Waltzing the Stones - Caithness GrandmaDig 2007-10-17 | A one minuter "interstitial" was created from this to show on BBC2 December 07. This is my own version of a video I created for the BBC Highland Lives workshop. It is about a local man who still lifts flagstone from the quarries by hand, and then goes on to build tranditional Caithness Flag Fence. This is a true Caithness accent. The website features a host of videos and slideshows from different areas in the Highlands of Scotland and can be found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/highlandlives Music by Dick Clarke Partial Transcript: "Moving the stones, aye it's the same as though ye's waltzing, in fact I mind a woman saying 'til me, you're like that you're waltzing out there at the back" "Born and brought up in the quarries, ye know... we started this then.... just before.... Wully, ye know Wully.... He wis wantin...... all, I did all 'at fences for Wully all aroond til ye, all at you're seein, so now, whenever efter they left here with the quarry, we was needin some flagstones so we came up here an...... I knew what I's wantin ye see, ye know the type that ye's wantin and at so........that's how it started here and this." "I'll be 84, I think, in December, aye" "There must be thousands of flagstones as that was miles of, miles of fencing, you know, and whoever, whoever was squared it out, somebody must have laid it all and squared it all......" "there's something fine about it, about the flagstones" "look at that fine line itsel' here, look at this line here, look, straight aways, no bother, ye know." "That's fine like that now is it no' "Cos ye've different sight, you're younger than me, they lek it straight wi binoculars, is that no' fine now, is 'at no' great It's a lovely fence Aye its fine, aye
Caithness-skies GrandmaDig 2012-09-27 | This is just some bits of video I took recently (the swallows were today though) and I am using it as a test to see how good the output is on different settings. It will probably go up a few times so don't bother watching!
Eva Frog GrandmaDig 2012-09-01 | On my way out to feed the hens, I noticed a frog in with the wellies and wet shoes, I guess Eva took it in. I think she just wanted to learn how to jump like a frog!
Solly and Eva wars! Cat fight! GrandmaDig 2012-08-17 | Solly is one of the new cats that have just moved in next door. I think it is safe to say that our cat, Eva, doesn't like him very much! Whenever he comes to the front door or one of the windows, this is what normally follows. The noise and fighting can happen at any time of the day or night.
UK 2012 Olympics - Hentathalon GrandmaDig 2012-08-15 | This year's Olympic finals of the Hentathalon were terribly exciting, Mo Feather runs for Team GB and Jessica Hennis is taking the challenge of the Hurdles and the High Jump. Hendrick from Germany puts up a good fight but........ watch the highlights to find out who wins!
Scrabster Dredging GrandmaDig 2012-05-15 | Scrabster Harbour Redevelopment - DredgingI was so amazed at the size of the equipment being used that I had to make a video of it!
Caithness Relay for Life 2011 GrandmaDig 2011-09-08 | The Caithness event was the biggest of its kind in the UK this year! We raised a minimum of One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Pounds! How amazing is that!
Caithness Relay For Life 2011 - Fun Afternoon GrandmaDig 2011-09-07 | The fun afternoon was amazing, so much to see and do, I just cover a very, very small part of what was going on, everyone made such an effort.
Thunder & Lightning in Caithness - July 2009 GrandmaDig 2009-07-08 | It's not often that we have thunder and lightning storms up here so it was out with the camera right away!:)
T.E.A.M. M.C.C. Rally Friday Night John OGroats 2009 GrandmaDig 2009-07-05 | T.E.A.M. M.C.C ' s 10th Motorbike Rally - Friday night.
The Castle of Mey 10K Race - The Runners GrandmaDig 2009-05-16 | The First Castle of Mey 10k race in Caithness, Scotland, held on 10th May 2009
The Castle of Mey 10k Race, Caithness, Scotland GrandmaDig 2009-05-13 | A great day, well done to all organisors and participants.
Thank you for letting us live here GrandmaDig 2009-04-17 | A message to the wee lass who let her chickens come and live with us. She also gave us the egg that hatched too. :)
Hector Polsons Around Scotland on a 1937 OK Supreme Motorcycle GrandmaDig 2009-02-19 | Hector wanted to raise some money for the two main charities that helped with his wife after she suffered a stroke. He gathered sponsors and at 74 years of age, took off on an around Scotland trip. He was supported by A Sinclair on my old Honda 125, S Christie in the Johnson Controls van and myself holding the camera (the first time I had ever done it so please be forgiving of my mistakes and errors). He started in Thurso, Caithness.
