Once again a fantastic video , Skara Brae was my favourite it's marvelous that it has survived so long , Phil thankyou for your great photography of the birds the puffins are cute little birds , they remind me of waiters in their black and white suits , glad to hear that there maybe two more episodes to come , thankyou Helen 😊
It's great to still have evidence of how our long lost ancestors lived and the artistry and knowledge of people who survived without all the comforts and innovations that we can enjoy. Loved Phil's puffin photos xx
If not for your exceptional videos, I would have no idea about these incredible places. Orkney is a very special place, other worldly, and ancient. It is difficult for me to imagine how the people who lived there so long ago went about their daily lives and had loves and friends, and family. It seems like they would be a close knit people, clinging together against the weather to make their lives more comfortable. I especially loved the puffins! Phil's photos are wonderful! They somehow manage to appear cute and hardy at the same time, with such cheerful colors. Thank you so much dear Helen. Thinking of you fondly.
Thank you, Shari - I think you're right that the island communities of the past must have been very supportive of one another. I'm glad you enjoyed Phil's puffin photos! xx
Those Island folk are hardy, it's always windy up there! I just love those old museums, you can feel the presence of your ancestors. I just love Puffins, how about knitting one Helen? 😃 Thanks for taking us along with you x
Once again a lovely Episode! I've been lucky enough to go to Skara Brae and the standing stones and circles there but it was lovely to see them again. I'm with Phil and don't like cold tomatoes either! Looked very blowy and you certainly walked a long way but it was well worth it! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to the next!! Jane.
Oh, my favorite part of your adventure so far. All the archeology and history, and of course, the beautiful puffins made it so special. I am delighted by the small museums that are available. It clearly demonstrates the pride of the people who live here. The quotes are beautiful as well. The rapid changing of the weather was something else, but again provided adventure😮. (I’d forgotten how adorable that bunny tail is🐰 in his overalls.). Till the next wonderful episode, happy crafting xx
Thank you so much for bringing these wonderful places to me, all the interesting facts, bring it to life, just fascinating and really appreciate it. X💕
Oh what a wonderful journey you and Phil are taking us on! I had no idea that some of these sites on the Orkney Isles are as old as they are! Absolutely amazing. Phil’s pictures of the puffins and other birds were beautiful! Such an amazing trip. Thank you so much for taking me along. Peace and joy!
You and Phil are great adventurers, undaunted by distance, weather, or challenging terrain. Thank you both for sharing your journey to Orkney filled with history and natural surroundings we might have heard some about but, my case at least, will never there be in person. I love historical sights and relish all of the details and photos you include in your videos. Pearl looks like she was completely delighted to enjoy the brisk wind and fresh sea air. Loved the little snippet of Henri the Orangutan who was also lucky to be invited on this trip. Take care and eagerly looking forward to part 6!
Thank you, Esther! We always seem to find something to do, whatever the weather throws at us! I am so happy to be sharing these interesting experiences with you. Well done for spotting Henri! And Pearl definitely enjoyed her little outing to the beach. xx
Hello Helen and Phil. It was great to see the island through the eyes of a visitor. I live just along from the Kelp Green where you spent your first night. Probably one of the random dog walkers. You maybe interested to know that that entire stretch of coastline was integral to Westrays Kelp industry and all the stone walls and pits were where the kelp was dried and burnt. Really enjoyed your Orkney series and look forward to the next video. Ps the weather was exceptionally rubbish this year 😮
Must be interesting to see how visitors view your home. Helen and Phil are great explorers and I think do a great job sharing their trips. The weather seems so wild there but I guess one adapts. Have you always lived there? I’m an expat 🏴though left before I realized how wonderful Scotland really is.
@@ic7505 the weather is brutal in winter but as long as you accept that and adapt to the rhythm of the year it becomes part of life. It’s actually my favourite season. In a world where it feels we should be constantly doing living here allows you to flow with the seasons. We haven’t been here long but already feel in step with life here. You become part of the environment rather than trying to be in control of it. If that makes sense 😃
@@Downbythesea Thank you for replying. Yes, I can see how winters that hard would make you slow down. More knitting time, with less guilt 🤩. Storms have their own beauty. I love the sea though seldom see it. I am close to Lake Ontario which is big enough (to me) to be a sea but without the wonderful sea scent.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment - I always think of the island inhabitants when I'm making my videos, and hoping that I'm doing justice to the places we visit. The history of the kelp industry was fascinating to learn about! It's fortunate that we are fairly hardy when it comes to less-than-favourable weather! 😂😂 x
Such an enjoyable episode, full of wonderful scenery. The wind in Scotland just never stops even on the mainland as I can vouch for. But it’s mostly the best quietest place to live. So loved the puffins & the music. Thanks Helen 🏴
Thank you, Christine. The wind is such a feature of Scottish life and those moments when the wind drops, or when we return to some shelter, are just extra special! I'm very glad you enjoyed the little video of puffins, too. x
Helen thank you! Most enjoyable. I marvel where people are born and live their lives in these harsh environments, but beautiful surroundings. Tough, stout people, a hard life. Most interesting and I thank you for the tour. 😊byeeee
Hello from New Zealand. Wonderful to be taken back to Orkney with you, especially to Westray where I have visited 3 times. I have a friend who has a lovely cottage in the south of the island by a beautiful beach. We had great puffin and guillemot watching on the nearby cliffs. I loved Phil’s bird photos. I’ve been sharing some of your campervan trips with my 94 yr old mother who has enjoyed seeing places she has been to in the past. I do like the way you film the road as you are travelling along - it feels like I am on the road too. Many thanks Janet
Hi Janet and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a lovely comment! It's great to know that you are familiar with Westray - we really loved it there. I'm glad to know that your mum has been enjoying watching, too!
