tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275457752024-03-13T01:35:29.900+00:00The Fairick's FotosI don't claim to be good with a camera, but I enjoy taking photos!AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-31104651635862812752009-09-18T08:50:00.000+00:002009-09-23T08:56:46.652+00:00I've Been Asked (er... Ordered By Viki) To Apologise...<div align="justify"><span>...to this one of the cats on my sister & brother-in-law's farm.<br /><br />Why? Because I keep pointing out that it's got one leg that doesn't look like it belongs... it's a dark cat, with just this one light-coloured leg... and it always reminds me of these people who drive around in cars with one door a different colour because the original one got dented and had to be replaced, and they've not got around to painting the new one yet!<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SrniEMK8GFI/AAAAAAAABYw/f_qv9rT8yrI/s1600-h/Picture+028.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384583391112599634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SrniEMK8GFI/AAAAAAAABYw/f_qv9rT8yrI/s400/Picture+028.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a><span><br />So, I apologise unreservedly for laughing at you, puss... you are very pretty and not at all strange looking...<br /><br />(lalala)</span></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-1351636583237551372009-09-17T08:46:00.000+00:002009-09-23T08:49:59.938+00:00Hunclett Cat In Mouse-Catching Shock!<div align="justify"><span>Peedie Ginge actually doing what (s)he's meant to!<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srngv2pgkNI/AAAAAAAABYo/yjiYsnvSEYg/s1600-h/Picture+030.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384581942226227410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srngv2pgkNI/AAAAAAAABYo/yjiYsnvSEYg/s400/Picture+030.jpg" /></a>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-4830939115325111182009-09-17T08:35:00.000+00:002009-09-23T08:46:26.952+00:00Spot The Difference<div align="justify"><span>See if you can tell what's different about these two photos of my sister's tomato plants...<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SrnecC00ixI/AAAAAAAABYg/66i7DCmh0PY/s1600-h/Picture+024.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384579402874260242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SrnecC00ixI/AAAAAAAABYg/66i7DCmh0PY/s400/Picture+024.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srneb4RD3tI/AAAAAAAABYY/a2N6aRPGvDU/s1600-h/Picture+025.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384579400039915218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srneb4RD3tI/AAAAAAAABYY/a2N6aRPGvDU/s400/Picture+025.jpg" /></a><span><br />*whistles innocently*</span>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-91943886731538317192009-09-13T15:06:00.001+00:002009-09-22T15:55:07.708+00:00Keeping Things In Perspective...<div align="justify">Here are 2 of the semi-feral cats that live on my sister's farm, christened by my brother as "Peedie Ginge" and "Peedie Peedie Ginge"...<br /><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srjpf8N0h8I/AAAAAAAABYQ/_neklQyN9Bs/s1600-h/HPIM1356a.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384310089470740418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Srjpf8N0h8I/AAAAAAAABYQ/_neklQyN9Bs/s400/HPIM1356a.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></a><br />Their father is a ginger tom that has visited a few of the farms in the area, and I think has possibly been persuaded on his way with the aid of a rifle a few times, so I suspect that there might be one or two of his nine lives missing... and my brother has christened him... can you guess....?<br /><br />Big Ginge, of course!<br /><br />As you can see, I didn't quite manage to get the perspective right in this photo, as Peedie Peedie was further forward than Peedie, so looks about the same size... In reality, he(?)'s about half the size of his / her half brother / sister (it's not easy to discover the sex of a feral... unless they're pregnant! However, I have helpfully labelled them so you can tell the difference).<br /><br />In the time my sister & brother-in-law have been away on holiday, and my brother has been out looking after their elderly dog, those cats have been living a life of luxury... going from a diet of cat food, bread and munchies to having cooked chicken and mussels! Is it any wonder they're not that motivated to catch the rats that they are meant to!?</p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-64299237256734001692009-09-05T15:39:00.001+00:002009-09-05T15:39:00.055+00:00Leia & Gizmo<div align="justify"><span>Gizmo tries to get the video recorder working while his mummy looks on with trepidation:<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqE1LBginzI/AAAAAAAABXk/tYJrP76B3xc/s1600-h/Leia+%26+Gizmo.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377637893556838194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqE1LBginzI/AAAAAAAABXk/tYJrP76B3xc/s400/Leia+%26+Gizmo.