Three Caithness Geocaches GrandmaDig 2009-01-23 | Three Geocaches that we have hidden in Caithness. Seals, Swans, Heron's and more to see. To find out more about Geocaching go to: http://www.geocaching.com
Rhian Cottage, Tongue, Sutherland Bed and Breakfast GrandmaDig 2009-01-22 | I took this video two years ago for a friend. I would like to take it again but she lives quite far away. She has a wonderful Bed and Breakfast, very friendly and loads of pets and set in a spectacular location. You can see her website at http://www.rhiancottage.co.uk
La Machine, Liverpool, Giant Spider GrandmaDig 2008-09-08 | Fantastic! I was very impressed. Of course my camera got wet and the sound went a bit dodgy (although I'm not sure, it could be that it just loses sound when it zooms!) The camera I used was a Samsung S1065, a tiny one for my handbag. There was loads of jostling from the crowds too so it is shaky. But it was absolutely worth going to.
Grandma and Suzi - 1st EVER Vlog GrandmaDig 2008-07-04 | I wasn't sure what to do my vlog about - would never have done one anyway if it wasn't for TallStevo! He DARED me to do it! Well, meet Suzi. The mark on my vest at the start is polish! I had to retake the start! TallStevo's Video Page: http://uk.youtube.com/user/tallstevo
Sticky Fingers GrandmaDig 2008-05-12 | The climb was: Sticky Fingers 10m VS 4c * (1992) On the extreme end of the peninsula, directly facing the outermost stack, is a dog-leg crack. Climb to a roof, move left and continue by a crack to the top. Descriptions from Northern Highlands North Scottish Mountaineering Club Climbers Guide ISBN 0-907521-80-0
ONeill Highland Open, Brims Sunday 27th 2008 GrandmaDig 2008-05-02 | O'Neill Highland Open Surfing Championships held at Brims Ness on Sunday 27th April 2008 The final was on Tuesday at Thurso East but sadly I couldn't get to that, so this is all from the Sunday.
Snow at Easter - Dunnet Forest, Caithness GrandmaDig 2008-03-26 | We took the children out for an Easter Egg Hunt at the forest, which, sadly was cancelled. However, they had great fun in the forest. This is in response to tallstevo's SNOW at Easter. :)
The Snowball GrandmaDig 2008-03-25 | Today we went to Dunnet Forest for an Easter Egg hunt. We picked up our neice and with our Grandchildren and many other people, went into the forest. The Egg Hunt was cancelled due to the snow (we guess). However, it was so lovely in the forest that we stayed for a couple of hours. The video was originally going to be about our walk and as a reply to tallstevo's SNOW at Easter: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ms2f4cBjUIA. However this story called out to me. The Grandchildren picked their internet name last year when they stayed with us and made the short story: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GZSMQlf4tDY, so this year we had to get our six year old neice to choose a name, as soon as she heard our grand-daughter's chosen internet name of "Holly", she decided that she would be "Mistletoe". :)
Aiptek Camera Test 2 GrandmaDig 2008-02-13 | I purchased this Aiptek DV3300 camera second-hand from Ebay for use of my Granddaughter when she comes to visit me. She is 8. I hope it gives her enough to fire her imagination, if it does, well there are birthdays and christmas' to come yet and she may be lucky! Second test was done outside in low, winter sun. It was filmed in VGA mode. I will try it on QVGA next time. A Grandma Production
Burns Night Celebrations at Auckengill Hall, Caithness 2008 GrandmaDig 2008-01-29 | A slightly different look this year as we see some of what goes on in the background of the Burns Supper. Poem read by Allan Richard is by John Horne from the book "The County of Caithness" published in 1907. A Grandma Production
AIPTEK Mini DV Camera DV 3300 GrandmaDig 2008-01-24 | I purchased this second hand from Ebay at less than £25. I was looking for a cheap video camera that the grandchildren could have and use when they came up on holiday. I think I have found exactly that, this will give you an idea of the quality of video you can expect. NOTE: If you buy one make sure it has batteries and external memory, the onboard memory is very small and you don't want to be tied to the computer. I also purchased a new DV-182f or DIGIGR8 which has very similar specs to the aiptek. You can see the results of the new camera here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=khe0RGs3Ehg
New Year Resolutions GrandmaDig 2008-01-01 | The party begins in Thurso Town Centre where everyone is having loads of fun. I asked a few of the revellers what their New Year Resolutions were..... This is what they had to say......
The Atlantic Crossing on Swiftwing GrandmaDig 2007-12-22 | Swiftwing left Gran Canaria just before the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, also known as The ARC. I believe that the boats that follow the race do what is called the Atlantic Recreational Crossing. Allan was part of this. He takes you on a complete tour of the boat as it is about mid way across. Dolphins swim alongside the boat and they finally caught a fish. Luckily for the fish it was so beautiful that they put it back! After sailing for 22 days they arrived in St. Lucia.
