Festive soup

Go into any Shetland kitchen at this time of year and you will find a large metal pan on the cooker which contains some kind of soup, traditionally made on reestit mutton (salted, cured yowe) and including, onions, tatties, neeps, keel and carrots.

Now I am not a big fan of this (too salty) and it could also be because I am a bit crap at making soup and various other dishes, it doesn't help that I am plagued by a family of wonderful cooks. And yes I know soup is one of the easiest things you can make, Billy (he of the 24 hour, hunder weight o tattie soup marathon), but I am really just not that good at it. So, I decided to give it a go, first to get the meat, and I decided on ham (or smoked hough, ham joint, have to get the terminology right) and I did get a lovely bit from the Globe butcher (simply the best butcher in the world, ever!), it also helped that it came vaccuum packed. I knew what had to go in the soup but wasn't sure in what order, does everything go first, or do you boil the meat first, so I did what anyone would do in that situation and phoned Rachey (I would have phoned Mam but she was in bed with th sickness and didn't think she would appreciate talking about food). I boiled the meat with an onion for 2 hours as instructed , tasted it (a bit like hot water with oil on top) and again, as instructed added stock cubes (what would this world be without stock cubes, it doesn't bear thinking about) to give it a taste, and do you know I had already bought ham stock cubes in anticipation and they come wrapped in baby pink foil - brilliant! So I added the rest of the ingredients and cooked for a further hour and would you believe it wasn't actually that bad, and quite tasty once I added the ham from the hough thingy.

So I will head off to town tomorrow in search of reestit mutton (I'll be bloody lucky at this time of year) and I shall attempt to make real tattie soup.

Now there's a new years resolution, to make soup (wonder if Billy would be willing to give lesson's?, I promise not to make fun of him and his soup making).

See you next year.

Christmas and beyond

So with all the presents wrapped, all the cards sent (even managed to catch last date for 2nd class stamps), I thought me and Rob would go up to Whiteness and visit Mam, Susie and Minty (they were staying at Rachey and Billy's to look after the dogs over Christmas whilst they were away in Hong Kong). We had a lovely night, swopped some presents had some drams and ended up staying all night. The next day me and Rob went to Lerwick to find flowers, and not a one could we find! We did end up ordering a bouquet from Stems (beautiful as ever Steve!), which I sent me Man in to pick up later on.
We spent Christmas Eve beside the in laws, had loads of food, swopped lots of presents and had quite a few drams, then came home and gave each other our presents, I got a Sex and the City boxed set (just need a few days in front of the telly to watch it now), and lots of other lovely things, oh, I even got a plastic gun thing which catches spiders (will be great for the shed!).
Got up on Christmas Day, quite late (9am), I think Rob has finally grown up, and didn't want to get up for Santy (usually awake at 5am), but I dragged her out of bed and we went through, and would you beleive it, I got Santy too!!!!!!!!! It was great. We had Brunie (or Huffsie if you come from Whalsay) and tea, then cracked open the bubbly and fresh orange.
We had a taxi booked to take us up to Whiteness for Christmas dinner, and after Mam calmed down because the oven wouldn't cook the Turkey, 'Soooosin, I telt you we should have put on da Turkey at nine o'clock, it's all your fault', we had more presents and more drams and an absolutley fabulous dinner.
Maggie and Sparky couldn't come up to Whiteness, as Millie (Minty's dog) would probably have killed them, but we got pictures of them under the Christmas tree looking very festive.
The last few days have been very lazy, sleeping late, eating at the wrong time and generally lying around.
So the next round is Hogmanay and into the new year.

Update

It feels like month's since I was here last, but I must post an update on what's been going on.

CHILDREN IN NEED
We had a party at big sister Rachey's house for Children in Need, it was a sort of auction night, everyone had to bring clothes to auction and a good raffle prize (I took a Burra Bear), the other lasses had brilliant ideas, Rachey donated a gourmet meal for 2 (in your own home), Susie donated a full house Susie shine (top to bottom house spring clean), Sharey donated her time for a day to do anything (she's pretty crafty, and can turn her hand to anything), Billy donated a boat trip, Big Tam donated a paint job, Melanie donated a smoked trout, and Mam donated 2 of her Mam's makkin ponchos. There was a prize for the best dressed (from a Charity shop), and Sharey won, she came dressed as Teenie Ingamore (see the photos)
, she was hilarious, Mam didn't even know who it was to begin with!! So on top of all this we listened to BBC Radio Shetland's Children in Need and bid on items in their auction. We won such delights as a Poly Tunnel, tickets to the local Panto and a chance to name a fudge. There was also the auction (in house) and Rachey and Billy were stand in's for Harry Hay, as he couldn't make it. So all in all it was a lovely night with good food and many drams, and we made over £400 to go to Children in Need which Rachey left with the Radio Shetland Team.


