winds over winter, so our first year here will primarily be focused on the livestock and experimenting with what does and does not grow.

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We will give you all a guided tour of the gardens, outbuildings and land as soon as this current batch of wind has subsided! 

This week we have a work-awayer coming from Denmark to stay with us for a month to help us develop our homestead.   We have a huge amount of projects on the go and ready to get started - so an extra pair of hands will be a huge help!  This will be our first time hosting a work-awayer, so it will be a big learning curve for us.  She wants to see the roughest side of Scotland- fortunately she means in terms of weather, other wise I would have suggested she spends a month in Glasgow, but Orkney in January and February will appeal to her.

Our first litter of chicks are due to hatch in a few days, so we are pacing up and down with excitement.  I have resisted the urge to make a “Congratulations - it’s a hen” sign - that would be a little over kill.  

We are also looking forward to choosing our sheep!  We need to go and pick them out, register with Defra and get out Parish holding number, and we are good to go!  The sheep have their names - Izzy and Beth for the ewes and Ewan for the ram.  Any future lambs from this parent stock will have names relating to cuts of meat.  

Dee has spent a lot of time arranging, rearranging and re-rearranging the decor in the cottage. Photo frames galore, house plants, pewter and horse brasses adorne pretty much every available horizontal and vertical surface around us - and it does feel very cosy!

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1. Things will go wrong:  That powersurge that the locals warned you about will happen and frazzle your hard drive on your computer - But having a backup laptop allows you to order a new PC, there are no electronic stores on a remote island!
   
2. Act quickly upon local knowledge:  People in your environment have learnt the hard way.  Note to self - dissect, consider and act upon local wisdom.  It pays off!
   
3. Community is key:  When there is a reason to put the kettle on and have a chat - do so.  Many pearls of wisdom are shared and friendships are formed, nurtured and strengthened over a cuppa or a wee dram. If you want more company, move to an island with less people!
   
4. Eat simply:  After a hard day's work the simplest of meals are the most rewarding.  Complex and big flavours are no match for a lovingly cooked, local or homegrown dish.
   
5. Dream big: Embrace the passion that you initially have, keep on focusing on the achievements that you want from your new way of life!