Hi Helen. Thanks for sharing your travels and adventures. I love those white deserted beaches with the beautiful shades of blue/turquoise in the sea. Puffins are my favourite sea birds. They are so comical but magnificent swimmers. Phil took some amazing photos of them. Thank you both. Have a good week. x
Thank you, Pamela. When life slows down a bit on these islands, one of the things we seem to notice more are the beautiful colours of nature. I have passed your kind compliment on to Phil. x
Really enjoying this series of videos and would have been happy to watch for longer. Amazing ruins to visit and thank you so much Helen for taking us there and of course thanks to Phil for opening the gates and doing all the driving. The clever tomato warming made me laugh!
Thank you, Rachel. Phil is now feeling rather smug about his tomato-warming trick 😂And yes, I am also grateful that Phil does all the driving and helps me with gate-opening!! x
Thanks once again for such an interesting trip..loved seeing and hearing about all those ancient sites..the Westray Wife was a thing of beauty..you certainly got all manner of weather..fair play to you walking that long road in the wind and rain..☘️❤️
Another lovey Orkney adventure, thankyou so much Helen, and Phil for the beautiful photos. As you know I’ve been to Orkney a few times and could never go without visiting Skara Brae, I always find it very moving. Haven’t been to the other islands so it was great to explore those with you. Take care till next time. Xx
Thank you Helen for another trip, around the Orkney Islands. Very interesting about how people used to live and work. Isn't the place beautiful and calm and peaceful. I know the weather is unpredictable. But where isn't these days. Bless you and happy crafting and safe travels xx ❤❤
Thank you, Leslie. We definitely absorbed plenty of beauty and peace - and you're quite right that the weather is rather changeable in all sorts of places these days! xx
"WOW!" to Part 5. (High wind gusts in various parts of Australia as spring arrives here so I was blown back indoors after securing gates and the rabbit hutch to be in the mood for wind-swept Orkney) 💨. How can we be as treated as we are with these videos?! The museums were marvelous and your commentaries so clear, anticipating our questions and teaching us new and intriguing details. The lives of the earliest inhabitants really came across. Phil's puffin and non-puffin shots were astonishing- the ones in-flight amazed me, Helen. Lucy's hair was so resilient and she was sensibly dressed, the bothy and Skara-Brae were fascinating and, in no time at all...there you were back in the campervan. I enjoy each of your episodes but the campervan ones are "faves", so refreshing. Thanks so much.🫖☕😘
Thank you so much, Helen - and I do hope that your high winds are dying down now! I'm so glad that I can begin to convey to you some of my feelings about visiting these wonderful places. I love being in the campervan so much and just love to share my enjoyment with you! xx
What a wonderful podcast. How many islands are there in Orkney. I loved all the places you visited. Phil did an excellent job of taking pictures of the puffins I have always thought the birds were cute. Thank you.
Thank you, Lisa. There are about 70 Orkney islands and about 20 of them have permanent inhabitants. I'll pass on your comment to Phil about his puffin photos! x
Thank you for this interesting visit to another Orkney island the ruins and museums are amazing as well as the beautiful scenery and birds ,the people who live there now and in the past must be very hardy ! 😊❤
Thank you for another lovely travel vlog! Maybe because I live in the middle of the continent, I find island life fascinating. I often wonder how it feels to live there. I think the wind would indeed be tiresome. But seeing the sea must make it worthwhile. The puffins were fabulous. I love how Phil's photos made the birds in sharp focus but blurred the background. Picture postcard perfect. I expect you will, or have done,a puffin in watercolor in a journal. They are such a dramatic looking bird with the orange beak and feet. I do enjoy hearing the ancient history. Stone circles just make me go, hmmmm🤔. I look forward to part six! I like how you have made several episodes because it gives us more content,longer time spent with each island or museum or the flora and fauna. These videos will be a wonderful souvenir for you and your family in years to come. see you next week. 🤗 bye.
Thank you, Karen. There is definitely something special about being surrounded by sea. Phil thanks you for your kind compliments about the puffin photos - I'm always grateful that he has a telephoto lens at these moments! And you're right - as well as knowing that I can share these travel experiences with you, my videos will serve as a kind of family album that will last into the future. xx
Would that I could be as one of those tender, delicate flowers in the wind on Westray! It's the little things, Ms. Helen, which make these adventures so rich and wonderful. Thank you, once again, for bringing us along with you!
