me, Josh Ritter and a white roast beef sandwich

I had the most perfect night last night, I had the TV to myself as me man had gone to bed early so I settled down with my Josh Ritter live concert DVD, and watched it with a white roast beef and mayo sandwich, a pot of tea and a few Roses chocolates, absolutely perfect (this was all consumed after I had finished the bottle of Pop I opened earlier).
I bought the CD/DVD earlier this month from Road Records online, it's was the only place it was available from and it is simply the best, after seeing him live at Busta House Hotel I had to have it. It's 'Josh Ritter - In the Dark, live at Vicar Street.

even more........

Since Christmas Day, every other day seems the same, up late, eat more food, chocolate, maybe time a for another peerie dram, oh bedtime already. But in between all this we did do some sense! had a few long dog walks as the weather has been fantastic, up untill yesterday when it came a force 10 gale, the one day I was going somewhere, and on a bloody ferry!!!
Big Sis phoned to say all the lasses were going up to Yell to visit the Auntie's and would I like to come, so we headed off for the 12 ferry, and even though the sea was rough, you would hardly have know you were on the ferry. We went along Auntie Winnie in Mid Yell and she had made a lovely lunch of home-made tattie soup, mutton and her own home-made bannocks (perfect!!) and then a big Strawbery Gateaux. We sat a while and then went to Burravoe to see Auntie May and had more bannocks and ham with her lovely home-made fancies (mmmmmmm). They were making ready for the Tar Barrell, and annual event which has been held for many years, they tow a burning barrell through Burravoe to help summon the early arrival of the Sun, think it was originally an old Norse thing, used to do it in Lerwick but they burnt someone's door and then they started with Up Helly Aa, maybe they should have stuck to the Tar Barrell, it would have been a lot easier.
Anyway, we headed back home to very rough trip back over the Sound, big waves!!!!!!
We were treated to a light show at Voxter - is this the most decorated house in Shetland? (sorry about the quality but we were moving when I took the photo)

I came home opened a bottle of Pop and settled down for another night in front of the telly, lovely.

more Festivities

Had a lovely Christmas Day beside big Sis. We arrived laden with flowers, bubbly, red wine, to a cosy warm house (they were spending Christmas/New Year in their old house, which they have been madly decorating and generally 'doing up' for the festivities),and a gorgeous dinner of Turkey, Goose and all the wonderful tasty trimmings, big Sis is a very good cook! We sat back for a while after and had more drams, the brandy and port was a must as their wasn't a Rennie to be found (shame on you Hughson!). It was all 'joost luffley'. Even the Charades, nice bike Maurice!

Festivities

More parties, this one was my niece's 25th birthday with and eighties theme, she was born then and I was going out, so we had to get dressed up in costume, I made up the music, and we had a fabulous night, even had the food of the era, everything 'in a basket'.

Christmas party - you're never to old for Santy

Nearly there

Amazon have delivered as promised, actually some of it arrived the day after I ordered it, how do they do that?

I bought, wrote, stamped and posted all Christmas cards at the weekend, the wrapping paper is awaiting present's (when I have a spare moment). Me man has been for the Christmas Drink, and we have even acquired an old fridge freezer (for the beer and bubbly!), I have been to the Globe butcher and even managed to beat the queues! So I think we are nearly there.

I have had a last minute rush on bears, having to remake 2 which are somewhere between here and France lost in the postal system. I realised that an order which I was going to send out today should have been 2 bears instead of one, and also receiving a parcel of silk, velvet and taffeta to be transformed into bears for 'the first week in January'.

But all is well as I found the most gorgeous pair of green boots today in Lerwick, mmmmmmmm, absolutely yummy!! I know I don't really need yet another pair of boots, but, well, they were green and I don't have a green pair!

It doesn't take much to make me happy!

Christmas Shopping

OK, so I broke the habit of a lifetime and did all my Christmas Shopping early. I did it all on Thursday night and I didn't even get wet!! Yes I cheated, I went on Amazon (for 5 hours) and bought everything. After a whole evening staring at a computer screen I was a bit brain dead, but got to the point where I wasn't leaving until I had everyone ticked off my list. I thought, this is great and went to the checkout, then I got a message saying my items would be delivered after 25th December, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I went back to see what I had done wrong, I had been so careful to check that everything was in stock, and then I realised the last item was on a 2-3 week delivery, I changed it to something else, paid for the whole lot and went to bed feeling very pleased with myself!!

All I need now are cards and wrapping paper, maybe better leave that for a week or two, don't want to break old habits too much.

Rocking in the Long Room

Well, I can honestly say that I doubt The Long Room in Busta House has ever seen anything like that before, it truly rocked, wonder if the ghost enjoyed it. It was fabulous right from the start, I can't even remember what he started with, but a lot of songs were the old one's that you knew and the other's had same style which I love! He is such a showman, he really could have been a stand-up comic, he was hilarious in an unassuming way and the stories about Nicola the air stewardess and the Golden Coach had me almost in tears I laughed so much. But back to the music, he has the kind of voice that makes you feel all warm and cosey, and sometimes makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, which is just what you want. Mind you it was all a bit surreal, being in the Long Room on a Wednesday night listening to this man (have to call him that although he looked like a boy, so young) with an amazing voice. He obviously takes his music very seriously as you could see by his face, but simply couldn't stop smiling once he had finished. The other man in the photo was Zach, his pal, who also played and was really good and had the most unusual moustache, with the curly ends, think he must use a lot of wax/mousse/hairspray?
So by the end (it went so fast) it was getting pretty warm and Josh and Zach finished with 'California', which really was the kind of song that felt like someone had wrapped you in a big, warm cosey blanket, well that's what I felt like, a perfect end to a perfect night, oh and everyone even got a cuddle on the way out, he wis joost luffley!
Come back very soon boys!! Now I'm away to listen to my signed CD.

