The Blog from Bressay

Well not had the best of nights last night Woody was acting a bit strange.  He was very talkative all night.  Lots of “wrrrr, wrrrr” then lots of meowing.  At first I thought there was something wrong with him but found him in the kitchen looking out the back window while he was doing it and seemed happy enough when he saw me.  The only other time I have seen him do that is when we had a mouse in the flat South but he stayed in the same spot (well seemed to) for almost two days until he caught it.   He seems to have calmed down this morning and has been out.  He’s quite happy at using windows to get in and out now which means that he can find us when he wants in rather than us trying to find him and spoiling his fun.

Tomorrow over to Lerwick where I need to have a “financial review” at the bank.  I’m assuming that they will be doing their usual and trying to sell me products I don’t need especially at the moment.  Not a lot of money coming in but being self employed they seem to be under the misconception that I’m rolling it.  (Obviously don’t look at their records much!)

Also will be dropping by the Camera Centre as need to get lots of passport typed photos taken and also a new tape for the camcorder.  I know it may seem old fashioned but it still works really well so we don’t really see any need to chuck it out.  I’m getting to take it out the house on Friday for Bressay Up Helly Aa which I’m glad of as Martin won’t be coming up for it due to his shifts.  Means that I’ll be able to show him what it’s like and hopefully he’ll be there in person next year.

Spoke to Gran this morning a bit later than usual as she was having her hair done and it looked superb.  She was feeling her usual self as has the cold so hope she gets better soon.  The usual paper that the puzzle appears in didn’t come today so I used one that I had in my puzzle book.  (I do like my puzzles)  It felt a bit strange to be the one reading out the puzzles today and have to say the boys thrashed the girls today.  Oh well always next week…..

I don’t drink that often and don’t see my brother on his own that often either so when the two collided last night it was a fine opportunity.  Enjoyed our night and even had a bit of the deep and meaningfuls. I’ve decided I must learn to do this:

a) not at stupid o clock in the morning (drunk or sober)

b) not drunk

Brother made the ferry for his work this morning.  I was in feeling like a wet rag territory this not being familiar to me for a while.  So I’ve had a quiet day and also catching up on emails as been fairly busy this week.

The Community Council was good and my friend and I are planning to go to the next one.  At the moment the water board are of the impression it’s going to be too expensive to build a new water treatment on the island and so are thinking of piping water across from the mainland.  Most of the island are not happy about this as the water quality, we feel in the town is not that great plus I feel it would mean extra chemicals having to be put in to the water in order for it to be “fresh” when it gets poured out our taps. Also it means that if the pipe taking the water across gets damaged we have to wait until a team comes up from South to fix it.  They had planned to take tankers over with water but the very time a pipe will get damaged is when there is high winds and if there is high winds no ferry ergo no water and if (touching wood very tightly) a fire were to happen at that time the Firefighters would have to rig up to the sea water to hose it down.  They guys representing Scottish Water said that they would do a Community Consultation and take the island views on board but ultimately it would play no part in their decision making.

Well rant over about that.

Next weekend I shall probably suffering from a hangover too but as it’s going to be a long night I think I might cut back on the alcohol a bit and take some lovely soft drinks with me as looks like I’m going to be in charge of the camcorder.

My herbs that I planted a couple of weeks ago are growing.  Coriander first, Parsely second, Chives third and so far a no show from the Basil but hopefully we will see something from the Basil soon.

No more snow in Bressay the very last of it was washed away today.

Mam has had her arm replastered in replendant purple.  Looks fab!  The surgeon is happy with her so I’m very glad that things seem to be on the mend.  Only 4 weeks to go after this and it will be off for good (fingers crossed)

It was lovely while the snow was here although Woody wasn’t too happy about it.  He was out this evening and got soaked.  I’ve never met a cat that doesn’t mind getting wet.  He’ll quite happily go out while it’s raining (as long as it’s not hitting off the ground) come in soaked.  I usually get and old towel and bundle him up like a baby until I take the worst of the wet off him.  Then he usually goes for a sleep.

Speaking to Gran tomorrow so I’m looking forward to that but will need to get the puzzle head on need to beat the boys this week!

