SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Loch of Hillwell.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html 

 

Busy weekend so far. Finished all the Christmas decorations on Friday night. Yesterday I had the Warmworks Surveyor's appointment, which took around three hours. It was very interesting to find out that what I thought was spray foam insulation in my loft is in fact shredded paper!!! I was told this is what was used in the day – I don't know how I feel about that, but there we go!

 

Today was a brilliant day, apart from the weather which was strong winds and lashing rain. I picked up my pine door from Jewsons in September and have been waiting for Alex to fit this door in my dining room since then. All builders and tradesmen here are insanely busy. Alex arrived at 9.30am to fit my new door into the dining room, which involved building a frame too as there has never been a door here (as far as I know). Alex also created some holes with a circular saw in my dining room bookcases, to allow the TV wire to be hidden. The door took Alex far longer than he expected – nothing fits instantly in a old house! I had to leave him to finish the job when I went out to lunch.

 

This afternoon I went to "The Scalloway Good Companions" lunch for over 60's in the Cornerstone Cafe in Scalloway at 1pm, which was for Scalloway and Trondra residents. It was such a wonderful atmosphere, fabulous food which included main course (I had parsnip & cashew strudel), dessert ( choose trifle), had a ginger beer, mincepies, star shaped shortbread and tea or coffee. It was so joyous to meet some lovely folk. A gentleman called Brian sitting to my left lives in one of the houses that had the Siberian Thrush in he was telling me! Brian also told me he had the Blue-cheeked Bee eater that was at Asta Loch in 1997 perched on his washing line! Another gentleman was full of banter, which was very funny indeed, but not really appropriate to write the details on here, but thank you for making me chuckle!

 

I had no idea there was going be music as well. Some gifted youngsters played some jolly Christmas and Shetland tunes, a young lass playing a keyboard, violinists and a young man who was particularly brilliant playing his accordian –  it brought tears to my eyes, especially the violins. Everytime I hear a violin being played it makes me think of Lucy. For new readers of my blog, my sister Lucy is a violinist and attended the Royal College of Music, but because of her mental diagnosis throughout her life, she never got to fulfill her biggest dreams musically. The lady hosting the event was Sonia, who is a lady who lives in my road. Sonia was giving a few folk lifts home at the end, so I volunteered to take a couple back to their house in Berry Road – the gentleman was telling me he was 90 years old – there is no way he looked 90! It was a pleasure to take them home. So lovely to meet some lovely people and huge thanks to the organisers and the "Good Companions" – as a newcomer to Scalloway I was made to feel very welcome. Thank also to the fabulous staff at the Cornerstone Cafe.

 

When I returned home Alex had left and the new door looks so good. It took me forever to clear up and put everything back on the shelves in the cupboards, then I nipped to the shop to buy some sandpaper. Tomorrow I need to lightly sand the door and get the first coat of woodstain on. I also have lots of paintings to hang still. Going for a local beach walk tomorrow whatever the weather is doing. Its forecast to be rain and sunshine and less windy.