Josh Ritter at Busta House?

Oh my god, I have just managed to get 2 tickets for Josh Ritter in the Long Room at Busta House tomorrow night!! I can't beleive it! When I saw it advertised in the Shetland Times, at first I couldn't remember where I had heard his name, then the song came back to me, 'Snow is Gone', heard some time ago on Radio 2 whilst having a shower late one night. Then I forgot about it as the Craft Fair took over my mind, and when I did remember to phone all the ticket's had gone, I think there had only been about 50 in the first place (the Long Room is quite small). Then on Radio Shetland tonight at the very end it said there were 2 tickets available and I thought, 'will I phone?' then I remebered what big Sis always says, just do it, you never know what's going to happen tommorow, so I phoned and I got them. Me and Minty are heading up to Brae tomorrow night to enjoy some fantastic music.

the last minute.........

Doing my usual, I am sitting here desperately trying to finish off my 2005/2006 Accounts, so I can get them to the accountant in time.
Is this a female thing?, a Ritch thing?, or is it just me leaving it till the last minute as usual?, I think it's probably the third one, just me. Is there anyway you can change this?, I know I have said it before but if you give me a month to do something I will always do it in the last few days and get there just in time. I work better when I have far too much to do, I tend to get bored when I don't have much on.
One year I decided to be 'organised', and got all my Burra Bear orders finished well in time, I did all my Christmas shopping in time I even ended up helping Big Sis to do her last minute things because she was having a 'last minute' year. But after all that, quite frankly I was completely bored and pissed off as I had nothing to do, so I said never again, and this year will see me quite happily rushing around da Toon a few days before Christmas, in the rain, trying to find presents and wading through all the folk in Somerfield buying up all the food you think you have to buy at Christmas and end up throwing away a week later from a fridge which is groaning under the strain, but that's what it's all about, much as we like to moan, it wouldn't be the same and, god help me, I LIKE IT THAT WAY.

Maybe I should start a campaign to KEEP CHRISTMAS CRAZY, although I think we can usually mnanage that quite well on our own!

Annider party

It was brother-in-law Colin 'o' Semblister's 'BIG 40' party last night in the Aith Hall, we dunna do thing's by halves when we have a party! There was over 300 folk invited, the night started with a little jamming session on the fiddle etc, all Colin's family are very musical, plus he is part of the 'Red Vans', so they were all there too. After everyone had arrived and been given their free drink at the door (just like a wedding except Colin didna have a suit on), we went straight into the Auction, this was to raise money for both the local CAT scanner appeal and 'Mind your Head'. The Auction included some weird and wonderful items, hand made fishing weights, 3kg of fresh mussels, a fresh lamb (in bits), spaarl puddings, still no sure what is actually in these, and then there were the compulsory Fair Isle Thong x 2, Fair Isle Footstool, Peerie oolets, and we also had a Cashmere Poncho (one of Mam's last one's), an oil painting again by Mam, and a garden bench made by Colin, then there was the slave auction, 4 handsome men auctioned themselves for the day. The Auction raised £2600, the most expensive item was the Garden Bench which went for £230, and was bought by, Me!, I got a bit carried away, may have had something to do with the red wine!! I think I made a good choice though, the Fair Isle Thong went for £75!
The supper followed the Auction and then straight into the disco. I left at about 12.30am, and speaking to little Sister this morning, she said they only got to bed at 6am, but a good night was had by all, so far the total raised stands at £3500 and they are still counting!

it's all go

Having sorted out everything from the Craft Fair and had a committee meeting to disect it, I'm all go for Christmas orders.

I wrote up my order board, and having reached the bottom I think I need a bigger board!! This is when I start to panic, and think, 'should I really have promised all those Burra Bears for Christmas?', but hey, I do this every year, so in a few days the panic will be over and I will settle down to working a full week instead of a few half days like normal!

Daughter is looking for a job, so I wrote up an amusing CV and have sent it to a few places, main points 'is handy with a hoover, Mr Sheen and Mr Muscle!', thought that might get a few responses. I did put in the serious points, like what she is interested in and the fact that she can work a sewing machine, glue gun, guillotine and laminator. I remember when I worked in the Toon and you would get these young eens coming in the shop with a dour face saying 'do you hae any jobs goin?', not really the best way to find employment, then you would get the nicely written letters, showing that someone had taken the time to think about what they wanted, it really did make all the difference.

Take note...............

peerie oolets on show

peerie oolets

peerie oolets - ooie bears for your bosie

Our annual Craft Fair was this past weekend. We hold this every year in November to showcase all the Shetland Arts & Crafts Association members, including our associate members as well as the full members (for full members see www.shetlandartsandcrafts.co.uk). This year there were over 50 exhibitors, with some new startups.