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></a><span><br />Aww... mummy & "baby" having a cuddly sleep:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqE1Kq-3BMI/AAAAAAAABXc/3k86PfRKqCk/s1600-h/Leia+%26+Gizmo+-+Aww.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377637887509988546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqE1Kq-3BMI/AAAAAAAABXc/3k86PfRKqCk/s400/Leia+%26+Gizmo+-+Aww.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-19616919331175712352009-09-05T15:28:00.000+00:002009-09-05T15:28:00.433+00:00Poor Jeannie...<div align="justify"><span>Jeannie is a ragdoll that used to belong to Mum... it was made for her (when she was grown-up and married) by the mother of a guy that was friends with one of my sisters... and then I inherited her.<br /><br />She'd been through the wars a bit when I got her, and a friend of Mum's had to make new arms for her as both of hers were gone... and she needed a hair transplant... and she'd also lost her shoes, but I bought new socks and pretty shoes for her.<br /><br />Now she sits on a chair in the living room by the TV. But every so often we come through and poor Jeannie has been interfered with! This time she was brutally knocked off her chair and her hat sent flying.<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEykZeMmII/AAAAAAAABXU/QFg4YCBGTqM/s1600-h/Who+Killed+Jeannie.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377635030951303298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEykZeMmII/AAAAAAAABXU/QFg4YCBGTqM/s400/Who+Killed+Jeannie.JPG" /></a><span><br />We do have a suspect... one ginger and white cat who answers (when he feels like it) to the name of Gizmo...</span>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-72016794040134341802009-09-05T15:20:00.003+00:002009-09-05T15:20:00.287+00:00This Is Maurice... Feeling The Wind Through His Fur...<div align="justify">Don't ask... but I assure you, both Viki & I ARE mature, sensible, grown women...<br /><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEwvPLKBwI/AAAAAAAABXM/3uIkJp224NI/s1600-h/Maurice.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377633018142394114" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEwvPLKBwI/AAAAAAAABXM/3uIkJp224NI/s400/Maurice.JPG" /> <p align="justify"></a><br />(Viki took the photo... my brother stuck our monkey out the sunroof... I was an innocent bystander - er, sitter)</p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-20201529778950383422009-09-05T15:17:00.001+00:002009-09-05T15:17:00.267+00:00Self Portrait by Viki...<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEv4qf9VhI/AAAAAAAABXE/i0M54ZdsZ9M/s1600-h/Viki%27s+Feet.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377632080584594962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEv4qf9VhI/AAAAAAAABXE/i0M54ZdsZ9M/s400/Viki%27s+Feet.JPG" /></a><br />(photo by Viki... obviously, or it wouldn't be a SELF portrait)</div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-60644929455735030692009-09-04T15:02:00.003+00:002009-09-04T15:14:53.766+00:00Riding Of The Marches, August 2009<div align="justify"><span>The Riding Of The Marches is a recently-revived tradition in Kirkwall, where horses and riders ride around the boundaries of Kirkwall, celebrating the time when Kirkwall was granted the Royal Charter, giving it the status of City...<br /><br />The parade lining up in Broad Street before setting off:<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEsL2QauQI/AAAAAAAABW0/z3AHOh06DE0/s1600-h/Riding.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377628012111640834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEsL2QauQI/AAAAAAAABW0/z3AHOh06DE0/s400/Riding.JPG" /></a><span> <p align="justify"><br />Lol... an Emohorse:<br /><br /></p></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEsMSf-qNI/AAAAAAAABW8/yUciiGbv06k/s1600-h/Emohorse.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377628019693103314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEsMSf-qNI/AAAAAAAABW8/yUciiGbv06k/s400/Emohorse.JPG" /></a><span><br />(Photos by Viki)</span>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-48021578718954191512009-09-04T14:48:00.004+00:002009-09-04T15:01:27.196+00:00Happy Valley, Stenness...<div align="justify"><span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Valley_(garden)">Wikipedia: Happy Valley, Stenness, Orkney</a><br /><br />As you approach, you wouldn't think there's much there except a bunch of trees:<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo9bpROuI/AAAAAAAABWU/9t9Ssr5iUSk/s1600-h/Happy+Valley.