moder-dye

The Ness of Hillswick

2012-02-11T19:29:00.001Z

It was a grey drizzly start to the weekend to day, but luckily as my friend and I drove north from Lerwick heading for Hillswick up in North Mavine the sky started to clear to leave us with a lovely day for a walk.

Just after passing The Magnus Bay Hotel, a magnificent wooden building, we turned left down a little road past the shop to park on the East side of Hillswick Ness, near The Booth, which is known as a sanctuary for injured wildlife.

My friend had his daft cocker spaniel 'Teddy' who swam the first few hundred yards as we set off south around the ness. Sadly for many reasons Goose has returned to his original family.

The view looking back was pretty spectacular with Ronas Hill as a wonderful backdrop to Hillswick.

As were the views as we headed down the coast. It's about 5 miles around the ness.

This little bay was pretty cool with under cut rock as the only way in and out.

As was this one.

The whole coast is pretty impressive...

The folds in these rocks and the symmetry of the stacks caught my eye...

Soon we were near the southern tip of the ness and a lonely automated lighthouse...

There are hidden gems of nature everywhere like the little arch down below the light house tot he right...

Heading back north on the western coast The Drongs soon came into sight as well as a great view over to Dore Holm and Eshaness...

And all too soon it was the last leg back down to Hillswick. We knew this was a fairly easy walk and had thought about an additional wander while we were up north, but decided to quit while we were ahead and my knees were still in working order.

Once I'd dropped my friend off, returned home and pottered a bit Beren and I went for a stroll along Maa Ness in Scalloway hoping for a spectacular sunset. Clouds setting spoiled that, but it was still a lovely start to the evening.

The dredger was still working to clear the main channel in to Scalloway Harbour...

And Beren got rid of a bit of excess energy clambering about on the rocks that line the track out to the headland.

A pretty packed day. We've no plans for tomorrow, other than to hope the weather holds and get out some where while we can...

Goose at The Burn of Lunklet

2012-02-01T20:19:00.001Z

It was Up Helly Aa last night, my first time out the house for a few days, tiring but I loved it. Today most things are closed down as it's a public holiday here for people to recover I guess. Clare flew off sooth for a course in London first thing and me and Beren are home alone, but with a daft dog that needs to get out so we wrapped up and headed out for The Burn Of Lunklet off The Alps Road between Aith and Voe. It's great spot for a gentle wander and sheep free so ideal for Goose to get rid of some energy.

Here's Beren and Goose prepared to have fun. Beren was a sniper army man at this point, later on he was Spiderman, Batman and also Optimus Prime! By the way Goose has his seat belt harness on, I forgot to take it off again!

Bang bang you're dead! I'm teaching Goose to play dead too...

What's he seen now...

Nothing actually, but he loves to run and sniff...

Beren the sniper. Erm... may be you need a gun that's not bright blue!

Good Boy Goose!

Catch!

The falls in the background as Beren and Goose explore. Goose was actually very brave in the water, the dozy dog would jump in to try and get stones I threw in, evil I know, but we all enjoyed it.

I've been here loads as it's a great place to bring Beren and dogs and I knew there was a Raven's nest at the falls, but I'd never seen it. A friend told me where it was last week and I can not believe I've never noticed it before; it's massive and so obvious!

We just went up to the end of the enclosed section after the falls, crossed over and headed back on the other side of the burn and home for a cuppa.

And saw this on the way home. Sun bursts over Weisdale Voe, WOW Zoom me up!

Lerwick Up Helly Aa

2012-02-01T20:17:00.001Z

It was a fine night for the second fire festival of 2012, Lerwick Up Helly Aa. Dry and clear, but a little on the windy side which meant that squads and spectators had an eye watering experience as around 1000 paraffin soaked torches, carried by the Jarl Squad and all the supporting squads, wound their way around King Harald Street and St Olaf Street before the galley entered the park for the burning. It was pretty spectacular though!

We managed to find a grand stand view directly over looking the site of the burning and had a great night.

Impressive uniforms as always. I particularly liked the twisted handles on the battle axes that were on their backs, sorry no pics.

Just in case any one wondered why some call it transvestite tuesday...

Some luscious lashes...

Everyone was ready to party...

Sadly all the hard work that has gone into the galley has to go up in smoke as the torches are flung into the galley at the end of the procession.

Here's a video from The Shetland Times of the finale, there are more on youtube of the whole event...

And fireworks flew over head as the crowds started to dissipate...

For most the night had only just begun, but for me it was time for a hot chocolate and bed!

Watch Up Helly Aa!

2012-01-31T09:18:00.005Z

Today is the day, the last Tuesday in January, of Up Helly Aa, or transvestite tuesday as some may call it due to the squads often dressing in drag for their skits. David Nicolson is this years Guiser Jarl.

Here's a photo from the past just before the galley is burnt..

And a time lapse of this years galley, Per Ardua, being built, including making the head and tail...

The details of the day are on the official site and there is live streaming of the event here, the procession starts at 7.30pm. Though at the time of writing you can just see people reading The Bill in at the market cross, I wonder what witty comments there are on that this year!

Beren is off with Scalloway Nursery to see the Jarl Squad and Galley on the front in Lerwick this morning along with Clare and his Buzz Lightyear camera, so expect some interesting photos from him!

I'm at home as I've not been well over the weekend and been told to rest up for a few days, but I am hoping to get in to town briefly tonight to see the procession and take a few pics. If not I'll be watching it on-line too.

Watch this space for some photos of the day from Beren and hopefully me And here's a list of the other Up Hall Aa's in Shetland this year, some of which I hope to get to...

Doggy School

2012-01-26T21:23:00.000Z

It'll be a week tomorrow since we saw Goose was looking for a home and brought him in to our lives and it's pretty flown past.

Getting back into the rhythm of getting up and out with the dog first thing in the morning has been good, unlike the weather. Gales and rain aren't the best for walking a distracted nervous dog. Rattles, bangs, ponies, lights, workmen and machines. Everything's new to him, so that combined with his teenage puppy energy has made being out and about a challenge at times, but Goose has been getting better on his walks each day.

It's not all hard work though. He's lovely and friendly and a pleasure to have in the house. He loves playing games inside and out, but keeps sniffing at rabbit holes and dropping his balls in them.

Last night I took him to the dog club at The Shetland Marts (at the time of writing it's 7pm on a Wednesday, bring your vaccination card and £2.50).

That was an experience! 20 or so dogs (and people) of all ages, breeds and temperaments, in addition to a couple of people in hi-vis jackets! He was wild with nervous excitement when we went in. I nearly burst out laughing when I was asked to fill in a form at the same time as I was hanging on to him with both hands and a prayer. Thankfully someone offered to hold him while I did it and he soon got used to the fact that there are more dogs in the world than him and they really aren't that interested in him. Still, walking to heel in a circle with halts, sits and turns with all the sniffing to be done was a massive distraction to him and had me wondering whether just to sit on the side and let him get it out his system rather than pretend I was training him to heel.

Anyway when it came to sit/stay/recall he was an absolute star for a change. I stood there willing some one to see how brilliant he was being and comment on it after the previous chaos, but unfortunately they were all too busy correcting their miscreant mutts!

My whole body was sore and aching by the time I got home. NOT how to train a dog, but good socialisation. And it paid off. This morning on his walk around various parts of Scalloway he was much less spooked and hardly blinked when a man in a hi-vis jacket went by. Despite my concerns that last nights tugs-o-war would have undone all the hard work we've been putting in with walking on the lead he even seems more settled with that too.

This evening we had a laugh to doing some clicker training in the house with sit, down, stay etc. He's really good at them but once he was 'down' he was too lazy to get back up to a sit. I tried lots of ways to motivate him to get up, some worked, eventually I remembered he had been trained to do 'High 5'. He'd have to sit up from 'down' to do that! The first couple of times he did. Good Goose! The next time he just lay on his side and lazily wagged a paw in my general direction. Lazy boy Goose time to stop LOL!!!

Northern Lights

2012-01-22T23:00:00.001Z

Well I've been getting aurora alerts all day via twitter and wondering if the sky would be clear enough for me to finally see the Merrie Dancers and tonight it was. Woo Hoo!

I went out to Maa Ness pas the North Atlantic Fisheries College at Scalloway and took these photos before the cloud came in.

Looking from Maa Ness over the Point of Pund lighthouse...

Looking towards Hamnavoe, Burra, on the left...

A bit despondent that it my viewing was cut short I headed home to look at the photos only to see it clear up out the back of the house. Clare and I got a much better display out back, not really dancing, but vibrant and slowly changing intensities. Sadly with light pollution at the house the photos I took weren't the best, but hey, I've got the memories!

Now to bed zzzzzzzzzzz.........

Banaminn with Goose

2012-01-22T19:27:00.000Z

I was due to go for a walk around Hillswick Ness today with a friend, but he got a call to work, so late morning we all went down to Banaminn beach on Burra for a stroll. I'd already been out for an hour with Goose flinging balls for him on the hills, but he wouldn't complain.

It was lovely when we set off but just as we arrived there was a wintry shower; we decided to wait it out in the car. Here we are minus me; Clare I told you I needed that wide angle lens!

I don't know if Goose has ever been in the sea before, but he's certainly not a water dog. We threw balls and thing for him along the beach before wandering out on to the headland and The Lotra of Minn

There was a pretty impressive sea crashing against the Black Stacks and the Kame of Riven Noup today.

Goose posed occasionally...

And we all enjoyed dodging the waves in a little bay until the waves eventually got the better of us!

So, wet and cold, it was time to head home as the day dulled...

We warmed up later at a friend's place in South nesting where they were having a bonfire, lovely spot with old stone otter traps on the shore. It was a beautiful evening and a shame to head home to get ready for the working week, but home we headed.

I might be out again later this evening though as the merrie dancers are supposed to be displaying tonight and it's looking pretty clear just now. I'm just not sure I've got the energy left for them!

Baby Goose

2012-01-21T18:59:00.001Z

I just got this photo of baby Goose, he was tiny, even fitted in to a dressing gown pocket. He's not so small now but just as cute.

Just in case you're wondering he got his name because when he was little his bark sounded more like a goose honking.It's a great name and is well suited to him, though I've not heard him honk yet!

Today he's had a busy day. A trip to the vet to get registered with them in our name and an appointment for the snip, ouch! He wasn't worried to be there; I'm sure he will be with tiem though. Anyway his visit was eased by a few new toys and a few other bits and bobs.

Then it was off to Da Toon. It's an understatement to say it was a bit of a culture shock for him. So many new sights, sounds and people. All in all for his first day with us and his first time on Da Street the boy did well. It was funny to see how hi-vis jackets and pelican crossings freak him out, but he was very good. We even left him in the car for half an hour and he just lay down and waited, didn't even go crazy on our return. Good Goose!

When we got back we took him up the hill behind Berry Farm for a play and walk. Using a flinger thing to launch tennis balls up the hill for him to chase and bring back. He loved it and was a champion at it. Now we know how to scrub of some of his puppy energy; just have to hope the crofter keeps the sheep off the field for a while.

