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At the finish: Last but only slightly embarrassed James with his free fish supper and milkshake Almost over I felt sick. It could have been the over-abundance of granola and porridge (carb loading, on son James’s advice) or simply nerves. This morning was Shetland’s, and my, first cycle sportive, in aid of the Royal National…

….with many thanks to Richard and Jolene at Precious Productions!

…Just offshore from the house last Sunday night at about 10.45pm. Picture by Stewart Cunningham/Great Scot Photography.

Will try and get a video of this being sung up on YouTube – it’s part of the live show My Bad Gospel: The Backslider’s Songbook Vol 1, due to debut at Belladrum 2011 Hallo Andy I heard from your mum She’s most concerned about what you’ve not become The people of Scotland, they’ve been…

I’ve owned three Honda outboard motors, and this is the third, attached to a diminutive inflatable boat (also made by or rather for Honda). Four-stroke engines, none of that nasty petrol-oil mixing. All have been brilliant starters, even after weeks lying idle at storm-lashed moorings. One saved my (and my venerable Shetland Model’s) bacon when…

Mallard on the banks of the Clyde, right at the walkway/cycle path. It’s there every day. This morning, a man on a bike stopped and said to me: ‘it’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Set me up for the whole day. Weird patch of old cobbles on the lost cycle route between Shields Road Underground and Paisley…

View from atop The Old Bookshop holiday cottage

This is my review of the new download-only EP by top Shetland trio Kollifirbolli. if you like fiddle music. you’ll love this. Available on iTunes for just £3.95: Kollifirbolli: The Loveliest New Version of a Favourite Style. Croft Records – digital download only. Available on iTunesTopsy-turvy. Upside down and round the wrong way. In a…

Other hounds are available. Actually, other hounds are available here in Greater Hillswick, and a proper Wolfhound/Great Dane cross at that, bouncy and inquisitive and not best friends with Lulu, the ageing and irritable (with other dogs) St Bernard in the picture. I beat a hasty retreat if I see neighbour Pete and the Other…

It’s the end of a frenetic week back in Shetland, one full of council and broadcasting business, great weather,a flurry of filming with Jolene and Rich’s Precious Productions for BBC Online, preparation of holiday cottages for the season and the climbing, in torrid conditions, of a very small hill. And of course, after a fortnight in…