DECORATING
You know, decorating is one of those thing's that once you start it's really kind of hard to stop. For those of you who followed me in the Shetland Weekly, you wil recall the decorating antics. So we started once again, this time on the end room (used for office, dressing room, studying room etc etc etc). Now this wasn't a case of slapping on some paint and paper, the whole 4 walls and roof had to come down and be re-lined and insulated, which was rather nice as most of it was the dredded V Lining. So me Man started, and all the room's contents had to be emptied and found new homes in the garage, bedroom and the living room (it was really quite a small room, but there was some pile of crap that came out of it). So the dust rose and settled for a few weeks, then he painted, the furniture arrived and I now have a rather nice room which actually looks like what it is meant for, an office!
While all this was happening I had a lovely big envelope arrive through the post one morning with Rachey's writing on it, and it was wallpaper samples and within half an hour I had phoned her up and she had ordered the ones I liked. It arrived the very next week and I called Colin (the decorator who is simply the best), he came within a few days and the kitchen and dining room were looking perfect (I did try to scrape off the old paper, spent about 3 hours, got about 1 metre square done and gave up). Praise be to the decorator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PANTOMIME
Around this time of year the Burra players hold their Pantomime, and it was all set, we were in rehersal (after me making a fuss about not wanting a big part, and getting my own way), when came the news that it had been cancelled due to one of the main characters having to go for an operation doon sooth. Now after being delighted and punching the air excitedly, I did think it was rather a shame it wasn't going ahead. But we had the after show party (without the show) and that was fun, although I do have vague memories of getting home from the Sooth End hall, I checked the camera the next day as I did remember taking photos (see me, Bobby and Gordon, team for the Quiz, can't rememer if we won?).

OTHER STUFF
So in between doing all of the above I have been madly making Burra Bears, as we have to work as well you know. Spending most nights out in the Shed sewing, stuffing, finishing, labelling and generally trying to get all the orders done in time for Christmas, but with the help of my fabulous Teddy Bear makers we did it, and with a week to spare would you believe it!
So the weekend before Christmas I was all set to go shopping for presents as I hadn't actually done anything about that side of it. And then the snow came, now I did attempt to get into Lerwick but got to Scalloway, and my little C2 started to protest by sliding all over the road, so we stopped, skidded around for a while before actually managing to turn around and headed for home. As with most Shetland weather it disappeared as quickly as it arrived, and the next day (Sunday) we headed for town, got there around 12, did a little shopping, had lunch, did some more shopping and was home by 6pm with all presents bought (think that has to be some sort of a record). The next night I wrote out all Christmas cards, wrapped all presents and got to bed about 2am, absolutely delighted with my achievements and a little drunk (well, you need somthing to see you through all that).

Da Muckle Gravit

SUCCESS! I managed to download the photo of me and Joanna Hunter makkin on da Muckle Gravit at the Mael Sands in Burra.

The Gravit (Shetland speak for scarf) was the brainchild of Jane Moncrieff and it all began at last years Craft Fair, an ingenius way to get folk knitting and keep the Arts & Crafts Association to the fore throughout the year. It has had many interested parties having a go and knitting a few rows, from the very young to the more experienced knitter. And who knows we may even break the record. Apparently the longest scarf ever knitted was made in pieces and sewn together, whereas ours is in one continuous piece.

Thanks to Hazel Hughson, our Indigenous Crafts Officer, it is growing very quickly and has its own diary which includes photos and notes from where it's been. Hazel looks after the Gravit's appointments diary, which is quite full for the next few months. Thanks Hazel, it's much appreciated.

