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After a 24hr delay in leaving the island I finaly found myself in lerwick, dropped my bags off at the ferry terminal, went and had a good wander around the museum & while there had what has to be, the best coffee you can get in lerwick, then met with a friend for a while before i had to get on the boat.

Aberdeen was good, or rather, seeing my parents again was good, had a good few days there rummaging around in town for interesting stocking fillers, having a desperate search for white gesso and after 3 art stores, found the huge wash brush i was after & even bigger bonus, new graphite sticks.

Monday was train to Inverness, rail works on part of the line, so train from Aberdeen to Inverurie, coach from Inverurie to Keith, then a very cold & wet wait for 30 mins till the train arrived to take us to Inverness, taxi to hotel, & frantic search in hotel room to find the kettle ! why on earth the kettle was hidden in a drawer ill never understand, but it was found & coffee was had, phew !

Inverness was good, the hotel was cosy, although seriously on t he shabby side for the image & pricing they tried to project. Met over 60 other local area assessors during the training day, which was great, ive never heard so much Gaelic spoken since I was a small one, but it was a very interesting & informant day spent in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Wed, headed back to Aberdeen for the night, went out to dinner with the folks and thurs was a last min rush round the town trying to find that what i hadnt managed to get yet before heading to the boat in the eve loaded down with christmas gifts from the grandparents. Told by the boat staff that orkney may be a no call, so could be early to lerwick. Leaving Aberdeen was kinda rough (i didnt spill my pint !) but being tired, i had a 9pm bed & woke up just as we were passing Fair Isle.

There were a couple of other folks outside on the rear deck as we passed the isle, guess im not the only early upper, who were disscussing Fair Isle as we passed & had me disolved into laughter as I heard it said that "There are only arround 15 folk who stay there, they are all very anti social & most of them do nothing but drink" The shock & shame on those faces was quite a picture as I explained that we had almost 70 in our community, described local services & everything that goes on in the isle.

Got stuck over night in lerwick due to the wind being in the wrong direction for landing on the isle, & finaly arrived home on saterday.

Now to get stuck into getting the costumes for the school play finished as its on Tuesday.

Has this massive build up, stress levels's hit the roof as I try to work double time to compensate for taking a week out of life to attend the crofters commission training seminar & get a quilt going, 2 others (really simple flannel charms done raggedy) finished, 2 scarfs to finish, worry about stuff that hasnt arrived yet, lept for joy at the arrival of fantastic dried cranberry's yesterday (cheers mom & dad in law !!) Start to fret like mad as the chook feed is down to the last lot & no sign of feed order yet.

Is it any wonder that my sleep pattern is now totally shot to pieces !

But its like this every year, for reasons way into the past, i find xmas very hard to get through. I totally sink myself in work as a means of not thinking & hope it all passes real soon.


Anyhoo, bigger and brighter subjects... I found Misty Fuse in what used to be my local quilt store in Aberdeen, fantastic to have some that I didnt have to order in from USA, but shame they didnt have the UV proof version, still going to have to order in more from the USA at some point, but least they have it, its a start ! Had hoped to use some of it to make a few quick funky cushions for eldest DD's room as part of her xmas, but she's home with flu as of today, so i cant risk any sneaky projects at all till she goes back on monday.

Every sodden year..

When your financially pushed to almost breaking point between christmas, annual rent, feed orders, seed orders, fuel bills.. Something die's.

Just went up to put on a load of washing & discovered the last load hadnt got past the pre-wash & the pump was totally dead, defunct, kaput.

Sometimes I hate being me !

It is a great honor to be able to publish these pictures for public viewing. Gummy Bears are notorious for being secretive preferring seclusion to publicity, but for the very first time they have allowed a single bored human female to witness Gummy Bear new year preperations.


First up we have the Gummy Bear Gay Gordons


Followed by a very sprightly & well performed Eightsum Reel


And as all great parties near the end, Gummy Bear parties are no different.. The Hockey Cockey


In the hope of making a difference to the amount of Gummy Bears used as stocking fillers this year, our bears reached back to they Pagen beginings taking part in sacrificial offerings of badly moulded bears in attempt to stem the rising amount of raids undertaken on Gummy Bear lairs all over the world.

So Christmas came and went without to much trouble, no teenage arguments & the annual event of No1 Son refusing to eat sprouts no matter what the bribe.

The kids had a very enjoyable day & we ended it with all big kids having some serious competition spirit while we christened Dad's new dart board.

My mother gave me the best & most thoughtfull pressie ever, the green & blacks chocolate cookbook. I am someone who doesnt eat a lot of chocolate, Im seriously fussy about those that I like & dislike, but I sure do love to cook with it esp if it involves tempering chocolate.

Boxing day was the childrens party & panto where much fun was had by all. (my husband is the blonde one)

The kids all gained much smelly stuff from me, I got heaps of it & cant use any of it due to my sensitive skin.

Next on the prep list is a buffet for 30 folks tomorrow night, we have a few of the neighbours coming over for supper.