By Bernie Bell. I don’t know how y’all feel about The Stromness Hotel…personally, I wish the Council would let the man sell it, and it might get back to something like what it was. Meanwhile…we went to the Flattie in a Teacup for lunch today. We don’t eat at the Pier Café these days, Flori […]
By Bernie Bell. I read a piece by Eamonn Keyes about the Orkney 26 Degree Show …which tempted me to go along to see for myself, and I’m very pleased that I did so. I noticed that Eamonn and I focused on different things, we’re different people – that’s what Art does – speaks to different people […]
By Bernie Bell. Patty Boonstra (aka Patricia Robinson) has had quite a few exhibitions in galleries in Orkney over the years. Her present exhibition is ‘Bodyscapes’ in the Loft Gallery, St. Margaret’s Hope, as previously mentioned in m’blog Sharing the space is an exhibition called ‘Tidelines’ – being works by Louise Scott. I mentioned to Patty […]
By Bernie Bell. A few years ago neighbour-man Steve told us of a visit he made to Cruaday Quarry, and showed us some pics. he’d taken, this was because he knows that we like stone and bits of rusty old metal, which the quarry has in abundance! We’ve been meaning to go there, and finally […]
By Bernie Bell. I’m reading ‘Time Song’ written by Julia Blackburn with illustrations by Enrique Brinkmann The ‘blurb’ on the inner sleeve says…. “Julia Blackburn has always collected things that told stories about the past, especially the very distant past: mammoth bones, little shells that happen to be two million years old, a flint shaped as […]
By Bernie Bell. Pics. by B&M Bell. We’ve walked at Rerwick Head many times, at different times of the year This time of year, is a time of spring flowers. Clumps of Thrift, swathes of Marsh Marigold, Ladies Smock and Squill (which l prefer to refer to as Scilla) If you get the tide right, […]
By Bernie Bell. Cousin Sheila is writing a book about migration – why people migrate and the effect of migration on the world through time. She recommended a writer to me – Jhumpa Lahini – and as she’s a good writer herself, I took her advice and began with a book entitled ‘Whereabouts’ which is quite a […]
By Bernie Bell. I’ve written about Restart Orkney a few times. It’s A GOOD THING The premises next door, which had been Orkney PC, was standing empty, so the decision was made to make something a bit special in that space. The ‘old‘ Restart is still very much in operation, selling larger items of furniture, books, […]
By Bernie Bell. The tide was low, so Mike walked round to this section of coast-line again Eroding out of the bank he saw a tooth, possibly a sheep’s tooth? It was eroding out – pick-up-able – so he brought it home. I’ll mention that if was still well and truly in the bank, he […]
By Bernie Bell. Pics. by B&M Bell Having read about the ‘Sea Stories’ exhibition in Stromness Museum. Mike & I were tempted, so we went along to see. There’s so much, I can’t possibly cover it all – so many stories and items of interest. I’ll somewhat randomly present images and words. I think the most impressive exhibit, […]
By Bernie Bell. The Dashing Deer café at the Deerness Distillery has a new menu, so we went to try it. On the way in I noticed a pleasing arrangement of pots containing succulents and sea-glass ‘Standing Stones’ Possibly referencing their ‘Sea Glass’ gin? It was Bank Holiday Monday and the place was pretty much full […]
By Bernie Bell. I’ve walked past this stone which sticks out of a wall by a corner in Queen Street, Kirkwall, many times, and often wondered what it was for The hole goes right through it Maybe a tethering post? …..which would take it back quite a way in time. There must be some history […]
By Bernie Bell. The Orkney Archaeology Review arrived – as we’re members of the Orkney Archaeology Society, we get it FREE! I recognized the people on the front cover as I’d met them in St. Ninians https://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=17467 My article is a lay-person’s response to the exhibition, whereas the article in the Review…… ‘Rebuilding Ancient Faces’ is by Tobias […]
By Bernie Bell. There’s presently a lot of discussion about visitors to the Neolithic Heart of Orkney pooing and peeing around and in what is a very special place. When visitors to the Ring of Brodgar park in the car park they’re shown that they can use the facilities in Stenness Village (Paddington Bear reference) […]
By Bernie Bell. Readers of The Orkney News might remember me enthusing about Fiona Robertson’s most excellent book ‘Stone Lands’ Fiona is coming to Orkney to give a talk about her book as part of the St. Magnús Festival. I’ll quote from the programme “Stone Lands: Fiona Robertson June 26, 2026 at 5:30pm. Duration: 60 […]