Such a lovely episode Helen, my third time of watching. So much to comment on - well it would be a runny commentary! Weather of all kinds, interesting history and the lovely tiny bothy. Your filming and Phil's photography were marvellous. I love the way people on the islands have made it known about their history in such a simple but effective way. Looking forward to the next episode already. thanks so much. xx (oh yes, lessons definitely needed in gate opening!)
Thank you, Pene. We so enjoyed the little heritage centres that we came across during this trip - seeing the things that were important to the different communities. I definitely need some lessons in gate opening! I think I am always so excited, thinking about what I'm going to visit, that I don't concentrate properly on the gate mechanisms!! 😂 xx
@@mousiemakespod we watched again last night and Pete did so love your music, forgot to mention that in my comment, and mine would be a running commentary not a runny commentary 😂 I'm the same with gates - I think they are heavy but also we are short and cannot see over them to see how to open them! xx
Absolutely love the video.. the history is amazing and the weather.. well, I live in the SW coast of Scotland now and yes we get lots of weather 😄… thanks Helen 😊👍
Such interesting ancient places you go to, Helen! Thank you for sharing them with us 😍 The photos of the puffins were beautiful; the changeability of the weather almost comical😂
These trips out with you are so interesting and I love seeing , through you, some places I will never visit! I am so happy that people are preserving this history for others to learn from. What a remarkable journey! I’m with Phil on cold tomatoes straight from the fridge! I hate them as they seem tasteless until they warm up a bit- but never thought of the soup trick! Thank you Helen x
Thank you, Heather. I had laughed at Phil for warming his tomatoes but he is now feeling quite smug, knowing that he is not alone in disliking cold tomatoes! 😂xx
Helen you have done it again, such a fabulous and very interesting video, loved the archeology and those gorgeous pics of the puffins ( Thankyou Phil) …. Please can I book a ticket for your next adventure 😂. Xxxx
Thank you, Sharon - I am so glad you enjoyed coming along with us and Phil thanks you for the kind compliment. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could somehow travel along together?! 😂💕xx
Thank you Helen for once again taking us along of your wonderful trip. I love Puffins, sadly I didn’t see any in 2018 when I was in Scotland and the Shetland Islands (attended Shetland Wool Week), I hope to someday. ❤️❤️🌺
Thank you, Lenore. How wonderful that you were able to go to a Shetland Wool Week though I'm sorry that you didn't see puffins on your Scottish visits. xx
What an adventure you had around the Orkneys. It was so interesting to see all the old stone buildings. Phil’s pictures of the puffins were super. Ps. I don’t like cold tomatoes either 🍅🥫😊❤
Oh my what an intresting place i was very intrested in the neolithic village and the stones giving us a window to our pasts thankyou for taking us with you 😀 ❤xx
@@itsanomadslife Thank you Nikki - it always boggles my mind when we’re able to walk in the footsteps of our ancient ancestors! I’m glad I was able to take you along! xx
Hi Helen, you certainly saw your share of weather! Papay - that was a long (long) walk! Very interesting. I can’t fathom how those ancients ended up in such remote areas. The young men who lived in that bunk house - I can’t imagine life was much more than hard work but in the picture they seemed cheery enough. It was as usual and always a fantastic travelogue (I kept thinking about washrooms 🤪 or lack there of, but I know you are resourceful). You always buy what I think you will in the shops you come across, because I like it too. Puffins - what a great job Phil did taking the pictures. You two are a good team 👩❤️👨. Kirkwall looks so grey and unwelcoming then the sun comes out and it totally changes. I know it’s the local grey stone that creates that effect. When you hit bs knit your van on Westray, it must have been with a sigh of relief, to be ‘home’ again. Glad you found some tea rooms. Thanks as always. I know it’s a big job editing all the footage while still living life and all that entails. Also as always big hugs. You take me to places I’ll never get to and I love it! 🤗🤗🥰
Thank you, Isabel! I'm sure that we must have inherited a bit of resilience and resourcefulness from our ancestors - I have to think about that when I'm struggling through difficult weather or along long roads or making do when we're far from washrooms... 😂 xx
This episode was so very interesting dear Helen- the highlight for me was seeing those cute little puffins! I didn’t manage to see any when we visited the UK 😢 I think they remind me of the rather gorgeous penguins 🐧 we have in our neck of the woods! Such fascinating little islands with a wonderful history- the local historian was certainly correct when she wrote about the rippling effect of every event. I think you definitely visited at the best time of the year- Winter must be very challenging! Here in Tasmania and other parts of SE Australia we’ve had winds (some of them record-breaking) and torrential rain over the past week- we lost power for 12 hours but more rural communities are into their third day now! But the sun is peeking through today and the wind has eased so it’s good news 😊I hope you have a great week Helen!