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377624465915067106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo9bpROuI/AAAAAAAABWU/9t9Ssr5iUSk/s400/Happy+Valley.JPG" /></a><span> <p align="justify"><br />Then you get to the gateway, and it's like you're going into Fairyland:<br /><br /></p></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo9ouMYWI/AAAAAAAABWc/i2Pkg4m8Ff8/s1600-h/Happy+Valley1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377624469425381730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo9ouMYWI/AAAAAAAABWc/i2Pkg4m8Ff8/s400/Happy+Valley1.JPG" /></a><span><br />Imagine... the man who created this garden / wood actually lived in this little house:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo-P43Y6I/AAAAAAAABWk/MMc8ZQ7HvVs/s1600-h/Happy+Valley2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377624479939126178" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo-P43Y6I/AAAAAAAABWk/MMc8ZQ7HvVs/s400/Happy+Valley2.JPG" /></a><span> <p align="justify"><br />An archway over the stream he created:<br /><br /></p></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo-R0o6eI/AAAAAAAABWs/l9lsLSZ9bPY/s1600-h/Happy+Valley3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377624480458271202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEo-R0o6eI/AAAAAAAABWs/l9lsLSZ9bPY/s400/Happy+Valley3.JPG" /></a><span><br />(Photos taken by Viki... Thanks, Viki)</span>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-30572547676213222872009-09-04T14:44:00.001+00:002009-09-04T14:47:56.502+00:00(Nearly) A Seagull<div align="justify"><span><span>I am determined that SOMEDAY I will get a good photo of a bird!<br /><br />Until then, I can only offer photos like this... the seagull having just exited stage left...<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEoINj-oOI/AAAAAAAABWM/C-eLqUIDFtw/s1600-h/A+Seagull...+Nearly.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377623551601713378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEoINj-oOI/AAAAAAAABWM/C-eLqUIDFtw/s400/A+Seagull...+Nearly.JPG" /></a><br /></div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-37335077675731279442009-09-04T14:35:00.002+00:002009-09-04T14:43:55.564+00:00Be Vewwy, Vewwy Quiet...<div align="justify"><span>... we is photogwaphing wabbits...<br /><br />My brother took a photo of this bunny on the path in front of us on the Brough o' Birsay earlier this year...<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEm-aohGtI/AAAAAAAABWE/cZH4AIIrORI/s1600-h/Wabbit+at+Brough+o+Birsay.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377622283800091346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SqEm-aohGtI/AAAAAAAABWE/cZH4AIIrORI/s400/Wabbit+at+Brough+o+Birsay.JPG" /></a>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-46615762625721707312009-07-05T13:40:00.003+00:002009-07-13T15:30:51.888+00:00Gizmo Comes Visiting With Us<div align="justify"><span>As is our usual Sunday routine, this afternoon, we wandered around the corner to my brother's house to go for a run...<br /><br />But this time we had company... Gizmo decided he didn't want to be left at home... he wanted to come visiting his uncle David... so he followed us all the way down our road, and along the front, past the oil tanks and in through the gate to David's.<br /><br />First he spotted the hole that had been cut into the bottom of the door through to the yard for my auntie's cat (both auntie and cat now deceased), and he disappeared through it, pausing to peep back out at us just to check where we were...<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SlnoNqT-UpI/AAAAAAAABVU/YxZUtnn7tUc/s1600-h/Picture+035.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357568553127924370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SlnoNqT-UpI/AAAAAAAABVU/YxZUtnn7tUc/s400/Picture+035.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a><span>before reluctantly coming back to us...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://allybally6873.blogspot.com/2009/07/look-who-came-to-visit-my-brother-with.html"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357568541783391890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SlnoNADOfpI/AAAAAAAABVM/kGR9CEF-gqU/s400/Picture+036.jpg" /> </p></a><p align="justify"><span>We rang the doorbell, David answered, and in wandered Gizmo, cool as you like... making a beeline for up the stairs!<br /><br />After a wee while, we went out to the yard to feed the gulls, and you can see Gizmo exploring and meeting the birds <a href="http://allybally6873.blogspot.com/2009/07/look-who-came-to-visit-my-brother-with.html">here</a>.<br /><br />After his visit, we walked back round the corner and he followed us all the way home like a peedie dog. Gave him some cat food and, while he was distracted, we legged it back to David's so we could go for a run... although I'm sure Gizmo would have happily got in the car with us and come too!<br /><br />Dozy mog! </span></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-17124067124652566052009-06-28T13:42:00.003+00:002009-07-13T15:14:52.297+00:00Whites? Delicates? Boil Wash?<div align="justify"><span>Lol... daft cat...<br /><br />I took in the washing, folded it all, and we went to put it away, leaving the empty washing basket on the sitting room floor...<br /><br />Came back a bit later, and there was Gizmo in the basket, poking his paws out the sides to putter at the pink fluffy thing you can see on the floor...