Going to Scotland

[Stu]

Shetland it very close to Norway not Denmark -

This is true, but remember that there was no such nation as Norway until relatively recently, and what we now call Norway was, for much of history, part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Stu

[Departed Member]

The Orcadian word for folk who come from 'other parts' is "Outlanders", regardless of their normal domicile! My best mate has lived there for some twenty-odd years, both he & his wife still have very "English" accents, yet neither are regarded as "outlanders", as they 'blend in' with the natives, so to speak! The folk Orcadians tend to 'back away from' vary between the "Let's getaway & live on an island" mentality (usu. "Southern English"!) & the increasing number (usu. "City Scottish") who are determined to force Orcadians (& Shetlanders!) into accepting "Scottish Rule"! Kilts are very rarely sighted on the islands, as even the heaviest could end up "over yer heed!", due to the rather strong Atlantic breezes (OK! Gale force+ winds!! ) which prevail there!

[Stu]

Yup. I am in Shetland as I type this. The islands are staggeringly beautiful but cold and very remote. The people here tend to have their own dialect, but they are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Today, we went to the most northerly island, Unst, and I managed to walk the length of the fella at Hermaness Nature Reserve to reach the most northerly cliffs and see Muckle Flugga lighthouse and Out Stack, the most northerly piece of land in the British Isles. Shetland is well worth a visit! We have fallen in love with the islands and will be considering our options for a move here.

http://www.visitshetland.com/

As for kilts - I haven't seen any here at all, although I didn't expect to. There's no tartan here, nor have I seen a piper or any of the other cultural symbols of Scotland. People here are immensely proud to be Shetlanders and they don't seem to think of themselves as Scots. I don't think a kilt would be practical here because the winds are terrific and the weather seems to change every ten minutes! I have not seen a single person of either sex in a skirt since I got here, although it has ben cold. Yesterday we had a full-on snow blizzard which, I am told, is unusual for Shetland.

Not seen the Aurora Borialis as yet, though.

Stu

[Milfmog]

Shetland is well worth a visit! We have fallen in love with the islands and will be considering our options for a move here.

Have you given up on your plan to move to Denmark Stu?

Not seen the Aurora Borialis as yet, though.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, it can be an absolutely awesome sight.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Stu]

Ian

Have you given up on your plan to move to Denmark, Stu?

For the moment, yes. Denmark is in a heck of a bad recession and the job offer I had has been withdrawn as the person I was replacing has postponed her retirement (her husband has been made redundant). Then there's the problem of me selling my house. I've dropped the price four times in six months and nobody is even bothering to come and look at it. If I want to let it out, after paying the agency their 10%, and the buildings insurance, the taxman will claim a third of the remaining rental as unearned income. Lastly, but by no means least, the Danish government has been propping up the krone to keep its value relative to the Euro, and that has meant the UK pound has fallen against it from about 11.5 down to less than 9, and that affects both my pension and my capital. If i move to Denmark at this time, I'll be unemployed with an unsold house in the UK and living on a far smaller pension in real terms.

Two or three years from now and things will hopefully have improved but it's a non-starter at the moment. We are very tempted by the beautiful Shetlands at the moment, though, and I've been assured I could get a job here, so selling my house wouldn't be so urgent.

Stu

[Milfmog]

Sorry to hear that Stu. It's a pain when you do all the right things financially and then because of other peoples actions that you have no control over your plans get a right royal rogering.

Hopefully things will settle out and you will be able to move as planned in time.

Have fun,


Ian.

[veletron]

Shetlands are magic. Was up there last year cycle touring - wonderful time was had:

http://www.veletron.com/php/gallery2/ma ... &g2_page=2

Some magic beaches - the one on the north west end of yell being the best I have ever been to. This year we headed to Arran/Islay/Jura/Colnsay/Tiree again cycle touring - some more wonderful scenery

http://www.veletron.com/php/gallery2/ma ... emId=13610
http://www.veletron.com/php/gallery2/ma ... emId=13762

And... just to keep this on topic - here's me skirted at the eden project in Cornwall: http://www.veletron.com/php/gallery2/ma ... emId=13525

Nigel

[Uncle Al]

Nigel,

Nice pictures, as always! It's good to read you again!
Have missed you around here. Please don't turn into
a ghost!---Ooops, Halloween is over. Don't be scarce
around here--we need, and value, your input!


Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX