Goblins & Orkneys

Doing some research into remote Scottish islands (for a horror screenplay I've just begun), I discovered the people of the Orkney Islands have similar relationship to Scotland as the Scots do to Britain - they consider themselves Orcadians first and Scots second. There's even something of an independence movement.

They were annexed by the Scottish crown in 1472, the nasty bullies (I don't remember that being mentioned in Braveheart). Since then, Orcadians have viewed the Scots with the same kind of contempt as the Scots have the English.

So, when the independently-minded Scots get their way, I assume they won't begrudge the Orkneys their freedom too. Who knows, they might want to join the United Kingdom (and bring their North Sea oil with them).

Check out the Northern Constabulary's Orkneys News & Alerts page. This is how desperate they are for crimes to report:

"Clothing Stolen from Washing Line
27 February 2008

Between 0830 hours on 19th February 2008, an item of clothing was stolen from a washing line in the housing scheme at Hamnavoe, Stromness. Police are appealing for anyone who may have information about this theft to contact them on the usual numbers."