Going north...to the Orkney Islands

There is just too much to see in this beautiful country, but I'm slowly getting through my 'must see' list.  The only trouble I keep adding to it as well!  This last week I decided to head north to the Orkney Islands.  It seemed like good timing since it's still school holidays, so no chance of work, and after a week of sleeping in I was kind of ready for a change!

Nessie and I set off on Monday for the 2.5 hour drive north to Thurso then on to Gill's Bay.  Thankfully Nessie is well accustomed to ferries by now, and did the 1.5 hour crossing to South Ronaldsay like a pro.  That night I stayed in St Margaret's Hope, the main town on this island, and got to see the first of several stunning sunsets :)



Some strange white trees on the drive north...seem to be
lots of these around!

The little village of St Margaret's Hope

















Sunset from Sands of Wright beach



Looking back towards the mainland from the ferry

The next day was lovely and sunny of course...the sun seems to follow me so feel free to invite me on your travels :)  There are lots of World War I and II sites on the southern parts of Orkney.  It seems quite bizarre to be exploring battlements and deserted POW camps on islands that are so beautiful and peaceful. 


Shipwrecks seem from the Churchill barriers -
3 causeways built by Italian POWs



Hoxa Head - used as a post to protect naval ships in the
harbour during both World Wars



Inside the Italian Chapel, a chapel built
by POWs and restored as the only remaining
building of the POW camp



Exterior of the Italian Chapel....just a dressed-up army hut!

That night I stayed in Stromness, a beautiful town on the West Mainland of Orkney.



This is the main street of Stromness...marked
as an "A road" on the map! Any narrower
and they'd have to consider making it
one-way...hehe

Beautiful Stromness sunset











 









 





The following day was all about lots of ancient stuff, as well as pretty bits along the west coast.

Sea stack at Yesnaby

Hanging out in my new neolithic home at Skara Brae



Cliff face at Brough of Birsay

Home with a view at Skara Brae...apparently the oldest
preserved village in the world

I spent the last 2 nights in Kirkwall but was kind of over taking so many photos by then!  I did visit St Magnus Cathedral though which was lovely....especially as a shelter from the rain!

 





So enough about me for now...I hope you have had a wonderful week, and if you are somewhere warm please send some warmth this way!  God bless :)

Island-hopping with sis and bro

After a few 'normal' weeks of working, this week has been a pleasant change! Last Monday my sister Renae and her husband Adrian arrived in Inverness....so exciting!

Thankfully Inverness was at her lovely best with blue skies and not-too-cold weather.  I had to work until Wednesday, but was able to help Renae celebrate her birthday that night before our island-hopping adventure began.  Things didn't get off to a good start with a broken exhaust and me having a stupid cold (which I later shared with my sis...oops!).  Thankfully the car was sorted (by Adrian...) and I tried not to croak too much.  Here is the route we took:


View Larger Map

I'd been to Skye before, but Harris, Lewis and Ullapool were new adventures made even better by the lovely company :)  There was so much photo-worthy scenery, but here are a few highlights:

Day 1: Inverness to Isle of Skye

Beautiful gorges, autumn colours, and a lovely castle.  I love this drive...it looks different every time.





At Eileen Donan Castle



Day 2: Isle of Skye to Isle of Harris

Lovey Skye with dramatic hills and coastline, followed by a long ferry ride to our cosy accommodation on Harris. 



 



Aww...at Kilt Rock



Sheep having lunch with a view on Skye















Farewell Skye....leaving Uig



A night of Monopoly fun :)



 

 

Day 3: Looking around Isle of Lewis

Flat, desolate and rocky Lewis with lots of ancient sites and some lovely locals :)

Standing stones...apparently older
than Stonehenge





Day 4: Isle of Harris to Ullapool via Stornoway

Beautiful isolated beaches on Harris, along with winding hilly roads and lots of funny sheep/traffic obstacles!  Then a drive north followed by a looooong ferry ride back to the mainland.





 

 





 

Day 5: Ullapool to Inverness

Gentle raindrops and more lovely autumn colours on our drive back home to Inverness :)

 

 

 

All up, a very special week! We really were so lucky with the weather.  The scenery was so diverse and amazing.....certainly is a beautiful part of the world.  I dropped Renae and Adrian at the airport this afternoon and am missing them already :(  Perhaps it's time to plan another adventure...hmm....

Hope you have a great week.  God bless!

 

 



School fun:)

Wow, time is flying by!  Another 2 weeks gone....working seems to make the days go faster.  Only 2 more weeks in my current job teaching Primary 1/2.  It will be so sad to say goodbye to all the little cherubs!  It's been an exciting and challenging experience working with younger children and also team-teaching.  I must say, I'm a big of a fan of co-teaching...I think it has huge benefits to us as teachers and also the students.  Here are some pics of our lovely classroom:



I just set this up as our class shop...so fun :)

Haha....proof that I'm teaching!

Teaching RME (Religious and Moral Education) each Thursday has also been a great experience.  It can be difficult to teach from the Bible in a public school, where the majority of students are getting different messages at home.  It's been great having question jars where students can anonymously write questions for us to discuss and as long as I frame answers with "I believe..." or "The Bible says..." all is good!

Other than fun at school, I've also been having fun with my Old School flatmates!  Yesterday was such a nice day, and perfect for horseriding.  I'm fortunate to live with such lovely people...couldn't ask for better!  Here are some pics of our horseriding antics.  I'm thinking it would make a good future hobby :)



Emma looking very professional :)



Bregtje, Emma and Eloy



Tis hard to take pics from on a horse...
especially when you're at the back!



The three gals.....

On my lovely Highland Pony "Bilbo"

Dinner together in our orange living room...oh dear!

That's all from me.  Next Sunday is the River Ness 10k which I have stupidly entered myself in without any training at all....but that's ok, I'm just in it for the T-shirt!  God bless...have a wonderful week :)

The wisdom of 5-year-olds

 

I've been teaching lovely P1/2 at Beauly for 4 weeks now, and thought it time I gave you an insight into the world of an early level teacher.  Here are some favourite quotes/moments from my lovely little ones:

 

"Can I water the mountain?"  Translate: Can I go to the water fountain?

 

We were going around the circle saying our favourite fruits. I ask, "What is your favourite fruit?" Answer: "Cornflakes."

 

Talking about our holidays: "I went to another country.  I went to Oban (West Coast of Scotland)"

 

One child lost his shoe.  We found it, inside a book on the bookshelf.  Why didn't we look there first????!!!!  Next day I saw him walking around with a book in one hand, shoe in the other....makes sense now......

 

The children line up outside the door and I ask each whether they are having a school dinner, packed lunch or going home for lunch.  They then blu-tack their name on the correct area of the chart on the door.  Trouble is when they think this is deciding time: "I want to go home for lunch."  Me: "Yes, but did Mummy tell you that you were going home?"  Sigh!!

 

All in all though, I'm enjoying the challenge of P1/2, and realising too how much I've changed in my approach to teaching.  There are some difficult children in the class, but we are getting there!  I'd love to post some photos, but any with children wouldn't be allowed online.  I'll see if I can take some of the classroom and add to this post sometime. 

 

 

Aside from teaching, I've been enjoying what seems like an extended summer:

 

 

The Ness River looking all sparkly and beautiful :)

 

 

Yesterday was another beautiful day, which was wonderful since it was Pete and Selina's wedding!  I worked with Selina at the cafe so it was great to be a part of their day.  Silly me forgot my camera so i will have to wait until I can steal some other people's photos before posting more.  It was a wonderful day though and the bride's dress was amazing!

 

 

More photos later....God bless!