Groatie buckies and more norski sheep!
Posted: Friday, 27 April 2007 |
Last weekend the we went a peedie wander to Burrafirth Beach. It was a bit windy but the sun shone nicely, giving us a taste of the summer yet to come. (I always find it helps to be positive in life.) (Even in the face of the trials and tribulations I face as a result of TWS blogs.)
Anyway, I picked up a few pretty pink shells, and then found A GROATIE BUCKIE!!! For those o you no in the know, a groatie buckie is a cowrie shell. My mum always searches for them on beaches, and I grew up valuing them much higher than other shells. Well, I found 6 groatie buckies in one short stretch o sand, which pleased me no end.
I believe a long time ago groatie buckies were used as currency. Does anyone know if this is the case?
When I was in Norway in February I had the privilage of being part of a group shown round an Agricultural College in Aurland. I've already blogged some photos of this trip, but I wondered if Dag and TTGMITN would be interested in these pix?
I was trying to post 2 more pix of sheep and a goat, (for Hermit) but it wont let me.
Anyway, I picked up a few pretty pink shells, and then found A GROATIE BUCKIE!!! For those o you no in the know, a groatie buckie is a cowrie shell. My mum always searches for them on beaches, and I grew up valuing them much higher than other shells. Well, I found 6 groatie buckies in one short stretch o sand, which pleased me no end.
I believe a long time ago groatie buckies were used as currency. Does anyone know if this is the case?
When I was in Norway in February I had the privilage of being part of a group shown round an Agricultural College in Aurland. I've already blogged some photos of this trip, but I wondered if Dag and TTGMITN would be interested in these pix?
I was trying to post 2 more pix of sheep and a goat, (for Hermit) but it wont let me.
Comments
Oh I hope you do post more pics of your trip to Norway! I'm always interested in seeing "other places" and now that I'm a farmwife I'm gah-gah about all things farm hahaha!
Michelle Therese from Moooo!
TWS, all is forgiven. As of your last comment on my last blog. You are such a nice man.
Ruthodanort from Unst
I'm always interested in pictures of sheep, but of course I like your beach pictures as well . The beach is only 2 km from my home. The sheep in Aurland is called "Norsk kvit sau" ( Norwegian white sheep). Some years ago we had a breed called " Dalasau" ( Glensheep). The surrounding area to Bergen, like Voss and Sogn, is the homearea to dalasauen. Eg likar det, Ruth, at du er ei dame som likar sau og fin natur enten det er i Norge eller p氓 Shetland . Send gjerne fleire bilder.
Dag from Norway
you people are really good with the camera,everyone(well almost) is sending in really nice pics-i feel so useless compared to you all!
carol from the usual place
Lovely shells you have, been a long time since I have been on a seaside, loved to "pop" the seaweed. What is "peedie"? Been decades since I've been in Scotland and don't think I know that one. It's wonderful to read everyones blogs. Lived part of my younger childhood in England and being a Scots-wegian didn't really fit in - now I see I should have been up in the Islands! Please keep posting all the lovely photos, it's like taking mini-vacations.
macQ from NMtoo, USA
What does the word "peedie" mean please?
N. E. Body from Kirkaldy
Hi Ruthodanort and greetings from the land of ex-isles... your 1st picture is very enviable Oh to live near such a beautiful place. I've never seen a place so pure. HA HA love the sheeps earings god bless .....frodo
frodo the scot from utica michigan
I am more familiar with cowrie shells myself, and I have always pined for the days (before my time unfortunately) when a fair maiden could be had for a boat load of cowrie shells, and three for two boat loads # But I think you are right re: groatie buckie, Ruthodanort. My grandpa used to sing a song about a groat for a buckie, or was it a buck for a groatie? Whatever it was, you should thank your lucky stars to have such a stash of groatie buckies. Now all you have to do is to take them to the cashier at your local Bank of Scotland for exchange into more modern currency. Keep us informed of developments, thank ye, and good luck.
mjc from NM,USA
Peedie is Orkney dialect for small. In Shetland we use Peerie, but as an Orcadian living in Shetland I still use the Orkney version. Tho if you say peerie fast with a hard 'r' like a Shetlander would it's difficult to tell the difference.
Ruthodanort from Unst
Ruthiebabe, I've been called many things in my life, but a nice man, now that's a new one. I have never been an AA patrolman ( nothing to do with drinking too much of the alcohol ) and I thought that they were the only nice men??
Tws from Out Of Hiding
Peerie/peedie there is a belief that the derivation is from the french petit but I am not so sure. It is possible as there are a number of old scots words that date back to the days of the Auld Alliance, I particularly like ashet, a big plate, from assiette and of course I do enjoy gigot ( of lamb). Buckies are whelks or perhaps just univalve molluscs groatie I believe refers back to Jan de Groot better known as John 'o Groats. So JoG's shell, very lucky.
Hyper-Borean from Beneath the fiddle tree
I see you are born in Fife, Ruth. I guess it's The Kingdom of Fife. We drove through Fife on our way to Edinburgh.Kinross and Loch Leven were lovely places. I'm a fan of Ian Rankin ( he's from Fife). In the novel Black and Blue, he writes about Shetland. Rebus, the detective, arrives in Sumburgh, he visits Mousa Broch, a very special place. I enjoy the novel very much and I will surely make a visit to the beatiful island , also Unst
Dag from Norway
The Fife coast is lovely too, Dag. Crail, Pittenweem, St Monans are all interesting villages - and there's a great Coastal Path to walk along. Good views over the Firth of Forth, and lots of birds as well.
Jill from EK
Interesting digression, Hyper-B. The ashet connection is so neat and clear that it almost causes doubt. Enjoy your fiddling.
mjc from NM,USA
Not fiddling mjc just listening but what a mind blowing selection of artistes and styles at the Shetland Folk Festival.
Hyper-Borean from The best seat in the house
groatie buckies (or cowries) were indeed used as currency, mainly in africa. they also signify womanhood, fertility and wealth, apparently!
the part-timer from her freezing flat
put a groatie buckie in your purse Ruthie and you'll never run out of money!! :-)
kittster from edinburgh
I have a groatie buckie in my purse - have had it for about a year - and life has never been as good...mind you it couldna get any worse, (unless I was Sunny, of course)
scallowawife from shetland
Scallowawife- Remember Things Can Only Get Better.
Muness from Fetlar
Wasn't it great the way they played it at TB's farewell....but is it true?
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Groatie buckie brings wealth like a charm, eh? Here, the 2 dollar bill (it exists, folks) does the same function. Those bills are not common. So, I secured some crispy, new ones from the bank recently: if one brings you wealth, several should bring you greater wealth, right? I am waiting for the 2 dollar bills to turn me into a Croesus, and overnight too, in true Russian mafiosi style. From a few 2 dollar bills to, say, ownership of a premier soccer team would be just dandy.
mjc from NM,USA
I used to collect these groatie buckies at John O Groats as a child, but either we found them all or the currents stopped bringing them. However, yesterday I was on a geology field trip here in the Isle of Man, and found 3!
Helen Gibson from Isle of Man, but formerly Caithness
Blogs fae a thirty-something mum of 4 born in Fife, brought up in Orkney, and living in Unst.
RSS Feed