By Bernie Bell. It was longer than we thought, since we’d been to Rose Ness Having put various health issues behind us, we set off on another fine Sunday and saw much the same main features but, as always, some things we hadn’t noticed before. This will mostly be pictures…here goes We stood by the Gloup […]
By Bernie Bell. Patty Boonstra (AKA Patty Robinson) creates a variety of images. The ones which particularly impress me are when she draws a human body with a diaphanous scarf draped over it, or a net tutu around it, and the viewer can see the body, through the scarf/tutu – I simply don’t know how she […]
By Bernie Bell. We saw our first swallow of the year on the 21st April when crossing the Brig O’ Brodgar, then were pleased to see that when visitors to the Ring of Brodgar park in the car park, they’re shown that they can use the facilities in Stenness Village (Paddington Bear reference) Crossing the boardwalk […]
Bernie Bell. In July 2023, I wrote of Evie Donaldson’s wonder-full circle of light in St. Magnus Cathedral “Sun-Circle in St. Magnus After visiting the Museum, we crossed the road to St. Magnus Cathedral to sit quietly and absorb what we’d just seen/experienced. And we saw….. ‘Annular’ by Evie Donaldson. I’ll quote from the information card ‘An annular solar eclipse […]
By Bernie Bell. At a recent Art exhibition we bought this piece by Jennifer Litts My observation was….. “ ‘How Fragile Is A Fragile Soul?’ will speak to all the fragile souls out there who know that some are more fragile than others, some in different ways, and that some can cope with it better than […]
By Bernie Bell. I saw this on a friend’s FB page and thought it looked interesting. The list includes a few artists that I’m familiar with and like the work of, and the un-knowns could be …a revelation! I’ve previously written of the work of Robinson RR, Sam Gray and Evie Donaldson https://theorkneynews.scot/?s=Robinson+R.R.+Bernie+bell…
By Bernie Bell. Pics by McB A mixture of Fairyland and Rainforest
By Bernie Bell. I don’t often write recipes but……our lovely Postie is visiting her family in Italy and posting pics. on her FB of places she’s been and lovely meals she’s having. She posted a pic. of a meal which looks like something we have a recipe for, but haven’t cooked for a while. So, Mike […]
By Bernie Bell. On the night of Wednesday, 1st of April, I was thinking…..it’ll all be kicking off around Callanish, as I believe that the ancient sites of the Western Isles are more focused on the Moon, while those of Orkney are more focused on the Sun https://theorkneynews.scot/…/our-trip-to-the-isle-of… I’m sorry to say that Margaret Curtis passed […]
By Bernie Bell. The Pier Arts Centre currently hosts three exhibitions presenting the work of Orkney artists. The Creative Entrepreneurs exhibition has been covered in The Orkney News So I thought I’d cover the others! This is a purely personal, individual selection – just what particularly caught my eye. First…. on the ground floor…….’Gen-erate’ presents the work of […]
By Bernie Bell Mike got back from his daily constitutional and wrote this…..I think it catches the day, the time of year and the place March A morning of hares, chasingCourting and copulating rooks and rock dovesDaffs heeling over in the westerliesSeen from inside Then out, for constitutional and counting of birdsCheeks reddened by gravel-fling […]
By Bernie Bell. We haven’t been to Waulkmill for some years. Last time was on an Autumn day This time was on a Spring day and as we drove along, the verges were full of daffodils in flower. We parked in the little space by the road, before you come to the toilet block, and set […]
By Bernie Bell. We’ve recorded, and are watching, ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ series on BBC 1. It’s an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow based on characters in ‘Pride & Prejudice’ by Jane Austen. I wondered what I’d make of it, as I very much appreciate and like Jane Austen’s writing. There have been […]
By Bernie Bell. Mike was talking with someone who has a small garden, would like to grow veg, but feels she hasn’t the space in which to do so. Mike suggested growing things in containers. I’ll add to that……fish boxes and tubs you find on the beach. They can be layered, by raising some on […]
By Bernie Bell. Last year, the Orkney Archaeology Society had calendars left over, which they gave away. This year, Hillside Animal Sanctuary has calendars left over, which they are giving away. It occurred to me that maybe people aren’t using actual calendars as much as they used to – everything will be on their computer, or […]