The scary bit for us was leaving him for 3 hours this evening to go to a friends house warming party. Would we have a house to return to, a mess to return to, angry neighbours or a combination of all. Well he was a star. We parked and I crept up the drive listening. No noise. I opened the door, listening. No mad black demon dog raking at the door. I went in the kitchen and he was nice and calm and the house was just as we left it. Super Star Goose!

Tomorrow he'll hopefully be out for a long walk around Hillswick Ness. Fingers crossed for the weather and watch this space...

Meet Goose!

2012-01-20T22:25:00.000Z

He's a very frisky 7 month old collie cross Hungarian Vizsla who's also a secret agent police dog, honest! You can tell by the way he's apprehended Winnie the Pooh here...

It would seem that part of his special forces survival training included drinking from the loo. No bed-time kisses for you tonight Goose!

Really none!

Anyway he's totally gorgeous, we're very lucky to have such a lovely dog and I'm sure he'll keep us very busy while he whips us into shape!

Now will he sleep tonight...

#still4amo

2012-01-16T13:46:00.000Z

Rev Master Mugo over on Jade Mountains has been twittering about sitting still-for-a-moment (#still4amo) at 5pm GMT for the next month. Everyone has 1 minute to spare in the day to just sit still don't they, even if it's not at 5pm?

Rev Mugo also posted this a link to this short video about 1 moment meditation. Give it a go you never know you might like it...

I'm sitting still4amo lots today. We're all full of lurgy and wrapped up at home with headaches, shivers and sods law it's a beautiful day outside with reports of killer whales, this time up in Bluemull Sound. Hey Ho...

Sign up for Shetland Wildlife on twitter to keep up to date with sightings.

Bressay; The Grutwick Memorial walk

2012-01-14T20:12:00.000Z

After moping around the house for the morning wishing the weather was something it wasn't Clare suggested I got out anyway for some fresh air. A hop skip and a jump later and I was walking off the Bressay ferry to be picked up by my friend from Bressay and whisked off for a mystery (to me) walk.

The weather was still pretty grey and drizzly so I left my camera in the car and brought along my mobile in the of chance I might see some interesting places. As so I did.

we were off on a walk from the Loch of Brough to the Grutwick Memorial. The memorial to a Shetland Coast Guard winch man who lost his life in 1997 after rescuing 10 people from a grounded ship. Bressay History Group erected the memorial and have produced a leaflet for the walk which you can print off.

It's over pretty reasonable ground, not too hilly and takes around 2 hours at a gentle pace. Just the thing for a stroll and a natter.

We parked in a spot along side the loch and follwed the track south past Gorie to the remains of Wadbister over looking a dramatic coast.

The Loch of Seligeo...

These remains seemed of an archaeological nature, like the remains of a chambered cairn, but there's nothing on the map. There are other remains in the local are though. Noss is in the background.

Here is the memorial cairn with Bressay stretching away south.

After a short break we headed north up the coast towards the Noss ferry point. The geos on this stretch of coast are impressively deep and long.

The unmistakeable Noss visible in the gap.

This one has a main channel out to the left and a smaller channel going into the cliff in the middle of the photo. it must have been a massive cave before it collapsed.

The sky started to take on it's lovely evening colours and I wished I had brought my camera after all!

Approaching the Noss ferry crossing point; the wardens cottage on the left of Noss.

Anders Tower looks down over Noss sound.

Here's the remains of Noss Sound Broch, beyond it is the track that leads from the ferry point back up a rough track to the road and eventually back to the car. It'll be good to finally get over to Noss this summer when the warden's RIB is running, failing that a swim might be in order!

The forecast for tomorrow is pretty good just now and we're planning to go for a wander with a friend and their little one, just where we go though is undecided...

Scalloway Fire Festival

2012-01-13T22:43:00.003Z

Today has been a wonderful still, cold and clear day. I had fingers crossed all day that the weather would hold for the fire festival or Up Helly Aa tonight in Scalloway and unbelievably it did; you couldn't have asked for a better night.

The festival this year fell on Friday 13th and un-coincidentally the galley was named Svart Fredag or Black friday with Guiser Jarl, Simon Mullay, representing Jarl Sigurd The Stout, Jarl of Orkney and Shetland (980-1014). Take a look at Kozetland's entry on Shetlopedia for more details of this Jarl of old.

Before the fire festival began Beren and I took a wander down to the galley which was 'moored' up next to The Scalloway Meat Company and had a chance for a few pictures before the poor boat was processed through the village cast adrift in a shower of fiery torches down at the boating club marina.

Here's Beren being a Viking...

Black Friday looking out to the site of her final demise...

Head details...

And sadly that is all I have of the spectacle that was a wonderful night of music, song and fire! But see Kozetland1 for great photos

A series of school boy errors led to my camera battery running out and the few photos I did have of the procession being useless. I'm not a happy bunny really, but it did mean that I got to fully enjoy the night rather than thinking about getting photos and video of it. Thankfully there are several Up Hell Aas over the next couple of months so I have a chance to make amends for tonight and learn a few more lessons about photographically recording the events.

Anyway Beren loved it and loved seeing his best friend's Dad in his finest Viking regalia and we had a lovely time at a friend's house in the village at a little party afterwards. The squads and die hard Up Helly Aa revellers will be up partying hard long through the night though while we are cosy in bed.

Now, what else can we get up to on what is forecast to be a lovely weekend? Battery is on charge...

The Sletts and Bressay at night...

2012-01-12T19:54:00.000Z

The other night in restless hour or two I went out to The Sletts in Lerwick to mess about with some night time photography. It was a pretty nice night all in all, but a bit misty in the distance and the combination of trying to get a landscape along with streetlights isn't the best idea. Passing boats were a nuisance too,not only appearing during the 30 second exposure and leaving a white dash across the photo but then taking an age to leave the area.

Anyhow I came away with this long exposure photo of The Sletts, The Knab and Bressay masts and Lighthouse which I quite like...

I'm hoping tomorrow night is equally as pleasant as it's Scalloway Fire Festival, the first of this year. Beren is really excited having made Viking shields and helmets at nursery and counting down the 'sleeps' until the big event. It's funny to think when he first saw a Jarl Squad at Mossbank School a couple of years ago he was, understandably, terrified. Now he can't wait to meet them tomorrow! Secretly neither can I...

Da Lang Ayre; well worth the effort...

2012-01-08T21:03:00.004Z

Well, today was to be the day I got over to Da Lang Ayre, a wonderfully isolated mile stretch of red beach on the back side of Ronas Hill. I'd been watching the weather all week, which indicated a calm dry spell on Sunday, returning to raina dn wind by around 3pm. Amazingly the forecast held true!

On my way to pick my friend up from the Bressay Ferry I just had to take this photo of the sunrise over Gulberwick. I wish I'd had more time to do it justice but my friend and adventure awaited.

As we passed Eela Water on the A970 this fantastic view appeared. Ronas Hill in her Sunday best. Oooh... I was so excited!

Looking up from Roga Field cairn to Mid Field cairn on our way up from Collarfirth Masts.

We plodded our way up to the chambered cairn on the top of Ronas Hill. Laughing to ourselves at the white mountain hairs trying to hide in the distinctly non-white landscape, well suppose there was a bit of snow. My friend's dog also gave us plenty of amusement swimming in the lochs, rolling and sliding in the snow; spaniels are just daft!

After a brief breather at the top, a nose in the 'visitors book' and adding our own names to it, it was over the top for the descent to Da Lang Ayre via Monius Burn.

Blogging buddies Muckle Ossa, Little Ossa and Fladda are in the distance beyond the mouth of Ronas Voe; the Cleiver is peeping out, bottom right, at the end of Monius Burn. The climb down was looking pretty steep and I was trying not to think about having to climb back up!

Closer...

Now we could see round to Turls Head and Gruna Stack...

The last part is descended along side a waterfall with a length of nylon rope to steady you on the slippery red granites.

Looking back up the last bit from the beach, rope just visible to the left...

And out to sea and The Hog and The Cleiver...

Looking North-East towards the Turls Head and Gruna Stack...

And South-West past The Cleiver...

The Hog in front, The Cleiver behind...

And finally The Sabic Duck on what I assume is it's first visit to Lang Ayre and Ronas Hill, possibly Shetland too! My brother works for the company and apparently people take picture of the duck in various locations, Beren had a the duck, so I thought why not!

We stayed on the beach for around 45 minutes before deciding we would have to bite the bullet and get back up and over Ronas Hill. All I can say is be prepared for a real slog up the burn and to the shoulder of Ronas. I thought I was going to have a coronary, really, but I'm not too good; it's still a stiff climb though.

Eventually we made enough height to start the relatively easy contouring around the summit to Mid Field and back to the car. The forecast was bang on as about 2.30pm the mist, then drizzle, then rain came in and the temperature dropped, but we didn't care we'd had a great day and were back at the car. It's about a10 miles round trip, we took it very easy with plenty of breaks and took about 5 hours in total. Another great spot for a summer camp!

Hopefully I'll be re-charged for another venture next weekend. Uyea, North-West of North Roe has had it's name on my list for a while.

In other news...
Unfortunately, being where I was I missed a spectacular display of Orcas on the South-East coast. Still, by the sounds of it it was very busy with sight seers, one day I'll get to see them...

Ness Of Burgi

2012-01-01T18:47:00.001Z

Happy New Year!

It been a lovely day to start the New Year and we took a trip to the south end, popping in to see a couple of old Brochs near Boddam on the way to the Ness of Burgi to take Clare and Beren to visit the block house there.

It was pretty breezy, but sunny and fairly mild. In fact the low sun combined with the thick sea haze made taking photos a bit tricky, but I got a few nice ones.

Here's a few from Scatness looking back across towards Fitful Head. We ate our sarnies and watched the sea wondering just how rough it would be out on the ness.

And looking back to Fitful head from just before the ridge that leads on to The Ness of Burgi. These are really big waves and were covering most of the ness in foam and spray when they broke.

Near the end of the ness is The Burgi Block House, an interesting spot and a nice one to sit and shelter in for a while. It was stunning out there.

Sumburgh lighthouse from the entrance to the structure.

After a bit of wandering about it was time to get home. The seas were big, but no where near as big as they have been lately. A short while ago 12 salmon cages with around 300,000 fish valued at around £2m were washed away out to sea, seems they're just adrift out there. Some one I knows boat was also swamped on it's mooring an now sitting at the bottom of a voe, that should be interesting to recover. I'm sure there's been much more damage out on the sea too, I know there's been plenty on the land.

Well 2 days before we're back to work, let's hope the weather holds as I'm still wanting to get up to Eshaness for a wander before then...

Papil; after the gales...

2011-12-31T09:40:00.002Z

We woke up yesterday to find a lovely winters day waiting for us outside. There was no wind, a light frost and sun shining through a cloudy sky. I was itching to make the most of it and get out and about, may be up to Eshaness, but we had a few jobs to do first.

By the time we'd done our jobs I wasn't feeling so good, but after putting my feet up for little while I made the short drive out to Bannamin Beach on Papil before it got dark to watch the sea and take some photos. It was great to see the crashing seas left over from the gales contrasting with a lovely calm late afternoon and evening light.

I just had a little wander along the north side of the bay to the headland and few experiments with my new camera.

About time to be heading back now, it was getting dark and tea was beckoning.

A lovely evening, if you call 4pm evening...

Today, New Years Eve, we're back to grey drizzling rain, but thankfully the winds that were raging again in the night have dropped off considerably.

I think it'll be another lazy day today, but hopefully we'll get out for a wander tomorrow.

Anyway, where ever you are I hope you have a Happy New Year!

A break in the weather...

2011-12-29T20:46:00.001Z

Until today we've had a pretty wild and windy time. I know we've only been here for 3 winters, but it's certainly the windiest I've experienced so far, even in sheltered Scalloway. Christmas eve, day and Boxing Day there were numerous power cuts around the isles. We only had flickering lights and very brief outages, but friends had power off for around 6 hours on Christmas Day and the toll of blown over sheds is high along with several blown off roofs, never mind merely damaged roofs. Apparently the windspeed maximum recorded was 101mph at Sellaneas on Christmas day.

So what with the wind and accompanying rain we've not been out and about much. Mainly watching films, playing with toys, including me terrorising Beren with a radio controlled helicopter, and getting to grips with my prezzie off Santee; a shiny new Nikon D3100 that I have to make sure I don't drown!

We did get out the other day for a walk around Culswick for a few hours, oddly we didn't bump in to any one else. It blew more than a few cobwebs away and we found that many versions of The Grand Old Duke of York can get Beren up most hills! We also got up Kergord woods for some toasted marshmallows, the only 'person' we met then was the friendly local cat that came for a pet. It's been nice to be lazy for a while.

Getting used to my new camera has meant that the photos I took while we were out and about were pretty dire. I actually got sick of trying to sort them out and just deleted the lot. Don't always trust 'trusted' internet gurus for there advice on setting up your camera, or atleast take them as RAW photos so they can be adjusted.

Today was lovely and sunny, but with a biting North-Westerly wind. Beren and I went off to Papil for a walk on the beach, but in no time he was desperate to get back to the car and out the wind. My hands were nipping too and it was still pretty strong on the coast so we forsook any beach forays on the west for some thing a little more sheltered.

Eventually we ended up at the museum in Lerwick for a Santee treasure hunt. It was great fun for him to find Santee in the display cases trying out his 'summer' job as a crofter, fisherman, laird and the like. All completed to get the reward of a proudly worn Rudolf tattoo!

I managed to grab a few pictures too. My first attempt at taking RAW photos and editing them in Adobe Lightroom. I'm looking forward to getting out on my own some time when I can concentrate on taking the photos with out any rush, but I was pretty pleased with my snaps today.

'Pilot Us' is an old trawler owned by the museum that I believe can be chartered to take groups out on trips...

'Nil Desperandum' is another trawler owned by the museum...

Here with the Mareel in the background...

And again the Mareel in the background of this picture. I've got to say it was looking pretty cool in the light today. Not the eyesore some claim it to be, to my eyes at least!

We grabbed a bag of chips to park up on the shore near Tesco and watch the sea, birds and seals doing their stuff with the low sun glinting over the water. Beren then led me on a game of 'follow my leader' over the numerous boulders or 'dangerous rocks' on the shore until we'd had enough fresh air for one day and retreated back home for a film and a cuppa.

Coming into Scalloway the sun was low over East Voe setting the scene for a lovely but icy evening...

Happy Christmas, Kergord and Ollabery beach...

2011-12-23T20:30:00.002Z

The weather's been pretty foul of late, no surprises there, things a have been busy on various fronts with Christmas only two sleeps away and for once in my life I've been feeling like I'm in a bit of a hibernation mode. Quite happy to lounge, read and potter.

We have been out for short spells though. Here with Beren's friend playing in the snow in Kergord Woods (his favourite spot). We had a great laugh with them exploring the woods and finally splodging through the burn from the top of the woods all the way down, under trees, over trees and in some cases pretty much through them! All the time keeping an eye out for Gruffalos and using their sticks to check for 'dangerous rocks' and deep bits.

Here they are giving the thumbs up as they shuffle across a chasm high above dangerous things...

And here's Beren emerging out of a culvert at the end of their venture.

All good fun, which left them soaking and cold but happy and only a quick nip home for more play in the warmth.

Today Beren and I trundled up north to Ollaberry to go to the back beach. By way of Frankie's for a bag of chips to eat in the car before we set off from the church round the headland.

It's just short of a 2 years since we were there with Beren in his pushchair. No pushchair now, just his slightly comical 'stick that mountain men use'! Well he had more sense than me, I left my trekking poles in the car and my ankle know's it.

Doesn't he look like some old bloke stood there looking at the interpretive panel. There was a rainbow in the distance that my mobile didn't pick up, Beren did though and wanted to find the treasure at the end of it!

Heading off down the fault plane to the beach. Funny, no one else was out enjoying the intermittent sleet and persistent wind.

It didn't seem as daunting as last time, I guess not carrying a kid down and up makes life a tad easier.

The reward, a beautiful beach all to ourselves...

Beren played his usual 'King of the castle' games on any rock worth climbing...

And a new game that involved spinning round and round his pole, saying he couldn't stop, until I grabbed his hand and he fell over dizzy, after which he stood up and started all over again. It was hilarious for both of us, especially when the sea nearly got him when he was lying on the ground in his dizzy stupor!

We took shelter from the wind and hail for a while under a pile of collapsed rocks, before continuing to play and wander.

But before too long Beren had had enough and remembered the treasure he had to find at the end of the rainbow, so up we went...

With two hoods and Dad's hat he was wanting to go off in to the distance after the now vanished rainbow. Sneakily I managed to persuade him the other end had been up on the hill (in the direction of the car), pretty much where Ollaberry Shop is. That's where the treasure would be!

So we headed back to the village, the car and the shop, where we found a treasure trove of wagon wheels to eat on the way home!

Tomorrow's Christmas Eve and we're off to the pictures to see Arthur Christmas with friend's and not a lot else. Well, we are hoping that Beren goes to sleep so Santee can come and so am I as I hear he might have a new camera for me. I've been very very good Santee if you're reading!

Out west to Bousta

2011-12-11T20:21:00.000Z

It's 2 years today since we drove off the North Boat and into a new life in Shetland. My wife's new job brought us up here, to live in Firth for 16 months and since then in Scalloway. We've seen a fair bit of the place, made friends and had a pretty good time of it. People have asked me if we like it and will stay. Well yes, we both love it. Will we stay? My response is usually 'Well, I'm not planning on leaving' and certainly if we were in a position to buy a property here we would, but probably 'nort' and certainly some where out of the way.

Today we had a late start. Clare had been out at a colleagues Hamefairin until the early hours and was suffering from the hours of dancing and the odd drink too. Beren and I were up, baking bread, but generally lounging about. We could only lounge so long though and once the bread was made we made a joint effort to get Clare up and headed out for a bracing picnic out west while there was still some light.

We headed out to Bousta a little spot just east of Sandness and a lovely natural harbour surrounded by a rough coast to explore. The sea had obviously been bad the last week with debris covering the shore and banks, but was pretty quiet now and seals were hauled out enjoying the recent current in the weather.

From the harbour we headed south over Muckle Bousta towards Corn Head and The Bay of Brenwell. Just a little stroll to blow the cobwebs away.

In a little cove, under the shelter of a cliff we sat for a while to savour our freshly made buns and look out over the voe.

The area is covered in humpy rocky hills giving views over the surrounding bays, round each corner is a new and lovely scene unfolds.

And it gives Beren the chance to play his favourite game of 'King of the castle', over and over again! It does give us a way to get him to run up the hills though...

Home?

Beren racing up Corn Head to be King...

To the north of the headland, across the voe

To the south of the headland, a low sun shines overThe Bay of Brenwell.

And on the hill top, you know who...

Beren racing down a head of Clare to be King of the next castle.

We pottered around about for a bit saying what a great place it would be to spend some time in the summer, but it was pretty cold and we discovered Beren had a hole in his welly and so sopping wet feet, so we headed back to the car. Beren wore my gloves on his feet as we headed back towards Sandness with a brief stop at Melby Beach for Clare to have a nosey.

Then out to the end of the road at Huxter to watch the clouds coming over the sea and releasing their rain and hail on Papa Stour. Thankfully we were spared much more than a spattering today.

The sea was a lot calmer than it has been but there were still some big waves breaking over the skerries out there.

Looking north-east across St Magnus Bay was surely Eshaness and a snow speckled Ronas Hill in the far distance.

The infamous Forvik with it's lonely 'house' with what I can only assume to be Hillswick and the Drongs (far left) in the mid-ground and Ronas Hill in the background. I didn't see it when I took the photo.

The day was pretty grey, but not dull and as we were looking to go, after more than enough fresh air and a lack of tea, the setting sun added a bit of colour and the promise of fine night...

A new member of the family...

2011-12-08T17:52:00.001Z

I think the winter weather is getting to me. We've got a new member of the family due to my obvious technical sewing skills and a pair of old socks...

Sadly Clare is not as enamoured with our new family member as Beren and I. In fact when she saw it she said "What the $£$"$%!!! is that evil thing, there's no way that's staying in the house. Just seeing it makes me feel ill!" She says she's seen voodoo dolls that are less scary!

I don't really see what she finds so disturbing about him though. May be she'll grow to love Funky Monkey, may be...

Anyway I think I'll take it back in to work tomorrow and do a bit more work on it with the bairns , or may be make him a friend!

Another one bites the dust...

2011-12-03T19:38:00.000Z

The weather up here has suddenly realised it's December and had a lot of catching up to do, so the last couple of weeks have been gales, rain, hail cancelled ferries and even some snow (not that it stayed, it just blew away again).

Yesterday was Beren's birthday, so he's now a big boy of 4. He wanted to celebrate with a trip to Frankie's chippy in Brae and found no argument with us, who heartily tucked in to scallops and monk fish with chips.Yum!

But today was his birthday party. The first one he's really been involved in 'organising; inviting friend's from nursery and the like. so after a busy morning preparing for it I went out to blow a few cobwebs away in the gales and hail we've had lately.

I headed south to Burra and Hamnavoe first to see what the westerlies were bringing in on the exposed coast. An awful lot was the answer. The waves out side the protective arm where the lighthouse was were enormous; the air filled with a mix of hail and spray that buffeted me about. I tried to grab some shots of the action jumping out from behind the shelter of low lying rocks, but it was hopeless. far better to sit and marvel at the raging seas.

Next stop was Meal Beach, more sheltered from the wind, but with a nice sandy bay it often gives some lovely looking waves. Well the wasn't any beach to speak of and finding shelter to watch the sea and take some photos there was a challenge too. I moved a bit further round the headland to a bit of relative shelter to get these shots of the waves coming past in. They're bigger than they appear and the ones further round off Fugla Ness were monstrous, easily 40 foot, but I didn't have the time or the inclination to battle round there into to head on rain and hail.

As it was I stayed in the sheltered spot I'd found, on the rocks just above the reach of the biggest crashing waves. I missed catching the odd thundering wave of around 20 foot, but held out for the next one, thinking I was safe as nothing had done more than splash my boots so far. Well, I judged wrong and a beast of a wave reared up dumping on the base of the rocks while I was pre-occupied and followed on to dump on me next. I found myself dripping from head to toe in a waist deep pool of icy froth. Glancing down at my poor camera the lights faded like the TV used to do...

