Scallop shell oil lamps

I teach people how to make these oil lamps on my survival courses – but I thought this picture too beautiful to not share, so here it is:

Scallop shell oil lamps from Orkney clams

If you want to know how to make them, see the next couple of blogs.

If you want to join in the Power Off weekend, go to this link

The Orkney Dream – DAY TWO – by Joanna Tinsley

It was 8^oC and it was hammering it down. Yet here I was, fully gortexed-up, barefoot on a beach on Orkney and heading for the sea. After a lifetime of stomping about the countryside in hiking boots, walking barefoot is a strange, but bizarrely enjoyable, experience. “Walking barefoot is a metaphor for how we should treat our environment,” explained our guide for the day, Malcolm Handoll from Five Senses, who had just persuaded us to throw off our socks and shoes and head down to the rocky, seaweed-covered beach in the rain. “It teaches you to tread carefully and engage with nature rather than trample all over it.” It also teaches you that that’s no stranger sensation than feeling bubbles of bladderwrack between your toes and, more conclusively, that when you’re at a latitude parallel with St Petersburg, the sea is painfully cold.

Back in the house, our numb feet began to thaw as we wrapped our hands around a mug of hot tea and watched as Malcolm demonstrated how the Neolithic people of Orkney made fire. After a quick lesson, which was interrupted when a hen harrier hovered inches from the window (wildlife always finds you when you’re least expecting it), it was our turn to create nature’s more basic yet elusive element.

First we constructed a tinder nest by tying a tight knot of dried grass, thumbing it out into a cup-shape and lining it with cotton grass. We then crouched over a long, flat piece of wood with an indentation and a notch, while Malcolm wound a wooden spindle into a primitive bow made from a branch and a rope. I clamped the wood with my newly-thawed foot, steadied the spindle with my left hand (using two limpet shells as a bearing) and held the bow with my right, while my friend Rachel grasped the other end of the bow. The idea was to push and pull the bow, thus spinning the spindle and creating enough friction to generate heat. It was trickier than it looked, but after a few wobbly attempts we saw smoke – lovely thick curls of smoke as the charred dust fell onto a piece of goat skin under the notch. After letting this smoke happily away to itself for a few minutes we gingerly tipped the embers into our tinder nests. Cupping our hands around our nests we then blew gently until the smoke grew thicker and a orange glow appeared. “This is it,” whispered Malcolm, “now take one deep breath and blow gently at first, then harder…” We did as we were told and within seconds were holding our very own flaming ball of fire in our hands. It was a truly a magical moment, exhilarating but a little bit scary. After much whooping we dropped the flaming nest and extinguished our handiwork in one quick step. Strangely satisfied, we were left babbling and smiley and smelling nicely of campfires.

Visit www.allfivesenses.com or wait for the August issue of the magazine to find read more…

Sat, 02/05/2009 – 23:42

Submitted by Joanna Tinsley

Go to BBC Countryfile Blog for more of Joanna’s adventures in Orkney.

Orkney Trees in Winter

I took photographs of some of the trees growing on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, for two reasons: To show that trees do grow in Orkney and to show how they cope with the strong winds and shorter growing season (sunlight).

I have taken the opportunity of snow to contrast against the limbs, thus showing up the tree shape better – and making some cool patterns in the bargain. All pictures were taken on the 10th Feb 2009, with cold hands. I hope you enjoy!

Sycamores and St Magnus Cathedral

Sycamores and St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney

Windswept Sycamore near Maeshowe Chambered Cairn / Tomb

Windswept sycamore near Maeshowe, Orkney

Sycamore sheltered in Finstown

Sycamore sheltered in Finstown, looking south

Track through Binscarth – Orkney’s largest wood

track through Binscarth - Orkney's largest wood

Not only Willows and Sycamore

One of many palm trees in Kirkwall

A bonus of exploring Orkney woodland

ice water hidden amidst the trees

The sun came out at Redland

sun catching the plantation at Redland

Five minutes later, brrr

Snow forces me to retreat into woods for shelter

Trees leaning towards the light in Binscarth

trees leaning towards the light in Binscarth

The sky above and branches outlined

Trees when viewed looking straight upwards

Going home!

Binscarth - note the prevailing wind sculpted canopy

There you go. I’ll be out more, but the snow is melting, and in summer it will look quite different when all the leaves are out and the many willows are all bushy too.

So, don’t let anyone say again that trees do not grown in Orkney – here is the proof!

