fionaorkneynews

fionaorkneynews, 13 hours ago to random

Severe Challenges Facing Adoptive Families in Scotland

The number of adoptive families in Scotland facing severe challenges or at crisis point has increased from 29% to 40% in just one year. Adoption UK has published its sixth annual Adoption Barometer report, the most comprehensive stocktake of adoption in the UK. The charity says that adoption remains a vital intervention for children who cannot safely grow up with their birth family, but support services for…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/23/severe-challenges-facing-adoptive-families-in-scotland/

fionaorkneynews, 1 day ago to random

Grounding of Pentland Ferries Alfred 2022: MAIB Report

Report on the investigation of the grounding of the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry Alfred at Swona Island, Pentland Firth, Scotland on 5 July 2022. Summary: At 1400 on 5 July 2022, the UK registered roll-on roll-off passenger ferry Alfred grounded on the east coast of Swona Island, Pentland Firth, Scotland. The impact caused injuries to 41 passengers and crew, and damage to Alfred’s port bulbous bow and almost…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/22/grounding-of-pentland-ferries-alfred-2022-maib-report/

fionaorkneynews, 1 day ago to random

Most Orcadians Identify Their Nationality as Scottish #Census2022

In Orkney the vast majority of islanders identified their nationality as 'Scottish' : 14,278. British only: 3,693; Scottish and British: 1,286.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/22/most-orcadians-identify-their-nationality-as-scottish-census2022/

fionaorkneynews, 2 days ago to random

On An Evening in May

On a fine evening what better way to spend it than a stroll at the Ring of Brodgar. Fiona Grahame

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/20/on-an-evening-in-may/

fionaorkneynews, 3 days ago to random

Sailing Ships

By Bernie Bell Wednesday evening, 15th of May, seen passing the Bay of Hinderayre, the tall-ship ‘Thalassa’, brought to mind ‘Frenchman’s Creek’ by Daphne du Maurier. I don’t usually go for love stories, but that’s an exception, with Aiden Turner as The Frenchman Then….Thursday evening….we watched her leaving Orkney with the wind in her sails ‘All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…’ - John Masefield – ‘Sea Fever’

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/20/sailing-ships/

fionaorkneynews, 3 days ago to random

‘Our Hope is for Peace and Equality’

On Friday 17th May a packed audience at the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall, listened intently to Khalil Amour who with humour and intelligence described what life was like for him, his family, and his community living in a Bedouin village in Israel. Perhaps all you know about the Bedouin is through the story of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who disguised himself as a Bedouin tribesman when enlisting their help during the First…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/20/our-hope-is-for-peace-and-equality/

fionaorkneynews, 4 days ago to random

A Tale of Two Maps: Dr John Rae

The Orcadian Arctic explorer, Dr John Rae, not only discovered the fate of the Franklin ships and their search for the North West Passage in Northern Canada, but he was also an important cartographer for the Hudson Bay Company. In this article we find out about what has happened to two of the fascinating maps he made of the landscape as he explored it.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/19/a-tale-of-two-maps-dr-john-rae/

fionaorkneynews, 6 days ago to random

Orkney Celebrates Norwegian Constitution Day

Today, 17th May is Norwegian Constitution Day. There are celebrations in Kirkwall, Edinburgh, towns across Norway, and worldwide. In Orkney the day's events are organised by The Orkney Norway Friendship Association. The event gets underway in Kirkwall with a memorial service at the graves of the men who gave their lives 'For Norge' in World War 2 at St Olaf's Cemetery at 10.30am.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/17/orkney-celebrates-norwegian-constitution-day/

fionaorkneynews, 6 days ago to random

Keeping Active for a Healthy Heart

Results showed the group with type 2 diabetes lost weight, improved their insulin sensitivity and lowered their cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose levels

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/17/keeping-active-for-a-healthy-heart/

fionaorkneynews, 7 days ago to random

My Muses Take Care of Me: Evening Performance

My Muses Take Care of Me will be performed at the St Magnus Cathedral on the 16th of May at 5pm. The performance is free no booking required. Supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre & Dance. MY MUSES TAKE CARE OF ME is a conversation between the body and sculpture, between nature and cultivation. This live odyssey into presence carries the audience on a journey through life, death, love and regeneration.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/16/my-muses-take-care-of-me-evening-performance/

fionaorkneynews, 7 days ago to random

Funding to Support Local Energy Projects

“This fund will support the creation of locally owned energy projects which can reduce energy costs, generate revenue and help drive Scotland’s transition to net zero.”