Thank you, Elizabeth! It's a pity that you didn't see puffins when you visited the UK but glad you enjoyed seeing Phil's photos. I do hope that your high winds are settling down and that you see a bit more sunshine. We're just back from another campervan trip so I will look forward (eventually) to showing you some new interesting places! xx
Hello Helen hello Phil thank you so much for this beautiful podcast darling. We really enjoyed going to all the ancient ruins and going on the boat with you and walking along the beach with you. Thank you so much for taking us. Thank you to Phil for those lovely photos. Bert. Also take specialised photos. Lots of love from beautiful Ballarat God bless 😘😘🇦🇺💕
What a lovely tour! I love puffins. I've seen them on the Cliffs in Ireland. As a child, my favorite book was Mrs. Ticklefeather and she had a pet puffin. That might be where my love started.
Looking at the ancient stone houses always makes me think about what people were doing before. What did they look like, the clothes they wore and how they made clothing for the climate. Such a small population on Earth. Where did they come from. People dont just appear. My therory is humans came from somewhere else out there 13,000 years ago. Then the thought of people stranded on Earth is just an explanation...who knows really. I really like your travel videos. Wish I was a bit younger as the air travel is over 30 hours to get to the UK. I did the ancestry DNA test last year and apparently I have relatives in the Outer Hebrides and Denmark.
Thank you, Barbara. It really is quite mind-blowing when we begin to imagine how these ancient people came to live in such remote places, isn't it? It must be fascinating for you to know that you had ancestors in that part of the world. x
Helen. I just received “A Mindfulness and self care journal per your recommendation . Such a pretty book. My problem is that I don’t have a clue as to what to do with all the pages with just dots…can you help? Thanks Priscilla 🇺🇸
Hi Priscilla, it's great that you have a copy of the beautiful Mindfulness and Self care book. I tend to use dot grid pages to help me easily draw (using a ruler to line up the dots) checklists in a table, such as when I record the walks that I do and need several columns. I hope that helps! xx
Thank you for taking us to places I will never have the chance to go to! It is so interesting.
Thank you, Marit, for travelling along with us! x
Once again a fantastic video , Skara Brae was my favourite it's marvelous that it has survived so long , Phil thankyou for your great photography of the birds the puffins are cute little birds , they remind me of waiters in their black and white suits , glad to hear that there maybe two more episodes to come , thankyou Helen 😊
Thank you, Wendy. Skara Brae is quite an incredible place. Phil thanks you for your kind compliments, too. x
It's great to still have evidence of how our long lost ancestors lived and the artistry and knowledge of people who survived without all the comforts and innovations that we can enjoy. Loved Phil's puffin photos xx
Thank you, Lin - it really is amazing to see these glimpses of our very capable ancestors! Phil says thank you, too! xx
If not for your exceptional videos, I would have no idea about these incredible places. Orkney is a very special place, other worldly, and ancient. It is difficult for me to imagine how the people who lived there so long ago went about their daily lives and had loves and friends, and family. It seems like they would be a close knit people, clinging together against the weather to make their lives more comfortable. I especially loved the puffins! Phil's photos are wonderful! They somehow manage to appear cute and hardy at the same time, with such cheerful colors. Thank you so much dear Helen. Thinking of you fondly.
Thank you, Shari - I think you're right that the island communities of the past must have been very supportive of one another. I'm glad you enjoyed Phil's puffin photos! xx
Thanks again for another interesting video and what a treat to see puffins. Phil’s photos were great. I’m looking forward to the next episode
Thank you, Julie - and I'll pass on your comment to Phil! x
Those Island folk are hardy, it's always windy up there! I just love those old museums, you can feel the presence of your ancestors. I just love Puffins, how about knitting one Helen? 😃 Thanks for taking us along with you x
Thank you for joining us on this part of our trip! I think a knitted puffin is an excellent idea! x
Once again a lovely Episode! I've been lucky enough to go to Skara Brae and the standing stones and circles there but it was lovely to see them again. I'm with Phil and don't like cold tomatoes either! Looked very blowy and you certainly walked a long way but it was well worth it! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to the next!! Jane.
Thank you, Jane - I'm always glad to take you along! x
Helen you and Phil have such adventurous spirits not stopped by rain or hail! Thank you for taking us to places most of us will never see on our own
Thank you! We always try hard not to let the varying weather hold us back! x
Thankyou Helen and Phil for the lovely episode and the gorgeous photo’s of the Puffins. So enjoyable. 🇬🇧🥰
Thank you, Jan, from both of us - and Phil thanks you for the kind compliment. xx
Oh, my favorite part of your adventure so far. All the archeology and history, and of course, the beautiful puffins made it so special. I am delighted by the small museums that are available. It clearly demonstrates the pride of the people who live here. The quotes are beautiful as well. The rapid changing of the weather was something else, but again provided adventure😮. (I’d forgotten how adorable that bunny tail is🐰 in his overalls.). Till the next wonderful episode, happy crafting xx
Thank you, Trudy, You're right - I always got the sense that the Orkney inhabitants were very proud of their heritage. xx
Thank you so much for bringing these wonderful places to me, all the interesting facts, bring it to life, just fascinating and really appreciate it. X💕
Thank you, Barbara - I'm very glad to take you along! xx
Thank you Helen and Phil so enjoy all the history and scenery it's spectacular. Beautiful photographs of the Puffins ❤ see you next week x
Thank you, Michelle - it's great that we can take you along with us! x
Oh what a wonderful journey you and Phil are taking us on! I had no idea that some of these sites on the Orkney Isles are as old as they are! Absolutely amazing. Phil’s pictures of the puffins and other birds were beautiful! Such an amazing trip. Thank you so much for taking me along. Peace and joy!