For pictures of the Standing Stones in snow, click here

Orkney Standing Stones in Winter Snow

Contrary to many expectations, snow is rare here in the Orkney Islands of northern Scotland. The surrounding waters are too mild and salty, the rainfall is just not that frequent either. So when it snows we take photos – and then everyone gets the wrong impressions. So, here are some pictures of Orkney, taken in February 2009, looking quite unlike how most visitors to these World Heritage sites remember.

Sunrise at Ottersgill:

sunrise Orkney Islands Feb 10th 2009, 8am

My photo project was to record the snow at major landmarks, such as the Ring of Brodgar stone circle and the Stenness Standing Stones – both Neolithic structures (Stone Age). The second batch of photos will be of some of Orkney’s trees, the branches of which show up well against the white landscape.

Stenness Standing Stones:

5,000 year old Stenness Standing Stones, Orkney

Ring of Brodgar and Comet Stone:

Comet Stone and Ring of Brodgar

Ring of Brodgar and surrounding ditch:

The rock-cut ditch around the Ring of Brodgar, now mostly infilled

Lichen growing on one of the stones:

Lichen growing on the stones at Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

Note: I took these pictures when the temperature was about freezing, the air damp, and I just wore a t-shirt and fleece, with a woolly hat, no gloves. For the pictures around our house I was barefoot. Like I say, you have to play to survive!

More of Orkney pictures and places to visit.

Orkney trees in winter

What they are saying about Five Senses in Orkney, Scotland

Following yesterday’s post about attention to detail, here are some quotes from testimonials, feedback and letters of thanks, posted to me at Five Senses, here in Orkney, Scotland. I was preparing to put them up on the website but they also seem appropriate for the current blog theme, so excuse the praise and read the detail - it is all about the detail. [Italics and bold added by me].

Malcolm of Five Senses with Stinging Nettles

What is being said about Five Senses:

(See also The Scotsman Newspaper article)

Guests write:

“We cannot say enough about Malcolm and Rachel of Five Senses Tours. We had a great tour of the Highlands and Orkney and saw and experienced so much more than we would have on our own. Tailored to our needs and flexible, educational and fun! I can still taste the local food and drink!”

***

“I want to thank you for the day my daughter and I spent with you. Your tour was quite remarkable.

The Five Senses Tour experience certainly engaged all our sense, as promised, but it did more. It engaged our minds. As a guide you presented us with the tactile, olfactory, aural (I shall never forget the acoustics at the Stones of Stenness), and visual feasts, along with a terrific lunch. But you also asked us to consider what we saw, not to take it on face value. Too often a tour will tell you what the experts say and leave it at that. With Five Senses, you offered us competing theories and then you asked us what we thought, what we saw. I left enriched and excited…and my brain was wonderfully full.

Would that all tours were that wonderful.”

***

“‘Twas the most memorable experience of my two weeks holiday in Ireland and Scotland…”

***

“Just spent three amazing days in the Orkney Islands with the wonderful couple from Five Senses of Scotland. Learnt firelighting with a handmade wooden bowdrill, explored ancient sites – including singing and drumming inside a stone tomb until we found a pitch that caught its natural frequency and amplified our quietest voices many fold – hiked and camped through the lush island of Hoy, drinking delicious fresh water from a rippling stream, while learning to navigate with a compass, and sharing an old stone bothy with passing hikers and a roaring fire (and much more).

If you want to immerse yourself in the land and culture of the Orkney Islands, I would highly recommend this group. Both Malcolm and Rachel are deeply friendly and caring about the people they work with and the land and work it self.”

***

“Thank you very much for giving us such a fantastic time, so much information, new skills and much food for thought, so, in a way it was an intellectual experience too!”

***

“Just want to say how fantastic the new Orkney Experience was. You are both such an inspiration.

Malcolm you are a talented person with such a special gift to see the world in all its wonder and be amazed. Thanks for sharing it.

Rachel, thanks too, for sharing your smile, warmth and sincerity.”

***

“Thank you again for such a memorable day!”

***

“I have arrived home from my wonderful vacation to Scotland and Ireland. What an amazing adventure it was! I wanted to thank you for hosting such a wonderful day in Kirkwall. It was so nice to be shown around by someone who truly loves their country and enjoys sharing this joy with others. I will be posting your contact information on the Cruise Critic web site. Perhaps a few cruise tours here and there may be helpful to you. Please stay in touch and let me know how your business plans are going. If there is anything I can do to promote All Five Senses on my end please let me know.

