Maes Howe! That brings back a memory....

A few years ago (1999?) I sailed on a Norwegian barque "Staadsrad Lehmkuhl" from the Clyde to Shetland. Along the way,we called at Stromness on Orkney - at the request of the Norwegian consul on the island, which I thought a nice touch. Anyway, we arrived about 10 a.m. and were due to stay until next morning. I went on a tear, as we say in Ireland! I drank steadily all day, with occasional breaks for food. At one stage we were taken on a bus tour to, amongst other historical places, - Maes Howe! I found it hard to tell the standing stones from inclined planes!

Next morning, I'm sitting bleary-eyed at breakfast across the table from a Scot of about my own vintage with whom I had bcome friendly. " I saw ye a few times yesterday", sez he " but I was too busy drinking to stop to chat! I think I drank in every place in Stromness you can get a drink in - except the British Legion (club) - they wouldn't let me in!". "There you are!" sez I, " They let me in - it was the last drink of the night for me!"

Just to establish a musical connection: while I was still relatively sober, I had visited the house Lady Jane Franklin had stayed in at one stage when the hunt for her husband was being organised. As we sailed out the next morning, I sat on deck singing "Lady Franklin's Lament" and followed it with Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage".

Regards