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!!!