Catching up

[wellinghall]

As those of you who read my previous post will know, I can't read my friends' pages at work (although I can read / post to my own; odd, that). We're using a nearby hotel to skim other pages and email, but I'm sure we're not catching everything. So - if there's anything happening in your life right now that you would like to share, please put it in a comment. Hey, even if there's nothing happening in your life, please put it in a comment! :-)

Comments

[pennypaperbrain.livejournal.com]

More definite plans to go to Orkney are happening in my life! We're working out whether to go in late August (I'd really like to go away for my birthday) or wait until September. I'm guessing Orkney is not the sort of destination that's overrun by kids even in the summer holidays - or is that too optimistic?

Also, the bus service appears to be pretty vestigial. What are the taxis like?

[muuranker.livejournal.com]

Scottish school holidays are different to English ones, I think, from trying to keep track of my niece's availability, many years ago. More like June-July than July-August.

Despite Orkeney's inability to spot Jason's brilliance, I still know two people who live there .... I could ask.

[pennypaperbrain.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - I see Google shows that Orkney schools go back on 18 August. That's useful. I don't know how many hordes of English/other foreigns cart their spawn around the place in late summer though - any information appreciated.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

No, not too many kids! There are actually a moderate number, because once you're there it is a very child-friendly place; but I've never felt overrun.

We've always hired a car, so I can't speak of the bus service from first-hand experience. It seems to be pretty reasonable from Kirkwall (and to a lesser extent from Stromness), but poor from anywhere else (unless, of course, you want to go to Kirkwall or Stromness).

The twice we took taxis, they were easy to get hold of and had low fares per mile, but distances are fairly high so the fares do add up.

Your best bet might be to stop in Kirkwall and take busses where possible.

[pennypaperbrain.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We are now booked into self-catering just outside Kirkwall from 24 August to 1 September!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Good-oh! We can lend maps and guidebooks, if you would like?

[pennypaperbrain.livejournal.com]

That would be very handy, thanks - if there's a chance to hand them over at some point. If not I can probably get stuff out of the library.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I shall bear them in mind in case we do see each other; if not, I can post them up until a few days before you go. But yes, you could get most of it from the library.