I even managed to come up with a new product! It's only taken me about 5 years. After constantly being asked for a 'peerie bear', I did it, and 'peerie oolets' were born. I did my uusual and left it till the last minute, so the weekend before the craft fair I was madly trying to come up with a peerie bear which was practical to make from felted fair isle. Peerie oolets are nothing like the style of the Burra Bear, being more a flat bear you can cuddle to you, and more aimed at bairns, although I did sell quite a few to adults, as one man said when I asked if he was giving his 'oolet' away as a gift, he looked at me, took the 'oolet' out of the bag and said, 'no, I am definately keeping him for myself', with a big grin on his face.

I came up with 2 sizes, 'peerie oolet' and 'peerie mootie oolet'. The word peerie in Shetland spaek means small, mootie meaning very small and the word 'oolet' according to the Shetland dictionary means brat, which would be right as I remember when we were peerie and Mam was annoyed with us, she would shout, 'you peerie oolets!'. I also thought the name might spark a Shetland craze, as the Bratz dolls did throughout Britain. And judging by my weekend sales you never know.

Anyhow, by Sunday night at 5pm (when the craft fair ended) my feet were ready to go home, having been in the Clickimin Centre since 8am on Friday morning, being part of the committee means having to come in early to set up the hall for all the exhibitors, this includes marking out the floor (my thighs are in agony from all the bending), sorting out screens (we never have enough), putting out tables and chairs, and then the fun begins at 2pm when exhibitors arrive to set up, and we realise that someone hasn't been given enough, tables, chairs, screens, and so it goes on. But in the end everything worked out ok, and we look forward to next year.

I hope this doesn't mean I have to come up with another new product?

Technology

I have been up to my ears in leads, phones and computers. Having updated our broadband connection to make it faster (don't know if it really makes any difference up here), we were given a second phone line with another number, so we can receive free outgoing evening and weekend calls, which is fine, if not a bit confusing trying to remember what phone to use after 6pm. So I decided I would update the other phones in the house and I had to get a set with extension's so I could have one out in the shed for when I'm working, which I found, no problem, and even got them at a 'good price'. I bought the phones on Friday and managed to get them out of the box on Monday, ready to get them all plugged in then I read the instructions, 'leave to charge for 16 hours', so they had to sit another day. Yesterday I got them all plugged in and got the old one's unplugged and untangled, now I just have to learn how to work the bloody things, buttons in the wrong place, address book, ringer melody, volume............... bored? maybe tomorrow.
Talking to a friend the other day who was having problems with her Email, we were saying, bairns noo adays dunna keen they're born! we were reminiscing about when we were 'peerie', and we didn't have any MP3, ipods etc, we had to wait for the charts to come on Radio One on a Sunday night and get the tape recorder ready to record our music for the next week, and you couldn't just go away and leave it, you had to stay there so you could quickly turn the cassette over when side one finished, so as not to miss any music, and if you didn't have a radio/cassette player you had to place the radio next to the other stereo that did have a tape recorder and hold a microphone next to the speaker and then make sure that no body spoke while the recording was going on otherwise it would pick up their voice's, god, imagine? and this was all done on a machine the size of a bloody fish box!, none of your portable chewing gum packet size contraptions, and we both agreed, they don't know they're born!

Think this means your getting old, when you talk about the younger generation and reminisce about your past, ahh those were the days!!

Sad September

September has gone and it was a very sad month.

Wir Mam passed away after finding out 4 months previously that she had Cancer. She was having Chemotherapy and had almost finished her final lot of treatment, but in the last 7 days her condition deteriorated very rapidly and she fell asleep on 19th September.

She passed away very peacefully with all of us family around her bedside, and having seen all her close friends the previous day.

We were prepared in the knowledge that we knew it was going to happen within 6 months from diagnosis, but something like this can never be easy and it will take time to sink in.

We have all taken comfort from the quantity of wonderful cards and messages received from family, friends and people whom you would never imagine are thinking about you, and they are still arriving by post every day.

I like to think that Mam is up there when the sun shines down through the clouds, when the moon peeps out behind the night sky or when the sky lights up with the Northern Lights (as it did at night after her Funeral) and am happy in the thought that she is up there with all her peerie Angels.

'Night, night Mam, spaek you later'.

The face of Shetland Yogurt

One of my many sister's who works for Shetland Farm Dairies had decided that I would be perfect for the face of Shetland Yogurt? Yes, I know, I did wonder myself, but hey the older you get the more you kind of just get on with things, and what the hell. So last week she picked me up and we drove to Scalloway to collect Angela and baby Will also going to be another face of Shetland Yogurt. Big sis had decided that Angela would be the 'Yummy Mummy' face, hence the 5 month old cute as hell baby Will, so I said, 'ok, what does that make me?', 'oh, your the successful business woman', I kind of wondered where she got that one from but who am I to argue, if that was her impression then let's go for it.
So we arrived at our photoshoot destination, a gorgeous peerie crofthouse with the loveliest garden, and she set about taking photos whilst me and Angela swopped places, postitions and props, trying to keep the resident cat's away from the Blueberry Yogurt and the camera (they were very fond of both), and also keeping Will amused.

