The Orcadian

[boglin]

I have two unusual habits, when it comes to travel. The first, which you may already be aware of, gentle reader, is obsessive planning and itinerary writing. The second, is the joy of the local newspaper. I grew up in a village where every Thursday we would receive 'The Maghull Advertiser', full of news of the parish council, The Rose Queen festival, the school fete. An innocent world, all those years ago.

So now, when I'm in a small Cumbrian village pub, for example, or at the general store on a tidal Northumbrian island, I like to pick up a copy of the local paper and read about tackling beach litter, a new slide in the park, or the anual parade.

Next month sees us off to Orkney - and one of the links I've come across in my exhaustive search for information is to The Orcadian. It is, quite simply, the best newspaper I have ever read. Where else can you find a paper that has a weekly column called Sky Notes - information on astronomical and related topics from Rousay astronomer John Vetterlein? Or Birdwatch - A regular update of monthly bird sightings in Orkney by local RSPB Officer Eric Meek? Where one of the front page headlines is uPVC windows aren't so bad, say councillors?

And it's got a 5 day weather forecast, weekly tide data and an events listing.

Bugger the BBC, this is *exactly* what I want from my online news.

Comments

[neilh.livejournal.com]

Like the rockall times, but different.

[belladonna-9.livejournal.com]

I still get the Leinster Leader sent from Ireland every week....I have to be able to keep up with the gossip....

[dreamfire.livejournal.com]

clearly not awake. anonymous is me.

[miss-soap.livejournal.com]

I like doing this too. I love the Whitby Gazette for stuff like that. When we were there in April the lead story was a couple who had donkeys at their wedding.

[littleonions.livejournal.com]

Ahh local newspapers, although 'The Orcadian' not only has a cool name but seems to have slightly more 'hot' news stories than the Clekhuddersfaxfordton Gazette where unusually shaped vegetables generally grab the headlines.