Howard Hardiman
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badgerandvole.bsky.social
Howard Hardiman
@badgerandvole.bsky.social
270 followers 200 following 100 posts
Artist on a tiny island
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badgerandvole.bsky.social
I've just sent my new book to print! It's a collection of sketches, photos and stories from the last couple of years, when I've been recovering from long covid and learning dry stone dyke building from the island's octogenarian resident expert.
A book cover for Rag Stones: Stories from Sanday by Howard Hardiman. The book shows a dry stone dyke with ragged coppicing stones. In the background, you can see the lighthouse at Start Point.
November 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Ruth and Reynir at Sanday Wildlife Rescue. Reynir is a rescue otter who will need care for the next ten years. I was lucky enough to meet with her and Ruth so you can hear their story!

youtu.be/ejzEcs2qxmA?...
Reynir the Rescue Otter
YouTube video by Howard Hardiman
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Another update from the book I'm working on. This time, A Museum for One explores the odd things I've found inside some of the dykes on the island of Sanday in Orkney while repairing them!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
An iron spike and a scrap of worked leather inside a dry stone wall. the rusted blade of a Heuk, an Orcadian sickle, in a half-repaired stone wall A clear glass bottle with a stopper sits inside a heap of sandstone from a dyke. The base of the bottle says Stromness
August 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
And, in otter news:
August 13, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Here's some exciting news about a dig and a nearby dyke on the island of Sanday in Orkney!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
An image of an archeological dig, with a clear view of a finely built curved passageway, while workers clear the dirt at the passage's end. A line of upright stones dug into the grassy earth, with the rolling hillside by Stove bay in the background. A lino print and the printing block sit on a wooden board. The print is of a dyke, built using an upright stone as a bookend.
August 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
norock.bsky.social
Buried in The Observer yesterday was this: UK police knocking on doors demanding details of social media accounts of people, to pass to a foreign government, simply because they happen to live near where a US politician wanted to have a holiday observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“We have had the police knocking on every door,” said a dog walker and resident of Dean, as a helicopter buzzed overhead. “They wanted the names of everybody living there and details of their social media. I know several people refused. We asked them if they were protecting us, or Vance. At least they were honest and said it is for him and that it will all be passed on to the American security people.”
August 11, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
ewacat.bsky.social
excuse me *taps microphone* this is deeply abnormal
phillewis.bsky.social Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Aug 11
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he's placing Washington, DC, police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard.
A photo of Trump at the lectern
August 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Here's some exciting news about a dig and a nearby dyke on the island of Sanday in Orkney!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
An image of an archeological dig, with a clear view of a finely built curved passageway, while workers clear the dirt at the passage's end. A line of upright stones dug into the grassy earth, with the rolling hillside by Stove bay in the background. A lino print and the printing block sit on a wooden board. The print is of a dyke, built using an upright stone as a bookend.
August 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
The Setting of the Skull, a ritual trek to honour the Mither o' the Sea.

#orkney #sanday #scotland #folklore

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
Update 8: The Setting of the Skull · Rag Stones
On the first bright day of Spring, when the tides are kind and align, the dogs and I set out on what's become something of an annual ritual.From Airon, we walk on the low, exposed shore past the Ebb a...
www.kickstarter.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
2damntrans.bsky.social
It's not me who needs to "get a grip." This is the reality of the Trump administration: it is fascist. You can pretend that everything is all sunshine and rainbows all you like, but that's the reality.
skeet from 2damntrans: Hatred and scapegoating of minorities ✅ Imprisonment of political opponents ✅ Undermining the rule of law ✅ Territorial expansionism ✅ Fetishising a fictional version of the past ✅ Misogyny ✅ Promotion of the "traditional" family ✅ White pronatalism ✅ Cult of personality ✅ Etc.
April 19, 2025 at 1:21 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Happy Easter!
A pair of castration pliers with a ring ready to use.
April 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to let you know that my little book about the dry stone dykes, buildings and cairns on the tiny island of Sanday is... fully funded!

