Blog Post

Orkney is the best!

by Brian Alexander
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01 Feb, 2020
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Orkney has been crowned Scotland’s best place to live for the eighth year in a row, according to the Bank of Scotland Quality of Life survey 2020. Orkney maintained its' position thanks to high employment levels, low crime rate, strong exam results, smaller primary class sizes and good health and happiness scores. As a result of an updated survey methodology including a number of new metrics, Glasgow’s East Renfrewshire has moved into the prestigious second place (up from 13th), with Shetland down one place to third, with East Dunbartonshire fourth (up six places), and Edinburgh fifth (up 15 places).

The top five Scottish locations also appear in the UK top 100, with Orkney the highest placed Scottish area. At a UK level, East Hertfordshire in the East of England took the top spot overall this year, followed by Fareham and Hart, both in South East. Orkney came in 18th overall.

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MSC Magnifica

by Brian Alexander • 24 Apr, 2022

Today 24th April I had another peedie (little) milestone post COVID. I had my first German language Kirkwall Walking tour from the MSC Magnifica. I practiced my German for a day or two before, but it is fair to say there is room for improvement?!

A new season begins

by Brian Alexander • 03 Apr, 2022

Today I had two tours to the Ring of Brodgar with American visitors from the Viking Venus. This was my first tour of the 2022 season and the weather was less then kind. My voice was shredded with talking so long. This is a bummer as I pick up a three day Harmony tour tomorrow.

Last Tour of 2021

by Brian Alexander • 31 Dec, 2021

An early start this morning at 8.30am to make full use of the limited daylight. In the morning we visited the Broch of Gurness, the Earl's Palace and Skara Brae. Then after lunch, it was the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and then back to Kirkwall via John Hamilton's stone pick-up.

Christmas Day in Kirkwall 2021

by Brian Alexander • 26 Dec, 2021

Normally in Kirkwall Orkney the Mens' Ba is thrown up at 1 o'clock on Christmas Day. Due to COVID this years games were again cancelled. However this lady took her father's Ba down to Broad Street, to display. A few die hard Ba players were down on the street to admire it.

I start feeding my cattle.

by Brian Alexander • 27 Nov, 2021

After Storm Arwen we now have an icy blast, which means I have to start feeding my cattle. This is later than normal, due to a mild Orkney Autumn. However I am short of silage, due to the very dry summer and therefore would have liked to put off feeding for a week or so yet.

Another Harmony Tour

by Brian Alexander • 11 Oct, 2021

It’s Monday, so it must be another Harmony Coach Holiday tour and the weather looks like it’s going to be good?!

The weekend means it's a Harmony tour

by Brian Alexander • 29 Aug, 2021

I just finished another lovely Harmony Coach Holiday tour, with another great bunch of folks. There were quite a few folk from the North East of Scotland this time. I only have three more of them to go in 2021 sob, sob! But on the bright side the next one begins on Wednesday!

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