<br /><br />And then Leia, his mum, appeared to see what the hell he was doing...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Slno7MetrAI/AAAAAAAABVc/ju2is_w6un8/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357569335393889282" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Slno7MetrAI/AAAAAAAABVc/ju2is_w6un8/s400/Picture+005.jpg" /></a> </div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-83502458098774266522009-05-03T22:11:00.003+00:002009-05-04T12:20:49.542+00:00Welcome To...<div align="justify"><span>Leia and Gizmo<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Sf4XaBbly7I/AAAAAAAABS8/g-MinfzwvnU/s1600-h/HPIM0676.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331724744681442226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/Sf4XaBbly7I/AAAAAAAABS8/g-MinfzwvnU/s400/HPIM0676.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span><br />As you can see from the post below, my beloved Minnie had to be put to sleep on 16th April, leaving me catless for the first time in about 7 or 8 years... and that left a very big hole. Every time I heard a seagull outside, I thought it was her meowing for in, and I kept expecting to see her peedie face peeping up at me when I was working with any kind of food.<br /><br />And then I saw an appeal on the Cats Protection Orkney website looking for homes for a mother cat and her grown-up son. They were to be rehomed together, as even though the "baby" was 2 and a half, he was described as "very much a mummy's boy" and she was very attached to him as well. And it had been my intention to have another cat anyway, ever since Minnie's mum, Harriet, had gone missing last August... just I wasn't sure it would have been fair to Minnie to try to get her used to sharing her house with a stranger.<br /><br />So we've now adopted the 2 cats... Leia, the mummy, is 3 and a half, and is lovely... very calm and friendly... white, with a few tortie markings. And Gizmo... Gizmo is 2 and a half, bigger than his mummy, and daft as a brush! He's ginger & white, and very playful, but the website was right... he's definitely a sook! </span></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-70473299497088466452009-04-18T08:21:00.003+00:002009-04-18T08:29:56.977+00:00My Beautiful Baby...<div align="justify"><span>Minnie, who became an angel cat on 16th April 2009...<br /><br />This was probably her cheekiest sleeping place - we went out and left the airing cupboard open... and there was no sign of Minnie when we came home... until we peeped in the door!<br /><br />There she was, fast asleep on the top of the towels.... and she just gave us a "Go away, would you?" look...<br /><br /></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SemOehRRqSI/AAAAAAAABSc/Wad9XNBzo9M/s1600-h/HPIM0649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325944689320372514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SemOehRRqSI/AAAAAAAABSc/Wad9XNBzo9M/s400/HPIM0649.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><br /><span>Minnie... thank you for being my cat for a few years... for all the cute and cheeky things you did... for always being there with a cuddle when I needed one... for all the happiness you and your mummy brought me (I hope you've found each other again)... and never forget that me and your Auntie Viki loved you very, very, very much...<br /><br />xxxx</span></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-36729876701820737172009-02-23T22:03:00.004+00:002009-02-23T22:14:05.988+00:00Minnie Has No Concept Of Floor - 11, 12 & 13<div align="justify"><span>Part of an occasional series, here are some of the latest places my daffy mog has claimed as her own private sleeping areas...<br /><br />Under the clothes screen in the bathroom:<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMevZq-LlI/AAAAAAAABQ0/LpZV7W_T4kQ/s1600-h/HPIM0573.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306118585666383442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMevZq-LlI/AAAAAAAABQ0/LpZV7W_T4kQ/s400/HPIM0573.JPG" border="0" /></a><span> <p align="justify"><span>Sitting on top of her food on the shelf in the kitchen (I think it may have been a hint that feeding time was due):<br /></span></p></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMev9Hv9cI/AAAAAAAABQ8/MU_vhdoXZR0/s1600-h/HPIM0577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306118595182327234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMev9Hv9cI/AAAAAAAABQ8/MU_vhdoXZR0/s400/HPIM0577.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span><br />And the latest one, taken last night... on the ruddy chopping board where I'd just been chopping onions!:<br /></span></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMewS8X0NI/AAAAAAAABRE/KDLqLq36Uso/s1600-h/HPIM0579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306118601040187602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SaMewS8X0NI/AAAAAAAABRE/KDLqLq36Uso/s400/HPIM0579.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span><br />Pass the Domestos, please!