Serco Northlink Ferries

At last, at long, long last it has been announced that people travelling on Serco Northlink Ferries between Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeen in Scotland, no longer need to provide photographic ID to allow them to get on board the ferry that they have bought the ticket for.

It was farcical in the first place. You don't need ID to get a taxi and you don't need ID to get on the bus (just yet) so what justified the demand for ID to get on a ferry that never leaves the country that we live in, in the first place? Sorry, I cannot work out what goes behind it - other than the stupidity and big-headedness that goes with the company running the ferries, of course!!!

In a couple of days I hope to be on the bus into Lerwick, the only real town in Shetland. If they demand any ID other than my bus pass then I'll let you know.

The ferry

I have just had a look at how Northlink have been doing over the past few days and, more importantly, how they will be running the ferry tonight from Aberdeen up to Shetland because a friend is booked to be on it tonight. As usual he's on his motorbike and he'll be here until Sunday.

Fingers crossed that the boat sails fine and that we have a week of good weather. It's always a better visit if the sun is out and the wind is down. Then the walking boots go on and the camera can come out.

Hopefully, while he's here we'll get the chance to walk from here in Hillswick, up by Heylor, right along the voe, out to the Atlantic. It's easy to access from here where I live but I've never done it via the next voe up.

Fingers crossed, eh.

Getting ready to go.

Morning everyone!!!

I'm not going to do much here today because I'm packing. Yes, that's right, I'm packing up my clothes for the trip south where I'm lucky enough to be spending Christmas with the love of my life.

I'll pack my clothes today and get on the boat tomorrow. We'll sail overnight and I'll climb off on Saturday in the morning, in sunny Scotland, with a great big smile on my face.

Because of the travel etc, my posts here may be a bit here and there, if you know what I mean. It won't be easy until I get on the boat because it's blowing a gale and pouring down with snow but I will get to the harbour, regardless!!!

Right, nuff said, time to unpack what's in the bag before I put the clothes that I've just washed in, ready to go.

Hope the snow stops!!!

Not long now!!!

It's Tuesday today and the wind has fallen. If it stays down then - woops, because on Friday I get on the boat. It will sail overnight down to Aberdeen where I will get off and catch a bus down to see the love of my life. But I don't sail too well and the worst time for me is when the sea is calm. If it is rough, then for some reason I have no problem. I can't explain that, it's just the way it is for me. Twelve hours of smooth water - I think that I'll go to the toilet. And stay there. For twelve hours. Until we are docked. God, I hope they do it quickly so that I can get off the damn boat sharpish before any more problems.

The bus will take about three hours to get me down to Edinburgh, it's a long time to sit there, looking out of the window, waiting. I'll have my laptop to keep me busy but I'll still be waiting, waiting, waiting.

Once there - Paradise!!!