Again, thank you for a wonderful day.”

***

“Thank you for an absolutely brilliant evening yesterday – Ellie hasn’t stopped talking about it since. We have tonight made fire at Birsay and even demonstrated
it to someone else.

Thanks again.”

Making fire by friction - using your senses

“What an outstanding, thoughtful, insightful and unusual introduction to Orkney. Including tea on your fabulous sun porch was an added bonus!!

Thanks so much for a wonderful day.”

***

“We cannot thank Five Senses enough for our trip to Orkney and beyond, we saw and learned far more than we thought we would and ten times what we would have it we had done it on our own. Our only regret is not having more time. What probably sums it up the best is what happened at the Inverness airport, as we were leaving and they asked how many of us where flying we answered “six”, to which the seven year-old replied “yeah, six, we’re short one now”.”

***

“Well, I’m home now and looking back, the day spent with you in Orkney was the highlight of my trip. Thank you so much for sharing your stories, the fire-making and the special magic of Orkney.

It was such a blessing to meet you and to feel welcomed by your spirit to these ancient sacred places. I will always look back on that day with gratitude.”

Burnside cottage, Rackwick, Island of Hoy, Orkney

And there is more …

“It’s an amazing place; however, this can only really be appreciated if you do it with Five Senses. Out of all of the experiences that we had on our trip to the UK, meeting Malcolm and his wife Rachel and going to all of these ancient places and learning so much was the highlight of the trip. Not to mention actually being able to touch a part of the past.”

***

“We had a picnic with Malcolm on the last day in this field of heather. I still to this day remember what the food tasted like. It was incredible — we can definitely say that we experienced Orkney with all five senses. Not to mention we now know a lot of survival techniques that we learned from Malcolm while visiting Orkney.”

***

“Touring the island with Malcolm was truly a five sense experience. He not only introduced us to the topographical, geological and spiritual aspects of the environment, he and his lovely wife, Rachel, made us feel like family – one well worth a return trip.”

***

“Having used Five Senses I have to say that the quality of interaction with the children, the content of the experience, and the high motivation factor were all really impressive.

So much was this the case that I have booked a half day for my own school to launch our Fuel and Power Topic with a spark! Several other of the commonly used cross-curricular, science- or history-based Topics in Primary would be greatly augmented by such an experience as we had, especially several involving past civilisations or prehistory, or those considering materials and their properties.

The level was right, the risk assessment and health and safety issues were addressed, the personnel were SO enthusiastic and engaged the children without exception and for the whole duration of the afternoon. The children worked as a team eagerly, each having hands-on experience and all gaining so much knowledge, in theory and in practice, about materials, past times, the creation and maintenance of fire, its significance to various times, cultures and peoples, its dangers and safe management.

I have no hesitation in recommending colleagues to take a look at what these people have to offer.”

Limpets are survival food

***

“Planting a naked foot on a board, Malcolm used a bow and hazel ‘drill’ to create flame. Even in these hi-tech days fire still has a magical power to thrill.

These are experiences the children will never forget. Science is all about seeing, enjoying, discovering, trying things out – and, sometimes, being so enthralled by a moment that it changes the way someone thinks for ever.”

Fire Making Class with Malcolm

***

“Five Senses showed our family of 4 plus my sister and her husband around for a week. It was incredible. The highlight of 3 weeks in the UK – and we plan to return. We could not have seen 1/3 of what we saw without Malcolm. It was not a “okay so look at this for 20 seconds” type event. Malcolm asked us all kinds of questions for weeks before we arrived. Once there, he learned more about us — and surprised us with a stop off at a rare breed sheep farm, as well as a combination wool shop / bookstore, to satisfy all 6 of us. I would highly recommend Malcolm and Five Senses to anyone. It is not costly when you realize how much you end up doing, seeing and experiencing.

We shall be back”.

***

“The rest of our trip was nice but we really feel the highlight was the week we spent with you and can’t stop talking about it. Kudos to you Malcolm”.

NHS Dentist – At long last

Today I celebrate being registered with the local NHS dental practice – now my teeth can be repaired and cared for. I am so happy!

A few months ago one of my molars broke as I chomped away – a big piece of a tooth – I was so sad, like part of me had died. Silly, I know, but I care for my teeth. I eat no sugar, brush regularly and so on. I am trying to care for myself – but the damage was already done in early youth, soon after these teeth appeared. The dentist I had then relished drilling into the new teeth as if hunting for gold (I think of him as a nazi, if he ever reads this i hope he is shamed and apologises – my teeth paid for his alcohol). So, for the last 25 – 30 years I have been carrying these old, metal fillings in my mouth, slowely leaching toxins into my brain, probably. This might go some way to explaining some excentricities. That and the lead water pipes of my youth.