Thank you, Linda. It is quite incredible to be able to visit such ancient places. I shall pass on your kind compliments to Phil! xx
I feel like I’ve had another fabulous history lesson, thank you.👍😊
Thank you, Mandy - I love to share these interesting things and places with you! xx
Love the little Museum Helen, the Puffins, the whole vlog really. You and Phil do an amazing job, thank you. 🥰
Thank you - I'm so glad you enjoyed this part of the trip! xx
I have really enjoyed this series. Thank you Helen. Such a beautiful area!
Thank you, Maureen - I'm glad that you came along! x
Thank you Helen for taking me along. The Puffins are lovely birds and it was good to see such great photos. Enjoyed the piano playing as always. Xx
Thank you, Margaret - I'm glad that you joined us again for this part of the trip - and that you enjoyed the accompanying music! xx
You and Phil are great adventurers, undaunted by distance, weather, or challenging terrain. Thank you both for sharing your journey to Orkney filled with history and natural surroundings we might have heard some about but, my case at least, will never there be in person. I love historical sights and relish all of the details and photos you include in your videos. Pearl looks like she was completely delighted to enjoy the brisk wind and fresh sea air. Loved the little snippet of Henri the Orangutan who was also lucky to be invited on this trip. Take care and eagerly looking forward to part 6!
Thank you, Esther! We always seem to find something to do, whatever the weather throws at us! I am so happy to be sharing these interesting experiences with you. Well done for spotting Henri! And Pearl definitely enjoyed her little outing to the beach. xx
Hello Helen and Phil. It was great to see the island through the eyes of a visitor. I live just along from the Kelp Green where you spent your first night. Probably one of the random dog walkers. You maybe interested to know that that entire stretch of coastline was integral to Westrays Kelp industry and all the stone walls and pits were where the kelp was dried and burnt. Really enjoyed your Orkney series and look forward to the next video. Ps the weather was exceptionally rubbish this year 😮
Must be interesting to see how visitors view your home. Helen and Phil are great explorers and I think do a great job sharing their trips. The weather seems so wild there but I guess one adapts. Have you always lived there? I’m an expat 🏴though left before I realized how wonderful Scotland really is.
@@ic7505 the weather is brutal in winter but as long as you accept that and adapt to the rhythm of the year it becomes part of life. It’s actually my favourite season. In a world where it feels we should be constantly doing living here allows you to flow with the seasons. We haven’t been here long but already feel in step with life here. You become part of the environment rather than trying to be in control of it. If that makes sense 😃
@@Downbythesea Thank you for replying. Yes, I can see how winters that hard would make you slow down. More knitting time, with less guilt 🤩. Storms have their own beauty. I love the sea though seldom see it. I am close to Lake Ontario which is big enough (to me) to be a sea but without the wonderful sea scent.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment - I always think of the island inhabitants when I'm making my videos, and hoping that I'm doing justice to the places we visit. The history of the kelp industry was fascinating to learn about! It's fortunate that we are fairly hardy when it comes to less-than-favourable weather! 😂😂 x
Such an enjoyable episode, full of wonderful scenery. The wind in Scotland just never stops even on the mainland as I can vouch for. But it’s mostly the best quietest place to live. So loved the puffins & the music. Thanks Helen 🏴
Thank you, Christine. The wind is such a feature of Scottish life and those moments when the wind drops, or when we return to some shelter, are just extra special! I'm very glad you enjoyed the little video of puffins, too. x
This is such a lovely series, thankyou for taking us with you. Xxx
Thank you, Sue - I'm so glad that you are enjoying it! xx
Helen thank you! Most enjoyable. I marvel where people are born and live their lives in these harsh environments, but beautiful surroundings. Tough, stout people, a hard life. Most interesting and I thank you for the tour. 😊byeeee
Thank you, Yvonne - I'm glad you enjoyed it! x
Hello from New Zealand. Wonderful to be taken back to Orkney with you, especially to Westray where I have visited 3 times. I have a friend who has a lovely cottage in the south of the island by a beautiful beach. We had great puffin and guillemot watching on the nearby cliffs. I loved Phil’s bird photos. I’ve been sharing some of your campervan trips with my 94 yr old mother who has enjoyed seeing places she has been to in the past. I do like the way you film the road as you are travelling along - it feels like I am on the road too. Many thanks Janet
Hi Janet and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a lovely comment! It's great to know that you are familiar with Westray - we really loved it there. I'm glad to know that your mum has been enjoying watching, too!
