May in Shetland

This week has been very changeable, anything from snow, hail, heavy rain, sun and cold temperatures

The cloud formations at anytime of year add a lot to any photo, the one above looking east towards Bressay

 Looking north towards Littleness at Spiggie

The croft above had just delivered 20 lambs today but this little one only 2 hours old felt the cold until it gained some body heat

Also lots of Shetland Pony foals especially in south mainland

 Had a trip north to Voe, cut short with heavy rain but managed to have a walk through the village

 Interesting to see all the mussel shells on top of an overturned boat

 A view of Scalloway, a regular view on my way to work each morning

This month, on the 17 May 2019 is Norwegian day and a large crowd always gathers for a service to remember the Shetland Bus men that lost their lives during WW2

 Shetland Bus memorial, Main Street , Scalloway

 This building at Twageos in Lerwick may be familiar, it was used as a B&B in the recent BBC1 Shetland drama. This is actually South Ness House built in 1902 and is now up for sale at £525,000

 Always worth stopping to look at the seas at Reawick, the seas are absolutely stunning

 Dramatic skies over Scatness as a storm approaches in May

Jarlsoff, a very popular destination with tourists

Why not have a look at my other sites

Blogs

www.shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk

www.shetlandsfp.blosgpot.co.uk

www.ww2preserved.blosgpot.co.uk

and my website selling Canvas  prints

www.amazingshetland.co.uk

#amazingshetland, #shetlandsky, #shetlanddream,#shetlandsfp, #jarlsoff, #Scatness, #Shetland lambs, #BBC1 shetland drama, #South Ness House, #Lerwick

reasons to stay

At this time of year Shetland gets a lot of visitors and I always enjoy taking to them about why they come to these remote islands rather then having a hotter cheaper alternative abroad.

A lot of people that make their own way here seem to have been drawn to Shetland because of two TV programmes the BBC1 Shetland Drama and Island Parish, they have done a good job in attracting first time tourists. Others come because of the wildlife or the archaeology wonder but for what ever reason they are instantly under the Shetland spell, it could easily be the Trows working their magic.

It was the same for us, visiting the islands back in 1987 we had only been in Shetland for a few days and we talked about a quick return for another  holiday and as you do, said we would like to live here one day.

Well both have come true for us, yes it is expensive to get to Shetland but it is worth every penny. People have moved here without ever coming to see it first, its just an amazing place to be. One thing you notice first is the wide open vistas, large cloud filled skies, ever changing and a quality of light that I haven't seen anywhere before

Shetland reveals its secrets slowly, there are many hidden jems, so much to explore. We only visited the Burn of Lunket the other week, its a great place, different from other burns in Shetland as it is wide and has a super waterfall. There is a small carpark and a good path which runs up beside the waterfall

The waterfall is only a short drive from Aith.

The same day we headed further north to Lower Voe, its a quiet but interesting place to visit

The Bod only had three people staying in it but for £10 per night for a bed is certainly a good way of seeing Shetland as Bod's are situated throughout the islands.

Please try my website at www.amazingshetland.co.uk

sun

Please check out my new website at www.amazingshetland.co.uk

Not many people would believe that Shetland was the second sunniest place in the UK during June. With 226.2 hours it was only just beaten by Valley in North Wales by 4 hours. This is a lot better than last year when it was wet and cold.

In Speyside there was plenty of signs of whisky making, besides the distilleries we had passed on the way down we also came across this store of empty wooden barrels soon to be introduced to the whisky.

Not every car or van can make it around all the areas in Scotland.

Our second week in Sheffield was wet - very wet, with one day in particular very bad with flooding on the east side. This proved to be a problem as we went for a meal but found roads flooded and closed. On one road a car was left in a pond which had formed in a dip, leaving the driver in around 4 feet of water.

It was good to meet up with family and friends and we spent all the week visiting, sometimes two or three people a day.

The above waited too long before making a decision on whether to move to Shetland, so glad we moved here just over 2 years ago.

                             Illegal immigrant will try anything to get into the country, this one failed

                 In Sheffield you still have to wait along time to get work, no matter how keen you are ! Shetland however have the lowest unemployment in the UK

I did have one day to look around so while Diane went shopping with Wendy I went round some old industrial sites in the east end. The steel industry which once was so important to Sheffield has almost disappeared. The large area that Forgemasters covered was now left empty, waiting for redevelopment, only a few insects remain (below)

The journey back to Shetland was uneventful and we made the journey from Sheffield - Aberdeen with an hour to spare. On the way we received some good news that the floor had been re-boarded and cushion floor laid and the new heating system was completely installed.

                            Thanks to Beryl for helping out, feeding our cat and cleaning up.

Still getting a number of Cruise liners into Lerwick and a fishing (above/ Below) boat, the Carolien from Holland spent all of 10 mins at Breiwick before heading out quickly

It was good to find out that the campaign to save the Northern based emergency tug Herakles has been successful, at least for another 5 years. Also in the news was that the crime drama Shetland  will return for a fourth series, 5.8 million people watched the BBC1 drama last time, this is excellent news for the tourist industry.