Craft Fair

AUNTY WINNIE & FIONA MAKKIN ON DA MUCKLE GRAVIT

An update of the past few weeks.
Maggie is growing fast and terrorising Spark as I type.
The annual Christmas Craft Fair has come and gone (organised and held every year by the Shetland Arts & Crafts Association, of which I am, for my sins, Secretary). See www.shetlandartsandcrafts.co.uk.
That's about it, however, there has been huge quantities of work done in this time. Not only have been organising my own work (Burra Bears) to make some money at the Craft Fair, but I have also been sorting out my Mam's wares (Mams makkin, Fair Isle Poncho's, we shared a stand at the Fair). And finally I have been doing what Committee Secretaries do best, all the bloody paperwork for the organisation of the Craft Fair. Well, I might be slightly exaggertaing this as we have a fantastic committee and everyone did their bit to make the whole event run fantastically well, even if John did turn up late on Saturday morning with the money!
We even got together on Saturday night at the Great Wall Chinese restaurant to marvel at all the work we had done, over quite a few bottles of red wine and a fantastic meal. Isn't it funny how a few glasses (or should that be bottles) of wine, make it much easier to speak to folk and you end up asking questions you would normally never mention. Having said that, everyone was still talking to me on Sunday morning so I am assuming I didn't offend anyone, I am just terribly interested in folk (although some would say nosey!).
As the attached photo shows, we had fun doing the whole thing, using ourselves to advertise the event. It was originally mentioned that we do the knitting on the beach naked, but decided no, it would be rather too cold, and there would probably be a little unwanted attention. Can't seem to attach the photo, but you can view it at www.craftscotland.org.

So that's what's been going on, although I did have last week off, I couldn't bear (pardon the pun) to go out to the shed to sort out the remains of the craft fair, bears, ponchos etc etc, so I kind of did all those things you would normally never do in a million years, I ironed lots, I cleaned the house and sat and stared into space a lot, god, I even watched telly in the afternoon (and anyone who knows me, knows I don't do that), but I have gotten over it, and I guess I'd better do some work next week, as I have a load of bears to make, including a dozen for Bamford's in London made from arran jumpers and cord fabric, hey that's life.

Maggie has arrived

After a long search for a peerie sister for Sparky, we finally picked up Maggie on Friday.
We have been looking for a Border Terrier for a while now, and finally found a litter just outside Aberdeen, belonging to a lovely man called Bob. 'Me Man' had been down to see them a few weeks ago and chose one.
So we now had the problem of getting Maggie up here. British Airways were going to charge over £100 for her to fly unaccompanied, which was ridiculous. But we finally found a way through Scatsta Airport (they couldn't have been more helpful, and there was no charge!).
So we arrived at Scatsta on Friday at 1pm and watched the plane come into land, only for it to take off back into the clouds without hitting the tarmac, I was told that it was too windy and the plane was on its way to Sumburgh (approx 50-60 miles away), so we all got in the car and headed South, I called on the way down to make sure it had landed and was told that yes it had touched down and all the passengers, including Maggie were on a bus on their way back up to Scatsta, so again we turned around and headed back North.
The bus arrived a little later, and there was a very nice lady who had volunteered to take the puppy on board, and had managed to get her a seat in the cabin in her box. So Maggie travelled in style up front in the big jet plane. But with a face like that how could you resist.
Sparky was a little unsure to begin with, I don't think he thought she was a dog, until she started nipping his, feet, ears, bum and pretty much anything else she could reach! But it's looking like thy will be the best of friends!

Friday's

My usual Friday consists of writing shopping list, sorting out banking, writing lists of stuff to buy (I usually only go to Lerwick one day a week, must have reached that age).
But Thursday I got a distress call from big sis asking me to come and help her clear up all her paperwork before she went away for a week (She had the flu and had to spend a few days laid out on the sofa with lemsip, magazines and telly, cos that’s what you do!).
So Friday I headed out West to help, I was given a list and got through it in plenty time. We went to Town and delivered pattern books, curtains, cushions etc. then headed to the Peerie Shop Café for late lunch/tea of sandwiches and coffee.
I had a call from Radio Shetland last week to see if we could do Give Us a Tune on Friday night, and said yes, of course, so we went through our music list and sorted out the banter, whilst eating and drinking our coffee and sandwiches. We had a lovely night, and since we have done this a few times were not nervous, although I guess the bottle of bubbly always helps! (Gordon never complains when I top up his glass!). So after another successful Friday night Give Us a Tune, we both headed to the Great Wall for a takeaway, to the Co-Op for more Pop and home for an easy Friday night in!
Imagine having to go out on the pull? I don’t think so.
p.s. You can listen to the show again at www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland, follow the links to radio shetland.

