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It's hard to believe July is here – a month that would normally mean the arrival of a team of archaeologists at the Ness of Brodgar, where Ola lived for three decades.    This year it's quite a different scene: the clink and scrape of archaeologist’s tools have been replaced by the beautiful sounds of nature.   This is the first year since its discovery in 2003 that the annual dig at ‘the most important archaeological site in western Europe,’ hasn't gone ahead. Instead, we've enjoyed watching nature return to the Ness, captured beautifully by dig director Nick Card.  Images by Nick Card...

        Minnie, Ola and Pat Gorie, Kirkwall, c1940 Today marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day and is a chance to remember all those who sacrificed their lives in World War Two to give us the peace we’ve enjoyed ever since. Ola was born just before the war. Her father Pat Gorie was called up to serve in the army, leaving the family grocer’s shop in the care of his wife Minnie and his retired father, John.  Luckily for Pat, he was mostly stationed in Orkney. Still, being away from home for six years was fun for...

Firstly, we would like to say a big HELLO from Kirkwall, Orkney and we hope that you and your family are safe and well. We wanted to get in touch with you to say that we're delighted to have reopened our website again after a couple of weeks off due to unprecedented circumstances. As you are all aware, we are currently facing some challenging times, and each business, family and individual will have obstacles to overcome. For our family business here in Orkney, times ahead are precarious but we are taking each day as it comes and adapting to these challenges we are faced with. We...