I got home, showered and defrosted with a cuppa ready for the party. In a vain attempt to save it the camera it is stripped out and sitting in the airing cupboard. It doesn't seem that wet, but the sea obviously got to the parts that matter. I'll give it a while and try it out, but I'm sure I'll be saving up for the January sales and something waterproof; water and electronics don't mix well, salt water and electronics just don't!

Just when I was starting to get my head round doing things in GIMP and waiting for a time to experiment with some long multiple exposures too...

Helli Ness; Cunningsburgh

2011-11-13T17:00:00.000Z

After a lazy start to the day we packed a lunch up and headed off to explore Helli Ness, a distinctive headland near Cunningsburgh that looks quite impressive from the A970. It's always reminded me of Filey Brigg back on the Yorkshire Coast, though they are really nothing like one another.

As we drove past the end of Aith Voe towards the marina we stopped for a brief while to watch a large group of seals hauled out on the grass and a few going crazy, dolphin style, in the still waters. I was desperate to get out and get some photos or video of their antics, but the boss said no, I might scare them off, so I did as I was told.

After watching the seals we carried on and parked near Aness only to be greeted by a guard ram. Well this fine looking ram on a rope and we weren't sure how long the rope was. He didn't look happy and after some thought we headed up the track from Greenmow towards the headland off Helli Ness.

They must like their horny rams round here because just up the track was another fine specimen.

Looking south was Mousa and Burraland Broch where we were last weekend. It was a pretty grey overcast day despite the light winds and mild temperature, so I decided to try some black and white photos.

The track leads down the central ridge of the headland towards an old settlement.

It's quite an interesting arrangement of buildings and walled walkways. Also interesting is the fact that the upstairs fire place and wall supports for the upper floor are actually lower than the top of the nicely arched alcoves at this end of the house. The views are pretty fantastic, but I bet the weather is pretty more so on this exposed hill top.

Below, Helli Ness stretches out towards Mousa.

And the headland was where we were off to next.

Either side of the headland were some markers, this one a nice stone built one which I assumed was some sort of mead, but a local we bumped into said it was pretty new and wasn't sure why it was there. Further out on the headland is the remains of a stone enclosure which he said was a mead. He'd seen a otter not long before we met him, but we'd have no such luck today.

Out at sea there were a few boats, this one checking a few pots, others, we were told were after fry. The eastern side of Mousa is in the back ground.

It was getting on by now and the weather was definitely looking to change so we pottered about on some bits of the shore for a short while before heading back along the south coast of Helli Ness.

Stopping for a breather we noticed this stack at Runties Geo and then it was heads down and back to the warmth and the promise of fresh scones...

Loch of Tingwall at night

2011-11-13T05:19:00.002Z

After a windy overcast day the skies cleared last night so I went out and about to try to take some night time photos. I had hoped to get some of the moon and starts over Bressay and Kirkabister lighthouse, but it was still far too windy over there for any long exposures, so I end up at The Loch of Tingwall. It was much more sheltered and Orion was just rising over the hills behind the Burradale Sisters.

I was just experimenting, fumbling in the dark in! The ones I've kept were all 30 second exposures at F 2.8 and ISO 100. The main issue I had was focussing with nothing to focus on, so I put it to focus to manual and took a flash photo or two to check the frame composition and focus as well as I could before taking the long exposure. Any hints on how to do it better will be gratefully received!

West Burra: Seals and Smugglers

2011-11-06T14:07:00.001Z

Conforming to stereotype, Beren and I took ourselves off for some exploring this morning while Clare did some house work. First stop was Hamnavoe for a bracing stroll to the smugglers cave.

Beren played 'King of the Castle' all the way there...

And loved telling me I was the dirty rascal!

Down into the cave we went, with a stiff wind trying to blow us back out.

But once inside all was calm, except for the thundering from the waves crashing in the sea ward entrance.

On the way out fireman Beren gave me the thumbs up each step he took up the ladder. Apparently it's what firemen do!

And then he played 'army men' all the way back to Hamnavoe, hiding behind rocks and shooting me when I got near.

Next stop was a favourite little beach on West Burra. It's sheltered with nice sand, shells and seals.

As we approached Beren - true to form - managed to shoo the resting seals and young into the sea, but not before I got a few photos.

As always the seals from the beach just bobbed about keeping an eye on us as we pottered about before leaving them to their beach again.

Has she got a poorly eye or is she winking at me? The same eye was half closed in all the photos of her.

The mother and young circle waiting for landing, once we'd gone. See the eye?

How cute is this?

And cute ponies from the stud too. Though this bad boy decided Beren was to be challenged and was determined to rush at him when ever he strayed from me.

Well, we've had a busy weekend. All there is to do now is enjoy a nice roast dinner with friends this evening and chill out...

Broch of Burraland and Mousa Broch

2011-11-06T08:07:00.000Z

After a pretty rough week in a reversal of the usual situation the weekend has turned out wonderful with perfect conditions for bonfire night.

We were heading to a community run bonfire on the evening at Levewick, which was a great family event with good grub too, but during the day we went out for a walk.

My first thought was to go to Helli Ness near Aithsetter, but we decided to go and visit the Broch of Houlland in stead. So parking up at Wart we set off round the coast.

You cannot fail to miss Mousa and it's broch as you walk along this bit of coast.

The Broch of Burraland

Mousa from Burraland Broch

Close up of Mousa Broch and the remains of a water mill to the left. You can see it's double wall that you can walk up inside.

And here's a view of the double wall of The Broch of Burraland with and entrance to it.

Inside the wall

There was otter spraint in every entrance into the wall voids in the broch. You can see fish bones and vertebrae clearly and almost smell the freshness in this photo. Sadly for me while I was taking photos of otter poo Clare and Beren were watching 3 otters go in to the near by geo! Anyway it's definitely a place to return to in future to view the otters.

In addition to the otters were hundreds of rabbits and shags on the near by cliffs.

A few boats passed in the sound while we were there, showing that despite appearances there was still a fair swell running through the channel.

Just to show why we need to return sans Beren; harmonicas are not common wildlife spotting aids! Though we did see some field fares, wheat ear and a black cap in addition to being chased by geese, ducks, hens and turkeys at on point.

We stopped to enjoy the beach at Sandwick on the way back as the sun was just starting to fall.

Back in Scalloway the early evening was pretty gorgeous too...

Clift Sound and Burra

Looking out over Trondra Brig towards Foula in the far distance

North Nesting: A days coasteering.

2011-11-03T21:40:00.000Z

Some times work is work, but other times work is amazing fun. Today was one of those days.

We had a trip booked in for a group to go coasteering. When you plan an activity you can pretty much bet the weather will put on a show, so it was with some trepidation that we arrived at work today with a forecast of 30mph+ South-Easterlies gusting to 50mph along with drizzle and a big South-Easterly swell too.

Nothing out of the ordinary for here at this time of the year, but coasteering involves navigating a bit of coast around the rocks and headlands, climbing, scrambling but also swimming and jumping in. Yes swimming in the North Sea, in Shetland, and a big sea at that in November. You may ask why, well it's a bloody good laugh!

Luckily we had good thick wetsuits and gear to wear and a relatively sheltered section of coast to play on up in North Nesting near Kirkabister and Hogg Island. On a better day there are caves you can swim in a more places to explore, but today it was adventure enough scrambling the rocks, jumping from them and swimming from place to place. I really can't wait to do it again and I've got a long standing appointment to do it up on Nibon Isle in North Mavine where there are some spectacular cave and geos to jump into.

Oh, can't believe I nearly forgot, we also got a great view of an otter scampering about on the rocks for a minute. It's not in the following short video of some of our fun, but it was a lovely sight.

Anyway hope this gives you a taste for the north sea in November...

John Boyne's Burn

2011-10-30T20:20:00.000Z

After parking up near the Brig O' Fitch on the A970 we went for a wander and a picnic up the waterfalls on John Boynes Burn and with the heavy rain we've been having they were in full flow, cascading down the hillside and peaty brown.

This is the bottom of the falls. We worked our way around and up the falls and the slippy banks.

And up we went...

So lovely and such a lovely day too...

Looking back down to the A970

There are numerous slowly swirling pools between the cascades.

Sometimes even short heather is too long for little legs.

And as the falls were pretty much petering out to the flatter moor top we decided it was time to head back down and see what we could see.

Across the valley the Burradale Sisters did their thing

As did Clare and Beren. Are the balancing or flying planes?

They spied a little eerie...

And sat to admire the view...

It's funny when you drive past on the road it just looks like a barren bog land with the odd peat stacks, but get down in it and you forget the road is there.

At the bottom of the bank we headed for a likely looking brige. Time for some poo sticks and rock throwing!

And a slow wander back to the car and home for tea. we forgot the clocks had changed and you could tell.

Flying visit...

2011-10-26T20:42:00.000+01:00

Well I didn't get up to too much in the school holidays this time, a few trips out with Beren and a couple of little trips out getting used to my kayak, but mainly resting up still.

We did get away for a long weekend back home though. A quick unexpected visit home and our first time flying to Edinburgh and then hiring a car for the rest of the journey. It worked out well, but the return flight was one we won't forget for a while, or at least the night landing in a force 8 cross wind at Sumburgh. Even when the plane was stationary for us to disembark it was bouncing and rattling about!

Despite the need for our visit home we managed to get out a bit though and I got to have a proper introduction to my daughter's new horse 'Tilly' her wedding present from her husband.

She was having her first hair cut and not too happy about it. Why Robyn decided to get her clipped in winter I don't know, but she looked pretty silly with a twitch on her to try to keep her calm as the job was done!

Looking all posh it was time for a little photo shoot on a gorgeous day. First up is Faith, my grand-daughter, not at all deterred by sitting on a 16 hand horse...

Beren was happy getting led round too...

As was Clare...

And Robyn put her through her paces in the arena while I looked on feeling a bit too rough and stiff for riding.

Another treat for me was a visit to 'The Woods', when we were kids they were such a major feature in our lives that they were just 'The Woods'. I do miss the woodland from time to time when I'm up in Shetland, but there is plenty to make up for it.

Along with 'The Woods' was 'The Conker Tree'; still there and still producing conkers, although at a less prestigious rate. 'The Fallen Down Tree' sadly disappeared many years ago.

In The Woods is 'The Bridge'...

standing over 'The Beck'

And not far away 'The Second Bridge'. There is also a third, but only the most adventurous got there when we were kids!

'The Easter Field' still looks over our main entrance to 'The Woods' and 'The Moors' beyond

And going in to 'The Woods' from 'The Second Bridge' gives some great views towards the coast and the last remaining 'shaley' from the iron stone mines, Kilton Shale Tip.

I had a great little wander round my some of my childhood haunts. Next visit I think I'll visit some more of our secret places, though many have now gone and others seem pretty insignificant to an adults eye.