The Perfect Pink Party

So, what are the ingredients for the above?

Ask big Sis, because she held one on Saturday night. A belated birthday party for me (she is holding one for each of us Sisters, she’s good like that). I sometimes think that when you get to a certain age you shouldn’t have parties, it’s kind of a bairns thing isn’t it?, but then I think of the fun you have (and we always do), and I put my fears aside!

So we arrived around 7pm (she said, ‘don’t come early, I had a lie-in due to a late night so I need all my time’), Sisters only, all dressed in pink, to a beautiful pink table (see photo) complete with pink covering, pink food, pink bubbly, pink balloons, pink streamers etc etc etc, she had gone all out, complete with pink wig ordered specially from Dundee (as I said, she’s good like that). Once everyone had arrived we toasted with Pink Piper (I couldn’t get Pink Bolly!), then we started into the party games, pass the parcel for big girls with prizes which included pink shoes!!!! (bliss!!!). She had also arranged a Charity Auction, which we all had to bring something that everyone else may want, I did my usual party CD music, a compilation of Perfect Pink Party Music and an After Midnight Pink Party Music (the kind you can greet to once you have had enough Pop, hence the After Midnight!), there were many other items to bid on, a fabulous pair of pink suede high heeled boots (I had to have those!), a pashmina, a photo of a little Angelina ballerina, pink perfume, and the ultimate, a PINK Rampant Rabbit from Anne Summers (Sister Susie had spent all week trying to get it sent up from Aberdeen). The bidding started well, with various sisters taking turns in imitating Harry Hay, we even had a phone bid at the most crucial moment (Mam phoned when the Rampant Rabbit was up for grabs!, her that is hooked on Bid Up TV, she did put on a reserve, and thankfully, it was overtaken by miles by sisters aplenty!).
We then went on to the Music Quiz (one of my favourites as I do like my music), I won, of course.
Then the Sisters who were driving had to leave and we all got PINK Party Bags, with fantastic goodies.
It gets a bit hazy now as we retired to the upstairs sitting room, with yet more pink pop and the after midnight cd, which we listened to with tears in our eyes.
I went to bed leaving 2 big sisters asleep on various sofas.
But all in all it was a simply wonderful night, good company, good food, fantastic entertainment, and perfect pink pop, what more could a thirty-something ask for on her birthday! Roll on the next one. And we raised over £100 for charity (going into the Cancer Research shop next week with a cheque).

Summer holidays nearly over

Well, the holidays are nearly over and the schools go back on Wednesday much to my daughter's disappointment (all the late nights and even later lie in's will have to stop Rob!). Were just back from a few days in Aberdeen (where Shetlander's go for breaks to get away from the peace and quiet), the noisy City, but then I guess every City is noisy compared to living here (I don't really do noise and folk and cars and all the other City stuff).
So as I said we were away for a few days and 'me Lass' took one of her pals away, imagine 5 days spent with 2 x 13 years olds, shopping (which went very well apart from the fact that the 'Pal' tried on nearly every pair of Jeans in Aberdeen), bowling, cinema, and the Fair (with all the grabby machines which very rarely spit out the toys you sooooo want), unfortunately for me, 'me Man and 'me Lass' ended up with a giant size, Tigger, Eeyor and Piglet, they did try for Pooh, but we ran out of time.
I did get one day alone shopping (and did bag a fabulously loud coat from River Island for £10 - its wonderful and a bargain), whilst 'me Man' took the lasses to the Football (I don't do football, I went once in January and said never again, not sure if that was to do with the cold, or the fact that it was, well, FOOTBALL!), been there, done that, don't really want the T'shirt.
On our last night in Aberdeen we headed for the Lemon Tree to see Gwyneth Herbert (heard her on R2, fantastic voice, got the album, a few covers and a few of her own songs), she was the best, the kind of music that sounds as good live as it does on CD, and there are not many that do! And I don't think there are many Pubs in Aberdeen (or anywhere) where you can get quite a nice Spanish Rioja for £9.50 a bottle! Needless to say I drank the whole thing to myself as 'me Man' was having beer. And a good night was had by all, well that's what I thought till the next day when daughter, pal and 'me Man' all said it wasn't really their kind of music, guess that's what you get for taking me to the Aberdeen Football Stadium in January, Mo!
Oh I must just add a little note, the day before we left for Aberdeen I had Muriel Gray (yep, the one off the telly and now on the radio) at my house in the morning recording part of a programme about dialect for Radio Scotland, and I had John Carolan (photographer extraordinaire) along in the afternoon taking photos for his Shetland Women project. I can't wait to the see the pictures, although I am more excited about seeing the pictures of my peerie dog, Sparky!
So the fun is over and I really must get back to work, still in holiday mode even though we've been back nearly a week and the Burra Bear orders pilling up fast!
But all is well, my Mary is free to sew, I've just bought a Gaggia Coffee Machine (that will add to my grown up Sofa and Dining Table - see when you get older, you buy thing to last, not cos they're cheap!) and it's my birthday next week with a BBQ planned (sun will shine or else!) and a second night at Big Sis's house for a girly night. So life is good. But I am starting to decorate again, kitchen and dining room, so watch this space!

