Month: April 2025

Orkney, also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and has about 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The largest island, the Mainland, has an area of 202 square miles, making it the sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Orkney’s largest settlement, and also its administrative centre, is Kirkwall.

The islands have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years.  They were absorbed  into the Kingdom of Scotland, following failure to pay a dowry promised to James III of Scotland by the family of his bride, Margaret of Denmark.

In addition to the Mainland, most of the remaining islands are divided into two groups: the North Isles and the South Isles. The local climate is relatively mild and the soils are extremely fertile; most of the land is farmed, and agriculture is the most important sector of the economy. The significant wind and marine energy resources are of growing importance; the amount of electricity that Orkney generates annually from renewable energy sources exceeds its demand. Daytime temperatures generally range between 5 °F in winter and 61 °F in summer.

The local people are known as Orcadians; they speak a distinctive dialect of the Scots language and have a rich body of folklore. Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe; the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Orkney also has an abundance of marine and avian wildlife.

The mainland is the largest of the Orkney Islands and, Kirkwall is the centre town and main port. It is a Norse Viking town founded in 1035. The prehistoric sights of the Orkney’s are the biggest tourist attractions on the island. The Scapa Flow on Hoy is an old 20th Century naval complex built by Churchill in World War 2. which has a Visitors Centre and museum.

Off the shores of the mainland there are many ferry services to the northern and southern isles. Each have there own unique characteristics including historical sights, sea wildlife and natural landscapes.

Nong Prue in Kanchanaburi is well known for the authentic country cooking on offer in the town. And particularly for the termite mushrooms which appear after the rains in July through to September.

It is a typical farming community well off the tourist map. Little or no English is spoken and most of the visitors are city folk from Bangkok who click back and treat themselves to the deliciously simple country food, a traditional massage and the slow pace of village life.

Does the internet negatively impact on our interpersonal communication and interactions? Or is this just a reaction based on our inherent suspicion, rejection and fear of change?

Technology has changed the way we live, what we do and how we do it. Change is a constant. It is inevitable and resistance merely hinders one from learning and addressing whatever negative aspects there may be.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, technology and communication are not mutually exclusive. Communication apprehension is nothing new.

Most people dread being picked out of a crowd and put on a spot. As with public debating, a traumatic experience for most.  Something one naturally shies away from. An instinct that cant be blamed on the internet. Nor is it fair to pick out and censor technology for magnifying negative behavioral tendencies we all have to varying degrees.

Anxiety is the fear of the unknown. When communicating face to face, the reaction one gets isn’t always certain and popping down to the local pub is commonly accepted as a way of socialising.  As is the fact that a few pints tends to loosen the tongue.

We are reluctant to be judged and with technology, digital means, it’s actually becoming easier to communicate from behind a keyboard, because people do not have to do that initial face-to-face reaction.

This can be a good or a bad thing depending on how one chooses to communicate.  Where the emphasis should be on recognising that everyone is personally responsibile. Self-awareness and appreciation rather than the artificially constrained  social norms which often lag way behind their sell by date.

Our use of and dependence on digital means of communication allows people to learn written communication to varying audiences and simple tools like spell check can actually help develop our communication skills.

 

Airbnb, like Uber, needs to grow up.

The hospitality platform’s systematic failure to follow rules is not only damaging its reputation but it is damaging our perception and understanding of how the web is supposed to work..