CraftyJules: BACK TO REALITY

Well, got back to Kenya on Wednesday, after 8 hours at airport - must get that later bus! - only to be facedwith a 2 hour drive from airport before I could see my gorgeous hubby! So lovely to see him againand have spent week together and having lovely quiet time. this week we will start reconnecting with friends.
Anyway, back to Shetland! As always I ahd an awesome time. I have a theory that for most of us there is a special place where we just feel we are at home, where we feel part of it, and for me that is Shetland. I was once told that in a previous life I was a herbalist living on a remote croft and growing herbs - probably seen as a witch doctor by the locals! - so maybe that is why. Whatever,both my sister and I, when we reach the border going up into Scotland, give a whoop of delight! Talking of which, was weird driving up from Newcastle to Aberdeen to get the ferry. It had been really sunny driving through the North of england but literally right at the border the weather changed and the other side of the border was really misty and glowering. Just made me laugh!
Our wonderful, generous friend, Mike, up there on the island, had very kindly agreed that I could stay there rather than in the gorgeous Benigarth where I was last year. A brave man indeed! However, he survived the experience and possibly even enjoyed my company - it is possible my friends!!! fortuantely for me though not for him perhaps he was out on strike one day so we went over to Bressay with another friend Jane and had a beautiful day climbing the cliffs and having a picnic.
Had hoped to do lots of painting while I was there but got so sidetracked with going out walking and generally just being busy that it never happened.A few pics of the gorgeousness!!!

View from St Ninians Isle to Bigton

Cliffs at back of Watsness

View from house I was staying in - Foula island in background.

View from the house

Such characters - at Sumburgh Head

So many highlights but the best was perhaps the day we saw the orcas. It had been a grey day and Mike had kindly driven me around seeing places I hadn't seen before. We were very lucky as wherever we went the weather seemed to lift. Stopped off and had coffee with a friend of his at Vidlin who showed that it is possible to have a beautiful garden- with trees1 - in Shetland. Got back quite late and were halfway through cooking dinner when jane called to say the orcas -killer whales by another name - were hugging the coast down the south mainland. After humming and haaing for a few minutes we madly decided to take the 80 minute dash down to the south to see if we could catch them. On the way we were laughing as the fog was so thick we could barely see the road at times never mind whales out in the bay. As luck would have it, they were still there - a big male, 3 females and a baby right into the shore - we spent a wonderful half hour watching them. Stunning. Only got bad shots as so busy just enjoying watching.


They are orcas, honest!

Also they had a mini type of Up Helly A called the Fire Festival where they burn the Viking Longship and had great evening - really good atmosphere.

The parade through the streets - lots of the costumes are authentic

The burning boat

Throwing their torches onto the boat

An impressive sight

Fire!

The tall ships race was the other major event and because of it I got to go to Yell and Unst with Mike to see some of the events that were going on. The musical talent on Shetland is quite amazing and there is such a great community spirit. And the ships were truly magnificent. On the last day when the parade of ships made its way into the bay they looked truly majestic with their crews lining the sides of the ships and disappearing into the mist. As they passed the fisheries vessel a cannon was fired and Pomp and Circumstance played - stirring stuff!!!