3 hours and thousands of photos later (I thought I was fussy), we finished for the day and I have yet to see the photos, although she assure's me that their were some lovely one's (so long as she photoshop's out the spot on my chin!).

Wonderful weekend

My wonderful weekend probably began on Thursday because that was my birthday. Me man was home all day and I got my present, a lovely new green Motorola Pebl mobile phone and a bottle of Moet, what more could a girl ask for! I mentioned when I got up that fresh croissant's would be nice and when I was finished in the shower hadn't he been to Scalloway and bought them, what a man!!

We spent the rest of the day having lunch and driving round looking at houses (need to get some ideas for the new build). He had booked Monty's for later on (the only place I would eat out in Shetland, with the exception of our fabulous Indian and Chinese restaurants), and as usual all the food was fabulous, duck to start on a bed of green salad with rhubarb chutney, followed by steak with gorgeous fresh veg and tattie quarters cooked to perfection and followed by chocolate marquis (anything chocolate is perfect) this was so rich and creamy, and all washed down with 2 very tasty bottles of red wine, the perfect end to a lovely day.

Friday started a little wobbly and in a bit of a rush, went into Lerwick to pick up the car from last night, then came home and rushed to choose my music for Radio Shetland's Give us a Tune programme, me and Rachael were presenting the request show, we are asked once or twice a year and we have a great laugh, you can listen at www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland and click on Local bulletins then under the 'Radio Shetland' section click 'Fri' to listen again. We had a great time, Rachey had to keep me in order as I was excited because I got loads of birthday request's for myself.
After the show we met up with the lasses and went for a drink and then onto the Gurkha Kitchen, Indian and Nepalese restaurant. This was the first time I had been as it's not been open long, and it was absolutely delicious, the place was really busy and we had lovely waiters who just kept arriving with chilled bottles of bubbly. Another lovely night!
Saturday arrived even more wobbly than Friday, and I had to go on the bus to Lerwick to pick up the car (again) as me man was away in Aberdeen for the football. I can't remember the last time I was on a bus?
So I did some food shopping, not a good idea when you are hungover and hungry, bought lots of chocolate puddings and meat and various other unhealthy items.
Sunday started not too bad, I was up early and decided to do normal stuff and tidied the house, then I went up to Mum-in-law who was having a little food and drams for her 60th birthday, I got there at about 1.30pm aand arrived home after quite a few bottles of bubbly around 8pm, but had a lovely day all the same.

Now I need to detox, but there are still quite a few of those unhealthy items of food staring at me from the fridge shelf everytime I open the door, the chocolate puddings have long gone, but there is a very tasty looking Carrot cake just sitting there and the best before date is fast approaching - well, it would be a waste not to eat it, wouldn't it?

August 24th already?

Yes, yes I know it's only the 23rd, but 24th is tomorrow and that is my birthday, so a day off to be lazy and be treated (me man is taking me oot for denner), and get lots of presents (hopefully), that's the joy's of coming from a large family, they all buy you presents!!
So I know last time I said I would try harder to update the blog regularly, but that was over a month ago and here we are, but I have been busy, really. I've been away to Aberdeen twice (That'll be me that doesn't like travelling then) first trip was away to hospital with me Mam (her sense of direction is even worse than mine). We were away for what was supposed to be a couple of days, I was there with big Sis, to keep her company. This ended up being the journey from hell, a bit of a Groundhog Day, or few days, as we got stuck in Aberdeen with the mist for 2 extra days, by which time we were getting rather fed up of the British Airways Fancy Lounge in Aberdeen Airport (apparently if you have a full fare ticket you can use the facilities, drinks, snacks, wide screen TV's, internet access, and and Air Conditioning system which was our saviour, all free of charge) if you travel APEX you stuck downstairs in the sweltering heat, thank god for the good old NHS, they don't do too bad sometimes!!
Just home and I had to hotfoot it up to the Eshaness Cafe to meet up with my American friends on the Simply Shetland Tour, they visit Shetland every year and love all things woolly, so my bears seem to be high on their list of sought after items, I met a few new faces plus a few who have been visiting for a few years now, they always say that this year will be the last, so Gregory, guess we will se you in 2007 then?
So back to making bears (madly), as I had a load of orders and horror of horror's my Mary is on holiday (I kind of give up when she takes holidays), but I got through the main orders just in time for my second trip to Aberdeen.
This trip was to take me lass shopping, she'd been saving her pennies to buy clothes (I gave up choosing clothes for her a few years ago, it's a waste of time as she doesn't wear what I think she would wear, that's either a cause of me getting too old, or her becoming a fussy teenager), so we arrived in Aberdeen off the boat after quite a good trip, although all of it was spent in the cabin as neither of us care for boats. I thought we would get a taxi up to the Caledonian Hotel, have a long breakfast and then head to the shops. Have you tried to get a taxi in Aberdeen at quarter to nine on a weekday morning?, they don't exist, unless you want to wait and hour.
Now the walk up to Union Street from the Ferry terminal isn't that far, but by the time we arrived having been caught in a heavy shower and having lugged a heavy bag (daughter doesn't believe in travelling light) up various flights of stairs, we arrived at the hotel, me feeling quite headlight and every so slightly sick. We had a lovely, if quick breakfast (daughter thinks once you have finished eating you get up and go, no sitting around).
So by 9.30am we were shopping, she had most of her money spent by 12.30pm, and we stopped mid afternoon for a huge coffee (chose Costa as they have internet access and me lass was getting withdrawal symptoms at not being online for at least 6 hours!).
We arrived back at our hotal room around teatime to a chilled bottle of bubbly (for me), which I enjoyed big time. The evening was spent down at the Beach, TGI Fridays for tea and then onto the Cinema to see the Breakup.
So around 10.30pm we came out of the Cinema and I thought I would phone a taxi to take us back up to the Hotel, have you tried to get a taxi at 10.30pm in Aberdeen on a Friday evening? - they don't exist!! So we walked over to the Patio Hotel and asked the nice boy on reception to book us one, and lo and behold it arrived 5 minutes later.
Day 2 was spent shopping for dog toys, it was Peerie Maggie's birthday, so we bought toys, new collars, new leads, pink for Maggie and blue for Sparky, and a pink T Shirt and Pink Tweed dog coat for Peerie Maggie.
We were on the boat by 4.30pm, in the cabin with M&S sandwiches and a few small bottles of red wine.
I think that's plenty travelling for one year, but you never know, maybe I will get used to it.