Thank you for sharing ❤ it was stunning again!! And the Puffins, i really love them
Thank you, Ingrid - thanks for joining us again! Puffins are just SO lovely to watch! x
Hi Helen. Thanks for sharing your travels and adventures. I love those white deserted beaches with the beautiful shades of blue/turquoise in the sea. Puffins are my favourite sea birds. They are so comical but magnificent swimmers. Phil took some amazing photos of them. Thank you both. Have a good week. x
Thank you, Pamela. When life slows down a bit on these islands, one of the things we seem to notice more are the beautiful colours of nature. I have passed your kind compliment on to Phil. x
Really enjoying this series of videos and would have been happy to watch for longer. Amazing ruins to visit and thank you so much Helen for taking us there and of course thanks to Phil for opening the gates and doing all the driving. The clever tomato warming made me laugh!
Thank you, Rachel. Phil is now feeling rather smug about his tomato-warming trick 😂And yes, I am also grateful that Phil does all the driving and helps me with gate-opening!! x
Hello Helen, another very interesting video, the ancient crafts and equipment are truly lovely. Roll on part 5.! 😊❤
Thank you, Susan. I just love going into those little museums, never knowing what interesting new facts I might learn! x
Hi Helen, I love your trips out and this was no exception! Love Mandy xx
Thank you, Mandy - I'm glad you came along! xx
Hi Helen and Phil very enjoyable podcast the scenery is amazing big Thank-you for taking us with you Phil should send some photos to Country file ❤
Thank you, Shirley! Phil thanks you for your kind compliment! x
Thanks once again for such an interesting trip..loved seeing and hearing about all those ancient sites..the Westray Wife was a thing of beauty..you certainly got all manner of weather..fair play to you walking that long road in the wind and rain..☘️❤️
Thank you, Megan. I fell in love with that little Westray Wife! x
Thakyou Helen lovely scenery especially the beautiful puffins 😊
Thank you, Cheryl - I'm very glad you enjoyed it! x
Another lovey Orkney adventure, thankyou so much Helen, and Phil for the beautiful photos. As you know I’ve been to Orkney a few times and could never go without visiting Skara Brae, I always find it very moving. Haven’t been to the other islands so it was great to explore those with you. Take care till next time. Xx
@@carolyncampbell6149 Thank you, Carolyn - very happy to take you to places familiar or new - Orkney has so much to offer! xx
Thank you Helen for another trip, around the Orkney Islands. Very interesting about how people used to live and work. Isn't the place beautiful and calm and peaceful. I know the weather is unpredictable. But where isn't these days. Bless you and happy crafting and safe travels xx ❤❤
Thank you, Leslie. We definitely absorbed plenty of beauty and peace - and you're quite right that the weather is rather changeable in all sorts of places these days! xx
"WOW!" to Part 5. (High wind gusts in various parts of Australia as spring arrives here so I was blown back indoors after securing gates and the rabbit hutch to be in the mood for wind-swept Orkney) 💨. How can we be as treated as we are with these videos?! The museums were marvelous and your commentaries so clear, anticipating our questions and teaching us new and intriguing details. The lives of the earliest inhabitants really came across. Phil's puffin and non-puffin shots were astonishing- the ones in-flight amazed me, Helen. Lucy's hair was so resilient and she was sensibly dressed, the bothy and Skara-Brae were fascinating and, in no time at all...there you were back in the campervan. I enjoy each of your episodes but the campervan ones are "faves", so refreshing. Thanks so much.🫖☕😘
Well said Helen
Thank you so much, Helen - and I do hope that your high winds are dying down now! I'm so glad that I can begin to convey to you some of my feelings about visiting these wonderful places. I love being in the campervan so much and just love to share my enjoyment with you! xx
What a wonderful podcast. How many islands are there in Orkney. I loved all the places you visited. Phil did an excellent job of taking pictures of the puffins I have always thought the birds were cute. Thank you.
Thank you, Lisa. There are about 70 Orkney islands and about 20 of them have permanent inhabitants. I'll pass on your comment to Phil about his puffin photos! x
Thank you for this interesting visit to another Orkney island the ruins and museums are amazing as well as the beautiful scenery and birds ,the people who live there now and in the past must be very hardy ! 😊❤
Thank you, Judith - I'm sure that we must all have inherited some of the resilience and capabilities from our ancient ancestors! x
What a fascinating episode. Loved it. X.
Thank you, Lesley! x
Thank you for another lovely travel vlog! Maybe because I live in the middle of the continent, I find island life fascinating. I often wonder how it feels to live there. I think the wind would indeed be tiresome. But seeing the sea must make it worthwhile. The puffins were fabulous. I love how Phil's photos made the birds in sharp focus but blurred the background. Picture postcard perfect. I expect you will, or have done,a puffin in watercolor in a journal. They are such a dramatic looking bird with the orange beak and feet.
