January 2005

I have to admit to loving American Chopper. And it was my 13-year-old son James who forced me to watch the series in the first place. We also bonded over Long Way Round (that’s the one where Ewen McGregor and his pal Charley Boorman go round the world on a pair of free BMW R1150Gs…

…which was, unbelievably, the name of a semi-successful pop group. I’m sniffing, coughing and weeping with the tears of a flu-ridden invalid, and yet it’s on with the show today at two. No weakness must be shown. Anyway, here’s another Nippy Sweetie from the current Shetland Times. It was partly provoked by comments passed at…

…’cause they understand… Well, back to Starbucks, doin’ that wi-fi thing, and this could become addictive. Anyway, it’s undoubtedly boring to have me going on about the joys of sitting here with a tall Americano, so to speak, so here’s the new Nippy Sweetie, pre-publication, for those who don’t get the glorious and wonderful Shetland…

And lo, I am in a Starbucks on Union Street, Aberdeen, and forsooth, am wirelessly connected. Thanks to t-mobile and LAN 802.11b. I feel (all caffeined up via a mocha and a capuccino) as if I’m in an episode of Friends. I have my horn-rim specs on and am contemplating going to see Team America…

I don’t know why it shoud be so bad this year, but the Shetland winter darkness is really hurting. I think it was two days ago it just didn’t get light. Dawn didn’t break – it sort of bent slightly into view. The rest of the “day” was a kind of sullen twilight, and with…

…and a very good 2005 to you. I don’t know what to say about the tsunami and its after-effects. Give money. Wonder about the weird political responses in the UK. Pray and grieve and keep on going. It’s 3rd January, and yesterday was the last of our seasonal bashes. A great time has been had,…