C.A.T.S fundraiser

Another party has been and gone, and what a party it was!!

It all began on Saturday when we went over to help Big Sis make food for the party, we arrived at lunchtime to egg buns, Tunnocks teacakes and Snabaas (that'll be Billy speak for Tunnocks Snowballs), so after the refreshments we got stuck in to making salads, coleslaw, rice, cous cous, pasta, you name it, we made it by the ton!! the day ended with Billy cooking up on his new BBQ.

Sunday arrived and we all headed off for the West side again, me and Minty greeted at the gate for an hour, with a bottle of Bubbly and two glasses (for us, not the guests) and then we headed up for Lunch on the Lawn (as the invites said), or to coin a better phrase, 'Grub on the Girs'. After lunch Gillian Isbister and David Bissett arrived to sing away the afternoon, absolutely fabulous!! they had a break which was filled by the Fair Isle Auction, hosted by the one and only, ME!!!! I even had a hammer (bid plastic toy one), the Auction raised over £1000 which was fabulous, and there was some heated bidding wars going on, but all in good fun. Gillian took her second afternonn singing session inside as it was starting to get a bit damp, although spirits were still high (that may have had something to do with the Engineers Arms bar which had been set up in Billy's shed). The day rolled on with various artist's appearing, Robbie & Danielle on fiddle, Colin and Violet on fiddle and accordian, Norman on accordian and Uncle Ian in fine voice accompanied by his own guitar. A great day was had by all and after counting the money at 10pm, we were up to £2500, but donations were still coming in. We left at about 1am, but I have heard the party slowed down for a while but revved up at around 4am and carried on till breakfast. And the best bit is that it was all in aid of a great cause, see www.catsshetland.org.uk.

Think we need to rest for a bit now, till the next time.

Busy summer - party pictures

Busy summer - Party time

We had a lovely day at Rachey & Billy's for Rachey's birthday, a 'Floppy hats and flowery dresses' party, everyone made an effort, with hats and dresses a plenty, it was just like a wedding (me man even put his kilt on), and we got a gorgeous mild day for it.

We had a lovely lunch on the lawn of all Rachey's favourite food, home made of course, nothing but the best for us!! Rachey does know how to throw a great party. We were outside all afternoon, and the bairns had a great time with all the outside games and the dogs to entertain.

To mark the occassion we had booked John Coutts to come along and take family photos as this was one time when the whole family was going to be there, and when he hadn't arrived by 4 pm we were getting worried so I phoned him and realised that we had told him the wrong date!! completely our fault, but he was kind enough to say that he would come along as he was just coming out of Mousa, he arrived about half an hour later. We got some lovely photos, and all of them outside, now there is not many days that you can do that in Shetland!!

The perfect party ended with everyone going home (only after we had tidied up, that's the law) with takeaways and happy memories. Thanks Rachey.

And here's to the next one, this coming Sunday, she is repeating the whole thing but on a massive scale, it's to raise funds for the CATS appeal (scanner that is not the 4 legged kind), invitation only, with a real live bar, live music, auction, raffle, loads and loads of food, drink and fun!! Isn't it great living in Shetland!

Busy summer - Flavour of Shetland

It's that time of year again when everything seems to happen at once. In the last few weeks we have had the Flavour of Shetland event on Victoria Pier, this year to tie in with the Johnsmas Foy, a celebration of sail which coincided with the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland race and the Shetland-Bergen races, so you can imagine the atmosphere, a harbour filled with beautiful yachts and pretty sailors!
I spent 4 enjoyable days on Victoria Pier selling Burra Bears and Mams Rowes. The Flavour of Shetland seems set to become and annual event after the big launch last year with Shetland hosting the Island Games. The event includes live local music, 24/7 food and drink and load of quality art and craft stalls. The best part of this year for me was bumping into Mark Radcliffe from Radio 2 on the Pier on the second day when the killer whales came in shore by Bressay for a look at what was going on! Oh, and by the way Mark, you never did send up your old jumper to have made into a bear!!

