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!