I do enjoy hearing the ancient history. Stone circles just make me go, hmmmm🤔.
I look forward to part six! I like how you have made several episodes because it gives us more content,longer time spent with each island or museum or the flora and fauna. These videos will be a wonderful souvenir for you and your family in years to come. see you next week. 🤗 bye.
Thank you, Karen. There is definitely something special about being surrounded by sea. Phil thanks you for your kind compliments about the puffin photos - I'm always grateful that he has a telephoto lens at these moments! And you're right - as well as knowing that I can share these travel experiences with you, my videos will serve as a kind of family album that will last into the future. xx
Would that I could be as one of those tender, delicate flowers in the wind on Westray! It's the little things, Ms. Helen, which make these adventures so rich and wonderful. Thank you, once again, for bringing us along with you!
Thank you, Mary - it is, indeed, the little things that we observe that bring the richness to our experiences. x
Lovely Helen! What a trip, so much history! Thank you for sharing!! X
Thank you, Grace - you are very welcome! x
Thanks for great trip and narration! Loved Phils shots of puffins and non- puffins!
Thank you - and I'll pass on your comment to Phil! x
Such a lovely episode Helen, my third time of watching. So much to comment on - well it would be a runny commentary! Weather of all kinds, interesting history and the lovely tiny bothy. Your filming and Phil's photography were marvellous. I love the way people on the islands have made it known about their history in such a simple but effective way. Looking forward to the next episode already. thanks so much. xx (oh yes, lessons definitely needed in gate opening!)
Thank you, Pene. We so enjoyed the little heritage centres that we came across during this trip - seeing the things that were important to the different communities. I definitely need some lessons in gate opening! I think I am always so excited, thinking about what I'm going to visit, that I don't concentrate properly on the gate mechanisms!! 😂 xx
@@mousiemakespod we watched again last night and Pete did so love your music, forgot to mention that in my comment, and mine would be a running commentary not a runny commentary 😂 I'm the same with gates - I think they are heavy but also we are short and cannot see over them to see how to open them! xx
Absolutely love the video.. the history is amazing and the weather.. well, I live in the SW coast of Scotland now and yes we get lots of weather 😄… thanks Helen 😊👍
Thank you, Miriam - we definitely have to press on regardless, whatever the weather! 😂xx
Such interesting ancient places you go to, Helen! Thank you for sharing them with us 😍 The photos of the puffins were beautiful; the changeability of the weather almost comical😂
Thank you, Shirley - always happy to take you along! I loved Phil's puffin photos and glad that you did too! x
Love these videos so much, Helen! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Thank you, Shelly - always my pleasure! x
These trips out with you are so interesting and I love seeing , through you, some places I will never visit! I am so happy that people are preserving this history for others to learn from. What a remarkable journey! I’m with Phil on cold tomatoes straight from the fridge! I hate them as they seem tasteless until they warm up a bit- but never thought of the soup trick! Thank you Helen x
Thank you, Heather. I had laughed at Phil for warming his tomatoes but he is now feeling quite smug, knowing that he is not alone in disliking cold tomatoes! 😂xx
Thanks Helen and Phil for taking us to such interesting and ancient places.
Thank you, Denise - I love taking you along! x
Thank you Helen! It's always fun to join you on your travels. Best wishes from Oregon
Thank you, Celeste! x
Helen you have done it again, such a fabulous and very interesting video, loved the archeology and those gorgeous pics of the puffins ( Thankyou Phil) …. Please can I book a ticket for your next adventure 😂. Xxxx
Thank you, Sharon - I am so glad you enjoyed coming along with us and Phil thanks you for the kind compliment. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could somehow travel along together?! 😂💕xx
Thank you Helen for once again taking us along of your wonderful trip. I love Puffins, sadly I didn’t see any in 2018 when I was in Scotland and the Shetland Islands (attended Shetland Wool Week), I hope to someday. ❤️❤️🌺
Thank you, Lenore. How wonderful that you were able to go to a Shetland Wool Week though I'm sorry that you didn't see puffins on your Scottish visits. xx
What an adventure you had around the Orkneys. It was so interesting to see all the old stone buildings. Phil’s pictures of the puffins were super. Ps. I don’t like cold tomatoes either 🍅🥫😊❤
Thank you, Andrea - I'm very glad that I could take you along! (And Phil is pleased to know that he's not alone in disliking cold tomatoes!) x
Oh my what an intresting place i was very intrested in the neolithic village and the stones giving us a window to our pasts thankyou for taking us with you 😀 ❤xx
@@itsanomadslife Thank you Nikki - it always boggles my mind when we’re able to walk in the footsteps of our ancient ancestors! I’m glad I was able to take you along! xx
Wonderful little museums. Interesting archeological sites. Funny, fun puffins!! Pretty little bowl you bought. Take care!