Beren and I also had the chance to visit a iconic landmark of Teesside on it's 100th Anniversary, The Transporter Bridge. A rare breed in the world of bridges. In my first job after finishing Poly I worked for the old County Council looking after Public Rights Of Way, a job I loved, and for some reason was based in an office with street lighting engineers. These colleagues first 'lit' the bridge to provide what is a bit of a night-time spectacle now.

The company my brother now works for are involved in it's maintenance now and were inviting people to go there for a visit and climb up and across it. Most excellent!

The yellow structure is the 'gondola' which carries foot and vehicular traffic across the Tees. This amused me as one of my brother's friends thought we were going to cross on a little boat, presumably complete with a cornetto!

It's quite a climb to the top...

And quite a view over Teesside...

Beren seems to have got the idea that smile now means pull a funny face! It might not be obvious but through the big gaps in the railing behind him is a direct drop to the Tees, hence my brothers vice like grip on his arm.

Thankfully, it seems now a days the only people taking the plunge are the bungee jumpers. I do worry about Beren as he was a bit put out that we couldn't go down the rope like they did. No idea where he gets it from!

I would have liked to do a bungee jump, something I've never done, but I'm not so sure about getting poked in the head with a stick at the other end.

Anyway that's all folk from the flying visit 'sooth'. Hopefully I'll be back out and about finding new places in Shetland again soon...

Ghost Dove

2011-10-18T11:08:00.000+01:00

We have a number of collared doves that we see regularly in the garden and about Scalloway. This morning as I was sat on the sofa a loud bang gave me a good gluff and I saw one of them had crashed into the window leaving it's mark...

... a ghostly print of it's body, head and tail along with the graceful curve of the leading edge of it's wing and on the upper wing it's primary feather tips.

Pretty cool and pretty spooky. The dove seemed to fly away unharmed, but I guess we should wash the windows now!

Pumpkin Progress

2011-10-15T15:00:00.001+01:00

Beren and I have been working on a Super Scary Pumpkin mask for the Halloween party at nursery and Scalloway Hall. Here's the recipe:

Take one balloon, sellotape it to give it a flatter, pumpkin look...
Guess the size of the head to go in it...
Shred the Shetland Times and dip in watered PVA and apply...
Leave to dry abd POP the balloon...
Cut out teeth and eyes...

So far so good!

Over several days:

Paint on poster paint mixed with PVA...

Realise that after several coats you'll never cover the print...

Note to self- paint with white emulsion first next time...

Use various old paints and a back marker to make a

TOTALLY AWESOME SCARY PUMPKIN MASK!!!

Think:

Oh yeh, that's great we're definitely going to win, just need to make the suit now...

Feel totally deflated when he decides he wants to be Darth 'bloody' Vader instead!

And it won't even fit my head or Clare's. I'll have to stick to my troll mask again this year; Clare erm...

Marshmallows and Mushrooms

2011-10-11T20:06:00.001+01:00

This afternoon Beren and I stopped off at Scalloway Meat Company for a few snacks and some marshmallows for a little trip to the Forest Of Kergord.

Beren found a light-sabre to scare off any Gruffalos we might see. Seemed to work as we never saw any!

He was also pretty adventurous clambering over that fallen tree you see in the background, with me waiting to catch him, not that he fell.

Our mission was to go to the old house at the top of the woods for a picnic, a fire and to toast marshmallows. He checked out the bridge before I could cross.

Unfortunately his scouting out the bridge resulted in the loss of his toy car into the raging torrent below...

Actually further up stream the burn was a bit livelier, but I think the ferns give away the scale of the deadly falls.

Anyway we safely survived the gloriously autumnal woodland to arrive at the old house and get a fire going.

We even toasted some marshmallows, but Beren preferred them un-toasted and decided all the pink ones were his!

After a while we did a bit more exploring and came across dozens of these fungi. Rufous Milkcap I think, not that we about to cook and eat them. If you can confirm what they are let me know. They were pretty old so probably not the true colour. Bonny though...

These too, Hypholoma Capnoides, I think. Beren was worried that the animals had been munching at them and might have poorly tummies; he might be right as it's very similar to some poisonous ones. I'll stick to field mushrooms, shaggy ink caps and a few other obvious edibles I know.

But his prize find was a baby tree for the tree guard he had found, some sort of white beam I think. We also found a few small horse chestnut trees, but not matured enough for conkers. We'll have to got to the trees in town at Hayfield house for them I reckon.

After that we had a scenic drive home. Mmm... wonder where we'll get to tomorrow...

Autumn arrives with a bang...

2011-10-10T09:42:00.000+01:00

If things have been a bit quiet of late it's because they have been largely due to the weather that has been anything but quiet.

For the last couple of weeks we've had gales and rain with the occasional breather before it kicks up again. Friends who are going away have been worrrying if the ferries are running and then worrying that they are running, with big seas in gale force 10 winds at times I can understand why. The video I wanted of last monday can't be posted here, but here's a similar one...

Even so, I've managed to get out a couple of times in my 'new to me' Nigel Dennis HV Explorer kayak with my friend who has a kayaking business, Sea Kayak Adventures. No where of consequence, just getting used to it, practising rolling and trying to fine tune the seating for me.

Here it is on top of the car down at Voe pier this Saturday before the weather returned in force. When the wind and sea drops again I'll be out and about in it.

I've also had the first meeting of The Shetland Meditation Group. A great bunch of people came along with a range of experiences and we sat for a couple of periods before having a cuppa and a chat. I look forward to our next meeting and may be a few more new faces to join the gang.

It's now the school holidays up here and it's continuing to rain and blow. With a bit of luck Beren and I will still get out to a few places over the next couple of weeks. His favourites are Kergord Woods, Voxter Woods and Michael's Wood (spot a theme LOL) and various beaches; obviously with a suitable picnic in tow. He's also let me know he's pretty keen to go to cafes and different swimming pools; I think I can handle that!

For me I'm still hoping for a calm spell to get out to some of the islands, particularly Outer Skerries and Papa Stour as we can make them as day trips on the ferry. We may even get away for a couple of nights camping or staying in a Bod, but that's not looking so likely just now. The good thing though is that the weather is ever changing up here so there's usually a chance to get out and do something.

So, a period of pottering and taking the air when circumstances allow for now...

Way out West

2011-09-26T20:15:00.000+01:00

Sunday was another lovely but windy day up here and Beren and I went for a run out West to visit a few places that should have been a bit sheltered from the southerly wind. They weren't that sheltered, but the wind was pretty warm.

Our first stop was out at Melby over the water from Papa Stour; and between the Shetland and Papa Stour is Forvik, the mighty independent kingdom of Captain Calamity AKA Stuart Hill. Pretty much a grassy skerrie with a couple of wooden huts on it. Forvik is just the grassy foreground, the back ground is Papa Stour.

He know's he shouldn't, but Beren took advantage of a near by wall while I was taking photos. No wall was harmed in the process. The Neap of Norby is in the background where there's a great beach we'd be visiting.

Here it is again with the Holm of Melby out in the bay...

And the south end of Papa Stour across the Sound of Papa. I hope to visit there on the Saturday ferry some time soon and in the kayak too at some point.

After a potter around Melby we drove off to park at the top of Norby Beach. A great expanse of beach with grand views, but a bit dour looking with it's dull red sands compared to the like of Meal Beach.

Papa Stour in the distance, the Holm of Melby and The Neap of Norby...

Looking back to Melby...

While we were out here I thought to drive a little further out to Bousta as it looked like and interesting spot on the map. On the way we passed a house with the Faroese Flag flying, a new one for me. It also had a little hillside settlement for trowies in the drive way along with 'welcome' in several languages!

Here's the cosy harbour at Bousta

And another first, a wo-wo ferry - walk-on-walk-off! I like it out this way. I'm not sure if this is left over from some summer fun or what. It's very intriguing...

We sat for a while on the end of the jetty, dangling our feet and looking in the clear waters.

The it was timne to start heading back with the intention to visit Stanydale Temple on the way. Passing Burga water a strange white circular feature stood out in the loch. A dun, or old Celtic Fort

At Stanydale we parked carefully at the edge of a passing place and I moaned and groaned as I splodged up the hill with Beren on my shoulders passing remains of an ancient settlements until we arrived at the quite impressive Stanydale Temple.

The two holes with rocks around them in the middle are thought to be for poles that once held a massive thatched roof over the whole building. it must have been an impressive building in it's day. All around the area are remains of other structures and standing stones.

The afternoon was wearing on and I was shattered and still had to carry Beren back to the car over the welly sucking ground, so we bid farewell with plans to return and show Clare our discoveries some time.

Bits and Bobs and Bressay

2011-09-24T17:55:00.001+01:00

Well first things first. I'm taking a step in a new direction on Shetland with the starting of a fortnightly meditation group in Scalloway. To help generate some interest for it and provide information I've got another blog for The Shetland Meditation Group. I do hope enough folk come along to make the hire of the hall viable and I get the chance to sit with others up here in Shetland, if not at least I tried. So if you're interested have a look at the new blog and come along.

Today has been a gorgeous day and we all went over to my friend's croft on Bressay. Despite my earlier than planned wake up call for them we had some fun 'felling' a redundant telegraph pole, logging it up and then trying to remove the stump from the park. Luckily his plucky little Grey Fergie came up trumps to help us lift and drag the pole out the ground. Clare enjoyed having a drive of it and me and Beren had a little tour around in the link box to save our legs.

This isn't my friend's one, but it is the same...

We also paid a surprise visit to The Maryfield House Hotel for lunch, it surprised the owners, but they were very accommodating and the food was fine.

Clare has been to Bressay for work purposes, but never to have a look round, so after lunch we did a whistle stop tour of the island for her to see some of the places me and Beren have visited in the past. We'll definitely be back one fine day with a picnic and plans for some more intensive exploring.

I did have crazy thoughts of getting the ferry to Outer Skerrie tomorrow for a wander, but after the work, fun and sun of today I'm a little frazzled, so I'll just rest now and see what tomorrow brings...

Long name for a little burn...

2011-09-18T22:11:00.001+01:00

Plans are plans and subject to change. So this afternoon I found myself parking up in Wester Quarff to go and look at a waterfall on 'The Burn of The Glen of Quarff', a bit of a mouthful , but a nice place for a wander and a chance for a few photos. It's also a recce for taking some of the kids I work with out and about as there's a geocache up there, actually a few in the area.

As you wander up the burn there are a series of small arched concrete bridges over little cascades. Fairly decrepit, but an added interest in their overgrown state with rusting corrugated sheeting hanging down.

The burn is tiny, but lovely none the less, with a touch of peat in the water from recent wet weather.

It's not long before you approach the main waterfall, cascading down into a narrow gorge.

I held out the camera on it's tripod over the falls for this one, didn't dare lean any further.

Above the falls the burn is less deeply cut, but still tumbling over the bedrock,

weaving it's way,

and splitting like atoms.

Down in the valley 'The Burn of The Glen of Quarff' joins 'The Burn of Quarff' and continues west to the sea in Clift Sound opposite Burra and Trondra.

When I got back to the car it seemed daft not to go to the end of the road as I was nearly there, so to the the end I went.

Looking east back up the Quarff valley.

And looking north; Trondra to the right and Scalloway in the far distance.

There's another nearby waterfall on 'John Boyne's Burn' that I want to check out soon. It runs down to near the Brig O' Fitch from Gossa Water in the hills behind Sound. I noticed it the other day from the road and also came across it on a photography blog today. Looks interesting...

Weekend treat and good enough to eat...

2011-09-17T11:45:00.000+01:00

I've been beavering away with my sourdough bread and it's getting better. Today's is definitely the best 'multi-grain' bread I've made ever ever ever and it's so yummy. A real treat for the weekend with some Shetland butter on it.

I did have an experiment with a beer barm bread using a bottle conditioned ale from the Co-op, 'Gold miner', the beer was nice, the bread was tasty too, I'd under proved it and it was a bit on the dense side. If I get to Unst for some wort from Valhalla Breweries I'll have to be less hasty.

I've found Sourdough.com really useful, but also terrifying. I'm a bit slap dash with my cooking in general, pretty much done by look and feel, but they are SO specific about everything. Starter hydration, the rule of 240 (or 300 for sourdough), internal temperature at end of baking (at sea level, it's different if you're higher)), the minutiae of the bulk fermentation and on and on... Never mind all the lush sounding flours that have never seen a Shetland shop shelf. BUT, looking through the recipes and photos of the results it is really worth it.

So my challenge for this week is to track down an oven thermometer and spikey sticky in one for next to nothing and also some unglazed floor tiles (unless I see an old granite work top in a skip!) I should may be go to the 'Ideal Home Exhibition' at Clickimin today, but nah...

There is a problem with baking bread though; it means you eat so much of it! Just waiting for it to cool is a real torment and then it disappears in a flash of knives and butter and you have to make the next one!

Other plans for the weekend revolve mainly around food too with 'An American Brunch' at Muckle Roe Hall tomorrow and may be followed by a Knitting and Spinning Sunday tea at Whiteness Hall. In between I'm probably getting a little exercise trying out a kayak from my kayak expert friend up in Vidlin.

Bod of Nesbister

2011-09-09T14:55:00.001+01:00

I was just looking through some photos and thought I'd post these of The Bod Of Nesbister on Whiteness Voe south of the A971 as you head out west.

I've not stayed there. I know as with most bods it's pretty basic with no electricity and has an outside portapotty (personally inspected), but it does have running water and a stove.

What I do know is that it's a wonderful spot to wander about, bird watch, fish and generally hang out. I think we'll have to book ourselves in there for a weekend before the season ends. It's only a few miles from home, but staying out there and having a fire on the ayre will be great and Beren would love it.

It'd be a bit more than a nuisance if someone thought it'd be a joke to bar you in! There is another door, but that has an external crossbar too...

And looking north up the voe.

Wonderful day out West; Silwick and Westerwick

2011-09-05T10:14:00.000+01:00

Being convinced that autumn was well and truly here with leaves falling, torrential downpours and some pretty windy spells, yesterday took us by complete surprise. It was stunning. Hardly a wisp of cloud in the blue skies, practically no wind, just warm and summery.

So with such unexpected fantastic weather we made up a picnic and Clare took me out West for a dose of 'the airs'. Even bought me and ice-cream, actually I paid for it, but she suggested it and took me there!

Happily passing the tour buses from a cruise ship that must be in Lerwick we headed off on the lovely drive out to Silwick. We kayaked here the other year with a much smaller Beren, but we've not been land side of this amazing place.

Here's the view looking over Silwick. The big island with an arch is 'Clett' and is really quite massive, some where I'll re-visit in the kayak when I'm able. The shingle beach at Silwick is a grand spot.

Just after we set off we noticed a couple of bad boys watching us. Thankfully things down below are slowly on the mend but it's not long since I felt a bit like he looks. Sadly a big ram was floating in a geo below the cliffs, I've not seen many sheep fallen off the cliffs.

A short but slow potter later we were at a perfect spot for our picnic. Wow!

The bays round this bit of coast from Reawick to Culswick Broch are truly stunning. The birds life has calmed down a lot now; largely fulmars, some great black backed gulls and shags. Out at sea, looking between the stacks, I was surprised to see the ferry the Bigga steaming past. I can only assume it was going to Scalloway, but by the time we got home I was too tired go go and check.

Here she is using the full 30x zoom on my camera.

After lunch we slowly made our way over to Westerwick. It's only just over 1km, but with me, Beren, the views and lunch it took us a couple of hours from the car to get there. Clare actually went back to take the car round to Westerwick for me from here, it took her about 15 minutes!

Beren enjoyed a bit of ruff and tumble in the grass before just being interested in the grass and the bit and bobs he could find there. In the back ground is the western extreme of Westerwick with the big island, Giltrarump, surrounded by stacks.

Down below a couple of seals were enjoying the fine day too.

Here's a panoramic shot of Westerwick with Grossa Stack being the big lump in the middle of the bay. The little bay just to the right of centre is where you come down from the car, another isolated shingle beach.

We'd all had a great day out and returned home exhausted. Clare zoomed off into Lerwick to attend an excellent talk by James Naughtie of BBC Radio 4 fame and Beren and I lounged in the lounge. Sadly on her return there was the, now dry, grass to be cut, so after a yummy tea she was out mowing the lawn as the dark descended at about 8.30pm, a reminder that the long summer evenings are well and truly disappearing.

Impressive dedication!

2011-09-02T12:37:00.001+01:00

While I'm still festering away, in more ways than one, with another dose of antibiotics and waiting for the results of a less than comfortable swab it seems atleast a few people have been determined to set some self-imposed feats of collecting on Shetland.

In this weeks 'Times' (Shetland Times of course, what other could there be) a couple have been setting records in the Ham radio world by transmitting and receiving from remote uninhabited islands up here. Obviously a challenging and fun venture for all involved.

However this pales in to realms of a quick nip out to the shops in comparison to Walter Scott's Shetland project. Now I love to try to visit to of the way places, but would I catalogue lists of all these 'features' of Shetland (below) and see how many I could visit? Erm...no!

He says...

My interest in the botany of Shetland began in 1955 when I was fifteen years old, and has continued to the present day. For some thirty-five years my travels in search of plants took me to many parts of Shetland, often to remote corners and islands where the flora had not hitherto been examined. In the early 1990s I decided to fill in the gaps in my coverage of the county by identifying a number of projects, namely, things to do, see, or visit. Many of these ventures, eighteen in all, have been completed or nearly so. Some, like holms in freshwater lochs, had a purely botanical basis. Others were chosen, not for their botanical value―although my interest in plants was always in the background―but because they provided a predetermined and finely gridded basis which gave me a uniform coverage of all parts of all of our islands.

The first number is how many features he has listed; the number in brackets is how many of each category he has visited so far. VERY impressive and nice to note he's had a pint in every pub in Shetland in 2004!

01. Islands 2487 (1226).
02. Ruined houses 2461 (2461).
03. Kilometre squares 2248 (2238).
04. Coastal walking 1270 miles (1270).
05. Freshwater lochs 526 (526).
06. Plants, native 354 (354).
07.Holms in freshwater lochs 348 (348).
08. Main roads 240 (240).
09. Hillsummits 115 (115).
10. Plants, alien 107 (107).
11. Brochs 78 (78).
12.Churches 81 (81).
13. Triangulation pillars 76 (76).
14. Lighthouses 55 (54).
15. Cemeteries 52 (52).
16. Public houses 34 (34).
17. Standing stones 28 (28).
18. Geographical extremeties 4 (4)

If you check out his website he lists the criteria for accomplishing each category. One example is...

Kilometre squares. To stand on (or touch by hand when sea conditions or the shape of the available land precludes a safe landing) as many as possible of the 1 km squares of the Ordnance Survey National Grid within which there is some land, of any size, and which is above high water in calm conditions. There is a total of 2,248 such squares...

A lot more fun than train spotting (not a viable Shetland hobbie!) and dare I say it , Munro Bagging (sadly not available in Shetland either!)

However, if I had a list like that I'd have a nervous breakdown trying to finish it, preferably yesterday. The second Noble Truth 'that suffering arises from attachment and desires' would be very appropriate for me!

I'll look forward to having a nosey through some of the detail at my leisure for places I might fancy visiting and if I have any queries it's useful to note that he only lives 5 minutes walk away in Scalloway.

Mmm... I notice he hasn't got a list of noosts on there...

Home Alone...

2011-08-27T11:01:00.001+01:00

Boo Hoo, poor me, life sucks, blah blah blah....

I'm currently home alone, out of action -still- wondering why on earth I decide to have a vasectomy and hoping the antibiotics kick in soon as I want to be back at work, on my feet and sleeping would be nice.

For all I've had my 'poor me' moments, life's not bad really. This too will pass and I'll soon be back on form.

One benefit of it has been a reminder that I'm so glad I don't have a TV. It's been bad enough being sucked into watching hours of fluff on the computer. Even having the chance to be very selective with myriad of 'interesting' things to watch on On Demand channels and YouTube is driving me mad. Only so much reading, TV and sofa a guy can take.

Luckily, after the resentment of captivity I'm now seeing it as an opportunity to sit (or lie) zazen more, listen to Dharma talks and reflect on things. Also I'm getting a damn good rest.

In The Litany of the Great Compassionate One there's a section I always find very empowering:

Thou hast a weapon within Thine hand, hail!
Thou hast the Wheel within thine hand, hail!
Thou who hast the lotus, hail!

We have the 'facilities' to choose how or if we react to things, to stop, and live in the present rather than focussing on what could or should be. Not that it's always easy or an easy choice!

Da Big Bannock Is GO!

2011-08-21T14:40:00.001+01:00

Well it was for everyone apart from me who was left home -not so much licking his wounds- after 'the snip' on friday. That was an epic in itself which left me hanging around for hours to starve after they decided it would be better for all concerned if I had a general anaesthetic rather than a local. I was having a nice dream when they woke me up anyway and the staff were great.

So while I sulked in bed with my bag of frozen peas Clare, Beren and friends headed nort for Da Big Bannock 2011 in aid of Cancer Research UK with a Thunder Birds theme to it and a tropical flavoured big bannock.

For once it was a sunny day, to start with, and Beren enjoyed seeing the various mock ups of Thunder Birds and their vehicles. Thunder Birds 2 ( a dressed up quad bike and trailer) was giving off road rides round some of the moor. The kids thought it was awesome and the best fun ever; Clare thought it was terrifying and her life was in danger!

Here's part of the course...

Soon after they watched the bannock been made in a large metal tray with 'sterilised' shovels, flour, milk, pineapple juice and chunks before it was ceremoniously paraded to the brick over where it cooked for around an hour. Meanwhile two manly teams had a race to churn, what was by all accounts, pretty tasty butter. The odd 'tropical' bannock, complete with fresh churned butter got the thumbs up from Clare, but she never brought the invalid some home, boo hoo...

Along with the tropical bannock came the tropical monsoon, well it is Shetland and it can't stay sunny for ever. A bit of rain couldn't stop the fun though and it was soon time for the merry tiller race.

Here's a fine specimen of a past contender complete in boiler suit and yellow dunlops.

It's an extreme off road rotavator course of moorland bog, hills and streams with the odd fire hose to contend with and obligatory pit stops for drams and cans of sweetheart stout.

