ࡱ>    !"Root EntryZ O2#CONTENTS @CompObjVSPELLING8saying that I gave everyone my website address when they heard I had come from Shetland and extolled the virtues of these lovely islands. I had to rise very early on Friday morning to get back to Stansted and as I was early before check-in sat in the Pret a Manger outlet and did some more people watching. Not really something you can practice in Shetland naturally because there are not a great deal of people everywhere all the time. Amusing really, all these people rushing around looking slightly aimless and nothing purposeful in their step. To be honest I was really missing here. By that I mean the space, quiet and fresh air. The flight back was equally comfortable. I met a young lady from Scalloway who was on her first trip by herself and I sat next to a family from Ireland, where they keep an organic farm, who have been travelling up to Shetland every year for the last nine years to stay in Aith. They normally drove and did the ferry but had decided to use Atlantic Airways to see what it was like. We arrived at Sumburgh in good time and unfortunately the ongoing flight to Faroe had to be cancelled because of bad weather up there! Shame it was gorgeous in Shetland. Sadly that gorgeousness was completely eclipsed the following day by the heart wrenching news that a classmate, from the nursery that my youngest daughter attended last term, was killed in very tragic circumstances. It is something that has affected everyone here one way or another and numbed a community. To show respect events everywhere in the south mainland were cancelled though the Cunningsburgh show went ahead with the evening dance being cancelled. Words of support, flowers or cards help but I think in a strong community you know that everyone really is sharing your grief and thoughts. I havCHNKWKS @TEXTTEXT/FDPPFDPP2FDPCFDPC4FDPCFDPC6STSHSTSH8STSHSTSH82SYIDSYIDP8SGP SGP d8INK INK h8BTEPPLC l8BTECPLC 8 FONTFONT8~STRSPLC "9:PRNTWNPR\9FFRAMFRAM=TITLTITL*> DOP DOP J>"rly before check in sat in Pret a MaShetland Diary Well the smoked salmon and scallops went down very well and the operation was a complete success although I did experience a little bit of double vision the next day. I managed to catch up with my friends. Perry and I spent a leisurely time at the Market Porter (sorry you couldn t make it Trevor and hope you are better now) enjoying some Harvey s Sussex bitter and visiting Neil s Yard cheese shop and also Brindisa, which is a wonderful Spanish shop in Borough Market. You never know where someone with an Open Uni degree is going to pop up as Perry and I discovered! The Atlantic Airways flight down to Stansted was very comfortable especially for someone of my height and the connection at Stansted is very quick and easy to find and use. Sadly my friend Ali was ill that day and couldn t pick me up but it was lovely to catch up with her and Jenny and spend the evening chatting. I spent the next morning in Hampstead people watching with my friend Clare and catching up. It was great to catch up with everyone in Chatham and Rochester albeit time was too short. Too many names to put down here but you know who you are and it was great just to see people briefly. Thank you for a lovely dinner Teresa and also Mr Ali s Balti Caf who now, I hope, will be featuring scallops on their great menu! I was also quite lucky to be able to find time to make a quick flying visit to the Great British Beer Festival and sit next to the Scottish stand. Valhalla s Simmer Dim featured very prominently and of course I encouraged as many beer gourmets as possible who were clustered around the stall to try it. Lots of good reaction including one from a friend of mine whose visit to this fine festival was his first, what you could term as a GBBF virgin. Of course it goes without e spent the last few days carrying on with the normal days chores and working through my list of  things to do before the weather changes but I keep finding myself dwelling on thinking about what can you really do in such circumstances and also you can not possibly imagine how you would really feel and act if it were one of your own. My thoughts and prayers naturally are with the parents and relatives but also I will be thinking about the professionals who are trained to cope in these situations but also have to handle their feelings afterwards. It was a tragic loss made more so by the fact that it was someone so very young with their whole life to look forward to. I say Cunningsburgh went ahead but it was completely washed out by the most atrocious weather which hit us from Faroe I imagine, should have kept my mouth firmly shut... Some locals told me that this was the worst August weather since 1961. It was a great shame as everyone had contributed so much and spent so much time on their exhibits. I put in five photos and although didn t get any awards have to say that there were some very very good ones that really should have got an award but then I suppose it is the judge s decision isn t it? Myself and the children stoically trudged around every tent and all the pens and then eventually gave up and went back to the car. We sat in it and ate sandwiches and steamed!! I had to get out and help push a car out of the mud so I could drive our car out. I put my foot down and literally skied over the mud! I would like to say sorry to those unfortunate people who chose to stand behind me despite my warning them about sprays of mud! Still Bold is a pretty good soap power for getting any stains out!! Anyway have a look at the photos I did manage to take. (See the page called The Cunningsburg Show) As I write this I am keeping an eye on the BBC 24 news reporting on the latest terror threat. It is hard to contemplate what might have been if this plot had not gone undiscovered. Whatever will these extremists think of next? Sends a chill down your spine to think of the consequences. I was only just going through Stansted a week ago too and how busy was it?!!! It is reassuring to think that we are somewhat distant from all this commotion and worry except that it does affect us as our islands are very reliant on our travel connections. Ten days old this month and already a rather momentous and tumultuous one. 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