About a week after I started this blog I got involved in the Island Blogging site writing a help blog for those folks who might find the new blog a bit of a handful. Since I had only started to use Wordpress myself a couple of days before it has been quite an interesting experience learning how everything works and then explaining it to others that are not so comfortable with computers. I just love tinkering about and the old computer doesn’t scare me a bit having had one since 1982 would you believe? My son was born in 1984 and grew up with a computer by his side and now knows much more than I do. When the going gets tough he is only a phone call away.
Working on the Island Blogging site has meant that I haven’t had any time to post here but that doesn’t really matter as nobody reads this anyway! It will be fun looking back in a couple of years to see how things have developed and how long it took to get noticed. I suppose I could start my own personal blog on Island Blogging but I’m not really an Islander just yet - still over 18 months to go. Mind you, by the time I get there I might just have one or two friends to invite me round for a wee cup of tea. Can’t remember what the gaelic word is for the tea and scones offered to a visitor. Anyone know?
I’ve just finished a big batch of new themes for Island Blogging so now I guess I can start tinkering more with this site. It’s all great fun.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
No one reads this, charming!! I too have had a ‘puter since the early 80’s, doesnt stop my befuddeldness over on IB, but goad knows you try to guide us through the ether. I may be wrong, and often am, but I think cuppa is strupak, or that may bee too much Lillian Beckwith!!
Cheerie
Ps, my son, in primary 7, set up the entire primary schools computer system, as the heidie et al didnt have a clue, not bad for a twelve year old. And got him out of maths so I hear.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Thanks Ellie. Maybe I was feeling a bit lonely after seeing hundreds of comments over at IB!
Strupak is indeed the word I was looking for. On our second (and last so far) trip to Lewis we stayed at a self-catering place in Cnip and about ten minutes after being shown round and told to make ourselves comfortable the owner came round with a ‘wee strupak’. A pot of tea, ham sandwiches, drop scones and jam plus home-made cake! ‘You sit there, you’ve had a long journey’ and she poured the tea while we tucked in. About ten minutes later she came back with half a dozen eggs ‘just been laid’. This wasn’t the 1950’s this was 2005. THAT’s why we want to move to Lewis. There are 15 houses in Cnip and Mrs MacLennan knew everyone. There are over 600 houses on the estate where we live and, although the lady next door bought us a cup of tea when we first moved in 30 years ago, the chances of anyone offering or saying thank you for a cuppa now are virtually nil.
January 10th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
No, you are being read, Les. It is always good to put down in writing what your experiences of a certain period are. Looking forward to trying out the new themes on IB.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Tws WoZ ‘ere……….Cheery…
January 12th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
PS Do you still have the “Camper”?
It isn’t some homosexual joke thing is it?
I mean that you may have a Gay (as in homosexual) friend, whom you have nick-named “Camper” That’s it. Cheery…
January 12th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Stay tuned and I’ll post a photo of ‘the camper’. Ooo..eer!
January 17th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Well this cat is very very very grateful. Loki Wuz ‘Ere!
February 10th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
FWIW Les, everything you’ve done, and continue to do, on “IB2″ is much appreciated by all authors, not least by me!
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:59 am
Hi,
Came across your site here when looking up the meaning of ’strupak’. I’m currently reading the Lilian Beckwith books and it crops up frequently. I understood it to be a snack, perhaps tea and sandwiches, or a packed lunch for workmen to take out with them. Is this your understanding of the word?
How’s everything going with you?
March 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
Hi Jon,
Whenever you visit somebody’s house here (if they are native islanders) you are offered a strupak - basically a cup of tea with anything on hand to eat. It could be sandwiches, home made baking, shop bought biscuits, whatever is to hand. It is considered to be polite to offer the ‘traveller’ some sustenance and you will often find that the host doesn’t eat anything whilst insisting that you eat as much as you can!
Rules for visiting in the Outer Hebrides - don’t have anything to eat beforehand and allow at least two hours for a five minute chat!