Its late, I can't sleep ...

I don't know about you guys and how you would be feeling, but after living and working with my husband for 7 weeks solid, it seems very strange not to have him around.

Nothing would normally disrupt my healthy sleep pattern, but clearly tonights an exception. It's daylight outside (or Simmer Dim as they call it) and I can't sleep ...

Even the hot water bottle's not helping :-(

The recently borrowed book from the community library is  starting to get a bit gorey, so I've put that down.

So, I've got to thinking ... mainly about how many times - over the last couple of years - my memory has deserted me - in fact not just deserted me, but squarely mislead me into thinking something happened when it actually didn't. I fear for my old age. I fear for poor old Steve getting the blame every time I can't find something.... there's only so many times you can carry the can for your wifes absent-mindedness :=(

At 47, this is how I feel (Sarah in Hebrew means "princess"? so the tiara is very appropriate!)

But you know me ... well,  most of you do ... and I'm never low for long - even at 12:50am . Tomorrow I'll be doing my bit to raise funds for the local public hall in Burravoe (these halls really are the heart of the community) ... what will I be doing?

Yes , chopping and prepping food for a Pizza Night, organised by our local stonemason who - I have to say - is a very gifted amateur cook, and I'm one of the helpers. Shame none of you are up here to taste the output of our hardwork as I can vouch for his abilities in making very nice Italian food.  I'll let you know tomorrow how it went, hopefully quite a few should come along to eat - or maybe takeaway a pizza. I know one customer who will be waiting there with his knife and fork. Yes, Mr Cheshire.

Uh oh .... its now 01:00 and I'm talking about food.... time to try and sleep again I think.

Nite x

Sunshine , Sadness & Solar Power

Well we've had another mild and sunny week this week which has been good to work in. After a couple of days of helping Fred dig the foundations for the extension and porch, Steve & Digger set off for a short trip to Merseyside to visit parents and collect some bits and bobs needed for the building works.

We're lucky enough to have some stunning wildflowers here and it feels like we're completely surrounded by them - the sunshine has really brought out the blooms. We have fields of wild flag iris's which are just the green leaves at the moment, but this evening I spotted one of the first ones to emerge into the sun

There are also dozens of wild orchids.Much of the land has been untouched for generations, the main reason being that the some of the fields leading down to the beach have been a little bit wet for sheep to graze on (they get foot rot!) so the flowers haven't been eaten! So far I think I've spotted 3 or 4 varieties - not sure of their names but thought you may like to see a couple of pictures of them.

So , that's the "Sunshine" bit, now the "sadness" bit. 

You may remember that Fred parents are up in Shetland, seeing us and touring around. Well their dog Max1 - aged 13 - made his way to doggy heaven this week.

He'd spent last weekend with us all & Digger & Max2 (Freds dog) down at the beach, but as an old boy he'd not been right for a little while. He had a peaceful end & I'm told the vet was very good and let him go to sleep in his bed in the motor home. He's now resting - looking out to sea - behind our Lamby Shed, so there will always be a little corner of Yell that's his. RIP Max1, a handsome soft old boy.

Finally, the portable solar panel appeared today as Janet & Joe arrived to stay for the night on their way down to mainland Shetland. Thankfully, permament sunshine is not required, just daylight, so they should be ok for a bit of electric in the motor home for a while

Tourists for a day

After an early start this morning clipping sheep hooves, we returned for a quick wash and brush up although  it took a little longer to clean Digger after an hour spent down rabbit holes

As I mentioned, we're having a Royal Visit with Freds parents up here in Shetland at the moment, so today we spent the day being Yell tourists with them. With 5 adults and 3 dogs comfortably piled into the Discovery, our first stop was Aywick on the east of Yell to see the White Wife - a figurehead salvaged from a shipwreck off the coast of Yell about 95 years ago.

 "I see no ships ! ".

x Us x

Moving on, we  headed north to Winddog Cafe in Gutcher in the north of Yell for a bite to eat (lurvly food)



then onto the award winning Breckon Sands. My camera doesn't do the beach justice, but here are a few shots. Beautiful aqua blue sea and white sand. The cows looked on as the dogs had a complete ball below on the beach!

After a fond farewell , we returned home for a fry-up - earnt after all the walking and climbing we'd done !!

Last derelict pictures before we start to rebuild ...

So, with the old extension completely demolished now,

out came "Paddys Motorbike" (pneumatic drill) to break up

the old floor. Foundation laying begins next week.

This has to be one of the campest pictures ever taken of Mr Cheshire. Hope my Manchester mate Jon doesn't get an eyeful of this - Fred may get a bit of a following on Canal Street ... !

A view below of the back wall  most of which

(to the right of the scaffolding) will be coming

down to allow for the extenstion to be built.

Fred's standing where the new staircase will be installed

Gareth (next door neighbour) proves again that

he's a complete homewrecker after demolishing the

porch in about an hour. Looking at how he

handles his sledgehammer (yes, he has his own)

I somehow think I won't be arguing with

my neighbour .. =)