Was at the Camera Club last night and things are going well on the calendar front, as the pavements were clear decided to wheel myself back to the house.  It was good just to out in the night and the air (it is just as good being out in the daytime too!)  I need to start taking more photos and actually learn about digital cameras.  I find it easier reading from manuals that are printed rather than ones where you have a CD rom so I’ve not got round to it yet.  Hoping to maybe do a class later in year.

I did start again with my knitting last week.  I’m not the best (Mam is great at it) but I’m starting just doing squares.  I’m doing a pink square first in plain then will do one in a purl.  I was thinking about making a scarf out of the squares in the Chakra colours but we will see what happens.

Got up this morning managed to have leisurely breakfast.  I have an odd breakfast of Oats mixed with yoghurt, it’s honestly yummy just think of it like a certain cornered yoghurt and cereal mix

Spoke to Gran and we did puzzles today.  There was a new resident that we got introduced to so he was included in the fun and games.  Have to say the boys were quite good but the girls were getting better in the end.  Gran is doing well can’t believe she’ll be 101 this year it’s fantastic!

While Uncle was here told him that Camera Club meeting will be this Sunday and not next Sunday so that was duly put in as an appointment on the phone.

Mam and Dad went over to Lerwick but I decided to stay as wasn’t feeling 100% and the streets were still really bad.  I really need to find out if they do snow chains for wheelchairs……..

Went to let Woody out and heard water gushing from somewhere thought it might have been problems with our overflow but going a bit more into the garden found it was my next door neighbours (and co-incidently one of my best mates) house that had sprung a quite considerable leak.  Where I was looking it looked like it was coming out the kitchen window.  So rush to phone friend not answering aarrrgggghh! Sent text to call me urgently which she did. Explained problem and then on closer inspection pipe had gone on outside.  Much toing and froing with phone calls to let her know what was going on needed to find Stopcock to put water off.  Didn’t have strength to do this thankfully other neighbour was just about to go to ferry so he managed to turn it off.

Friends Mums Friends (if that make sense) came from down the road to see if they could help as Friends Mum had called them.  Son did what he could, I clunked to the floor face first.  After having profusely apologised for said clunking, the problem was getting sorted and will not take much for it to be righted so thankfully they have water this evening.  It’s amazing what a bit of frost can do to metal.

Friend came through this evening so sneakily gave her some Word Searches to sell at her work.  (When starting this forgot how much of a sales person you need to be)  We chatted for ages which minded me we’ll need to go out for a proper chat at some point, make a date and stick to it!  We’re terrible at things like that, life seems to get in the way.

All this has not bothered Woody, who was in the huff earlier as I wouldn’t let him out to “play” with the blackbirds and robins in the garden.  He’s forgiven me now and is currently sleeping.

Thankfully it’s been a far better Monday than last Monday.

We had more snow here but not as bad as the North and West of Shetland.  Woody has been exploring in the snow.  Mostly managed to forget to take camera with me but here is a couple of him when it started snowing:

He has discovered that he can get in and out of window today, being in a upper 1/4 villa before he wasn’t allowed out windows.  He has also been watching the other cats there are about 6/7 in the very close vicinity.  Today we had three on the fence posts so there was some hissing and making known that this is his territory now.

With the snow arriving I have meant to go and build a snowman but found not really been able.  We stocked up on food and stuff last week so we knew if the worst came to the worst then we’d be ok. 

Didn’t manage along to the Camera Club last night as I was told it had been cancelled so I wasn’t best pleased when I found out that it was on and a lot turned up.  Grr.  The Chairman called up today and said that there would be another meeting this Sunday as we are doing a Calendar for next year.  We’re trying to get everything as prepared as we can so it’s not a huge rush at the last minute.

The moon was lovely earlier on this evening at about 5 it seemed really big.  I have taken pictures but not transferred them to the computer yet. 

