Lone Boat

Shetland had its summer yesterday, and today we have the weather we expected- grey with a certain dampness in the air and a bit chilly. However, the islands wear this weather like a welcoming cloak. The low slung landscape looks comfortable in this light.

With his Lordship better and communicative again, we graced the inter Islands athletics competition between Orkney and Shetland at the fairly new athletics outdoor track.

This might have been a ideal venue for a Momentum blip, but unfortunately the 200 metre sprint went round the opposite side of the track and by the time I realised that, they were finished.
This is just the same luck that saw us saunter down to the harbour area at 7pm last night in time to hear the last notes of the brass band performing at the midsummer carnival, where lots of colourfully dressed floats were being manned by vikings in fur and leather and nordic maidens in skimpy attire.
We had seen no notices about it and had only been away from that area for about 2 hours. Sod's Law indeed: how I would have loved to have posted a blip of a Jarl resplendent in winged helmet, leather tabard and carrying a full face of hair, and more worryingly, an axe.

Later this morning we went to the new Shetland Museum, a marvellous space in which to show the history of Shetland through the ages, with interactive computers and mock up scenes.There were rocks, artifacts from the iron age right through to the present day with WW 2 memorabilia and even school exercise books and medals. Also, most interesting to me, were the cases devoted to knitting and fair isle patterns that have been used over the years

It's worth remembering that Orkney and Shetland were gifted from Denmark in the 15th century as a dowry when the Danish princess, Margaret married James the third of Scotland. Even now the Shetlanders consider themselves more Scandanavian than Scottish. Instead of the the Saltire flag in prominence, it's the new Shetland flag that flies. It's a white 'adding sign' cross on a light blue background.

Tonight we are taking a boat trip round the island of Noss just off Lerwick. It's a bird sanctuary and nature reserve and although I know next to nothing about birds, it will be interesting to hear about them from people in the know. Besides we can hope to spot some seals.
I am wondering if I should take som sea sickness pills. The worry would be that I might fall asleep.That wouldn't look good.