All I can do now is hope that I get up there next year to enjoy the fun and say a thanks to all who made it the great day it was for those visiting.

A beautiful evening's fishing

2011-08-17T11:47:00.001+01:00

I had a nice surprise yesterday when a friend of mine dropped me a line to see if I fancied going out fishing for some mackerel on the evening. It was a beautiful day with little sea, so yeh, I was over the moon at the prospect.

After work he picked me up and we headed for Whiteness where the little 14 foot Orkney boat is moored. The only problem with the fine condtions was the midges were out in force and terrible as we loaded gear on to the skiff to get out to the boat. It was a real relief to get out on the water and away from them and soon we were motoring down Stromness Voe, scouting for otter and seeing the odd fish jumping.

Once out of the voe past Jackville we headed west and settled on a spot just south of North Havra. As look would have it 20 yards from the boat the water started to boil with mackerel and our lines could hardly get in the water before we were pulling them out again and again fully loaded with the shimmering fish. I've never hit a shoal like that before and in no time we'd got more than enough mackerel for both us and the boatowner.

Here's an otter enjoying a local mackerel a while back in Scalloway...

The rest of the trip was spent gutting them and feeding the gulls and bonxies before enjoying the run back up the voe in the fantastic evening with the sun setting over the hills.

Unfortunately, we then had to brave the dreaded midgies to get all ashore. Even my friend's dog was being driven mad by them.

It's another stunner of a day here today, surely the best of the year, so after a dinner of our fresh mackerel we'll get out and about tonight after work to make the most of another wonderful evening.

My first sour dough loaf...

2011-08-13T11:13:00.000+01:00

In the beginning there was flour, water, a bit of natural yoghurt and a few raisins. Out of this came Margo, our own pet yeast in an old mayonnaise jar...

Not so pretty is she really? But give it a few days for her to grow, add some more flour, water, honey, salt and oil. Put in a little elbow grease and a bit of time and here's her first baby.

I may be made this mix a bit on the wet side, but it seems with sour dough it 's a bit more of an art than a science. Anyway the out come was a lovely tasting textured loaf with a nice chewy crust, just a bit more spread out than I'm used to.

The remainder of Margo has gone back into gestation with more flour and water added. The remainder of this loaf is tempting us all beyond belief and had a hearty thumbs up from Clare and Beren. I've got to say it's the tastiest loaf I've made and adding a couple of our own poached eggs to it later will be fantastic.

I'll start off a 'sponge' later tonight and then in the morning be ready to roll for sour dough loaf mk 2...

Holm Field on the Clift Hills

2011-08-12T14:53:00.000+01:00

Summers back! We seem to be having 4 seasons in a week at the moment, but judging by the colour of my bonce it's definitely summer today, accompanied of course by a stiff breeze.

It's the last day of my summer holidays and I was determined to get out, so I decided on a visit to The Clift Hills that run a fair way along the western side of southern mainland. They're quite imposing from Scalloway and Burra, but luckily you can get part of the way up to some of them from the east coast of Shetland. So, today I drove down to Cunningsburgh and up through Blett to park up and begin my trek up to Holm Field via Scroo with thoughts of possibly getting over to Royal Field.

After leaving the peat track it was just a case of beating up the hill and following sheep tracks ever upwards, whilst working round the dissected peat hags like I would imagine you wind around crevasses in a glacier. I'm glad I'd brought my trekking poles, life's a lot easier with them on that sort of ground.

There were still some Bonxies swooping about in parts, but I've never found them as concerning as others seem to, their swoops are great for photos too.

Looking south from Scroo. It was pretty windy up top, it'll be a shame to see a couple of wind turbines up here that a local family plan to erect.

It was then down in to bog hopping again in the saddle between Scroo and Holm Field followed by another trek up to come out at the top.

Looking south. South Havra to the right of the cairn.

And a closer view.

On nearing the summit a mountain hare had been teasing me, by waiting until I'd got the camera out then scarpering. Eventually I got it; my first mountain hare photo, though not great.

East and West Burra, South Havra and peeking in on the far right Foula.

Papil with the mysterious Foula in the distance.

Looking north...

Sitting for a drink of both scenery and liquid I noticed some yummy looking black berries. I've not come across any moorland berries to munch on up on Shetland before, odd as back home we have loads of bilberries over the moors. These are crow berries and very nice indeed. Ironically I opened the Shetland Times to see an article about how it's a good year for them. Well there weren't that many, I'd hate to be trying to get enough for a pie!

It was time to be heading back now, Royl Field was tempting me across the valley, but to be honest I was pretty shattered and had an appointment with Clare for lunch in Flames back in Lerwick. So of I set down and around the hills to the car and into town to pick up Clare. If the weather holds we're off to Maywick beach for a picnic this evening. Fingers crossed!

As for the weekend... well there's Walls Show tomorrow. On Sunday it's Trondra Rowing Regatta (though oddly rowing from Scalloway Marina). I'll be rowing with the vets for that, may be even the in the open too if I'm unlucky. It'll certainly be a shock to the system as I've not been out for some time although I've been managing to keep the gym up.

Sour Doughs and Beer Barms

2011-08-06T15:19:00.000+01:00

For a while I've made my own bread on and off; it's so much nicer than shop bought bread and I also enjoy the process. I just happened to catch part of a programme on BBC Radio 4 the other day talking about different yeasts for bread and beer making and the difference in tastes they can impart. Intrigued I listened again to the Food Programme on iplayer

It was a fascinating programme. I had no idea how much difference different yeast can make to the taste colour and texture of breads, never mind beers.

I've always just used the dried yeast from the shop for bread, but I've had friends in the past who made basic sour dough bread, so, inspired by the food programme, I'm giving it ago. Once I've got my pet sour dough friend happily growing away I hope to progress to make a beer barm bread with even more yummy flavours. I think a trip to Valhalla Breweries might be in order to get the necessary wort for starting the beer barm. Could be the start of something interesting with bere meal yeast bread.

So anyway I've now got 'Margo' in a big glass jar (spoon of natural yoghurt, a few raisins a cup of flour and a cup of warm water) sitting on the top shelf in the kitchen waiting for her to come to life over the next few days like some Frankenstinian experiment Mwahahahaaaaaa!!!!

Watch this space...

Symbister, East Burra

2011-08-04T19:40:00.002+01:00

There's a lot of places up in Shetland with the same name, it can get confusing at times, but Symbister on East Burra has a unique loveliness.

I wandered out there today just as the sun was starting to get some heat through. I had intended to go out to the end of Houss Ness and investigate the caves and arches there, but I got waylaid at the remains of the farm stead at Symbister and dozed in the sun.

I assume it was still a bit foggy on the East side of Shetland as the clouds were hanging over the Clift Hills across Clift Sound.

Here's Symbister and The Houb (bay) looking north towards Bridge End

The mushroom to at the right of the photo above reminded me of the 'Mermaids Tables' we get carved out of rock on the coast back 'home'.

Clift Hills in the distance and burnt mound in the foreground. There are a few around here. Mounds of old discarded cooking stones. The stones were heated in a fire and then dropped into pots to heat water and cook. When they broke up they were just tossed to form the burnt mounds common on Shetland.

An Arctic Skua was around about and harassed by the few remaining terns from time to time.

Looking south back across The Houb to the remains of the houses. The little finger of land that forms the enclosure of The Houb is a beautiful place to sit. At it's end is a circular bit, raised and grassed over with circular high tide marks around it, very cool.

It was too hot for me to be out and about long. Not expecting it I'd no cap or sun screen on; that combined with a nap on the banks left me hot, red, tired and grumpy by the time I got home. God help me if I lived some where where it actually does get hot!

In other news today:

School Exam results would have been a day late due to yeasterday's fog delaying the 'paper plane'. But, they arrived on the ferry today and the fantastic Posties up here put in an extra effort to get them out to the anxious students and parents. Well Done Posties!

This made me laugh as my Mam was so confused when she couldn't get a paper at the shop one time during bad weather when she was up; 'there were none at all!' She told me. When I said 'well the paper plane won't have been' she thought I was winding her up until I explained.

Misty Morning on St Ninian's Isle

2011-08-03T13:33:00.000+01:00

After a rough start to the day I decided I needed to get out and stretch my legs. It was a misty morning, but not really wet and pretty mild. I didn't want to push it too far, so I set off for a short walk around the relatively flat St Ninian's Isle.

I've kayaked round the isle before with Clare and Beren and visited various bits, but never walked around it all. With my legs not being too great lately I took my walking poles and set off at a steady pace.

Looking south from near the Chapel remains...

And back towards the tombolo...

As I looked out towards Ireland and the skerries along the coast I noticed this little arch hiding away below me.

I was soon at the northern tip of the isle. Here's the view looking south down the coast where we kayaked last year.

Hitch Holm was just peeping out the mist.

It seems an age since we kayaked through these stacks and skerries. I'll have to hope for a day when both the sea's and my own conditions allow for me to do it again and spend some time exploring the nooks and crannies.

The southern end of the island always gets my interest going. It's so dramatic looking and on a clear day the view to the south of Shetland only enhances it. A gorgeous spot to sit.

Despite my steady pace and the easy walk I was feeling it by now. I looked down on the spot where we had stopped for our lunch on the kayak last year (the shingle beach between the holm and the cliffs below), had a drink and decided to cut back to the tombolo from here.

For all it's small size there's so much to explore around the coast of St Ninian's and plenty of places where you can, with care, get down to to the sea if you're that way inclined.

For now though it's time to get the chilli on for tea and put my feet up. Body and weather permitting I hope to go down to East Burra tomorrow to have a little nosey round that less explored part of Burra, but we'll see what tomorrow brings...

A peerie peek at the Tall Ships

2011-07-25T20:01:00.000+01:00

After being so chuffed earlier in the year that I'd be here for the Tall Ships event in Shetland I've been decidedly under the weather of late and missed out on much of the celebrations.

We did get over to 'da toon' for a peeire peek though. Very impressive, though some of the smaller timber boats took my eye more than the enormous full riggers.

So here's a glimpse of some of what we saw, but I can assure you a quick google for Tall Ships images Shetland will get you some impressive photo's of them under way.

Later today we went to a friend's house at Gulberwick thinking we'd see the start of the next leg of the race. Well I guess we did, but the start line was a lot further out than we'd thought, still it was impressive to see the mass of sail slowly heading off, next stop Norway.

A little wet at No Ness, Tangwick

2011-07-24T17:07:00.002+01:00

Ok, cabin fever has set in. I've braved the crowds of Lerwick and the Tall Ships, impressive they are, and forked out for some yummy grub, but even though it is truly awful weather today I had to get out and north for some clear space.

Thankfully Clare and Beren were up for a visit to a little shingle beach, despite the rain and wind. So, we packed some sandwiches and a flask and I nodded off as we drove north up to near Tangwick in Eshaness.

The weather really was grim, but not too cold as we got out at Tangwick Haa Museum and set of across the grass banks for a short stroll along the coast.

