The Blog from Bressay

It ’s been ages since I’ve been blogging so trying to think of everything that I’ve been up to.

MLS has updated you with the Water situation.  We’re still collecting signatures and found out on Wednesday that the Community Council will be putting in an objection.  The big Chief Exec is coming to meet MLS and I to discuss “our concerns” but has decided that he feels a public forum would not be any use.  How he came to that decision I don’t know.

Gran is now looking a lot better but unfortunately she now has an infection so she’s on more tablets.  We’ve still be seeing her on Tuesdays and trying to win the puzzles (the boys team are doing quite well the lasses will have to get their brains in gear).

Mam and Dad will be getting a new car next month with the Motability scheme so there has been lots of getting car sorted for that.  It’s a Toyata Corolla and they will be getting an Auris (I think that’s the right one).  She’s due in for MOT on Monday so fingers crossed that it won’t cost too much.  Mam prefers Toyota’s as she has Arthritis and find that they have higher seats which makes it easier for her to get in and out of.

Martin will be visiting next week!  Woohoo!!! I’m much looking forward to that. Not sure what day he is coming up will either be Monday or Tuesday he’s being a bit vague.

Last week we went to Yell to meet some friends and then went for a picnic.  It was a fairly nice day.  When we left Lerwick it was raining but stayed dry whilst we were in Yell.  We had an extra surprise - Killer Whales!  We were in the Wind Dog Cafe and were told that the whales were out so we all rushed out.  Unfortunately they were too far away and my camera doesn’t have a good zoom so no pics.  At 31 this is the first time I’ve seen Killer Whales it was great, I’ve now made up my mind I should visit Yell more often in order that I might get another glimpse of them.

We’re all booked and ready for going to my Sister’s wedding in August.  Because they have had to change all their plans I’m no longer officially playing but have been told to take the fiddle with me and my Uncle will take his guitar.  So if you’re in Belhaven in August watch out for the Musical Caravan!  No longer playing fiddle meant that I’ve had to come up with another present so we’ve decided that I’m going to do an Angel Card reading not your traditional wedding present but a very appreciated one.

This week was my Dad’s birthday so we celebrated that on Tuesday.  I made a Strawberry Cheesecake for him as I’d made one on Saturday and he was hopeful that I’d have leftovers from the picnic but it all went so I made another for him.  For Birthday Cake Mam got him one from the supermarket that was in the shape of a Champagne bottle that was a nice chocolate sponge and chocolate filling.

Tomorrow will be busy Auction at 2pm and I’m on the lookout for a desk for the bedroom so I can tidy up my computer, printer tower etc. Problem is that it needs to be fairly small but large enough to take Woody’s litter tray underneath.  Yeah I know probably not hygienic to have his litter tray in the bedroom but it’s a Ferplast covered one and we put it in here to make sure that he was close to litter tray when he moved up here as he spent most of the time under the bed.

Tomorrow night is the Midsummer Carnival.  Midsummer…. Carnival….. wasn’t Midsummer last week I hear you ask?  Yes it was but due to various things they are having it this week.  I know quite a few folk that will be in it so I’m heading across to cheer them on and if I’m feeling up to it will be going to a couple of pubs (if there is room to get in them) afterwards to celebrate friends birthday.

This week has been taken up with getting the campaign going against Scottish Water.  We’ve now got flyers, posters leaflets AND the petition up and going in the shop.  We’ve also said that if folk know someone that can’t get to the shop but want to sign we’ll come to them.

On the flyer we have details of who to contact to raise your concerns and also put in a letter that they can cut off and send.

Saw Gran on Tuesday wasn’t looking too good.  She fell out of her bed at end of last week so she has two black eyes and bruises and cut on forehead.  Was good to see her up and about for a bit even if she was drugged up to the eyeballs.  They explained that they don’t have the bed rail up at night as she goes to the toilet during the night so even if the did have that up knowing Gran she’d get over it.

Due to Wedding now being over two days and they are not having a parady/aisle thing I’m not officially playing at wedding, although my sister said to take fiddle down and Uncle is taking his guitar with him so might have a tune or two (this means we need a bigger repertoire eek!). so I’m sure it will be more practice, practice, practice lol.