At the moment I don’t have the best camera but it’s my first one and I’m hoping to save up and get one with a large optical zoom on it.  This may be boring but I do internet survey, the kind that are quoted in the news etc. so for everyone I do I get points and get to choose what the reward is so I’m saving my points towards a camera.  Last year on one of the panels I’m on I managed to save up and get £70 of vouchers for clothes which I’m planning to use next time I’m south (unless next time is hospital visit)

Tomorrow we (plus my Uncle) will be speaking to my Gran who is in a home in Edinburgh.  They have people from a scheme called Moose in the Hoose which lets them use the computer.  They get help with emails and set up times to speak to people on the webcam.  We usually have a lot of fun as it’s not just my Gran and the Moose in the Hoose people there but other residents as well.  We always have the puzzle as well and there seems to be the boys against the girls.  Of course the girls are quite good at this but the boys are catching up.  I think using technology in this way is great it means that people they may not normally are able to “visit” them on a regular basis.  I hope it gets used in other places as well as Edinburgh.

Ooh gone for the essay today looks like lol hope you managed to stay awake!  Questions will be asked later

Thanks for all the kind wishes and hellos!

Well it’s been a busy couple of days here.

I have a condition that makes me prone to fainting a lot.  I tend to call them wobbles or any such euphemism that I can think of at the time.

Monday night walking to the kitchen to have tea and fainted.  I didn’t have much of a warning that was going to happen and unfortunately landed on my Mam and knocked her into the cooker and units.  I couldn’t believe what had happened when I came round, it’s bad enough me hurting myself but hurting someone else (esp. my Mam) is more than horrid.  Needless to say I was in a complete state for most of the night, even though everyone told me it wasn’t my fault.

Dad took her to the hospital on the next ferry as she was in great pain and it was confirmed through an x ray that she had broken one of the bones in her arm.  She is now in plaster for the next 6 weeks and is trying to do most things on her own.  (Now I see where I get my stubbornness from when it comes to not listening when I’m having bad days).

Yesterday was busy as I was at the Citizens Advice and then Mam had an appointment at the Dr’s.  After this we went shopping at the Co-op and had our dinner there.  We all had the braised lamb chops and they were lovely.  Had another few bits and pieces to do and then came back home on the 3:30 ferry.  Just about made it home and I hit the deck again because I was so tired, so ended up in bed and resting, which I’ve been doing for most of the day as well.

Today apart from resting, I was printing off the Charity Word Search that I’m doing.  Thankfully everything is my bedroom so not far to go!  It’s the first time I’ve done anything like that but the Charity in question is one that has helped me a lot, so fingers crossed that it goes well. 

Tonight also spoke to my friend from Michigan in the USA, who has a similar condition to me.  It’s great being able to talk to someone who understands and we’re hoping to go across and see her at some stage.  She was hoping to come across to Scotland this summer but can’t make it now because of her illness.  Hoping it’s just going to be a postponement until next summer.

Woody saw snow here for the first time today.  He’s learned that if I go to the back door he might get let out.  I went to get some veg from the freezer and he came running up behind me.  Let him out and to be fair he stayed out for longer than I thought he would but then came running straight back into the warmth.  He does like his home comforts our Woody.

Sorry for bumming people out.  Hopefully the next blog will be full of much cheerier news.

Well here goes.

A little about me.  I’ve moved back home to Bressay after a few years of being in Edinburgh & West Lothian.  At the moment my partner is South saving up before he moves up here to so I’m staying with my parents for the time being (and so is the cat).

I’m not 100% sure what I should be writing so be prepared for a lot of wittering nonsense!

Today I’ll be heading down to the hall to get tickets for the Bressay Up Helly Aa which I’m greatly looking forward to.  I was hoping that my partner would be up for this but due to his shifts he won’t.  He’s not been to an Up Helly Aa before and thought I’d introduce him this year but there is always next year for that (and hopefully he’ll be here permanently by that stage)

I’m trying to introduce the cat to the outside world.  He loved going out when we were in Linlithgow but is slowly but surely getting used to the outside here.  He’s never liked the wind so I’ve been watching his progress with great interest.  The local cats are getting used to another one marking his territory (thankfully they are mostly girls), there have been a few hissing matches but no full on scraps, as yet I’m sure it will happen one day.