Whats new

Well, there’s been quite a bit going on in the last week or so. I will start with last weekend, big Sis invited me, me Man and me lass (and her pal) for dinner on Saturday night. So we arrived to what I thought would be mountains of rich buttery, creamy yummy food, but she had decided to ‘go healthy’. This may have had something to do with the previous week when she invited other sisters, families and wir Mam for tea and ‘did wir Mam in’, with all the rich food (she was up the whole night with indigestion). We began with a bottle of Bolly (got to have the real thing), and not even a nibble or crisp in sight. But seriously, the dinner was lovely, a huge platter of simple fresh fish to start, lobster, prawns, smoked trout, crab and some kind of seaweedy thing that was really rather nice. The main course was chicken with cous cous, roasted veggies and a tiny tiny jug of juice from the meat, to which I managed to persuade her to add copious quantities of white wine and cream! Mmmmmm! We finished with what I can only describe as HEAVEN! (she must have been feely guilty as all the food was soooo healthy) a chocolate cheesecake with a baked bottom and as much real chocolate and cream as it could hold, and god, it was good! We finished upstairs with more pop and were sent home just after midnight. I got home thinking another drink would be a good idea and settled down with a bottle of beer in front of a live Coldplay concert on Sky!

Sunday night and I was off up to Busta House to meet up with my American Knitting friends. Gregory Courtney of the Simply Shetland knitting book and his gang were back in Shetland for their annual Tour, and they wanted to meet up and see some bears! I also brought Mam along with her Fair Isle Rowes, Jayne Kelly with her fabulous jewellery and the Muckle Gravit. We joined everyone in the dining room of pudding and then went through to the Long Room where I did a little intro and then we settled down for coffee and passed around the Gravit so they could all have a go and add a bit. What a lovely night, and even Mam enjoyed it (her that ‘doesn’t really like that kind of things!’). We left to promises of all 20 of the group calling along my house on Tuesday to see the Teddy Shed & Sparky dog.

Tuesday arrived and true to their word, the Jamieson’s bus parked up outside and all 20 of them poured in. They had to take turns in the Shed as it can only hold about 6 at a go (tightly packed). But Sparky was the star of the show (3 year old Parsons Jack Russell, looks like Eddie off Frasier), I dressed him in his Kilt, and the cameras started clicking, he loved every minute!


Friday
QUESTION: Have you ever been told off for talking to someone whilst filling your car with petrol?
I was!, on Friday, in Lerwick at a garage I have gone to for the past god knows how many years, I wouldn’t care but there wasn’t even any cars behind my car or the car of the person I was talking to, but she came out of the shop waving her hands and saying 'excuse me!', gesturing that we hurry up, so much for customer service, I was furious and I will be looking to buy my fuel elsewhere from now on, just a shame that they are the cheapest in Town. Maybe she had the PMT/Grumpy Old Women syndrome? Who knows.

