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.