August 2005

Shipping forecast said “Violent Storm Force 11” for today, Monday at 10.00 am, and this is what that looks like. Not hugely impressive, visually, but it’s a funny direction for us – south westerly and I’m not convinced it really is that strong a wind. Mind you, I didn’t really want to get out of…

Roll on next year! I mean, what other festival has EVER featured live kipper-smoking (there it is, in front of the ‘Scott’s Fresh Fish’ van)? It was wet, but it wouldn’t have been Scotland if it was dry, would it? Thanks a million to Joe Gibbs for allowing his lovely estate to be trampled and…

Sannions is one of two crofts north of Boatsgeo, Heylor, Shetland, cleared in the 19th century. The other is called Sumra, and both roofless houses were evidently carefully and strongly built.I walked out from the road end on Saturday morning, the first time I’d ever been there. And it’s amazing. Further north on what I…