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In less than a week Paul and I would have lived on Shapinsay for a whole year. We have seen the changes of the seasons, met lots of good people and enjoyed the experience.

We intend to make this our last move and as long as were not blown off the top of Ward Hill or enveloped in the next ice age / heat wave from global warming then we intend on seeing it out to the bitter end.

The house we are rebuilding / converting is going to take a few years to get it how we want it and all the hard work and stressful energy that has gone into it will hopefully be worth it.

Island life isn't for everyone 'From Down South' and most people from the Material World like the fact that they can pop to Marks And Sparks for lifes luxuries, but theres a reward to be had to see how you can live on the land and still be happy.

Here are a few pictures that I have taken over the year that I think sum up Shapinsay. And a few of the renovations to the house.

We have begun to put some of the Roof on the house and although this was a daunting task, having not had any experience of truss building and erection, we set about with the tools and the wood and a lot of plans and motivation.

The first truss was built on top of the wall where it was to be sited and with a few ropes long peices of wood Paul and I managed to hoist it to the upright position. The releif of the task and the sight of the height of the roof against the barn that had looked huge before made us realise that we had a long way to go till the whole of the 24 metres was covered by the new roof. It took us the whole day of planning and building to accomplish our first truss.

Sunday came and we were confident that we could steam ahead and erect a few more. We were just coming up to lunchtime when the phone rang and a voice on the other end said 'We were wondering if you need a hand' Our nearest neighbours arrived and in no time we had two more trusses built and positioned. Then the arrival of the neighbours wife with a feast of home cooking arrived and we all tucked into the meal.

Where would you find people who are willing to give up their Sunday afternoon to help build a roof and supply the food too. Well I am glad that we have neighbours like this. It makes you realise that the world isn't such a bad place after all.

Watch this space for more developments

Update ..................... Mr Barebraes is off to the big smoke to extinguish more fires on his training course to become a fully fledged Retained Firefighter and the roof will have to take a back seat for the next week, we have been furiously rebuilding walls topping them with a concrete wall plate and have now erected a further 9 trusses and a large amount of plywood, Our goal is to reach the dividing wall where the current living accommodation meets the new living accommodation. So far the weather has been kind and we have been told by a reputable builder that we have a while yet before we should shore it all up for the winter. And there in the grace of God we leave our structure to see what Mother Nature can throw at it. I hope that she is kind!!!!!

More pictures can be found below and I am sure that more will follow........