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Given that the subject has been discussed on Island Blogging in the past, I thought that I should bring your attention to Radio Scotland’s Grassroots programme. This week’s edition is the first of three specials focusing on the crofting way of life.

In programme one, broadcast tomorrow morning, presenter Nancy Nicolson examines the threats to crofting from property speculation. Many people complain that the increasing number of croft land sales is the single most destructive force facing crofting today. But opinion is divided because these areas of Scotland are in desperate need of housing.

Programme two (broadcast 13/10/07) considers crofting identity. Nancy considers this vague and slightly contentious question in the light of the Scottish Crofting Foundation’s bid for UN status as ‘indigenous people’. How true is the stereotype of the scruffy and disorganised crofter? Is there such a thing as a crofting culture? And how have incomers changed the nature of crofting identity?

And in programme three (broadcast 20/10/07), Nancy looks at the spirit of enterprise among modern crofters. A brand is being launched to help market their meat, veg and fruit produce. Opportunities from sustainable energy schemes, as well as forestry and of course tourism, suggest the future may be brighter than many predict.

Grassroots is broadcast on Radio Scotland tomorrow morning at 0630 but if, unlike Hermit, you’re not up at that time you can always catch it via . The programme remains available for seven days after transmission.

It's Friday afternoon the sun is shining and the spam filter has been fitted.

A good day all round. :)

Enjoy your weekend.

Anne

It’s been a busy month so far and great to see so many new bloggers joining us. If you haven’t already done so do take a look at the following new blogs:

Moans of the Day!! from Harris
Happily Ever After from Lewis
LivingOnThe Edge from North Uist
Mizzwhitty from Mainland Orkney
Uists uncovered from North Uist

Welcome to all, it’s good to have you with us. Super to have more voices from North Uist too.

A quick plea to Anne from ‘Moving to Lewis’ who has left a few comments today. If you’d like to start blogging to chart the big move please do so! You can .

Finally, just to let you know, Patricia will be looking after Island Blogging for the next fortnight. If you have any questions or comments for IBHQ you can contact her at the usual address: islandblogging@bbc.co.uk.

Enjoy your weekend.

Anne :)

Good morning,

We'd like to apologise for the disruption to a number of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s online services yesterday including Island Blogging.

The technical issues experienced were caused by network issues across data centres in Docklands.

Areas affected were the message boards and community sites and the Single Sign On registration system, as well as search, iPlayer, radio streams and a number of database applications. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ homepage was also affected; visitors to the front page experienced a slow service.

We'd like to apologise for any inconvience and disruption caused. Normal service was resumed just before midnight last night.

Sadly, IBHQ can not claim any knowledge of the silence which has befallen your fellow blogger. Believe us when we say we are holding no-one, let alone TWS, hostage. If we were, the promise of a nice chocolate cake could have him released virtually instantly. Perhaps he is adopting the 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' strategy? Let's hope we can welcome him and his somewhat lively posts back in the near future.

I should go on holiday more often! I turn my back for two weeks and four new bloggers sign up. A belated welcome to:

Diary of a Deckhand from Mainland Orkney
Confessions of Mother Earth from Lewis
Caves of Leitir Fura from Skye
and Fair Isle in Stitches from, er, Fair Isle (good to have a Fair Isle voice with us again).

And not forgetting Notthewhites as well, of course. Hmm, it just seems so familiar…

Anne :)