There's only three days left if you'd like to back the project, which (obviously) I highly recommend you do!
April 3, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
badgerandvole.bsky.social
The Galloway Dyke was built in the 18th century and set the standard method for dyke construction on the island of Sanday in Orkney.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
Update 5: The Galloway Dyke · Rag Stones
The Galloway DykeJimmy drives me to the south end of the island, turning off the road for the ferry to the one that leads to Stove. Either side of us, the land rises - sandy terrain towards Warsetter ...
www.kickstarter.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
A bit of a history lesson if you want to know about the dykes on a small island!
A very mossy dry stone dyke
March 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
I'm really happy to say my Kickstarter for a book about dry stone walling on a little island is 80% funded!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
Update 4: Over 80% Funded! · Rag Stones
80% there, much like this repair!I'm really pleased to say that, with 16 days to go, Rag Stones is now more than 75% funded. I'm delighted to add that I've been given a small grant from Creative Scotl...
www.kickstarter.com
March 21, 2025 at 11:58 AM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
I do like having an MSP who I don't feel like every interaction is an argument. Makes a huge change from living on the Isle of Wight!
An email to Liam McArthur MSP with the subject line: wtf is UK Gov doing? Email body reads: Hi Liam, The subject line pretty much says everything I want to write about
March 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
The cruelty is the point. And our craven leader thinks he can appease these sadistic people.
andreapitzer.bsky.social Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · Mar 17
When I wrote my camps book, people sometimes had difficulty understanding how concentration-camp regimes were proud of what they were doing and wanted attention for it, even as they also hoped to keep many aspects secret and terrorize vulnerable classes. Anyway, this is what that looks like.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Mar 17
Leavitt: "We are encouraging illegal immigrants to actively self-deport to maybe save themselves from being in one of these fun videos."
March 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
In response to Wes Streeting's claim over "over-diagnosis", says @rcpsych.bsky.social President Dr Lade Smith CBE aid the "rise in people with mental illness is being driven by real societal challenges and lack of available treatment” -

www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-fea...
“Rise in people with mental illness being driven by real societal challenges and lack of available treatment” says RCPsych President
RCPsych President Dr Lade Smith CBE responds to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care's comments about the overdiagnosis of mental health conditions.
www.rcpsych.ac.uk
March 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
An update with a lot of cat-and-dyke content.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
Update 3: Cats and Stones · Rag Stones
Bodach tiptoes the rag stones at the back of AironYesterday, near sunset, we were walking along the rocky western shore of Burness at the back of Airon and down towards Annie's Geo. The dogs love Anni...
www.kickstarter.com
March 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
badgerandvole.bsky.social
I'm writing a book about dry stone dykes at the moment and I'm wondering what your local name is for the stones on the top of the wall, or other dyke anatomy terms!

For us on Sanday in Orkney, Rag Stones on top, heart for infill.

What's your local dry stone wall jargon?
A blue sky smudged by white cloud. A stone built wall with a crest of ragged stones. Lichen and moss.
March 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
badgerandvole.bsky.social
I'm writing a book about dry stone dykes at the moment and I'm wondering what your local name is for the stones on the top of the wall, or other dyke anatomy terms!

For us on Sanday in Orkney, Rag Stones on top, heart for infill.

What's your local dry stone wall jargon?
A blue sky smudged by white cloud. A stone built wall with a crest of ragged stones. Lichen and moss.
March 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
badgerandvole.bsky.social
Are you fascinated by the old dry stone structures you find on tiny islands?

Me too! Help me collect stories, drawings and photographs for Rag Stones, a book about the stones of Sanday.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bad...
Rag Stones
A story told through the stone structures of the small island of Sanday in Orkney
www.kickstarter.com
March 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Howard Hardiman
respectisvital.bsky.social
Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP ignores the question on concerns about welfare cuts and then says,'Only work can lead to a happy life.'

Very poor choice of words that.....
March 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM