A New World coming soon

Its like being in a dream or more like a nightmare at the moment. With 11 cases of Corona virus confirmed in Shetland at present, I can only see this getting worse

                                                                   Channerwick

Friday was the real start of the Cruise liner season and although everyone coming ashore should be tested I wonder if this is being done. Someone I know who was in a Lerwick cafe when a couple off the cruise liner came in coughing and sneezing, the place cleared quickly.

                                                                      Quendale

Its difficult to keep your self away from others especially if you have to go out to work or shopping. Although I do know a couple of folk on Yell and Fetlar who have said they are just self isolating even though they don't have any symptoms. What are you doing?

                                                                            Quendale

So as we started the holiday season some cruise liners have now said they will not be calling off anywhere, Norway and America have stopped anyone from entering and with increasing numbers of infected people in the UK this may well end up  being the same story here. Logan air have reduced the number of flights to Shetland as booking drop. Lots of smaller businesses will be forced to close down and staff may not get paid for time off, its going to have a big knock on effect.

                                                                      Scatness

Panic buying is going on everywhere, Toilet rolls are being cleared off the shelves very quickly as is Pasta, rice and hand sanitizer. We did notice less people shopping and a couple had masks on, the town deserted.

                                                                    Islesburgh in Lerwick

                                                                            Hayfield House

Its estimated that a large number of people could die that's the most worrying thing

We have booked a trip south in a couple of months and  are not sure what will happen, with many saying this will be the worst period.

So for the time being, I am still going to work and on Friday completed a 1:1 photography course with the best days weather this year. We are still having lots of gales and heavy rain or hail so it was good to have a still dry at time sunny day photographing.

The sea was still rough on the west side and provided many photo opportunities (as posted)

Just found out that filming for the BBC Shetland drama has been postponed

Jimmy Perez is not at home

Shetland exposed

We have been going through a quiet period of weather with some fine sunny still days and nights, however that all changed today with wind speeds picking up to Force 6-7

I like going out in winter, the cloud formations are always great to see and they are always changing, some very dramatic

Not many people out last weekend but they missed out with these sunrays taken looking west from West Voe at Sumburgh

Its been a sad day for us when we  had to put our cat Furbie to sleep, we had him nearly 18 years and he was much loved and will be missed greatly. He never enjoyed travelling so when we moved to Shetland we were pleased to find no other cats or dogs in the pens on the Ferry car deck

The Scalloway Vets were excellent throughout and we would highly recommend them.

Sun shinning on Cunningsburgh, a day later we had our first snow and found pavements covered here. It always seems to be worse for snow and ice than Sandwick just up the hill

Looking across to Mousa early morning

The Royal Mail is very busy as expected at this time of year but people are always surprised how quick we get mail at anytime of year, much quicker than when we were down in Sheffield. Amazon is very well used, is there anything they don't sell?

Quarff

Looking South to Sumburgh from Clumlie area

Scalloway in the winter sun

Just a few places left on the Get to know your own Camera course and Digital 2 photography course which I run at Islesburgh, Lerwick message me for further details

Shetland

Shetland has a good mixture of the old and new, this is especially evident in Lerwick and Scalloway

 The above was new in October 2016 down near the pier in Lerwick, called `Da Lightsome Buoy' it is a celebration of the role the pelagic fishing industry plays in Shetland life.

In Lerwick old stair wells lead to interesting buildings

                                               How long ago did this building have windows?

Striking red doors 

This area was used for filming the recent BBC1 Shetland drama, good news that filming will start again next month. Just hope that Shetland has more coverage this time

                                                                            Lerwick behind bars

                                                              Signs of how windy it is  in Shetland

                                            Anderson High School due to move to new premises later this year

Spring has almost arrived in Shetland, with a mass of daffodils beside the road, Puffins back at Sumburgh in the last few days, Skylarks in full song and the temperature in double figures.

We attended a birthday party at Islesburgh  recently and met Peter & Sandra Manson. Peter had a multi coloured beard and hair and the other day did a sponsored head shave, they were both raising funds for two local charities. They hoped to raise £5000 but due to the generosity of the local people raised an amazing £22,000 - well done to all, it could only happen in Shetland

The wind farm band wagon rolls on the Garth Wind Farm in North Yell opened last week and aims to boost the  local economy. At the same time Peel energy announced that they might build 21 Turbines across Mossy Hill just to the north of Lerwick but this depends on whether they get the go ahead for the interconnector (now around £80 billion)- just hope this and others never go ahead.

It must be a good time to start think about boosting tourism. People are talking trying to attract people up to Shetland in winter and why not with several Up Helly Aa's to attend, numerous music events and of course an opportunity to see the Aurora. (see what its all about and send me a request to join Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook) I am sure they come to see a wild place and would not see wind turbines as a tourist attraction.

Please take a look at my other blogs

shetlandsfp.blogspot.co.uk
shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk