August Soulka 3rd-5th 2012
Food, Farming and Fishing
For the detailed timetable, click here,
for a list of Open gardens, studios and hostelries click here,
and for the map click here
We do hope that residents and visitors alike will support this final Soulka of 2012; come to as much as possible, and buy plenty of Raffle-tickets. Throughout the weekend The Croft and the Heritage Centre will be open as usual from 1000-1700 and 40 residents have signed up for the Gardening Club’s ‘end-of-the-road/verge-side planters this year, so a drive around the island should be punctuated by great splashes of colour at regular intervals. Below is an outline of some of the many events that we hope you will find attractive this weekend…
Friday 3rd August … is Show Day – Sanday’s Agricultural and Industrial Show, highlighting the variety and quality of the island’s cattle, sheep and other farm stock; and the huge range of talent responsible for the extraordinary diversity of cooking, gardening, and handicrafts on display in the Hall. There are sections for visitors to enter too, so everyone is able to join in this special day; collect a Show schedule from shops or May Allan at Castlehill (600374). Don’t miss the evening presentations and dance, with the visiting Ronald Anderson Band.
Saturday 4th August 7 Gardens, several art and craft and spinning studios and displays, and the model railway at Tangarth, will all be open from 10-12 (some for longer – see back page). To encourage you to look for the verge-side planters, 20 of them will have a Soulka-man flagstick among the flowers on Saturday and Sunday. Look on the back of these Soulka-men and make a list of all the words you find – you may be the winner of the £20 fish-supper. The Sea-Angling competition was a great success last year, it’s repeated this year and we hope that everyone wanting to take part will have registered a boat or reserved a place by ‘phoning Bill (see timetable). Whether you’re a fisherman or landlubber, Kettletoft is the place to be at 5 o’clock – the deadline for the anglers and time for the weigh-in on the weigh-bridge. Another popular event last year was the Whisky-tasting masterclass at Belsair. Places are limited to 30, so book fast with Liz Brown (see timetable). N.B. for those who’ve booked by ‘phone, Liz will have your tickets available for you to collect from her in the School car-park on 28th July 5.30 - 7.15 p.m. or 2nd August 7.30 - 9.30 p.m.
At least two barbecues will be operating after the weigh-in: a traditional (hot-dog/hamburger) one at Kettletoft Hotel, and a ‘cook-your-own’ fish one opposite the weigh-bridge. We hope that by eight o’clock, everyone will have satisfied their appetite and be ready for a little exercise, so please be ready for the Grand Kettletoft Village Strip-the-Willow. If you survive that, you deserve to relax and we’re hoping that local and visiting musicians will entertain us….. In order to add to the atmosphere, we hope very much to keep the area around the weigh-bridge and pier-head free of cars, so please help by parking further away.
Sunday 5th August 8 gardens will be open this morning, as well as the model railway; some Art and Craft studios will be open all day (see back page). In the afternoon, go through the School main entrance for the recital (Kate Howe and Catherine Shimwell, Stephen Murray and Tim Shimwell with a programme including singing, piano, guitar and cello; music by Mozart, Puccini, Faure, Barber, Chopin) starting promptly at 2 p.m. so please arrive in plenty of time. Leave by the School entrance and go round to the Community entrance to queue for the Orkney Feast. Reservations for the Feast are going fast, so book now (see timetable and ’phone Liz; who will then distribute tickets on 28th July/2nd August). Hand in your named Soulka-man word-list (one entry per car) as you present your tickets on the way into the Feast – where it’s your last chance to buy raffle tickets. After the Feast, and in time for those who have to catch the ferry, the Soulka Raffle prize-winning tickets will be drawn, the Soulka-man winner will be declared, and so will the best verge-side planter. Finally, a beautiful painting by Caz Dixon – ‘Cold Peedie Sea’ - will be auctioned in aid of funds for Sanday’s branch of the RNLI –the Lifeboat Guild.
If you don’t have to leave the island, and if you still have some energy, join the expedition to the Lighthouse – booking essential (ring 01857-600341) and meet at Scuthvie car-park at 5.30 p.m. Then, in the evening, relax and unwind at Kettletoft….
The Raffle Team will be selling tickets at several events over the weekend; please help by buying plenty of tickets, and if you don’t really like raffles, donations are just as acceptable.