The broken tooth left a nasty, sharp edge that grated on my tongue every time I swallowed, until it was raw and uncomfortable. Of course, I could not leave it alone, and my mood clouded over like a storm. Thankfully, this qualified as emergency treatment so I got an appointment at the local dental surgery, that week. A temporary filling was put in and I have been waiting for the Autumn to get a permanent filling put in.

Last weekend, I was eating popcorn (home made in a pan, a touch of butter and a big smile on my face) when suddenly I noticed a ‘hole’ in that tooth. Whatever had come out was not in my mouth so must have been swallowed. So, more red raw tongue and a wait for another emergency appointment. That was this morning.

The temporary filling has been replaced. I am smiling. My other teeth have been looked at and I have 3 more appoinments, this autumn, to replace some of the old fillings, clean me up, and I feel so happy. I could not afford to have this done at a private clinic – but now, once again, the NHS and my Polish dentist has come t omy rescue.

Doesn’t this make good sense? I am trying to eat healthy food and a big part of that is chewing the food – and eating food that neeeds chewing – vegetables and home cooked meals (not sloppy ready made meals that resemble pureed baby food – for that is how I see adults who eat that stuff – big babies). So, to keep body and mind healthy, eating good food is one of the first defences, preventative medicine, you could say. It goes along side the exercise, the yoga and avoiding alcohol, sugar, salt etc etc …

Trying to help the NHS by not becoming a patient … and the NHS is helping m do that! I salute the NHS and smile, thanking the wonderful people who introduced this simple concept – free health care at the point of delivery, paid out of our taxes by everyone. You see, if I am kept healthy, and thus not a burdon on the society, I am cheaper to keep! I can remain productive and help others!

Rachel has just taken out travel insurance for her trip to the USA, next week, because no one dares tread on US soil without having water-tight health insurance. Crazy, foolish, short sighted system. Selfish and inefficient system. It is sad that a US citizen should feel so vulnerable in their own country – but tht is the truth, for many folks, working, self employed as well as the poor. USA you should be ashamed for getting it so wrong and being hood-winked by greedy business people and drug companies. You are being taken for a ride, like guinnea pigs or lab rats, who pay for it.

Today, I drink a toast (of hot water), to the wonderful, wonderful National Health Service! A service – not a business. Smile please!

Argh – BBC iplayer “Passage” (John Rae) – I need Pt 2*

Oh this is not fair – I have been waiting to download part two of Passage (about Arctic Explorer, John Rae) off BBC iplayer (where I watched part one, broadcast 3rd August). It is not there! (Read Epilogue, below).

Like a baby I wail, wanting to get my fix. What is worse is I could have watched it on television – at a friends house, since we have forgone television (Rachel has the jitters, what with the Olympics being on. It was this sporting fest 4 years ago that made her bring the tv into our lives, and after 3 years of many other shows, from Time Team and Ray Mears to Midsummer Murders and Family Guy – all research, of course, the tv went. Now we only get to see downloads via iplayer).

I should describe the situation. Rachel is at her Apple Mac watching streaming footage of syncronised diving (I have images of Peter Kay “bombing”) whilst I head butt my computer (which is retarded by Microsoft’s clumsy coding and corporate strangle hold). Today’s yoga is on hold, whilst we digest millet gruel (tasty breakfast and healthy). A walk is called for but no sooner do I utter the word than a heavy cloud previously unnoticed, sidles in like a drunken ram, obscuring the meagre warmth and flattening my hopes of a summer stroll. Rachel is less likely to want a walk in this wind without compensatory sunshine.

Any roads, I am hoping to get part two of the Passage programme off iplayer some time soon. In the mean time, the stairs are narrowed by piles of books (somehow I like this scene, but like it less when travelling the stairs at night – now I notice it is actually dark at night, and I am excited! Excited by the darkness, not because of vampire tendencies but because the dark is soothing, awakens other senses, calms and aids sleep. I often consider reincarnation as a bear, that hibernates, however winter is such fun I could not sleep). Passage …

If anyone out there decided to record this part two, broadcast Sunday the 10th August, let me know and I’ll offer big bribes to let me see it. I might even learn from Bruce Parry’s Tribe to overcome “desire” and thus stop my wailing.

