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I thought that Spring was a time for Ducklings and Chicks but to our suprise one of our mad Ducks took to her bed and through rain and shine sat on a clutch of hen and duck eggs. The thought of any babies from the brood was dismissed and we thought that after a few days the call of the crushed barley would tempt her from her nest, but she sat there through thick and thin, rain and shine, the dog sniffing round her, and me and my size 6 wellies stomping round the enclosure.

Yesterday ( 14th Sept ), I did my tour of the Ducks to feed water and tend to their every need when The aforsaid very defensive duck increased her size to double by puffing up her feathers and hissing incessantly. Amongst the sound of hissing from under the feathers stuck out a yellow head then another. I counted 4 ducklings all squinting from the bright daylight. What a suprise, we had previously had a brood of duckling that alas had all mysteriously dissappeared from the hen house, we gathered either a ferral cat or rat had been involved in thier demise.

Now we have 4 ducklings and a dilemma.

To leave nature to its own devices and hope that the ducklings survive the hungry predators or to face the wrath of Mummy Duck and remove them to a safe place and give them a chance of survival.

Take a look at them and you decide



A footnote for my daughter and all the co workers at the HSBC in Southend on Sea... here is a map of Shapinsay so they know where Abbies MAD mum lives

How to be confused in three easy lessons!!

On arriving in Orkney a year ago we found that some terminology for certain things were different. Like reference to the 'morns morn' being tomorrow morning etc.... What really confused Mr Barebraes and gave us both a good giggle was the converstions we had with a number of people. It went something like this:

We were asked by an orcadian what type of 'Spoots' we were having on the new house. Spoots?, Mr Barebraes enquired. Yes Spoots came the reply. The gentleman pointed to the gutters and muttered again 'yes Spoots' At once Mr Barebraes realised that the item we recognised as a gutter or drain pipe was called a Spoot. We both felt pleased with ourselves that we had learnt an orcadianism. this was filed away for reference.

A few days later we came across the same gentleman and Mr Barebraes enquired as to where the gentleman had been. He was informed that the man had been down to the local beach. 'Oh and what were you doing on the beach'? I was looking for Spoots came the reply Spoots ? Mr Barebraes did a double take and in a rather sheepish voice enquired ; You find spoots on the beach?
'Of course came the reply, and right tasty they are too' With a look of horror Mr Barebraes not wanting to sound incredibly stupid mentioned the conversation a few days earlier regarding the gutters . Oh No came the reply you get Spoots on the beach and after thinking about it the gentleman explained that Spoots were also Razor fish and were very tasty pan fried in butter.

So you see this information was once again filed away and the confusion subsided until................

On a course for the firestation Mr Barebraes was in a hotel in Inverness with a fellow orcadian and after asking if his colleague required a drink was told yes please ' I will have a Rum and black spoot'

Here we go again ....

it is also known as Coke.

SPOOTS SPOOTS SPOOTS

Whatever next !!!!