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/16/funding-to-support-local-energy-projects/

fionaorkneynews, 8 days ago to random

In this film by Mike Robertson we hear from an Orkney Islands Councillor and a Shetland Islands Councillor on why they are attending the vigil in Orkney for Gaza. Two OIC councillors and two PPCs for the General Election for the Orkney and Shetland Constituency (SNP and Green) were at the vigil as well as many islanders.
https://youtu.be/T-eVqVv5bgw?si=Q3EqmJwpu_93pg5H

fionaorkneynews, 8 days ago to random

Scottish Government Confirms Core Funding Support for the Scottish Men’s Shed Association

The Scottish Men's Shed Association (SMSA) has welcomed the funding announcement by the Scottish Government for the organisation. Shirley Anne Somerville, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in the said: "The Scottish Government has provided £795,000 of funding to the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association since 2016, supporting the movement to grow from five sheds to 200 across…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/15/scottish-government-confirms-core-funding-support-for-the-scottish-mens-shed-association/

fionaorkneynews, 9 days ago to random

Closure of VisitScotland’s iCentres will have a ‘significant impact’ : Rhoda Grant MSP

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, has contacted VisitScotland directly on its decision to close all its iCentres in Scotland. Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Orkney News about the closure of the Kirkwall iCentre it revealed that the numbers of people using the centre in Orkney increased last year from the previous one. Closure of Kirkwall iCentre…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/14/closure-of-visitscotlands-icentres-will-have-a-significant-impact-rhoda-grant-msp/

fionaorkneynews, 9 days ago to random

“The science from #Hubble has been phenomenal.”

It is 15 years since human hands touched NASA's Hubble Space Telescope for the last time. Michael Good (on the end of the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System) works to refurbish and upgrade NASA's Hubble Space Telescope during Servicing Mission 4. Image credit NASA Today, more than three decades after its launch in 1990, Hubble continues to send stunning images back to Earth and conduct groundbreaking science.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/14/the-science-from-hubble-has-been-phenomenal/

fionaorkneynews, 10 days ago to random

Flexible Leasing Approach Welcomed by Marine Renewables Developers

Crown Estate Scotland’s current flexible approach to leasing has been warmly welcomed by developers working in the tidal and wave energy sectors. 1.5MW AR1500 tidal turbine during deployment at MeyGen, 2017 Credit: SAE Renewables Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult carried out a survey on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland in 2023. According to their survey they found that there was a significant…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/13/flexible-leasing-approach-welcomed-by-marine-renewables-developers/

fionaorkneynews, 10 days ago to random

Connections: Orkney and Leith

As the Scottish Boundaries Commission proposes to get rid of the Scottish Parliamentary Constituency of Leith, let's take a brief look back at how this important port was once an independent burgh with strong and vital connections with Orkney. Most Orcadians, and Shetlanders, will know of the Zetland Hall in Pilrig Street situated off Leith Walk where islanders and their descendants could meet up for functions and talks.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/13/connections-orkney-and-leith/

simon_brooke, 11 days ago to random

First experimental bale of the wall in place. This is all looking very feasible. #roundhouse

The same straw bale seen from outside the house.
Fastening the underside of the wall support boxes was an extremely awkward job. A person lying on her back under the house, screwing upwards into the joist above her.

fionaorkneynews, 11 days ago to random

Fascinating Film Capturing the Life of Ramsay MacDonald Showing at The Cromarty Hall.

A film about the extraordinary life and career of James Ramsay MacDonald is showing at the Cromarty Hall, St Margaret's Hope, on Wednesday 22nd May at 7pm. The film is based on the discovery of a box of cine films in 2016 under the stairs of The Hillocks, Ramsay MacDonald’s Lossiemouth home. The cine reels had been filmed by Ramsay’s daughter Ishbel and the cine footage, combined with…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/12/fascinating-film-capturing-the-life-of-ramsay-macdonald-showing-at-the-cromarty-hall/

fionaorkneynews, 11 days ago to random

Florence Nightingale #OnThisDay

On 12th May 1820 Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy. The day is now celebrated worldwide as International Nurses Day. She enrolled at the Institution of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserswerth in Germany for two weeks of training in July 1850 and again for three months in July 1851. There she learned basic nursing skills, the importance of patient observation, and the value of good hospital organization.

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/12/florence-nightingale-onthisday/

fionaorkneynews, 11 days ago to random

Space Notes 45 – How Long for Hubble?

The wild card in the pack is the SpaceX Starship, which has a cargo bay big enough for a Hubble repair job and will undoubtedly have a remote arm..

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/12/space-notes-45-how-long-for-hubble/

fionaorkneynews, 12 days ago to random

“The fast detection of this case is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.” As BSE confirmed on Ayrshire Farm

Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (aka Mad Cow Disease ) has been confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire. Agriculture Minister in the Scottish Government Jim Fairlie said: “Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Ayrshire, the Scottish Government and other agencies took swift and robust action to protect the agriculture…

https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/05/11/the-fast-detection-of-this-case-is-proof-that-our-surveillance-system-is-doing-its-job-as-bse-confirmed-on-ayrshire-farm/