Plus the full playlist and streaming link for this week’s Beatcroft Social on 60 North Radio

Listen to the Mixcloud stream of Friday’s Beatcroft Social by clicking here. Full playlist at the end of this post.

As I write, on Friday 10 May, the UK at large is baking in May sunshine. Shetland is haar-haunted, misty and moisty, though things are not quite as dense as they were this morning. Sumburgh Airport in Shetland is clear and planes are taking off and landing. But too late for the morning flight from Glasgow, which was due to bear my wife Susan north.

In truth, it’s not been a brilliant jaunt south for Susan, whose periods of time off are precious and devoted to spending time with children and grandchildren down in That Scotland. The massively expensive (I think it was £400 or thereabouts) Loganair fare south is bad enough, but the company’s record in reliability recently has been poor, even allowing for natural phenomena such as wind and pea-souper fog. Susan drove the 60 miles from our house to the airport on Monday, only to find that – due to fog – there were no flights out. What to do? This is the Shetlander’s quandary – wait to see if the mist clears, or scurry for a place on the boat to Aberdeen. From Lerwick, 27 miles north of the airport.

The ferry (overnight; it takes 12-14 hours) is largely reliable and immune to mist,  but often fully booked, particularly car and cabin space. On a day like Monday, there was a risk that its entire capacity would be used up, with people sleeping on floors and seats, as well as the dreaded ‘pods’ – somewhat bigger recliners. Loganair at Sumburgh were, to put it politely, in a mess. The offer was – full refund or we’ll put you on the boat and taxi you to Glasgow. No bunks, no cabins, but you can have a pod…maybe

So that’s what Susan, duly podded, did, arriving in Glasgow too late to see one son, but with a little time for the rest of the west of Scotland family. 

Then she had to come back. Today. On the plane from Glasgow.

She checked in. No problem. Onto the plane. No problem. Sat for a bit. Then another bit. Then…back to the terminal. Guess what? Fog at Sumburgh. 

No shilly-shallying: She told Loganair she wanted a refund, phoned me and I booked her on the boat (pod, no cabins available,plus the splendid St Magnus Lounge which gives you fruit, coffee, tablet and leather sofas until you’re sent packing podwards at midnight.) Only one small problem…

Susan’s car was at Sumburgh Airport, 27 miles from the ferry terminal. And….she’d lost her keys.

I know people are sometimes critical of Serco, who operate NorthLink, but they know how to run a steamship company. Dedicated lost property line, keys found and waiting for Susan in Lerwick.

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Meanwhile, my not-very-trusty, far too rusty 2016 Toyota Hilux was in for its MOT. Failed on a seriously leaking rear differential (“known fault” apparently, “though I’ve never seen one as bad”). As I’m advised it shouldn;t be driven very far, it’s consigned to quarter-mile shop runs. And I had to hire a car as I have funeral duty tomorrow, not to mention having to pick up Susan and take her to Sumburgh…a Kia. Obviously.

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On the way to town on the bus, I kept an eye on the access roads for the gigantic Viking Wind Farm, as we’ve all been shocked, though perhaps not surprised, by the much-reported land (peat) slide on one of its sites. I was contacted by an old colleague who now lives in the Western Isles, concerned that a”floating” road – gravel on plastic membrane on peat – might have been to blame. 

I think the numerous access roads for the Viking project are a mix of membrane-and-gravel floating on peat and full-bore excavated to the rock roadbuilding, presumably depending on the weight of machinery to be carried.

I fear this won’t be the last incident of its kind. We’re just thankful no-one was injured.

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Still on the transport front, I was in Unst this week to buy a desk. That’s two islands to the north of our island, two ferry trips, a five hour round trip with no dawdling. I was very struck by the change in ‘feel’ as you pass first through Yell, one of my favourite lumps of Shetland, and then reach Unst, Britain’s northernmost island and again, quite different in flavour.

How? Why? You’ll have to go to find out. But don’t rush through Yell. It has many treasures.

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Finally, here’s the playlist for tonight’s Beatcroft Social show on 60 North Radio. Note the two ‘soul sections’ – mostly Northern Soul with a Wigan bias. Also a word for Owen Mcaulay – his intermittent and very low profile CDs are marvellous things, always nicely designed. Look him up! And that Fraser Speirs and David Pringle track is fantastic, I think. Listen to the whole show on Mixcloud here or over on the 60 North Radio archive

Legend — National Gas

Iain Shaw — Serious Drugs

North Country Fair — Apple of My Eye

Flutes — This is No Country for Old Men

Gregson and Collister — Move Away Jimmy Blue

Wendy James — Fill in the Blanks

Billy Joe Royal — Heart’s Desire

Taj Mahal — Ain’t That a Lot of Love

Jimmy Fraser — Of Hopes and Dreams

James Carr — That’s what I Want to Know

Moses and Joshua Dillard — My Elusive Dreams

Talking Drums — Pretend a Stranger

Kinks — Mr Reporter

Tom Waits — I Beg Your Pardon

Crystal Gale and Tom Waits — Take Me Home

Owen McAulay — Roots in the Ground (Holy Isle 2016)

The Uncle Devil Show — I Had a Drink About You Last Night

Fraser Speirs and David Pringle — Back at the Chicken Shack

Withered Hand — Crippled Love

King Creosote — Burial Bleak

Willy Mason — Save Myself

Shack — As Long as I’ve Got You

Hamish Hawk — This, Whatever It Is Needs Improvement

Mull Historical Society — The Final Arrears

I am Kloot — Over My Shoulder

Little Richard — A Little Bit of Something

Al Green — Don’t Leave Me

Shirley Ellis — Soul Time

The Ikettes — Don’t Feel Sorry for Me