Comments on: Previously on “Orkney”…

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:49:49 +0000

Indeed I was. (Briefly).

Orkney is a special, special part of this corner of the world. It’s…special. I’m struggling for words. I’ll stick with special, but put a line under it, like this – SPECIAL.

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been gently bewitched by the place…

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:47:35 +0000

Ahh – that evening that the Harcuses invited us in for amazingly welcome fresh fish at midnight. Deeply rose-tinted memory.

…but the smell of large gadid takes a different form in the mind when you were recruited to haul enormous sacks of dirt smelling of fish.

I’m just sayin’.

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:44:30 +0000

Yup, according to my photos you had a mass of tight curls in the Julius Caesar / Clash of the Titans style – pretty much how my hair looked between ’93 and ’95 (before it fell out).

I liked the dark too. Peaceful, welcoming, and excitingly oblivious to all the little bipeds scurrying around inside it – not dangerous, but encouraging wariness. Orkney rewards a sense of adventure, but has little sympathy for fools. (No safety nets for idiots who don’t deserve them. I like that a lot about Orkney).

I will indeed come to New England.

But I want to hear you sell it to me. Go on.

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:38:38 +0000

No, not eternally dark - but eternally changeable, even in summer. And I'd love to be up there in winter. But the thought of crossing the Pentland Firth (here are some of my thoughts on that subject) gives me the collywobbles at the best of times - let alone during winter.