After the Island Games

So it’s all over, and my, didn’t it fly by, here’s a rundown of my week working at the Flavour of Shetland Event hosted by Shetland Islands Council (a 5 day event to promote Shetland through music, food and craft), selling Burra Bears and Mams makkin Fair Isle Rowes (aka Fair Isle Poncho).

Monday
Monday dawned fine and bright (here’s hoping for the rest of the week). I arrived early as I wasn’t sure how long it would take to set up, and we were supposed to open up our tents at 11am.
It was busy pretty much right from the off. There were big Liners in the harbour which meant lots of visitors. Mams Fair Isle Rowes (aka Poncho) were a huge hit, almost sold half the stock, which I thought was going to last all week (phoned mam and told her to keep makkin, no sleep, just keep makkin!). I did sell Bears too, but the Rowes seem to be the latest craze!
Only one problem, the BBQ, all day the wind blew the reek right on the front stalls, which included me, so went home rather hearse and a bit reeky, hoping I wouldn’t end up with smelly Rowes and BBQ bears, hopefully it will be sorted tomorrow! Treated to a selection of live music all day in the main tent, what a lovely atmosphere, like holidays! Went home 8pm.
Oh, also got a photo taken for da Paper (that’s the real Paper) with Patricia Ferguson (minister for sport, culture and few other things for by), good publicity, a bit of free advertising, I seem to be good at getting that.

Tuesday
A bit quieter today, but sales went well. Fair Isle Rowes still flying off the hangers, sold nearly as much as yesterday, getting worried now that there will be nothing left for the rest of the week, so I will take in my 2 Rowes tomorrow as samples. Bears went well today.
YESSSSSS – they moved the BBQ round the back so fresh air aplenty today. Finished around 8pm again. Big Sis put in a Tea takeaway with Sister Susie, 3 kinds of tatties (creamy, mustard and a third I forget), sausages with onions and gravy, mmmmmm, every Shetland persons dream – lots and lots of tatties (well one of my dreams, guess that’s mams doing). Oh and a cheesecake with poached peaches and a raspberry coulis (she’s so Nigella).

Wednesday
Got into a routine now, come in early, set stock out and get coffee from Peerie Shop Café before 11am. Eating Toffee Crisps and Peanut M & M’s like they are going out of fashion!
Colder today (and you know how I hate the cold), I am actually getting used to being outside, although I did have my scarf today (yes scarf in the middle on July, must remember to take gloves tomorrow).
Sold around 8 Rowes today, really not many left now, although Mam has been knitting and I got a late delivery of another 4, but 2 simply sold before they were out of the bag. Having to take orders.
Did an interview for the Shetland Times about how the week was going, did big promo on Mams Makkin, again good FREE advertising. Stayed in till 8pm again.
Oh, yes, one of our photographers, John Carolan is doing an exhibition of 100 Shetland women, and he asked if I would take part, so he came in and clicked away for a while, me all wrapped up in a Stripey Rowe (a new design from Mam, and a scarf and feeling very cold), god alone knows what I will look like, but I have seen John’s work, and it’s really good, so hopefully he can work his magic on me!

Thursday
A lot brighter this morning, although even with the cold, it doesn’t seem to matter, as it’s really has been a lovely week, such a good atmosphere, with all the folk, the music, the crafts and the food (I highly recommend the Hot Smoked Salmon Wrap, mmmmmm), I will say it again it’s like being on holiday, not work!
Rained really heavy in the afternoon, but even that was ok.
Rowes still going well (guess the cold weather is helping!).
Got lots of coffee today, told me Man that if he is coming down to visit just get coffee on the way (only Nescafe available on the Pier, and we don’t do that!).
Getting a double Cappuccino now, extra strong, I will have withdrawal symptoms next week!