This is one of those blogs that doesn’t really go anywhere – I have not thought what to write and have no axe to grind, no pen to scratch. It is not really going anywhere, intellectually. However, like the mortar between the stones, it has value and cements the pieces together. Some might say it has more value for being honest, unplanned and flowing. That is blogging for you.

One day I believe all this I write will be lost – some electronic storm or corporate explosion (I wish), a fizzling of the internet airways and suddenly a blank screen. An absence of pictures on Flickr, words on blogs, knowledge on bookmarked sites. This computer screen is my portal to a world yet it is a tenuous link, an umbilical cord I need to prepare to do without – like the television … because, some day, what if it just doesn’t work? All that I write, customer details, contacts, email addresses … my life hangs by an electronic thread. My next life is free of this. Until then, I cajoule clumsy fingers to type (why???) and strain my eyes before the alter of our religion – the internet.

May you rest in peace, a while at least.

For myself, I have work to do. Another family want to be instructed in the finer art of fire making – and where better than on windy and damp islands in the north of Scotland? I accept the challenge with a soft smile. It is easy when you know how. Life, I mean, not just fire making.

Another time I will blog about Stefansson (1920’s Arctic Explorer).

* Epilogue:

In desperation, I contacted the BBC in Orkney – that is Radio Orkney – to see if they had a copy, which I kind of expected them to have archived but the didn’t. However, they said they’d put out an appeal for anyone with a copy to get in touch with me.

Now – I am not one to regularly listen to radio orkney in the mornings (shock confession) as I find news at 7.30am to be too much to bear. If I need it I’ll listen to the broadcast online later. This particular monday though, I was driving to Kirkwall, for an early dental appointment, whenup pops this announcement on the radio! Good for them!

What is even better, four people phoned me that day all kindly offering copies that they had. How kind. How wonderful, that in a small, island population there should be such a response! Another reason to praise Orkney. Thank you everyone, and Radio Orkney too.

I now have a copy, on DVD, and all is well.

John Rae – Arctic Explorer Survival – on BBC

Thanks to BBC iplayer it is possible to watch Passage – a two part documentary about the amazing Arctic Explorer, Dr John Rae, from Clestrain, Orkney, in Scotland. A story of survival.

I have just watched part one with part two being shown on BBC 2 this Sunday 10th August, 2008. Both should be available on iplayer.

The 60 minute, ‘documentary style’, (part one) follows the team of film makers preparing to make a film about John Rae, based upon the book Fatal Passage, by Ken McGoogan (about the failed Franklyn Expedition to find the North West Passage). The film is being made by John Walker Productions.

John Rae should be well known for his own achievements – not just for being the barer of ‘bad news’ regarding the Franklyn expedition, whilst mapping for the Hudson Bay Company.

To read more about this unsung hero of 19th century British exploration, from Orkney, Scotland, go to:

• BBC – Dr John Rae
• Orkneyjar
• Wikipedia

For a good book about John Rae, read No ordinary journey : John Rae, Arctic explorer, 1813-1893

or see Amazon for Fatal Passage

Amazon – No Ordinary Journey

(I live next door to the Hall of Clestrain, Orkney, where John Rae grew up. His statue is in St Magnus Cathedral, in Kirkwall and a grave in the same graveyard is all that remains of this amazing guy, who unlike other officer gentlemen of the British navy (Scott, Franklyn), managed to live to old age, largely by learning from and respecting the indiginous people and their experience in cold climates. rather like Amundson, who was another impressive explorer!

For an interesting story of the rubber boat used (and on display in Stromness Museum, Orkney) see the “cloak boat”

The Halkett boat - cloak, used by John Rae

Image sourced from the National Maritime Museum

Exploring Shetland by Bod

I have just returned from exploring the Shetland Islands – the most northerly place in Britain, over 60 degrees latitude. Watched puffins (early August) and lots of seals. Slept in the doorway of a Bod each night, caught the overnight ferry from Kirkwall and flew back from Sumburgh in a twin engine Saab. Rented a car for 3 days from Star rental, which worked well, except the car had an unpleasant smell I attributed to cleaning chemicals and the new upholstery. My nasal passages were much happier when freed of this noxious asault, to enjoy the salty air, the peat fire, the smoked salmon and seaweeds.

Cooked fresh scallops in garlic butter with a dusting of paprika, followed by reestit mutton and tatties. Ate mouthfulls of alfalfa, fruits and veggies. Made scambled eggs and then toasted wholegrain bread with a fork, holding it close to the orange embers of the peat fire. Toasted in under 10 seconds. Smothered in unsalted butter. I didn’t eat this myself – it was for my guests!