It’s been lovely this week lots and lots of sunshine (although still had a bit of a wind with it some days).

At the weekend I got a letter from the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary informing me I’d be staying a business week with them (Mon - we think Fri).  I really want to get things sorted out but can’t until I see my Doc next week and see when I’m going to get discharged.  Mam and Dad will be going with me but won’t be staying as they are both Polling Booth Clerks for the European Elections.  Martin is coming back up with me whenever I get discharged. 

Didn’t see Gran on Tuesday again.  Dad did for a few mins.  She’d had a lie in and by the time they had finished with other webcamers it was time for Grans dinner.  Went out to enjoy sunshine on Tuesday at The Peerie Shop Cafe and had a lovely couple of cups of Peppermint and Liquorice Tea.  If your into your herbal tea I’d highly recommend it.  It was lovely sitting outside in the sun and chatting to folk.

Wednesday I had a day off as I’d been out Monday and Tuesday and have a busy couple of days coming up so I needed the rest and had a mainly bed day.  I was supposed to be going to Community Council but I knew if I did there would be trouble after.  The Clerk is next door neighbour so I’m going to see if I can get the minutes from him to peruse.

Today I’ve been practising tune for Sisters wedding coming along nicely and thinking of seeing if she wants to me to play Ode to Joy as her and her man walk back down the beach together.  Also been doing a bit of chucking out and cleaning.  I had to rescue escapee sock from hoover but all ok in end.  I’ve been trying to clean our white, plastic furniture and have found out the reason it’s not cleaning up.  It’s been outside for far too many winters so the newer ones are coming up good but other not good I’m afraid will try and persuade Mam and Dad to put it all in the Shed this winter (PS if anyone wants any boxes we have loads looking for a good home).  Woody has not had the best of days between strimming, fiddling and hoovering.  He’s hoping for a far quieter night.

The Chinese is coming across tomorrow night again.  Trying to persuade Mam & Dad that it would be a nice idea and have a night off cooking.  Still working on it though.  I’m also off to the CAB in the afternoon to sort the stuff for my submission to Tribunal out, still not heard when the date will be.  If I had to put a bet on it will come up when I’m in Aberdeen!

Saturday we’ve got folk coming over and hopefully the phone that my brother ordered from eBay will have turned up.  Sunday it’s the Camera Club AGM.

I’m hoping to get more washing out very soon as I’ve managed to get one load on but I’ve been thwarted by folk getting to machine first and other folk strimming the grass.  Tomorrow I shall get to machine first and there will be no strimming.

After being back at home since October I seemed to have acquired a social life again.  I was looking back at my blogs and I’ve not been out this much in about 6 years.  It’s all good but I’m thinking of seeing whether I can space things out a bit better.  Everything seems to happen at the one time, not good for the old health (well particularly mine).  The Teacosy and I will however be meeting up with MLS.  Teacosy has been making friends in my house.

Next week I’m planning LOTS of nothing I’ve decided unless ZETrans/Community Council/Water Board decide to have a meeting in which case I have to go, well don’t have, have to but I feel the need.  Other than that I will not be venturing far or attempting not to.  I may need to go to Lerwick but that will be it.

I’m planning on going up to the croft to have a bit of a look about and plan how to tackle the forest that has grown at the front door of our old croft house.  You now need a machete and a wildlife license to enter in there now.  I may need a man with machine but we’ll see what happens.  This is something I’ve been procrastinating about since I first moved back but now the weather is turning it’s time to do something about it.  I may not be able to do a lot in one go so I’ll just do little bits frequently (much like how we’re supposed to eat these days).  Also I love being at the croft, it’s so peaceful and views are great.  To me it really lifts me being there if I’m having a down day.  I also promise to get photo’s taken.

On the plus front we almost have a caravan booked in Dunbar now.  Woohooo!!!  We found out that their phonelines had been down.  Also Woody is now booked for his holidays at Cattery.  We were thinking of getting someone to look in on him but he’s a shy thing with folk and don’t think he’d understand why everyone had gone for a long time.  He’s been in Catteries before didn’t like the first one but the second one he loved as he got lots of attention and cuddles and I know Gott Cats has an excellent reputation.