Friday
It’s the last day, I can’t believe it has gone so fast.
Saw the Paper this morning, they put in the photo, but I look every so slightly crazy, like when you point a camera at a peerie bairn and ask them to smile and they put on a really huge grin – well that was me! Good write up though.
Thankfully it was quite nice in the afternoon, Shetland was in the final for the Football against Guernsey, and they won (I think it was 2 nil), now although I have little interest in football (me Man being a devout Aberdeen fan), It was lovely that they won, we watched it on the big screen on the Pier and could hear the cheers from the Gilbertson Park seconds before they scored on the screen. So it all ended on a good note. Couldn’t tell you what medals Shetland got, although I did hear it was quite a few (not really into Sport).
Big party on Friday night for most folk, although I packed everything up at 8pm, and loaded up my car, then had to go and get me Man’s car and loaded that up too.
Got home about 9.30pm. Now after a whole week working 11am till 8pm, you would think I would have wanted to sit down and have a drink (big Sis very kindly left me a bottle of fizzy chilling in the fridge – Thanks Rachey!), but I got home and all I wanted was a ‘cup o tae’, and that’s what I had along with the white ham salad sandwich Big Sis gave me for lunch (I had already eaten by the time she came with lunch).
I took me peerie dug, ‘Sparky’ out for a walk, felt guilty leaving him for most of the week. And then as I was about to go to bed, I got a phone call from me Man to see if I wanted to pick him up, so I got in the car and went back to Town.

Suffice to say I made up for it on Sunday by having lots of lovely red wine with a very tasty Chinese takeaway (after spending the day in my pyjamas, on my new sofa, it finally arrived, in my lovely decorated sitting room, we did get it finished, watching all the programmes I had recorded from the last 3 weeks, having had no time previously to watch as I was up to the lugs in Burra Bears).
So that was pretty much a perfect end to very enjoyable week.

And I got the photo’s that John took, they are lovely (not meaning I am lovely, but made me look half normal, not like the one in Paper) but they are so natural, and black and white, I think that does me justice.

I went into Town yesterday and put an ad in the Personal column of the Paper, to let folk know about this Blog, so if you read the ad and are now reading this, let me know!

Island Games

Having spent the last few months (actually seems much longer) up to the lugs in Burra Bears and Mams Rowes, the Island Games are finally here. Yes, the Natwest Island Games (I think thats what they call it) has arrived and after a very wet (torrential rain) Opening ceremony last night, today dawned fine and sunny, which was just as well as I had to set up on Victoria Pier for the Flavour of Shetland event which is being run over the next week to co-incide with the Island Games. Its 5 days of live music, food, drams and fantastic high quality crafts (that'll be the longest week's work I've put in for a while then), that's 11am to 11pm every day.
So as I said it was a beautiful sunny day, and we arrived at the Pier just around 4pm to set up, and everything was looking good, and all went well. We were even treated to some live music from the kirky folk.
So here's to next week, and lots of sales for those fantastic Burra Bears and the new high quality Mams makkin Fair Isle Rowes!

Mael Beach Man

Big brother arrived at my house last week with his digital camera and a tale of a 'Man' they had made on the beach (him and the 3 bairns), so at 10.15pm I set off to the Mael Sands to see for myself and here he is!
He actually started as a burnt old wooden log which was lying on the beach, so they made eyes, nose and mouth, hair and even took clothes to dress him with.
I said he looked like some kind of god sent to watch over the beach or even an entry for the Turner prize, well let's face it there's a lot more work gone into him as some entries!
As this was last week, I would be interested to know if he is still standing or have the vandals been and had a go?
So there you go Kevin, on the web for all to see!

Issue 11 - the very last one I wrote for the paper that didn't get published

Boring, frumpy, uncool or just plain getting older and can’t be bothered. Whatever you want to call it, I just don’t get the latest fashion trend, which seems to come under numerous headings. Read any glossy mag and you will see, ‘boho chic’, ‘urban cowgirl’, ‘peasant’, ‘gypsy’ and ‘hippy’. What is it with fashion, can’t someone invent something new, why do they have to keep churning out all the old stuff from years ago. A few choice items which really should have been left in the past – batwing tops, drainpipe jeans, rara skirts, legwarmers, the dreaded black leggings (with lycra) and now we are back with the hippy look and as with most fashions past it’s not the kind of thing that just anyone can wear, it always looks good on the models, but then they are all size 8 with legs up to their oxters, unlike normal people. But I guess this hippy phase isn’t all bad, there is some lovely jewellery around, but I say ditch the floggy, cheesy, clothy skirts and floppy hats and stick to what you know.
It’s not always easy to dress for your age, especially when fashion decides to completely confuse and go back a few decades. No one tells you what age you have to be before the words fashion, mutton and lamb are all used in the same sentence. You just need to look at some of the award ceremonies on telly to see what I mean, it’s not so much mutton as old heddery yowe dressed as lamb.
I have finally grown up in the clothes stakes, I now own a proper grown up handbag, having given up buying fashion bags which I then got too attached to even when they were falling apart at their poorly finished seams, only one problem though, how do you clean pink suede without having to take out a loan to cover the dry cleaning costs?
I own a proper wool girly coat which I would even go so far as to say is verging on a style from a past era, but in a very tailored chic way, I also believe in spending serious money on good quality boots and if you count the cost per wear, they really do justify themselves. The last time I was Sooth I bought boots from a grown up real shoe shop (Clarks), I had looked through all the fashion store shoe’s (much to me man’s dismay, he doesn’t like shopping and absolutely hates shoe shopping, as I’m a bit fussy), but just couldn’t find what I was looking for. I wanted walking boots (you know your on the slippery slope when you start to need shoes for a purpose), which were practical and comfy, but still looked nice and something which was not black (do you know how hard it is to find ‘not black’ ankle boots). I have a thing about black footwear, I do own one pair of black boots but only wear them with the one pair of black trousers I own (I have the same problem with black trousers).
But in the end we all wear what we feel good in and who am I to criticise having been through the eighties, but I would like to think I now have the sense to know that when it all comes back around I will leave it up to my daughter to wear.

