Mareel .... it's nearly here

http://www.facebook.com/#!/MareelShetland


It's a very exciting time for us here in Shetland. After many years of discussion, debate, disagreement & delay ..... very soon Shetland's marvellous Mareel Arts & Entertainment centre will open in Lerwick. It's an awesome looking place - like nowhere else on the islands.

Shetland is an inspiring place culturally, and is literally bursting at the seams with local talented folk of every age, many of whom are renowned in their field. Jenna Reid, Aly Bain ... click below and have a listen to Fiddlers Bid :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUkXJ7Kp6ZY

 

 Because of this and the Isles musical heritage, it attracts world class artists and musicians from all over the world already - now there will be a world class venue for them to perform in. Excited just doesn't cover it - and if you come up and visit us we'll treat you to a trip here !

.... oh yes .... and we can't wait to get to go to a proper cinema again too !!! yay !!!!!

S x

Well Folks - Cuppaster's blog is back !

Time has rumbled on since we last posted some months ago, but at the request of many friends and family we'll be posting again here on the blogspot.

The dog poses for her latest portrait entitled  "The Digger In The Woodpile". Poor thing's tied up and not looking happy as she's still recovering from an operation on her leg to have her ligament re-attached.

This peerie rescue dog has had the time of her life living here with all the freedom, however she's had to pay the price for being so athletic and is 3 months into a 4 month recovery period.

Here's a snap of our rather scary Shetland ram looking a bit raggedy on a recent summer evening.

Suffice to say neither of us will enter his field without a crook with which to push him back if he gets too close (doesn't like having his horns tapped with the stick). He has a field to himself as he's very much the Alpha Male and a bit aggresive and brimming full of testosterone, so come November he really does enjoy the freedom earning his keep with the ladies! The polite descriptive term being "tupping" ... to the rest of us "a Good Rogering"

One of the unusual properties of the Shetland breed of sheep is that their fleece starts shedding itself come summer.
Looking at the rams neck,  the old fleece has started to come away but is still on his back (he'll be getting clipped shortly to remove it), however his new white coat on his neck is just appearing. He'll look pretty skinny when clipped, so pics to follow :-) !!

The last pic below shows Monty the cockerel surrounded by some of his gals .

 

We started stocking up with hens around three months ago since which time we have lost around 18 to otters and a ferral cat. Pretty grim really, details of which I will spare you, however they have now all been relocated to a lovely new hen house and secluded field protected by extra fencing.

I'll post a few more shots of the Hen House soon - we think it's a wonder to behold ! Constructed of 90% recycled timbers from the old croft house, there ain't another like it in Shetland ! I remember the rusty old green shed that stood in the garden of my childhood home at St.Annes Grove in Fareham which was little more than a rusting corrugated iron heap; who'd have thought I'd be installing corrugated iron sheets onto the roof of our new Hen House. Looks very vintage!

Catch up soon - hope there's still a few of you watching this !!

S & S & Diggster xx