Happy again

The weather hasn't been too good since I got home but today it has changed. There is no wind blowing this morning and there's only very light cloud overhead.

Yet again it gives me the chance to potter about in the garden, feed the birds and keep myself happy. It's amazing just what you do to entertain yourself, isn't it.

Right, better get down to it before I'm too old or lazy or the winter sets in or something. Not that he'll give me any help, jumping around in the water like that.

Back home in Shetland

Sorry that I’ve not been around for a while but I’ve been in hospital in Aberdeen for a fortnight, dealing with skin problems that are not solved but hey, that’s life.

I’m back home now, thank goodness, and feeling good about it too. The weather is a bit fresh but better than that of a ward, eugggggh!!!!!

Now I have all the time that I need to look after my trees, the willows and black hawthorns that I grow.

Perhaps I’ll start some more, maybe something that produces some fruit. That’s difficult up here in Shetland because of the wind and the salt that we suffer but if I make the effort, I just might get a result. I will need to grow a bit around the garden as protection and then , inside of that I can put some apple, or possibly some pear, we’ll see what happens.

All these dreams, grown at ward 29 in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and they may well turn into reality in the not too distant future.

Fingers crossed, if I try any of it, it will produce something, fruit maybe!!!

Neolithic Shetland

Shetland, many thousands of years ago, was covered in trees until neolithic man arrived. He cut them all down and used them to build houses or bows and arrows or fires to cook food but whatever he used them for, he used them all and that is why Shetland now is covered in peat.

Because of this, I believe that some trees should be grown back. It cuts back the wind, therefore protecting the stock of sheep and allows some crop to be grown which allows the generation of natural earth. This sends the land, in quality, back thousands of years, which has to be good.

So I do my little bit in my back garden. I grow a couple of very young willows which, in a couple of years I will be able to take a couple of cuts off of which I will start and that will mean there are four. I also have a black hawthorn which I am looking forward to doing the same with.

It's a great pity that more people don't make the effort to return Shetland back to what it originally was but some do and one day, in more than just a few years, it may just happen.

Tomorrow is Monday

It’s the middle of the day now. It’s been like this since kick-off this morning, bland, no wind either. The sun can’t see through the light cloud so it’s even more boring outside than in.

I think that I’ll probably remain here, sat on my backside all afternoon, getting up for the odd cup of coffee in case I die of thirst.

I suppose that Shetland is just like the rest of the world when you see it this way. Of course, it might well brighten up tomorrow. There’ll be a bit of a breeze, the sun will be beating down, prices will have trebled and your computer will be knackered.

Just the day to go out and cut the - apart from the fact that you lent the lawnmower to your neighbour a fortnight ago, a week before he moved house, taking your lawnmower with him.

Oh well, tomorrow is Monday, just perfect to break your heart on the gaffers shoulder. That is, if he doesn’t burst into tears first because the wife left him on Saturday. Nothing to do with the wife leaving but she took the car with her.

Oh no. Here comes the neighbour with the lawnmower :(

I don't like Monday's

I don't like Monday's, not at all. When I think about it, I'm probably not the only one either. Compare today with the weekend when the sun was beaming down, there was no wind and it was lovely and warm.

Today it's comparatively cold, it's windy and the sun is in hiding. Not the same sort of weather at all. I did have thoughts regarding the garden but I must be honest when I say that those thoughts have dribbled away now. Oh dear, what a shame.

Must be honest again when I say that today I plan today to do bugger all.

There's always tomorrow :))

The sun and the rain and the wind

What has happened to Hillswick, here in Shetland. It's supposed to be the end of spring with summer starting next month and.......

And the wind is gusting 30 to 40mph and because of that it makes the cool weather feel bloody cold. The clouds are light but where is that sun, it's not been seen yet today and surprise, surprise - it's just started pouring with rain again. By the time the summer weather starts, Santa Claus will be getting stuck in my chimney.

Maybe it's just a bad start to the year. Maybe the second half will be all sweetness and light, the sun will come out and not be troubled for three months and we'll spend a fortune on suntan lotion.

Aye, maybe ;))

Or maybe it'll just settle a little bit, maybe the wind will slow down and if it does that then it won't feel so cold. Here in Shetland it might even feel warm - if the wind slows down a bit.

As I see it, it's just one of those years, all a bit pear-shaped regardless of what you try for, what you want and what you hope for.

I'm just glad that I've got a clothes drier because outside, all it would get is a rinse :))

The snow has stopped

The snow, thank goodness, has stopped and I still have two Austrian pines so it's time to get dressed, run out of the door and get them planted.

I just hope that they last a little longer than last years efforts because it will make such a difference to the garden. It will protect all that is growing there from the wind for a start :))

Daffs and Pine trees

It's a windy day and the sun is only occasionally out but there is one thing that I am really enjoying while sitting here with my coffee.

There are two trees that are right in front of me and one of them is surrounded by daffodils. The daffs don't have that long to go I don't think but at the moment they are bright and cheerful and because the trees are so small and young they are enjoying quite a bit of protection from the wind. That is giving them some time to root properly.

Not this Christmas but the next, they are going to look really special if they keep it up. If they do it'll cost me a fortune so don't be surprised if you see me down at Commercial Street with the hat out and the fiddle or the sax giving it big licks.

Just remember how much you care ;))

Wind Power Coming On

Viking Energy has the go-ahead to to put up approximately 103 wind turbines here in Shetland. That produces enough power for 175k people but there are only 22k living here in Shetland. The remaining power for 153k will be, in effect, pumped down to Scotland.

