Latest News from Burra, Shetland.

A couple of weeks ago we had a great morning out at the Tingwall craft fair.

Well, Autumn is defiantly here in Shetland, and as I write this post the rain is lashing at the window and the wind is howling around the hus.  The weather has been like this pretty much all week, and off course, the days are becoming shorter.

This morning we went to the craft fair at the Clickimin Sports Centre in Lerwick, there was some lovely stuff, knitted products including Rae's favourite, the Burra bears, lots of jewellery, wood turning and the like and brilliant food. 

Whilst at the sports centre I enquired about gym membership as I am finding my muscles are, well, getting a bit soft as are my hands which are cut, grime and callous free and are worryingly silky smooth...!! 

To be honest, the one thing I am finding hard about doing this otherwise enjoyable academic stuff is the lack of physical activity. In the past I was kinda used to hefting large lumps of wood about Ash's yard: spending days caulking; followed by days of power planing; followed by days of belt sanding and ..... well, you get the picture. So hopefully, a couple of sessions a week at the gym will keep me muscles chipper for when I get back into a bit of traditional wooden boat building, with perhaps a bit of a Nordic twist.

Zephon is settling in to her new berth.

Zephon is the only sailing boat in the marina!

View of the marina from the car (on our the way home for a lovely cup of tea).

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to go to the pony show organised by Barbara Tait. We had a great time there watching the ponies and their owners strut their stuff and generally doing horsey things which both Rae and I know absolutely nothing about!  But it was great meeting the ponies and their proud owners. 

Barbara Tait recently organised an Autumn Shetland pony show. 

The pony show was great, I didn't have a clue what was going on but it was fun and it was great meeting new people. 

Sandwick Bay this morning at low water. 

Zephon arrives in Bridge End.

Our pumpkin, doing the warding off the evil spirits thing.

Last night Rae and I enjoyed ourselves in true halloween fashion, Pumpkin carved and lit, a spookey movie, well actually we watched Ghost Busters! 

Mike (MJS Boat Transport) and his partner Susan arrived at just after 08:00 this morning. The day was far from ideal for off-loading Zephon; it was, and still is very windy, with driving rain showers. The brand new truck with the hiab was driven by a chap called Sean who works for Stephen Henderson.  Bloody great bit of kit. All went very smoothly and Zephon was lowered into the water without a hitch, well apart from the fact it took me and Mike to pull her back along the quay, yep it was pretty damn breezy!

First job remove the mast.

Hiabs are wonderful things!

Remote controlled hiab, bloody amazing!

 Needless to say the wind meant that there was no chance of getting the mast rigged and stepped so that will have to wait until a calmer and drier day. 

Zephon moored alongside the quay. waiting for the wind to drop.

Zephon looks very small moored alongside the quay. Although the weather was not ideal its great that she is finally here and I would like to thank those that made it possible: 

Charlie Hussey and Mary Watson for all their help de-rigging Zephon and keeping a watchful eye on her and their donation of some large fenders. 

Guy Cotton (Savage) for taking Zephon from Old Mill Creek to Darthaven and making sure she was loaded safely onto Mikes lorry. 

Mike from MJS transport, brilliant, great service and very helpful, would recommend using Mike if your boat needs to be transported. Also thank you to Susan for taking these great photos.

Sean, the hiab lorry chap, again great and really helpful.  

Thank you