Looking west towards Dore Holm from Tang Wick

And east towards No Ness

We headed down to a little cove on the west of No Ness for our brew. I love the sight of The Drongs in the distance. They've always reminded me of a pirate ship, appropriate with the Tall Ships in town.

The old dumper caught my eye, but sadly there was no seat left for Beren, not that it was playing about weather.

A wonderful spot...

And a tiny nook for trowies to shelter from the rain. I made them a seat from drift wood while I stood in the lee of the cliff.

Great views and a wonderful little spot to come back in finer weather to look for pebbles and other treasures on the beach. We'll leave the dead sheep though!

We battled back head into the wind and rain, Clare piggy backing Beren some of the way only to see a coach at the museum! We thought we were mad, but it was a tour coach for tall ships visitors doing the rounds. Never mind, we went in to get warm and have a look round and a few minutes later the place was all our own. Well worth a visit if you're up that way. Interesting old artefacts, photos and documents to do with the crofting and fishing.

The it was off home again to dry out listening to sounds of the Seventies on Radio 2 as I nodded off again.

Incidently, I do have a few photo's of the tall ships in harbour, but I thought I'd post them after I've seen them off tomorrow. The parade of sail and start of the race has been delayed due to the weather until Monday.

Some other intrepid venturers are also making start tomorrow too. A team of 3 kayakers had been headed over to Norway last week, but returned due to bad weather. Tomorrow they'll re-start their trip from Out Skerries, so I hope the weather does settle for them.

So now it's feet up again time and some R & R and a moments pause for those caught up in the tragic events in Norway

Friendly otter in the village...

2011-07-20T14:57:00.000+01:00

I've not been out and about...

But, %$£"%!!, I wish I had, as if I had been doing other than sitting on my 'erse' (again) today I would have seen this down in the metropolis that is Scalloway...

This friendly otter attracted a small crowd of admirers this morning when he paid a visit to the Scalloway fish market. Somebody threw him a mackerel and he set about his feast with relish.

Paul Mullay of L&M Engineering was working on the ferry Filla and had his camera handy. “Five of us were standing about a metre away from him,” he said. “We coulda clappit him if we had wanted.”

Shetland Times

BTW...For you Non-Shetlander's, 'clappit' is to have stroked it. Where as where I come from if I clapped something I'm more than likely to have hit it.

Ok, excitement over, back to putting my feet up...

On hold....

2011-07-19T09:45:00.000+01:00

Hi,

Just to say the blog is going to be on hold for a while. I'm not doing to well, my camera's broken and I could do with not being on the computer to much.

See you soon....

West Burra; Sand Wick to Whale Wick

2011-07-15T12:55:00.002+01:00

As if to remind me why we moved 600 miles north to Shetland the weather has been fantastic this last couple of days and looks like to be another good 'un today; just hope it holds for the weekend festivities in Scalloway.

Yesterday I took the opportunity if time and weather to investigate an intriguing looking arch I saw down on West Burra from Fulga Ness, near Hamnavoe at the Smuggler's cave. A wonderful stretch of coast.

From parking at the car I walked along a track past Merkisayre Stud. A few foals were enjoying the sun and grass with Mums.

And in a dwam, approached Sand Wick beach. It suddenly started to shuffle and wobble in a frenzy into the sea. I hadn't even noticed the thick carpeting of seals covering it.

The seals soon made their way back though as I rounded the headland on my way down the coast.

It was a breezier day than forecast and a few yachts were taking advantage of the fine day.

Soon I was looking down on the arch I'd seen from afar, with ropes hanging down it. I tried to get down as low as I could (even on the far right of this photo) for some photos of the other, less obvious, tunnels through it, but with a surging sea and sleek rocks I thought best to leave it for now.

The sea surging over the rock platforms near the arch was impressive and not to be messed with...

A view from the other side...

I carried on along towards the Stack of Sandwick with more fantastic views all the way down to The Heug on Kettla Ness.

On passing the enormous Ramna Gjo I could look back on the Stack of Sanwick, The West and Foula just visible in the distance. I really need to do some kayaking down here on a perfect day.

Soon I was approaching Whale Wick, an impressive bay with Ruff Loch emptying in to it over the cliff side and walls covered with caves. I took plenty of opportunities to just sit and soak in the day with some juice and a salt beef and cream cheese sandwich or two.

Soon enough I'd had enough sun though and headed back via the Loch of Sandwick and some lovely wet meadows full of orchids, ragged robin and iris amongst many more. There'd been a good show of sea birds on my walk too, including both Great Skua (bonxie) and Artic Skua.

Only a short walk, but what with the sun and scrambling about cliffs I was ready for putting my feet up.

Later in the day I was over to a friend's croft on Bressay to help him lead hay in, I even got to drive his pride an joy, an old grey Fergie. Hope he let's me drive it again, I reckon I need a few lessons in the finer art of working with it.

By co-incidence a friend of his was there too, who is working as one of the engineers on the Sea Shepherd's, boat the 'Steve Irwin'. Sea Shepherd are up here on their way to protest at the Faroese killing of pilot whales in the up and coming Grind that's being getting much press of late. Cool boat!

On the way to catch the ferry back to Shetland we also saw their scout boat The Brigitte Bardot just arriving in Lerwick to join them on their crusade. (that is not Lerwick by the way LOL)

They sail north today, so I've missed a chance to have a look round the boat. Then after their exploits in the Faroes I think they're headed to the southern hemisphere to hassle the Japanese whalers. Some world tour eh?

I'm now lying up out of the blazing Shetland sun, resting for the weekends festivities in Scalloway and looking forward to a scout around the new Scalloway Museum a bit later.

Skininningrove; a few tinkered photos

2011-07-13T10:32:00.000+01:00

Now I'm back home I thought I'd tinker with a few of the photo's I took on our little wander on the beach at Skinningrove, back home.

An old cobble 'feature' near the car park.

A working 'double ender' cobble in the boat park with some pots stacked for crab and lobster.

Looking south towards Hummersea and The Doubles; sites or alum shale and iron ore quarrying. The rocks are great for winkles, lobsters and fishing for sea bass.

Looking north towards the old jetty that used to receive coal and limestone in for the blast furnaces and ship the pig iron out. Beyond is a mile of beautiful beach and dunes.

''twas a fine day...

Back Nort in cooler climes...

2011-07-12T19:07:00.001+01:00

We'll were back in Shetland now and I'm enjoying the cooler air, though not my first job on return, of cleaning the overflowing gutters that have blocked with leave litter, stinky yuck yuck! Next job is to cut the jungle of a garden when I have the energy. It's amazing how fast the stuff grows up here with 24 hours daylight in the summer.

Anyway, I just thought I's post a few photo's of my daughter's big day; and a wonderful day it was too! The wedding itself was at St Aidan's Church, Boosebeck. I was a bit busy there to be thinking of taking any photos!

So the following are from the reception at Tockett's Mill near Guisborough.

Congratulations to you both Adam and Robyn and a big thanks to all who made it the special day it was.

The gorgeous bride...

The happy couple's first dance...

A rare sight of me all togged up. I'd managed to ditch the jacket though!

A rather large and yummy cake...

My niece, sister-in-law and Clare relaxing

Even Beren didn't escape the suit, but he'd ditch the jacket too!

And later, as they do, things got more relaxed. Beren, niece and grandaughter, Faith

Mmm... one for the album I reckon Adam...

The kids got the party going...

And soon I was too...

Next on the horizon is Scalloway Summer Street Party this weekend and The Tall Ships next weekend Woo Hoo!!!

Out and about; sooth...

2011-07-08T11:48:00.000+01:00

It's still pretty hot down here despite the odd showers, but I've been brave and been out in the sun, without melting!

Yesterday we popped to a new adventure type playground up at a woodland park, Errington Woods, I used to look after years ago. It over looks the edge of Teesside with the long sweep of Tees Bay and it's industry and to the back rols away to the edge of the North York Moors. The rustic equipment was pretty impressive, it was also huge, too big for Beren really, but we still had some fun...

After a bit of fun there we thought and icecream and the beach were in order, so we headed off to Skinningrove, an old mining and fishing village where we used to live.

An old cobble looks out to sea...

...though often the cobbles used are double-enders (below), which are easier to land in beach surf with no need to back in.

It was wonderful to be on 'our beach' again, though we felt a sad loss of the greyhounds racing around the sands.

Beren cheered us up though with his antics in and out of the water...

With a cold, wet and hungry Beren it was time to go back to my Mam's for a nice plate of stew and dumplings...

Wedding tomorrow, eek!

Snaps and tatts, so far...

2011-07-05T08:23:00.000+01:00

It is so hot down here! The north boat crossing was fine, although heaving with half the population of Shetland getting away as the schools broke up, or so it seemed!

We made good time getting back to 'home'. It was too hot to be stuck in the car for 6-7 hours, but the first section of the drive to Edinburgh is worth it. Some beautiful landscapes, especially first thing on a sunny morning. We hope to have time to stop and explore one day.

It's been in the low 20's all the time so far, nearer 25c most of the time, no clouds, the surfers are out at Saltburn and while every one else is soaking up the sun I'm sitting in the dampest shadiest spot I can find in my Mam's back garden. Beren and my granddaughter Faith are having fun though. Here they are trying to splash me in the little paddling pool a neighbour loaned us.

Last night I was down at Saltburn seeing my mate Mike to catch up and get a tattoo off him. The surf was definitely 'up'. I'm going to try and get down there today to get some surfing pictures for my blog buddie PA

Here's a 'google image' to wet his appetite...

I reckon I'll also get some photos of the local boats and tractors. It's done a bit different down here with old beaten tractors launching the cobbles into the sea on sandy beaches off trailers made of scaffold poles and other random bits and I can tell you it gets interesting at times with the surf!

Anyway, here's a couple of pictures of new brand spanking new tattoo just after it was finished. $ hours of hard work on Mike's part and pain on mine. I say finished, but it's not really, there's some more detail to add before I head back north if I get chance.

In wedding news...

I've been and got my hire suit, it fits and I'm glad I don't have to wear a suit at any other time! Clare and my Mam will have a surprise. I don't think Clare has ever seen me in a suit and my Mam only a hand full of times. Beren looks very cute in his suit.

My speech has been edited for suitability by Clare; seems I mixed up the 'Father of the Bride' speech with a 'Best Man's' speech, that would be much more fun.

Tonight is the church rehearsal and then Saturday is the BIG day. I hope this weather holds for it, it'll kill with a 3 piece suit on me but I want it to a fantastic day for the Robyn's wedding.

Off on the north boat...

2011-07-01T11:41:00.002+01:00

We're just packing and getting ready to go Sooth tonight to visit friends and family, and for me to do the proud Dad thing and walk my lovely daughter down the isle, as well as embarrass her with a little speech!

Seems such as shame to leave Shetland when the weather is so fine; it has been absolutely stunning this last couple of weeks. It'll definitely be too hot for me back 'home' as it's been around 28c at times and the Shetland heat wave of 17c is more than enough for me!

Here's a little wheatear I saw the other day flitting about on a nearby hillside

Anyway, while we're down there we'll also get out and about the North York Moors and Coast and I'll hopefully be returning with a shiny new tattoo off one of my friends and ex-band members.

Good by Simmer Dim,see you next year...