House

Having looked at it on paper for long as a flat drawing it is sooooo exciting to see our new house go up and change every day. You seem to wait so long, filling out bits of paper waiting for those bits of paper to be approved, then all of a sudden you have foundations, walls, roof trusses and more to come. Now the roof is on (or, the trusses have been sheeted, got to get the correct terminology!) you really get a sense of the space, lots and lots of space, I didna really think it looked all that big, but everyone that comes along (male, they seem to be able to see it) says it's big, ok now I can see it, but it's not just a house, it does have a rather large garage (for me man to play with his Mini clubman) and there is a new Workshop for me (although I still refer to it as the Teddy Bear shed), so the main part of the house is not just all that big. I think I might see it better when the interior walls are up, then I will just have to decide how to fill the space, preferably with as little crap as possible. What a great opportunity to clear out all the crap and NOT drag it all to the Sooth End, I will be ruthless, might need Big Sis to help, she's good, although think she might need to do a bit of practising what she preaches.

The story so far, in pictures:

view from the dining/livingroom - view from the office window - trusses!

Up Helly Aa - men in chinos & Ugg boots?

After being rudely awakened at 4 this morning by the phones going haywire, then the sound of silence (power cut), I ventured into Lerwick first thing with very very flat hair, no power, no hairdryer (I don't do flat hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on the busiest day of the year, Up Helly Aa!! people everywhere and no where to park and all I wanted to do was post a box. When I finally did find a parking space and made it to the Street I was trapped, police at every exit, no way out, aaaarghhhhhhh, I did hear the shouts of the Yarl Squad, but by this time was so damp, cold and my hair getting flatter with each step I took, I got back to my car and went back home again, only to realise that the bloody power was still off, no heating, no lights, no radio, I read the paper until my feet went numb with the cold then did a lot of strange things I have been meaning to do for ages, sort out my handbag, etc.

Anyhow the power came back on about 2.30pm and I thought I'd check out the Up Helly Aa Yarl squad online, the Shetland News website had some great images, nice outfit, but look closer, is this the fashion version? Looks like chinos under the tunic and is that a pair of altered Ugg boots? see for yourself........ http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/news_01_2009/IMG_3752a.jpg

New Year, no sleep

OK, Happy New Year everyone, it's been a pretty good 2008 and here's looking forward to a pretty hectic 2009 (building a new house and all that!)

And as for the resolutions, well I kind of stopped that quite a few years ago, I think when you grow older (not that old) and are happy with yourself, what's the point? Although I did come up with one, I want to find a hair dye that will actually stay in my hair longer than 10 days? Any ideas? Apart from that I'm going with the same resolutions I was told by a VERY good friend earlier today, she said, 'I resolve to drink more bubbly and eat more takeaway's, because that's what makes me happy', I'm all for it. Although maybe not the drink more drink, after falling into bed for the last 2 weeks with a fuzzy red wine glow, I probably only managed to get 2 hours sleep last night (and the night before come to think of it), I blame late nights (watching a whole load of Sky+ recorded 2008 programmes), very late mornings/afternoon lie in's, and eating too much lovely rich food and chocolate, the healthy tangerines are only there to look festive, but ultimately grow white fur and end up with a really bad smell.

So here was me at 4.15 this morning trying desperately to get asleep, and what happens? my brain starts racing through the weirdest things, maybe I should decorate the bedroom before we move, I never did get that green wool I needed, the Hydro still haven't moved that pole off our site, and how did Scottish Water manage to cut a hole in a mains water pipe for us and charge a small fortune for doing so, how can they do that? and the list went on and on until an alarm clock went off and I thought I might as well get up and start a list of all the things I need to do.

If the same happens again tonight I will be up to get the Phenergan to knock me out.

Birthday, Christmas and all that's in between

I know, I'm not even going to mention it again, time goes so fast, I forgot, blah blah blah..... you know the drill.
So since the last time I had another birthday, as did many other people, we have had Christmas and are on track for New Year.
Actually had a lovely birthday, I cannot understand these people who dread their birthday, its a fact of life we all get older so why not look forward to it and enjoy!!!!!!! As 'me Man' was away (think it was the football?) I decided to have a girly day/night with the lasses and I would get a Chinese takeaway and we would watch something girly, but as it happens my lovely peerie lass had her own ideas and had organised for the the lasses to come over earlier and bring food, so they all arrived and we had a proper tea party with cake, leading onto the Bubbly and we were joined by a kitchenful of young male company (Daughter's friends) which ended up with Big Sis teaching those same young men how to open and pour bubbly properly! and all this going on with the Burra Regatta in full swing outside the front door!

The following months were a blur of bears!! with a few parties in between, one of those being a big Sis special, the theme being evening dress, as I don't really do dresses I decided to go as the Man, and borrowed a Knockaboot suit, and if I do say so myself looked quite the part, it was a bit hot though, maybe try and borrow a dress next time?
So a few more months of what felt like 'Groundhog day', get up, cut, sew or finish bears, go to bed, usually not on the same day I rose then start all over again, I kind of got into a routine and about 3 weeks before Christmas I got out the Chistmas cd I compiled last year and listened to it on repeat for the next 21 days, it helped....... I think!
And in between all this 'me Man' got a degree, after a long 8 year Open University slog he now has a BSc (Hons) Tech (open), he is delighted to be finished with it all and just in time for the start of our new house, got the planning permission and the building warrant through, ready to start in the Spring of 2009! so anyone looking for a 3 bedroom, very tastefully decorated and well kept house with a garage, basement and workshop in the middle of Hamnavoe, please get in touch.

So here we are, December 29th another year over and a new one just about to begin ( I think that's from a song?) planning to have dinner on New Years Eve with family 'up nort' and then a drive around to visit everyone on the way home.
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a happy and Healthy New Year, xxx

p.s. if you look closely you can see santy in the tractor, who did his annual round through Burra on Christmas morning.