Issue 10 that never was

I really do love my food, and was recently re-introduced to an old favourite – Mid Brae coleslaw.
As a thank you for doing a Trinny and Susannah on her wardrobe, Sister Susie treated me and big sister to supper. She was actually quite horrified when we had finished the wardrobe and she saw how little was left, but as we pointed out, everything that was left was clothes she actually wore, so she had to agree it was good.
Now I have always had a thing about this particular coleslaw, it’s so creamy, smooth, tasty and home made and the best thing is it doesn’t have any onions (as they do tend to come back on you), in fact the last time I was up in Brae visiting my Mam I went along for a coleslaw takeaway, believe me it’s worth it! So we had a lovely supper, meat salad with big homemade chips (you don’t see those very often nowadays).
I thoroughly believe in what I would call ‘right made food’, and if you are going out for food it should be better than, or at least as good as you can make at home. I won’t say I’m a great cook, because I’m not, I can do what I have to but am not very adventurous, and I tend to stick to the things I like. My Mam loves cooking all types of food, savoury, sweet, baking, you name it she can make it, and she doesn’t have to measure, when I ask for a recipe it’s all, “joost pit in a peerie bit o dis and a handfoo o dat”, I can’t do that, it never turns out the same. Mam loves meat, she actually acquired the nickname ‘Marina 2 meats’, it came from a brother-in-law who was amused that she always had at least 2 meats on the table for a Sunday dinner, it might have been chicken and beef, chicken and pork or chicken and something, but there was always a chicken in there somewhere. I think this 2 meat thing came from when we were all peerie and one meat would never have been enough to feed us, although she did seem to have magic powers over a single pound of mince which she could feed to at least 8 people (I’m lucky if it feeds 3). But I’m not knocking it, I would be highly disappointed if I went for lunch and there was only one meat, imagine?
I am quite fussy when it comes to some things like tea and coffee. My rules are – Tea should come in a packet and be loose leaf which you spoon into a proper tea pot, add boiling water and leave to track. Tea bags are ok if they are herbal, otherwise only use in an emergency. Instant tea, don’t even go there, it should be banned, I just don’t get it!
Coffee should be real, there is just something about the smell (mmm the smell), the taste (rich, slightly burnt) and again it should be made in a pot, either Cafetiere or Espresso, I don’t like percolators, they kill coffee, left to stew for hours, yuk. Instant coffee – no comment. And the finishing touch, a biscuit, as you can’t have a cup without a biscuit, no, really, you can’t.
Must go, I hear the Espresso pot bubbling on the stove and the biscuits are calling.

Me

Where do we go from here?

So, the Shetland Weekly has gone under and I was just kind of getting the hang of writing about stuff that's going on so when big Sis mentioned doing a Blog (well she didn't actually call it that as she doesn't know the right terminology for computer/internet stuff) I said it was something I had been thinking about, but what about all the folk that read my column and don't have access to the internet? she said they would get their bairns to print it off for them, so here's hoping! My first posting in the Blog spot - Wendys Week (why change the name of something that works!). See you soon xx