After the exertions of last week I needed to have a bit of a rest and relax.  Unfortunately this has meant not updating the blog (bad Mirlnlass!).

I managed to do most of the week but didn’t manage the Jumble Sale and Coffee Morning at the Bressay Heritage Centre I was just too knackered by that time and had to admit defeat at that point.

Woody went missing last Monday night around 9pm but eventually turned up on Wednesday at 12:40am.  Very wet, soggy and scared.  I was really glad to see him as it wasn’t like him not to come back at all.  He had decided on the Monday night to escape when no one was looking.  Mam had gone to quickly chuck stuff out the back door and that’s when he made his move.  We hadn’t realised that he’d gone as it’s quite common for him to sleep for hours under the bed at night.  It was only when he didn’t appear as Mam and Dad went to bed that I started to wonder but by that time he’d thought that he wasn’t going to get back in.  To say I’m very glad he’s back is an understatement but also made me very glad that he is microchipped even though we live on an island.  It’s now back to persuading him to go out again as he’s very timid after the escape (get a funny feeling he won’t be doing that again for a while).

Tomorrow is Strictly Clan Dancing so I’m really looking forward to it, although I have already chosen my favourite but may be swayed if there is some brilliant dancing by others. 

We’re still trying to arrange where to stay for my Sisters wedding feels like it’s been non-stop for ages now.  Martin has eventually decided that he’s now coming up for his Birthday on the 18th but knowing him this could well change.  For my Brothers Birthday bash I think I might go as Lois Griffin from Family Guy as it’s fairly easy to do.

Updates on meetings that were attended last week.  The Transport department went away feeling the full wrath of the Bressay Public over the ferry fares and are having a “rethink” about things.  It has been proposed to give out a monthly ticket for foot passengers that will be £30 for Unlimited Travel.  They are yet to decide what they are going to do about cars.  The first idea was to have reduced fares/unlimited ticket for off peak hours only and you could only travel 5 times a week.  After being shouted at (literally) they’re thinking maybe something different.  The tunnel has been “put on hold” until the Capital Expenditure Programme can allow for this as Central Gov money on transport has been used up on the Forth Crossings and other Central belt stuff.  We heard the  words 2017 but have no idea what that really means.

Good news on the Bressay Bus front this could be up and running by June so those of us who have no transport would be able to get to Lerwick easier and also for a night out.  We might be getting wind turbines on Bressay which I think is a great idea.  They would be the size of the ones at Burghdale and not the size of the ones proposed by Viking Energy.

Phew I’d better stop there before I bore you all to sleep/tears!

I’ve finished doing my work for the first client I’ve had. Really enjoyed it and hope to get some more at some point.

It was a lovely day here but it’s turned into a bit of a rainy one now. Felt very spring like and Woodys been out for most of the day.

I’m hoping to start getting up to our croft so I can tidy up outside our old croft house. It’s so overgrown you can’t even get near it never mind into it. I’ll be wielding the every trusty shears to get it mown down but in parts I may need a machete!

It’s been pandemonium here today Dad had loads of stuff to do and then Mam and Dad went out (I was working so stayed here), came back and are heading back out again tonight on 6:45 ferry. I’ve decided that it’s safer to stay in bedroom so that I don’t get under anyone’s feet.

I’m still on the hunt to find accomodation in Dunbar after my Sister had to change the date for her wedding. It was all booked and we were ready for 18th July and then a couple of weeks ago she got a call to say that the venue was very sorry but it had been double booked. After that they had problems with the cameraman and other things. The wedding will now take place in August so now it’s just hunting for a place that will take 7 of us. We’re hopeful of getting somewhere in a caravan park.

Got a letter through on Friday from ZETrans announcing a meeting at the Bressay Hall on Wed 25th at 7:30. We will be hearing more about the plans for a bus on the island that would connect with the ferries and whether it would go to Lerwick as well or not. Also looking at doing different things with the ferry service. I think this could be an interesting one.

Also waiting to see when the next Community Council meeting will be as they are doing their Environmental Plan which I would like to see and possibly have a say in.