Thank you, Evelyn - always my pleasure to share these things! x
❤❤thanks again Helen,,,🎉
Your story telling teaches us so much,,,history,,,
What beautiful places
ELAINE 🏠
Thank you, Elaine - we certainly found some interesting and beautiful places! xx
Hi Helen, you certainly saw your share of weather! Papay - that was a long (long) walk! Very interesting. I can’t fathom how those ancients ended up in such remote areas. The young men who lived in that bunk house - I can’t imagine life was much more than hard work but in the picture they seemed cheery enough. It was as usual and always a fantastic travelogue (I kept thinking about washrooms 🤪 or lack there of, but I know you are resourceful). You always buy what I think you will in the shops you come across, because I like it too. Puffins - what a great job Phil did taking the pictures. You two are a good team 👩❤️👨. Kirkwall looks so grey and unwelcoming then the sun comes out and it totally changes. I know it’s the local grey stone that creates that effect. When you hit bs knit your van on Westray, it must have been with a sigh of relief, to be ‘home’ again. Glad you found some tea rooms. Thanks as always. I know it’s a big job editing all the footage while still living life and all that entails. Also as always big hugs. You take me to places I’ll never get to and I love it! 🤗🤗🥰
Thank you, Isabel! I'm sure that we must have inherited a bit of resilience and resourcefulness from our ancestors - I have to think about that when I'm struggling through difficult weather or along long roads or making do when we're far from washrooms... 😂 xx
This episode was so very interesting dear Helen- the highlight for me was seeing those cute little puffins! I didn’t manage to see any when we visited the UK 😢 I think they remind me of the rather gorgeous penguins 🐧 we have in our neck of the woods! Such fascinating little islands with a wonderful history- the local historian was certainly correct when she wrote about the rippling effect of every event. I think you definitely visited at the best time of the year- Winter must be very challenging! Here in Tasmania and other parts of SE Australia we’ve had winds (some of them record-breaking) and torrential rain over the past week- we lost power for 12 hours but more rural communities are into their third day now! But the sun is peeking through today and the wind has eased so it’s good news 😊I hope you have a great week Helen!
Thank you, Elizabeth! It's a pity that you didn't see puffins when you visited the UK but glad you enjoyed seeing Phil's photos. I do hope that your high winds are settling down and that you see a bit more sunshine. We're just back from another campervan trip so I will look forward (eventually) to showing you some new interesting places! xx
Wonderful!
Thank you, Mary! x
Wonderful trip! The photos that Phil took of the puffins were beautiful. Looking forward to the next installment of your trip.
Thank you, Carole - and I'll pass on your comment to Phil! x
Hello Helen hello Phil thank you so much for this beautiful podcast darling.
We really enjoyed going to all the ancient ruins and going on the boat with you and walking along the beach with you. Thank you so much for taking us.
Thank you to Phil for those lovely photos. Bert. Also take specialised photos.
Lots of love from beautiful Ballarat God bless 😘😘🇦🇺💕
Thank you Tammy - it gives me such pleasure to know that I can give you a little flavour of our travels! xx
What a lovely tour! I love puffins. I've seen them on the Cliffs in Ireland. As a child, my favorite book was Mrs. Ticklefeather and she had a pet puffin. That might be where my love started.
Thank you - I'm so glad you enjoyed the puffins! And I'm now intrigued to look up the story of Mrs Ticklefeather... 😂x
@@mousiemakespod it's a Golden Book.
Thank you so much to see on a little island.
Thank you - it's surprising how much there is to see even on the smallest of islands! x
Looking at the ancient stone houses always makes me think about what people were doing before. What did they look like, the clothes they wore and how they made clothing for the climate. Such a small population on Earth. Where did they come from. People dont just appear. My therory is humans came from somewhere else out there 13,000 years ago. Then the thought of people stranded on Earth is just an explanation...who knows really. I really like your travel videos. Wish I was a bit younger as the air travel is over 30 hours to get to the UK. I did the ancestry DNA test last year and apparently I have relatives in the Outer Hebrides and Denmark.
Thank you, Barbara. It really is quite mind-blowing when we begin to imagine how these ancient people came to live in such remote places, isn't it? It must be fascinating for you to know that you had ancestors in that part of the world. x
❤😊❤ Always great to go with you on your travels.
Thank you, Margaret! x
Thank you very much
Thank you, Lynn! x
Another wonderful video. The music accompanying the visit to the little bothy museum was lovely was that you playing?
Thank you, Linda. Yes, it was me playing the music for the bothy video - I had my digital piano set on a harp sound! x
Helen. I just received “A Mindfulness and self care journal per your recommendation . Such a pretty book. My problem is that I don’t have a clue as to what to do with all the pages with just dots…can you help? Thanks
Priscilla 🇺🇸
Hi Priscilla, it's great that you have a copy of the beautiful Mindfulness and Self care book. I tend to use dot grid pages to help me easily draw (using a ruler to line up the dots) checklists in a table, such as when I record the walks that I do and need several columns. I hope that helps! xx
Oh yes, Helen it does help so much. I’m going to do exactly the same as you. Thank you so much😊