Maggies 40th Halloween Birthday Party Wick GrandmaDig 2007-11-19 | Maggie is 40! Her party was at Halloween and everyone (nearly) dressed up. A great party!
Halloween Robe - Happy Halloween! GrandmaDig 2007-10-30 | This video has been made as a response to a ThreadBanger "Halloweeny Wednesdays: Warlocks, Witches & Ghouls". Happy Halloween Everyone!
The Case of the Missing Cats GrandmaDig 2007-09-24 | This year when the grandchildren came to stay for 2 weeks, I was determined to take a holiday video with a difference. So, we have a mystery which works with both children AND animals! Probably the best point that proves the rule is when we had taken the cats (in a cat box) to the shed where they were to be released from, and by the time the kids got the door opened, the cats had climbed the wall, got into the rafters and were in the next shed!!! It was great fun to do and helped enormously in giving the kids something to do. The original shows the kids doing loads more things but for YouTube I cut it down a bit. I suppose this is sort of in the style of Enid Blyton. :) Music: Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 2.0" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
The Hedgehog GrandmaDig 2007-08-17 | Hedgehog update: We see hedgehogs nearly every night just now, a small one got locked in the hen house overnight and ruffled through all the nests. We think they must be on the move looking for places to hibernate. The big slow one in the clip is still around too and is still not afraid, he just goes quiet when we appear. I went out to shut the chickens away for the night and found a hedgehog. Grandchildren were just going to bed but were called out to see it.
Highland Field Sports Fair - Moy Estates GrandmaDig 2007-08-06 | A fair for all of the family, this is a small example of what is on offer during the two day event which is held at Moy Estate near Inverness on the first Fri and Sat of August. http://www.moyfieldsportsfair.co.uk
Wick HarbourFest June 2007 GrandmaDig 2007-06-27 | Wick, Caithness, on the North East Coast of Scotland. The Moray Firth Flotilla vessels start arriving at Wick harbour on Friday, Saturday is the HarbourFest Event itself and Sunday see's the fleet leave, but if you think that is all that it is about, think again. There was loads to see and do, a very entertaining and interesting weekend. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, despite being a bit on the damp side. Thanks to all of the organisors and workers at this event. There is a full length video which is now available, give me a call on 07940 388 055 if you would like a copy.
The Poplar Hawk Moth GrandmaDig 2007-06-10 | Found in Caithness at our house, where we have lived for 27 years and never seen these creatures before! The Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi (Linnaeus)
The Woodland Orchestra GrandmaDig 2007-04-30 | We went to watch the O'Neill Highland Surfing Championships in Caithness and whilst there met Henry of the Woodland Orchestra. Henry was there to do some surfing and tell people a bit about what he does.
ONeill Highland Surf Championships, Thurso, Caithness GrandmaDig 2007-04-29 | The O'Neill Highland Surf Championships, not the best surf this year, but still very impressive surfing! This video was taken at the start of the last day which was at Brims Ness just outside of Thurso. The weather was great although the wind was a bit chilly. Sadly my video camera broke down so I only have the first two surfers of the evening.
The Easter Can Stomp GrandmaDig 2007-04-11 | We had friends visiting over Easter, a lot of cans were drunk and needed stomped. I thought I would make a short video out of it. I just wish I was musical!
Cladding a Roof with Caithness Slate GrandmaDig 2007-03-25 | This old farm cottage is being renovated back to its original condition, as far as is possible anyway. The slates used so far came off of the roof before the wall was rebuilt.
Cat and Mouse GrandmaDig 2007-01-16 | My daft cat, I have had this mouse for at least a year and last night she decided she didn't like it!
Holiday Table GrandmaDig 2007-01-04 | This happened accidentally when we turned the tablecloth over and everyone started drawing, so out came the video camera. We will do it again next year though and start it earlier! Have a great year.
Our Secret GrandmaDig 2006-10-12 | For three months now, my friend and I have been throwing my husband out of the house so that we could work on our secret. This is the story of how it all went.
A Caithness Barley Harvest GrandmaDig 2006-09-10 | The Barley Harvest from one field on Sibmister & Sutherland Farms, September 2006, just outside Thurso in Caithness.
A Caithness Shoreline GrandmaDig 2006-08-30 | A Sunday afternoon walk along the Caithness shoreline. This is the first time I have actually gone out with the intention of taking video, sorry my tripod broke! Never mind. I now intend to go and do another using what I have learnt from this one. The music is no longer the Lark Ascending - I tried out the new feature in YouTube to replace music with free music. Thanks to: Lunasa, for A Stor Mo Croi.
