Imagine - the power's back on!!!

Quarter to three on Christmas Day the power went off and stayed off for twenty-six hours, coming back on at ten to five this afternoon. It probably went off because of the wind that was gusting between 90 - 100 mph. Wind is a problem to the electricity supply which is delivered above ground and has been, to this area, for approximately thirty-five years.

Talk about technology. We're about thirty-two miles from the power station, power supplied above ground, not under, power cuts averaging about once a month, that last between a few minutes to a couple of days. Around here we have electric lighting, heating and I also have an electric cooker and in reality it's worth about as much as a chocolate watch.
What a marvellous power station, sending top quality electricity nowhere near me to destroy the turkey that I threw out for christmas. I'm sure that I wasn't the only person to enjoy cold pie and beans for dinner yesterday, followed by a Boxing Day tin of coke today, perfectly chilled to room temperature because the fridge-freezer was off like everything else, that went with the sandwich, after the cornflakes to start, when today's lunch was enjoyed while looking out the window, watching the horizontal rain pour past.

I just hope the people that provide delivery of electricity enjoyed the same 

Christmas that I did.

Next year I will be buying a cooked turkey because considering the crap 

service that is provided around here, it's not worth taking the risk.

T.V license or no T.V license

Their ref: 6034672418

I do not like the telly, it bores the backside off of me so I don't watch it.

Ever.

Last year, about September, a young lady from T.V Licensing phoned me about the fact that I don't have a license and I courteously explained to her exactly why I do not have one. I also explained why I won't buy one in the future.

Ever.

We said goodbye to each other, in a very friendly manner I must add. Nice young girl, pity I'm still married but you can't have everything, as I found out when I got married but that's a story for another day I think.

A year passed and the letters started to come in. The situation hasn't changed by the way. I still don't watch the telly and I don't see myself watching the telly in the future, assuming that I manage to retain sanity. I can only hope about that I suppose. The sanity, I mean.

So the question is I suppose, what to do next? I've never been taken to court before but there's always a first for everything (Wonder if the Sheriff likes the telly?). Or I could get in contact with my M.P of course. I won't mention his name, Alistair Carmichael is a very busy man etc, etc but he could possibly see to it for me.

I'll think about it. Might get to court before I make the decision though.

I like the name of the department that Sarah Armstrong, who wrote to me, works in. "Scottish North Enforcement Division" is particularly good for people that enforce unnecessarily and unreasonably on people that neither want nor need anything to do with them. It really is harassment, isn't it. From now on we'll call them the Scottish North Harassment Division of T.V Licensing.

Live and learn!!!

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BSA Motorcycles and their history

BSA Motorcycles and their history

Why has Shetland never gone for independence?

Shetland, along with Orkney, became part of Scotland in 1469, when they were pawned to the Scottish crown, believe it or not, as part of a dowry payment from the king of Norway and Denmark to James III of Scotland. The agreement made was that once the full dowry was paid the islands would be returned to Denmark, and until that time Norse laws would remain in place. The dowry never was repaid and Scotland, surprisingly, never made any fuss about it.

Over the next few centuries Denmark appealed to the crown but got nowhere and Norse law ended in 1611 but, and one thing in particular should be remembered, Denmark has never renounced its claim for the isles.

Following the Act of Union between Scotland and England in 1707, at a time when many islanders still spoke the native Norn as their first language, the vast majority of Shetlanders were forced into serfdom. The people were cruelly exploited by their new Scottish landlords until the end of the 19th century.

This somewhat tainted history explains not only the antipathy towards Scotland, which has continued into the 21st century, but also the persistent nostalgia of a romantic, Nordic past, which is continues to be apparent in the Viking festivals of Up Helly Aa, held around the isles each winter.

So, what do the Shetlandic people feel that they are? Do they feel that they are Scottish? I don't think so, not with the history of serfdom to Scotland. Do they feel part of the UK? Again, I don't think so, with all that oil in our water and all of its financial benefits being taken 'doon sooth.'

Shetland Island Council has started to develop another ambitious energy project. The world's largest, community-owned wind farm is set to be built here in Shetland. There will be approximately two hundred huge windmills generating electricity and supplying twenty-five per cent of the power required by Scotland. Scotland will have to pay for this, providing a major financial boost for the Isles. We can look after ourselves.

Remember, Scotland received Shetland as a pawn, nothing more and she has not yet been paid for, that does not make her part of Scotland.

And if Denmark should pay her debt, will we let her take over? That is up to the people but I think that after the lesson that Scotland taught us, I can read the answer written in the oil and in the wind.

I thought that Shetland had drifted too far north

Oh goodness, gracious me, I thought that Shetland had drifted too far north but perhaps not. Perhaps they've fixed it this time, perhaps BT has decided that we're worth re-connecting to. I wonder just how long it'll last this time around.

I've been disconnected from the internet for twenty-two and a half hours this time. I, like everyone else, pay for 24/7. Will there be any discount in the next bill I wonder, you know, just to say sorry.

I must admit that it may not be the whole of Shetland that has been affected, it might just be Hillswick for all that I know. Regardless, it proves time after time what a crap system they are operating.

But they keep on charging - and they don't blush.

VAN