Andrew 'o' Fuglaness sets sail

I had a phone call yesterday from Marilyn Stewart, wondering about having a Burra Bear sent around the world with her brother, Andrew Halcrow, once he returns he could be auctioned off (the bear that is, not Andrew) for the local CATS scanner appeal. I said yes, of course.
Andrew is sailing single handed, non stop for a year around the world in the Elsi Arrub, and when I say non-stop I mean Non-stop, Marilyn explained that if he wants to say he did it single handed he can't accept anything from other boats etc. So imagine planning how much food you are going to need for a whole year on your own, with no one to talk to but a Burra Bear, he's a brave man, I doubt if I would get much further than the Lighthouse!!!

Andrew and his brother Terry did their first round the world trip from 1988-1995 in the same boat.
So the photo above was taken just about half an hour ago when he left, I was assured that Peerie Andrew 'o' Fuglaness was safely packed on board.
Good Luck Andrew and we'll see you in a year!

Venice in May

What can I say, 6 plane journeys and countless boat trips, but it was wonderful, if short.
We arrived on Saturday afternoon, and got a water taxi to the hotel, hubby sat out the back of the boat (Miami Vice style), whilst I wedged myself inside the cabin to keep upright (and that was sitting down), too many bumps in the water (guess they do that specially for the tourists). The hotel was lovely, so peaceful and quiet, you would have thought you were the only people there.
We spent the first night wandering around the back streets just looking (me man was a bit hungover from previous afternoon's drinking with Davy in Aberdeen, that'll teach him!), we had a pizza (well, we were in Italy) and went to bed early, absolutely knackered, the stress of flying knocked me out, and I managed without any vallium, maybe I should have taken them!!
Got up the next morning to breakfast of fruit, chocolate croissant's, real coffee and bubbly. Thought as we were only there a few days, we'd better do the Tourist thing and went to St Mark's Square (on a water bus), where we fed the pigeons (well, me man fed the pigeons, they were a bit too friendly for me), looked round the Doge's Palace, thought about the Basillica, but by the time we got there the queue was so big we thought we would leave it for another day, then sat down at the horrendously expensive Caffe Florian (thanks for the warning Beverley), we had coffee (cup a bit too small for my liking), chocolate cake (well, looked more like a bloody chocolate swiss roll) and a beer, and that little lot cost about £20 plus another £8 for the orchestra playing in the background, but I suppose you had to do it (only once though).
We headed back and had drinks in the hotel's garden, all silver service and lots of snacks (a bit like the Carlsberg beer ads on telly, everything you want), ended up having dinner by the canal about 9pm, fish risotto with a little octopus on top, it was actually really nice, but I was quite glad we were eating outside and it was dark as I couldn't see the octopus, a bit like something from 'Alien'. Arrived back to our hotel room, to a perfectly turned down bed, poems and sweets on the bedside table and a little mat by the bed to stand on, joost luffley (there's that Carlsberg ad again).
Another day, more coffee, fruit, croissants, bubbly, and onto another water bus to St Marks Square, we thought we'd better just wait in the queue this time and only stood about 20 minutes, but it was worth it, the Basillica was beautiful, then onto the Campanille (big tall tower, where you can see the whole of Venice).
Had pasta and wine late in the afternoon and came back to the hotel for drinks before heading out for dinner in lovely little restaurant with big prices (having said that, pretty much all the food had big prices, you ended up getting used to it).
Tuesday was our last day and we took one last tour around on the water bus, and had a Gondola ride around the back waters (had to do that one too). Got a water taxi back to the airport, I actually sat up the back this time and quite enjoyed it.
And I can safely say Venice was great, and no, it didn't smell. Arrived Gatwick, found the Seafood bar, scoffed down a big plate of salmon and prawns before hopping on another plane upto Aberdeen and the Caledonian Hotel around 10pm, to order room service and have a big bubbly bath.

Holidays

We are away to Venice for a long weekend, this is me Man's birthday treat to himself. To take me somewhere to which I have to fly 3 flights, and I absolutely hate flying (Sumburgh-Aberdeen, Aberdeen-London, London-Venice and back again a few days later) then when we arrive we have to travel by boat (not to keen on boats either) apparently in Venice you either walk or take a boat, so that will be different. But these are the things we do for love, you never know, maybe I will love it and become a traveller (doubt it though).
I asked a friend about Venice and he said that he only knew one person who had been there, they thought it was fantastic but the smell was awful, and me that permanently has a 'smell' in my nose.
So I am doing my usual and trying to get organised before I go, catch up on all the Burra Bear order I have been putting off, sort out clothes to take, his clothes to take, dogs to kennels, daughter to pals house, Bears to be made whilst I am away and so the list goes on, god, I should go away more often, I have done more work this week than I have done in the last month and it's only Tuesday!
Big Sis was away in Aberdeen for a long weekend and came home with a Sports Car (mazda MX5, I think), she says her man never makes an effort to get her something for her birthday, well, Billy boy du's outdone de sell di time!, I think that will last for many birthday's and Christmases to come. They came out for a visit on Sunday, but the car wouldn't start when they left, so I ran them home and their nice shiney Sports car sat in my drive for the afternoon, which was quite nice, as I'm sure anyone passing may have thaught it was mine, if only for the afternoon, get a few tongue's wagging (It doesn't take much).
Must go, I think everyone knows I am going away as there goes the email with another order.

April already?