</span></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-50424037809150267742009-01-09T19:04:00.004+00:002009-01-09T19:10:24.301+00:00Infantile, But I Bet You Snigger...<div align="justify"><span>... at this carrot we bought in Tesco tonight.<br /><br />We just had to!<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SWegNlf-o3I/AAAAAAAABPc/8GnbsV5PEcw/s1600-h/HPIM0534.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372442634920818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SWegNlf-o3I/AAAAAAAABPc/8GnbsV5PEcw/s400/HPIM0534.JPG" border="0" /></a>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-45949041054456897572008-12-07T18:22:00.005+00:002008-12-07T19:40:16.545+00:00Kirkwall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2008<div align="justify"><span>Viki & I were at this last night and she took a few bits of video.<br /><br />Except I took the first one, which is Kirkwall City Pipe Band playing on Broad Street prior to everyone going into the Cathedral:<br /><br /></div></span><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wq1JeSdJyMQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wq1JeSdJyMQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div align="justify"><span>So, after the service in the Cathedral, the local & Norwegian dignatories and school children portraying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy">St Lucy</a> and her attendants head back outside again for the switching on of the lights on the tree that our twin region of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hordaland">Hordaland in Norway</a> donated to Orkney, as they have done for the last 25 years...<br /><br /></div></span><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dn3l0Bmp0Pk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dn3l0Bmp0Pk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div align="justify"><span>And finally, the Hordaland convenor gives the countdown, and the lights are switched on!<br /><br /></div></span><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LvoIptChMfU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LvoIptChMfU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-69354721954125577922008-12-02T19:20:00.005+00:002008-12-02T19:37:24.120+00:00Scottish Sun's St Andrew's Night Street Party 2008Last Saturday night, the Scottish Sun newspaper hosted a street party in Kirkwall's Broad Street to finish off their campaign to get Scotland celebrating St Andrew's Day...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/itsyourparty/article1990278.ece">Read about it here</a>.<br /><br />There was a fireworks display, and local bands playing from 7pm - Midnight... all watched by about 3,000 folk who braved the freezing temperatures.<br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/STWMZ0r-kgI/AAAAAAAABLw/bY42wCpRArU/s1600-h/HPIM0420.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275276913802121730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/STWMZ0r-kgI/AAAAAAAABLw/bY42wCpRArU/s400/HPIM0420.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/STWMZR783xI/AAAAAAAABLo/0aUKeLlV59o/s1600-h/HPIM0417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275276904473878290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/STWMZR783xI/AAAAAAAABLo/0aUKeLlV59o/s400/HPIM0417.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sL1dtk7_mV4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sL1dtk7_mV4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>And local band, Shoot The Piper, playing on Broad Street...<br /><br /><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PdGcFWYC-KU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PdGcFWYC-KU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-65545773254219704092008-11-15T00:28:00.003+00:002008-11-15T00:33:51.359+00:00Silly Videos...<div align="justify"><span>My daft cat, Minnie, playing with one of those laser pointer things...<br /><br /></div></span><p align="center"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ckGNr9Nmzow"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ckGNr9Nmzow" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></p><div align="justify">See her a bit less interested <a href="http://allybally6873.blogspot.com/2008/11/silly-videos.html">here</a> on my <a href="http://allybally6873.blogspot.com/">main blog</a>... </div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-1155763373426862662008-11-11T20:50:00.004+00:002008-11-11T21:24:19.720+00:00In Remembrance...<div align="justify"><span>2 photos of my dearly-missed Dad, taken in the early '80's, both connected with Armistice Day parades of the past.