That means a profit of something like £30m per annum for Viking Energy Partnership. That is split up and Viking Energy Ltd own 50%.

That breaks down again. Shetland Charitable Trust have 90% of  of Viking Energy Ltd. That means that Shetland Charitable Trust are going to receive a very healthy income from the wind power that is produced, without polluting or destroying the Island.

Good, eh :))

Spring has been cancelled

Right, that's it - spring has been cancelled and we're back into winter.

Please keep your fingers crossed for the trees that I love (Jings, Shetland can be difficult at times). Have a look at the Beebs definition of disaster ;)

There was a bit of sunshine

I was outside, putting the rubbish out and having a chat to my neighbour while enjoying the snow that fell during the night. The surprising thing was the fact that it didn't feel cold. That was probably because there was no wind so it wasn't driven into you.

There was a bit of sunshine when I was out, it was just peeking out between the clouds again, bringing some hope to the sky. A good look at the weather forecast before we see what happens next will be a sensible thing to do, I think.

Ah, just looked out of the window. Don't think I really need to look at the forecast - it's snowing again and it's April - surprise, surprise!!!

Had a wee look out of the window

Just had a wee look out of the window to see the trees that got planted yesterday and jings, they do look good!!!

I'll be out soon, making sure that they're watered and, more importantly, that they are managing to cope with the wind that is so natural to Shetland. It's blowing quite strong this morning and they won't be settled in properly yet, so a little TLC will do them no harm at all.

I like the idea of having the pair at the front door again. When I put the pair there last year, I enjoyed seeing them every time I went in and out and I'm looking forward to that again.

Just thought that if the pair do well over the year, they'll make a lovely pair of Christmas trees at the door but we'll have to wait and see.

Oh and look at the time. I'm going to miss the church again :))

Water the trees???

The new spray gun that I ordered, to water the trees that have just been planted in the garden, has arrived.

And it's raining. Could have guessed that one, I suppose. Just as well that I forgot to put on the suntan lotion and iron my shorts. Ironing the suntan lotion and putting on my shorts would have been more use.

The Tories have got wind and it's embarrassing them too!!!

The nice, sunny weather that we've been enjoying over the past few days just hasn't been around at all today and to boot, it's been pretty chilly as well. Personally, I reckon that the Tories have got wind, they know what we think of them and how loudly we're going to tell them to bugger off when we go for independence in 2014 so they've banned good weather here in Shetland.

I've also heard word that if any good weather should get in, they're going to put income tax up too - and not just by a couple of penny's in the pound. No, it won't be so easy at all. It'll be more like for every pound that you earn, they'll want two.

I've known them all my life and I've always known them as greedy buggers.

And they get worse, day by day.

An independent Scotland won't miss them at all.

Viking Energy wind farm

Jings, there is potentially a lot of money to be made by the creation of the Viking Energy wind farm. Ask yourself this; how often is Shetland short of wind to drive the turbines that will generate the power.

There is no fuel used to generate the electricity that we all live on here if we use wind power. We will not be polluting, using anything dirty or destroying anywhere as the electricity is generated.

There is a vast amount of money to be made here, from using the plainest, simplest generation of the electricity that we all use for various things. The area is possibly going to see many more methods to create business and therefore employment.

But will they stop the power cuts that we suffer all the time?

I doubt it, I very much doubt it!!!

It's ridiculous here in Shetland

I think it's ridiculous here in Shetland.

As soon as you forget to pay your council tax, they turn the wind on again.

And they turn it on strong and no mistake!!!

Two trees planted

That's them planted now. No doubt that they will spring into death within the next couple of weeks but nobody can say that I did anything better than bugger all useful.

I must admit that I do hope that it makes a comeback as it will break the wind when I'm out sunning myself - when the sun comes out again - the day after I've collected my thirty-sixth payment of my retirement pension - which probably won't exist then.

And before I run away and hide, I do have to apologise to a very small mistake I made on the last post. It isn't a Scots Fir as I called them - it is actually a Scots Pine on its last legs.

I really will be delighted if the one showing and its pal come on. They will do what was first intended and that was to break the wind - and they will cheer me up immensely by not keeling over in the first fortnight

Oil industry protection, assistance and rescue

I just spotted an article in the BBC News online that could cause problems, both here in Shetland and in Scotland as a whole.

The oil industry needs protection, assistance and rescue in all weathers. I don't think it is in any way acceptable to consider changing that.

You do have to look after your fellow man. You cannot say "It's too windy."

Oh, the weather again!!!

The wind today will have been gusting up to 50mph but the sun has been peeking out most of the time so it has remained bright with plenty blue sky. It's not cold either, well, by our standards anyway.

I would love to run out and get a photo for you all but the men are coming around to do the windows so I'm staying in to supply the coffee and make sure that it's done to a suitable standard - in other words, top notch, which I'm sure it will be.

I'll sit and do my knitting  and keep an eye on them :))

A beautiful morning

It really is a beautiful morning today, sun up at about ten past nine and the wind down too. The wind is forecast to rise to approx 46mph at midnight tonight so it's well worth considering starting to prepare a cold New Years Day dinner today - while the power is still on.

It might not be on for long though. After all, there are no promises in life, are there!!!

Oh, and I've just realised, I'll have to get on to Ms Patel at the BBC. The Scottish North Harassment Division of T.V Licensing have sent no threatening letter today. Is that what is really paid for by the BBC, a half-done job of threatening people that don't watch T.V. After all, they are expected to do a full and complete job.