ISLAND LIFE
Comments by Sian
I thought I'd tell you a little about life on Graemsay.
From July until December 2000 I was living in our caravan next to Sandside, along with Fitzi-cat.
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Sian at the caravan |
Fitzi-cat on |
Fitzi-cat exploring |
The picture of Fitz on the roof shows his first and only exploration onto the outhouse roof. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to snap the picture of him sliding gracefully down the roof in ski-jump fashion, nor did I capture the look of surprise on his face as he hurtled off the edge. Fortunately for him he had a soft landing on the grass.
Amenities
Graemsay may seem remote, but we do have all mod-cons! The island has mains electricity and water. The telephone system has recently been updated, and although there were a few teething problems, we now have broadband internet access on the island. TV reception is good, although some homes suffer from the effects of the tides. Several homes also have the benefit of satellite TV and most of us have gone "digital", although the digital radio signal doesn't yet reach Orkney.
The "public" amenities include a Post Office; Waiting Room and Store at the pier; a Community Hall for various functions; and a solitary telephone box that stands on the main road amid the daisies and sheep! Sadly the school closed a few years ago. The children now go across daily to schools in Stromness. The island Kirk was sold off some years ago and is now used as a barn by a local farmer. The School was also sold last year and is expected to be converted into holiday accommodation. Monthly church services are held in a neighbouring house for those who wish to attend. The Minister and some of the congregation travel over from Stromness to join Graemsay residents for a church service. Graemsay doesn't have a "pub", not that a small thing like that hinders the Graemsay residents in their socialising!
Farming
Farming is the main industry on Graemsay. Most of the livestock are sheep and cattle, although there are a few goats too.
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Free-range Chickens |
Most houses have truly free-range chickens as there are no foxes or rats on the island to bother them. Some of the fields are used for hay and silage, but no arable crops are grown here.
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Bull arriving on Graemsay |
When stock is ready for market it is sent over on the ferry to the Mainland, usually being "walked" down to the ferry. Sheep are loaded onto the boat by a series of gang planks. The cattle are winched on and off the boat using crates.
Getting Around
During the summer months (May to September) a ferry from the Orkney Mainland serves the island of Graemsay three times a day, with a cargo boat for machinery, animal feed etc three times a week. We also have the added bonus of a “late boat” on Friday night, which enables island folk to visit the local pubs, restaurants or cinema—although the last boat back is 9.30pm!
During the winter time the ferry is less frequent, but we still have a daily return service during the week, plus cargo run. However weekend trips are restricted to the first weekend in every month.
Unfortunately Orkney, like the rest of Britain, lacks an integrated transport system—the buses fail to coincide with the ferry, which means a lot of hanging around, so we're keeping a car for the rare journeys into town. Petrol is 85p a litre at the moment which makes it the most expensive in the UK.
Shopping
Graemsay has a small sub-Post Office/Shop, which is located down at Clett. Most household items can be purchased in Orkney, either in the towns and villages or on the Industrial Estate. The shops fascinate me as they will have an interesting combination of goods—for instance a shop in Kirkwall sells: art & craft goods, souvenirs, paint, cookers, baby clothes and prams. Almost all the shops will deliver goods to the ferry, which means all we have to do is go down to the island pier and collect them. No more queues at Supermarket checkouts!
Towns
Orkney Mainland is approximately 60 sq miles and has two main towns.
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Stromness from Graemsay |
Stromness, which is just 15 minutes by ferry from Graemsay, and is a small granite town, with a variety of shops serving both locals and tourists, a museum, art gallery, library, health centre, banks, PO and several pubs and hotels, and also a main ferry terminal for boats to Scrabster on the Scottish Mainland.
A further 16 miles down the road is the main town of Orkney, Kirkwall, which boasts a 12th Century cathedral as well the usual shopping facilities, plus the port where most of the supplies for the islands arrive.