March 2007

The pictures show, first of all James, me, Malachy Tallack and Steven Laurenson outside The Famous Bein Inn in Glenfarg, and then James and me on Sunday night at the Woodlands Beanscene in Glasgow. I think the tour went well, on the whole. Many, many thanks to everyone who enabled: Sheila and Neil at Aberdeen…

The food at Aberdeen’s Musa, where we played last night, is exceptional – lovely venison. Chef Jens, legendary for his work at the nearby Cafe 52, was on holiday but David did a fine job. Standing room only for the gig itself, numbers swelled by The Fortunate Sons, who were playing at The Tunnels. Apologies…

Just off on the boat tonight (see yesterday’s post!) to commence a wee musical tour with Big James on bass. Thursday will see us at Musa in Aberdeen, a lovely cafe/restaurant venue where we played last year with Joe West. Friday we’re at the legendary Famous Bein Inn in Glenfarg, and then Saturday at the…

Answers:(1) Generally yes, but almost certainly not as safe as the battered old P&O ex-Baltic tubs that used to chug up and down between Shetland and Aberdeen in almost any conditions. My evidence? Simply this. When NorthLink cancel sailings, it’s always ‘the captain’s decision’. Sometimes it’s tidal conditions in what is rapidly becoming the useless…

I’m planning a wee trip to the Islay Festival, or Feis, at the end of May, and have been inveigled by my friend Dave to (a) cycle and (b) camp. I tried to interest my son Magnus in the expedition. He is, after all a grown student, with interests extending from real ale to computer…

Both James and Martha had Grade Five music exams yesterday, Martha’s in cello, James’s in double bass. I think they both did fine, though James, who has to be harangued into practising, breezed through it with serene self confidence, and Martha, who practises religiously (and not just on cello; traditional fiddle, piano and drums too)alas…

Phew! I don’t know what kind of whisky I was drinking last night at Maurice’s 60th birthday party at the Ollaberry Hall, but it was very good. I don’t even have a hangover and managed to accomplish an almost injury-free Boston Two-Step into the bargain. Well, I wasn’t injured. Other people may have been. Probably…

(from the Nippy Sweeties blog) Northernmost. I love that word. And, fortunately, so do the news editors of publications throughout the world. At least, they used to. Back in the 1980s, in my brief career running Shetland’s news agency, I would flog all kinds of ‘northernmost’ stories: The UK’s most northerly….you name it. Postman, postwoman,…

I mean, it’s ridiculous. The weather is awful, and there was little but fear and back pain involved in navigating the BMW down to Lerwick so it could be put on the boat south. And yet… All it took was an email from someone, mentioning their Kawasaki Z1000. And I was imagining a mild, dry…

(This post is from the Nippy Sweeties blog) What a night! It was beautiful, mild and clear over Shetland; the lunar eclipse was simply stunning. Enjoyment was helped along by the superb meal provided by our friends Neil and Yvonna, not to mention a couple of glasses of Neil’s excellent home brew. And then, at…