It's April already and here's me, who was planning to update the blog at least weekly, well that didn't last, so I will try again to keep a regular update, even though no one probably reads it!
So, the mini has landed, me Man and me Sister's Man went down to da Ness with a trailer and picked up the car a few weeks ago. Apparently it had been in the byre for the last 18 years, and the man who owned the byre was there and was absolutely delighted to see it go. They made it to the Easterdale shed in once piece (I actually thought it would fall to bits when moved). They both said it looked better than they thought it would, which was just a well. And in the last week he has also acquired an engine, fancy tyres and various other bits and pieces, and all found locally. So I am now finding out about sub frames and other technical terminology of which I have little interest, but I guess that's going to be the topic of conversation for a long time to come. It is nice to see me Man interested in something for a change as he has been pretty bogged down in the Open University course which he has been slogging through for the last (what seems like) 25 years. And Roby seems pretty interested too (which is unusual for a 13 years old girl), she thinks that by the time it is finished, she will get it to drive.
It's been pretty busy on the Bear front too, it's that time of year when everybody is stocking up for the start of the Tourist season, so the sewing machine has been given a bashing in the last few weeks.
The Shetland Arts & Crafts Association (of which I am Secretary) has been going through a busy time too, we have finally got a handle on our website and are able to update it ourselves, which means we have added quite a few new members, take a look at www.shetlandartsandcrafts.co.uk, and there are still more to come. We also have a permanent display of our members products in the newly refurbished Tourist Office , which is looking fantastic.
That's about it for now, will try to make sure I post weekly from now on.

And a party too!

Yes, I did organise a party, well a small one. I phoned family and invited them for cake and champagne on 'me mans' birthday.
He had the afternoon off from work as they all went to the Great Wall for a Chinese lunch and then a few of them went pubbing in the afternoon. So I threw together a little food in the afternoon and we had a lovely night, every one came around 6, 'me drunk man' and 2 drunk pals arrived about 7, we had cake, candles and champagne.
As most of the family were driving they left around 9, then me, 'me man' and his pals spent the night drinking more pop, straightening hair (male hair), tying shoe laces and discussing why you shouldn't try to chat up ladies with a talk of your pet budgie! It's amazing what seems a good idea when your pissed.
This party thing doesn't seem so bad after all, although I did have to stay in bed untill 3pm the next day. Just as well it doesn't happen very often!

The Big 40

So, 'me Man' has had his birthday, he is now officially 40, and I can let you know just what I did finally decide to get him (couldn't let you know before just in case he read the blog and found out, yeh like that would ever happen!).
It was a week before his birthday and I was lying in bed, and it came to me! I knew he was looking for an old Mini to 'do up', he has been checking the internet and the Mini World magazine for some time now, he does tell me all about it and I nod and listen (with one ear). So that was it, I decided there and then, I was going to get him an old Mini, I was going to get it in Shetland, in 7 days, and it was going to happen (and I may even organise a small party!). The next day came and I got on the phone, I began by phoning around the local garages, now I knew they wouldn't have one, but they are all male and they know about cars so thought they may be able to help, so I was given various names and numbers of people who may have or may know where I could find an old mini, and I phoned them all. I had a mixed response, 'sorry I got rid of it last year', 'no it rusted away', and the ultimate was 'yes I had one registered in 1966 (me man's year of birth), but I got fed up doing it up and no body wanted it so I ran over it with a tractor a few month's ago' (I nearly cried!).

I even resorted to knocking on doors and asking if they would sell me the one that sat outside. But finally I found one which had been advertised in the Shetland Times back in January, it was a 1978 Mini Clubman Estate (I looked up the internet, they are ugly!!!, but it's not for me), so I arranged with the boy to take a look the night before 'me man's' birthday. I took a Billy brother in law with me as I know precious little about cars (although I have found out a great deal since beginning my search), we arrived at the byre it was being stored in (in the dark), there were no light's and when Billy turned on his torch, I was actually quite pleased there were no lights. To me, it looked like a ruty old heap of shite (and that's being polite), I had at least expected windows and doors (well, they were there, just not attached to the car) but he dutifully looked over it for about half an hour and announced that the bodywork was 'sound', that was good enough for me, I took photos, got the keys paid the man (bid him down first) and set off for home.
I got home and wrapped up the keys and handed them to him with a big early 'Happy Birthday' kiss, he opened it up and actually said very little, so I showed him the photos and explained that the bodywork was 'sound' even though it looked absolutely horrendous.
All in all I think I did very well, I got him something he has always wanted, and I managed to get it in 7 days in Shetland, and after it had sunk in, he was pleased (I think he was shocked I had managed to get it). Just got to persuede Dad to let him use the shed now for the renovation!

Cabin fever

I'm still here, and it's worse than it was before!

Shetland woke up this morning to more snow, roads blocked (so SIBC said, by the Police no less), schools closed and nowhere to go.

I did manage to get out of Burra on Saturday morning, I made 'me Man' drive me into Lerwick to get some much needed shopping!, hadn't had the chance to panic buy like everyone else.

Spent Saturday afternoon filling the skip which is still outside the house. Our basement is much better, although I'm sure we could have filled 2 skips if we had them.

