Oughtred's Birlinn

[StevenBauer]

Hey, did any of you see that beautiful Birlinn in October's Classic Boat?(#160) Iain Oughtred designed it for the GilGael Trust. Who knows why "they were outlawed over 300 years ago". It was built by differently abled people. "i.e., recovering addicts, long-term unemployed and those with mental health problems". Man, I wish I could build a boat as nice as this one.
Shane, better take note, we're all expecting as much from your group.
Next year they plan to build a 60' Birlinn, that will really be something to see.
And I haven't even ordered my plans yet.
Anyone know If Iain's finished the Wee Seal revisions yet?

[Wild Dingo]

Originally posted by StevenBauer:
Hey, did any of you see that beautiful Birlinn in October's Classic Boat?(#160) Iain Oughtred designed it for the GilGael Trust. Who knows why "they were outlawed over 300 years ago". It was built by differently abled people. "i.e., recovering addicts, long-term unemployed and those with mental health problems". Man, I wish I could build a boat as nice as this one.
Shane, better take note, we're all expecting as much from your group.
Next year they plan to build a 60' Birlinn, that will really be something to see.
And I haven't even ordered my plans yet.
Anyone know If Iain's finished the Wee Seal revisions yet?

I love it!! "differently abled people" now thats a novel way of saying it isnt it? http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif You know I dont believe in titling people as Im really unpoliticallyfriendly that way... We just have to make things work differently than the accepted way of doing things is all.

Using pullies and bosun chairs making jigs and moving things to a different perspective is what it takes for us to be able to achieve the same goals... and a mountain of give and take...

We dont know if were going to be able to do it... we believe we can... we are going to give it 150% to achieve it... but we dont know... handicaps come in so many variations... can a one armed one legged vet move a couple of scarffed sheets of ply? sure can if the people around them or they themselves are able to look beyond the accepted and see the challenge of change then do what has to be done to affect the change... can a downs syndrome 21yr old girl with the intellect of a 10 year old do it? sure can but only if care is taken and constant supervision is in place (often from a small distance)... Can a spinal injured minimaly mobile person do it? again sure can if the determination is there if the ability to see how the problems of movement, wieght etc can be overcome sure can...

I personally believe that its all relative to YOUR state of personal attitude... Your state of mind... Your Desire to achieve the you goals set... {b]AND[/b]... those around you supporting encourageing and assiting along the way... ANYONE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING... it just gets hard sometimes thats all... just as it does for anyone... recognise that and it gets easier to handle and understand those times people dont do what they say they will.

I believe that the biggest handicap we have is those around us who say we cant, shouldnt, couldnt, wouldnt and wont... they are our handicap...

These sayings reside above my desk at work...

"The greatest sourse of disablility and disfunction among "handicapped people" is those who are NOT handicapped people."

"Nothing is achieved except by taking the first needed step then taking each step individually as it is needed."

I wrote them after my accident when people were saying how I will not be able to do what I used to do simply because of my new physical situation... I now use them to help inspire others to go for their dreams no matter how impossible they seem... they can acheive... (yep a lot of my work is motivational speaking and counselling coming from where Ive been... it seems to work for most people I see)

The mob you talk of have achieved a dream that many "normally abled people" only dream about but never achieve...

GOOD ON THEM!!! Brilliant stuff... truely awesome!!...

We just hope we can do as good in our efforts... but if we dont then we aint gonna bash ourselves over the head about it... As long as we give our all to the goal then we have already achieved... we will just move on to the next goal http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif While we are focused we can do whatever we set out to do just like anyone else... just differently is all http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif

Take it easy
Shane

And thanks for the pep talk mate!!! http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif The big ones gonna be great to see them get into isnt it! I love it when people have big dreams and set out to prove they can achieve them against the odds! looking forward to seeing it. S

[This message has been edited by Wild Dingo (edited 11-18-2001).]

[ken mcclure]

I just yesterday watched a short feature on a blind guy, a paraplegic and a double-amputee (both legs) who -- get this -- climbed a mountain! The blind guy has also climbed Mt Everest.

Sorry if I don't use politically correct terms, but I have little use for them. I'm a white guy, not "chromatically challenged." I'm legally blind without my glasses, not "visually challenged." And when I just cannot understand something, I'm either too old or too stupid to learn it, not "intellectually challenged."

[Wild Dingo]

Amazing what can be achieved isnt it mate... bit of drive bit of confidence bit of belief and a hunk of determination!

If were all honest about it were all "challenged" somehow or the other...

alcohol challenged = need more beer

weight challenged = see above

humor challenged = need even more beer

sexually challenged = had to much beer

sleep challenged = need more beer

work challenged = multiple choice answer depending on where your at either =
too much beer = unemployed
need more beer = employed

another is probably more relevent for those who have their own business... never enough beer http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif

Its a long slippery slope but if youve got enough beer the roads not to much to worry about just drink more of the stuff!!! http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/redface.gif)

Take it easy
Shane

[Hugh Paterson]

Steven.
The item in Classic boat did not do this group (the Gal Gael), justice, trust me I help out there now and then. Suffice to say it made their day getting mentioned in such a high profile magazine. I happen to think all the trainees and staff are bloody brillant people, they do a lot more than boats too, if you ever want to roll your sleeves up and join in let me know!

P.S. we might be interested in people with biceps like Arnold Swartsnegger (eh)! that can row with 16ft oars. Launch days in the spring if we ever get round too making the oars?

Shuggie.

[Hugh Paterson]

O.K. the 16 ft oars were probally overkill so we are going to try for 14ft now, bet theres still no volunteers!

Shug

[birlinn builder]

glad u like the boat. im one of the guiys that helped build the boat.we had no drawings all we had to go on were 14th-15th century stylised stone carvings from the west coast of scotland. the only evidence foud of these boats is a sten and stern post. the boats were outlawed as a plan to pacify the highlands of scotland and evidence suggests that they were all completely destroyed. ian oughtred helped us a lot and built a 3 feet scale model.
this is only the second boat we have ever made, the first being a 24 feet version launched on the 1st january 2000 at sunrise on a new millennium. possibly the the first boat launched this millenium. we have hundreds of pics perhaps i could send u some
take care
gary

[Hugh Paterson]

Christ Gary you type as well!

Shug.