<br /><br />First one was taken in the yard at our old house, before a Remembrance Sunday parade (wasn't taken by me, probably by one of my brothers or sisters)... He looks so proud standing there in his medals:</span></div><div align="justify"><span><br /></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRnw1ViefhI/AAAAAAAABLA/4Dd8f8uVccY/s1600-h/Dad+-+Medals+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267506038291987986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRnw1ViefhI/AAAAAAAABLA/4Dd8f8uVccY/s400/Dad+-+Medals+1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a> And then a photo taken at the parade (not sure if this was the same year or not) - This time an official photo, taken by a local photographer, probably for the paper... Dad is second from the right in the front row:</p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRnw1pZuVHI/AAAAAAAABLI/6UhYaDzCp2w/s1600-h/Dad+-+Remembrance+Parade(OC).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267506043623986290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRnw1pZuVHI/AAAAAAAABLI/6UhYaDzCp2w/s400/Dad+-+Remembrance+Parade(OC).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a>I'm very proud of my Dad's wartime service... He was a dispatch rider with the T.A., and saw active service in the jungles of Burma with the 226 battery of the 101st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (forgive me if I've not got that exactly right... Dad didn't really talk that much about his time there, and I don't blame him)...<br /><br />Both his and my uncle's names are listed <a href="http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/picture/number4953.asp">here</a>, amongst men who served as part of the regiment (with thanks to <a href="http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/index.asp">Orkney Communities Image Library</a> and contributor <a href="http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/list.asp?field=contributor_no&crit=35">Peter Burges</a> for use of the link). </p>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-10653709243988452282008-11-10T21:13:00.003+00:002008-11-10T21:23:29.651+00:00Gadgetry!<div align="justify"><span>My Dear Blog Readers,<br /><br />I have a new gadget!<br /><br />If you look down the right of this blog (and my others in a minute, once I've got this set up on them), you'll see a bit called "Followers"... You can click on it, and you'll become a member of an elite crack commando unit - no, wait... that's The A-Team... You can click on it, and you'll be exposed as a reader of my blog (or, you can choose to remain incognito and follow me secretly - although I might have you arrested for stalking)...<br /><br />Please click!</span></div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-70524005931952883542008-11-10T19:13:00.003+00:002008-11-10T19:58:55.938+00:00Fireworks... We Have Video...<div align="justify">Yes, we have the technology!<br /><br />I thought I'd have a go with the video facility on my digital camera and, (if you ignore the fact it's kind of shaky coz my hands were cold... and the fact I didn't edit it, or add "mood music" or anything like that), I don't think it's too bad for a first time with just a digital camera:<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7u7mt67qvfA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7u7mt67qvfA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_VThGDFIcqs">Video 2</a><br /><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OvhkmIoRQ">Video 3</a><br /><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWdbpao4GI">Video 4</a> </div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27545775.post-48706010024831887582008-11-10T18:56:00.005+00:002008-11-10T19:12:09.744+00:00Fireworks... The Photos...<div align="justify"><span>It was the annual Rotary Club organised fireworks display in Kirkwall on Saturday night.<br /><br />Took my camera along, not really expecting to get anything worthwhile, but I was quite pleased in the end...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFrsCd93I/AAAAAAAABKw/XZKaCQv4XDw/s1600-h/HPIM0379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267106749812176754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFrsCd93I/AAAAAAAABKw/XZKaCQv4XDw/s400/HPIM0379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFqz9YilI/AAAAAAAABKo/nDhnX7CbmiA/s1600-h/HPIM0375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267106734758464082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFqz9YilI/AAAAAAAABKo/nDhnX7CbmiA/s400/HPIM0375.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This one I think is my favourite...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFqXvHOdI/AAAAAAAABKg/sVHwmAnEWv8/s1600-h/HPIM0374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267106727182416338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AUWUFYdwSZM/SRiFqXvHOdI/AAAAAAAABKg/sVHwmAnEWv8/s400/HPIM0374.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's funny, but I think the fact that my hands were shaking coz of the cold has added to the effects of the photos!<br /><br />See the rest of the photos, and the ones Viki took, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29214760@N00/">here</a>. (Viki's start "PICT" and mine "HPIM" or whatever). </div>AllyBallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683352058326706456noreply@blogger.com0