'Me Man' was home from work today as I doubt he would have managed to get his car up the muckle road (it was fun watching other folk trying though). We took the dogs out this morning, but even Sparky is getting rather fed up having to bounce through the snow drifts to get anywhere, we thought about going down to the 'Sands' but decided against it after Sparky sunk to his oxters as the snow was so deep.

'Me Man' spent the afternoon making a Burra Bear out of snow (looks more like a mouse), he said it was difficult to get the nose right.

Roll on tomorrow, the rain is coming, hurray!!!

Snow in March - nothing new there then!

Well, I am snowed in! It's a moorie caavie (Shetland for blizzard) outside, the schools are shut and the roads are white. But as I work from home, I am stuck in the office, so rather than do paperwork, and it's far too cowld to go out to the shed and make bears, I thought I would update the blob!
The dog's are loving it! As Rob is home from the school, they are all outside making a snowman.

So, what's been happening. I am still on the Spring cleaning, we currently have a skip sitting outside the house, it arrived on Monday, but so far the only thing in it is a whole lot of snow, as it's been too cold to fill it. We are going to clear out the basement of all those things that have gathered with the usual excuse, 'well it might come in handy some day', that day has come and it's going out.
Me man's 40th birthday is fast approaching and I am completely stuck for a present, what do you give a 40 year old? He has already booked his present to himself, a long weekend in Venice with me, me who hates water and is scared to fly - well that should be fun then! Big Sis called this morning with a birthday present plan. Now, unlike most folk reaching 40 me man actually wants a party, but there are so many other things on that weekend, Brae Up Helly Aa, Charity sponsored walks, etc etc. that there would be hardly anyone left to attend, so she came up with a plan which I am still mulling over, it's a big one! and to top it all off she has just called to say even if I go with her suggestion I still have to have a party, the thought of my cream living room carpet with lots of feet on it - I don't think so!
My decorating has come to a bit of a standstill, I got the kitchen and dining room decorated and am waiting on blinds, curtains and cushions to arrive from Big Sis, then it will be complete. Then there is only one room left to do, our bedroom, but that's a case of stripping out all the walls and re-lining, which is quite a big job, so we'll maybe leave that one for a little later on.
So it's looking like I am going to be stuck here all weekend as my little Citroen is a bit crap on snow, so I may even add another update soon.

New Year Spring Clean

Me Man has been on about tidying up the laft for a while now and thought we would get it done last Saturday, but having only got up at lunchtime and then being invited to big Sister's house for food and gossip (copious quantities of both I might add), I only arrived home at 6pm (with a Chinese takeaway), and well anyone with a life knows that on Saturday night you certainly wouldn't be tidying up the laft!

So Sunday, it was! We started, and the usual things went through my head, 'what the hell was I thinking', 'why did I keep that', 'did I really think that would ever come in useful again'. Around 4 hours later, I ended up with an ultra organised laft (well you have to keep some crap on the laft, isn't it the law!!!), a car full for the Charity Shop, another car full for Harry Hay's auction room (I'm sure he'll be delighted to see me again), and about 6 black bags full of rubbish for the Essy Kert (we did try to burn the paper stuff, but with only a small barbeque and a force 9 gale blowing we decided it wasn't very practical).

Monday arrived, and Rob went back to school, me Man went to work and I thought I'd better do some sense! so I went out to the shed, thinking I would start work, but instead, spent the whole day tidying up the post Christmas mess! and in between all this the phone rang, with a very nice lady from Channel 4 TV, who wanted to know if I would be interested in taking part in Wife Swop!, my exact words were (after I picked myself up off the floor), 'god no!'.

So, all in all, it was a funny old day, I wonder what delights await me in the shed for the rest of the week!

New Year

I found Reestit Mutton at the fabulous Globe Butchers (www.globebutchers.co.uk) in Lerwick, still haven't actually done anything with it yet, but will try Soup soon.

New Years Eve saw us on a whistlestop tour of the West Side, but first we had a lovely beef/pork roast dinner at the in-laws (it's a Shetland thing, you can't just have one meat!). So after a lovely dinner (alcohol free for me as I was driving), we set off to Semblister to see Peerie Sister and family (she was most disappointed that me Man didn't have his kilt on for the occasion), then back to Whiteness just in time to see the New Year in with Rachey & Billy, we then made our way back to Burra to the in-laws, who were still up and with a few bottles of rather nice Bubbly chilling in the fridge, so I made up for the drink free evening and at around 3.30am, tottered down the road to our house with the remains of the last bottle of Pop, by now I was actually wide awake, so sat back and watched Still Game and ended up going to bed around 4.30am.

New Years day began in the late afternoon with the aroma of Honey Roast Duck wafting through the house (I told me Man I was off duty and he would have to make the dinner), and at around teatime we sat down to a beautiful dinner of Duck, roast parsnips, carrots, tatties, creamy mashed tatties (you can never have enough tatties), stuffing and chipolatas (yes I know they don't really go with Duck, but they were from the Globe and they were soooooo good).

Monday came around and I decided that I would have an alcohol free night, but we had to have a bottle of wine with the leftovers from Sunday, and then thought the bottle of Taittinger champagne I got from me Man might go down rather well (but that would be it), so we put on American Pie (the first one, hadn't seen it in a while), and at 3am after another 2 bottles of bubbly and another 2 American Pie films I fell into bed and vowed that there would be no more alcohol, well at least till the weekend!