Wednesday 14 December 2022

Shetland - winter disaster

 I didn't realise that it had been a few months since i last wrote a post.

November proved very stormy with big seas coming in from the east. These Severe gales and one Hurricane lasted about 12 days. It seemed never ending

The seas brought in a lot of seaweed with alot of beaches completely covered

It was also cold a sign of things to come.

By mid December it had turned very wintery and snow started to fall. Black Gaet, a road between Scalloway and Lerwick is also bad in winter and despite road improvement recently it has not stopped

any accidents with two crashes in two days. Last Friday we had to take it easy going across Black Gaet as it was very icy. On the way back two cars had crashed with one hanging over the edge of a bank, just like the scene in the Italian Job


The Sherriff has asked for this situation to be investigated, its been going on years


On Monday it started snowing about 11am and i was teaching at Islesburgh. We decided to finish early and I started up the hill going south out of Lerwick, seeing cars and van sliding all over the  road. 

During the afternoon it became very heavy snow to the north of Lerwick. Some people heading to Brae about a 1/2 hour trip in good conditions took 5.5-6 hours in terrible thick snow. Cars getting stuck and worse still power lines breaking and coming across the road.
It wasn't long before the power was off to around 4000 homes all in the north and on the islands
Even the poles carrying lines came down such was the weight of the snow and ice on the cables. If you know Shetland you will be aware most people are all electric for heating and cooking, no gas here
The power was off for most people after they arrived home after a long journey. It expected to be off until the weekend 5-6 days with no hot food or heating. One old lady died at Ollaberry.

We have been lucky in the south mainland with hardly any snow to talk about- well so far anyway

A major incident has now been declared. Over night a large number of SSEN lads boarded the ferry and arrived on Shetland mainland this morning going straight to work. Many working in the dark as we don't have much daylight at this time of year.

Conditions are set to get worse again, with temperature's going down to -9c with the chill factor.

If you are in Shetland take care. This is the worse winter in the last 25 years

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Lerwick visit

Sandwick
One of three visiting cruise liners the other week




The Viking have arrived





After the Lerwick visit it headed off to Norway


Fort Charlotte


 A busy Commercial street

Friday 10 June 2022

Sandlodge, Shetland

Its so good to live so close to the sea and Sandsayre is about 2 mins away on the eastside


I have just finished a 3 day photography tour for a couple from Australia, they were very impressed with Shetland and had some great weather
Shetland is getting a lot of visitors at present with three cruise liners most days and lots of yachts


Why go abroad when you can come to Shetland, so much to see and experience
We are heading south for a break soon, we always say we have 50 weeks holiday and 2 weeks south


A view from the top of our road looking over Sandlodge and over to Mousa




 Still got some Shetland Puffin books if you are interested - £14 +£4.75pp (UK) just drop me a line 




Monday 23 May 2022

Shetland in the landscape

                                                                              The long road to Bigton
Sunset over St Ninian's
Family visit to Sandwick

The Quendale snakes meet up
                                                         Old croft, some wallpaper still showing

Broken window at the old croft

Thursday 28 April 2022

Shetland spring

Its spring and that's time for the lambs to appear, the black faced lambs have been with us for about 6 weeks 
But now its Shetland lambs that are being born, up to the end of May usually

 

They are so cute at this age

The air is full of bird song as well and we have had some sunshine as well
over Easter we have seen lots of visitors arrive but we are still having  a lot of covid cases


But spring is about a fresh start so its time to count your blessings and get on with it. While everything seems calm we must think of those in and who have left the Ukraine.
Shetland aid has been sending lots of supplies so we can only pray for a quick end to the war which seems along way from a peaceful Shetland

Da Voar Redd Up, the annual Shetland clean has started and around 40% of all Shetlanders help clearing beaches, ditches and roads from plastic and other rubbish. 


My new book is out now and available at £14 + postage, it is A4 size with 97 colour photos,  i can send anywhere in the world. email me at shetpuffinbook@gmail.com