The Bod was too hot to sleep in – thanks to the peat fire in the stove (the only source of cooking heat, except an electric kettle. So, I slep in the porch, in a sleeping bag, with the door open. Fine until 3.30 when the birds all woke up and bugled me awake. Another night was very calm so the midgies were biting and I closed the door to all but a whisper of cool air.

The “Bod“ at Skeld, best described as a cross between a bothy and a hostel, or camping barn, is a mix of modern and ancient, of electrical appliances and basic simplicity. Bods are clean and cared for, provide only mattresses (wafer thin too) on wooden bunk beds, and some like this one have electric showers, lighting and a kitchen, indoor toilets and a black stove. At £8 per person, a night (plus a £1 for electricity and £5 for a bag of peat, which lasted 2 nights continous use) they are a good alternative to b&B or self catering. The only youth hostel, being in the town of Lerwick, is functional but lacks character. Self catering is charged by the week, so is too expensive. B&Bs do not provide places to cook, and it can be tiring eating out and not having control over your diet.

For more info go to Shetland’s Bods run by Sheltand Amenity Trust (branch of the Sheltand Islands Council).

Highlights were the puffins, seals and the rugged coastline, the wonderful hospitality and good weather, making walking to Staneydale a delight with a picnic of smoked salmon, oatcakes and cheeses. Looked at Mousa broch, Clickimin broch, croft museum, Scatness, Jarlshof, Lerwick, Sumburgh Head and lots of Atlantic Ocean and North Sea water! See Doug Houton for some pictures.

Slept ok on the ferry from Kirkwall (Orkney) but the noise of the engine and thrusters took some getting used to. Never the less, it was mighty convenient to have a shower in my cabin and get breakfast before leaving the ferry at 9am. The only downside was being woken at 6.30 am to be told, by a loud announcement, that breakfast was now being served – a totally unnecessary disturbance that wakes everyone! This is followed at 7.30 am by the announcement that we have docked, and a number of other messages for the car drivers (who have to leave and remove their cars – at least they are allowed back on board for breakfast). So, not enough rest for this wicked person. Please will Northlink Ferries cease this practice of waking everyone to promote breakfast sales and let us tired drivers sleep one more delightful hour of cosy dreams? Please.

26/8/08 Here is a blog i just read, about a 6 day tour of Orkney & Shetland, which you might find interesting. Everyone in tourism should read and analyse this fascinating insight into a visitors experience.

The Diet Continues but the blog dries up

Well – the blog entries dried up when we went south to Perth, last Sunday. Today is Saturday, some 6 days later.

We managed to live off Rice cakes, alfalfa sprouts (in a bag and growing as we travelled), water and bits and pieces. Basically we managed to keep on the diet and totally avoided bread, sugar, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and all the other bad stuff – a good way to celebrate the completion of 30 days diet. The yoga was mre difficult but we were getting walking in and had a great ferry ride back to Orkney, with Rachel confident to not take any motion sickness tablets.

Now we are back to work and it is busy, but the good eating is becoming a habit so we are now looking at 2 years! I’ve taken to doing yoga in strange places, when convenient – this has been a real success.

That all said, I need to explain that while Rachel is being 100% on this diet, I am only involved to “support her” and to benefit from avoiding crap and so eating the food my body deserves – and only that. That means that I have eaten a bit of cheese and pasta – because it was a gift:

We had some wonderful guests staying with us (see www.couchsurfing.com) who were so sweet and considerate, bringing gifts and food and helping out – in return for a place to stay and our company. They even cooked a special cheese and pasta free meal for Rachel – but though I have been eating the same as her they did not realise this and cooked me a special, Alpine macaroni cheese dish. So, it being after the 30 days, I relented and ate it. The next day we were back to our vegetables and prawns and so on – but good to find I had no detectable reaction to any of it … no bloating or lethargy or whatever might have been possible.

All good news. Rooibos tea, without caffeine, is the best. That and water is all we drink. Oh, tell a lie, nettle tea also. Today I picked meadowsweet and chamomile so will be drying those for use later in the summer. The nettles are good for cordage now.

Other news – the dig at Ness of Brodgar is getting interesting (and thanks to good weather is a happy place to be). I’ll be doing some demonstrations down there – when I have a day off from tours and fire making lessons. Must go now, got preparations to do for tomorrow.