On Sunday we had the Christmas party. First there was the pantomime of Goldilocks and the three bears. Eileen was baby bear, Michael was daddy bear, Fiona was mummy bear and Ross was Goldilocks. Then there was the food and some games then Mr Blobby came in with the presents. After that the choir sang Go tell it on the mountain. Then we played more games and then everyone went home.

Vivian (9) and Calum (9)

Last Monday it was my birthday and I was 11. In the morning I opened all my presents and I got a Flat Eric, 2 eggles called Muffy and Crincel, a table top twister ‑ if 2 people land on a circle with chocolate they have to feed it to each other and there are other dares too. I got A new dress, a glass painting book and 2 Simpson videos, Bart Wars and THE SIMPSONS GREATEST HITS. After school I had a birthday dinner and Jenny, Magnus, Lewis, Calum , Duncan and Vivian came and we watched SIMPSONS GREATEST HITS AND IT IS VERY GOOD.

Charlotte(11)

I got two play station games. These are 007 Tomorrow Never Dies and Tomb Raider. On 007 you can go on 10 missions. There are 10 different weapons from sniper rifle to rocket launcher. I have completed 4 missions. There is one mission where you have to drive a car that has rockets but I have not done that mission yet. I got Tomb Raider, it is alright but I haven't played on it much. You have to take a girl around levels.

Lewis (11)

At school we have been building models for our transport project. We all made models of hot air balloons with Fiona.. Some people made rockets and some people boats. Tom, Cara and I made a rocket out of junk. For the main part we used a large tube. The side boosters were made from tomato sauce bottles. The nose was made from part of an egg container and the middle of a cotton reel. Other people made cars, planes, gliders and helicopters.

Tom (8) Duncan (7) Cara (8)

On Tuesday night we moved house. We moved from the Schoolhouse to Setter, which is our croft. Lewis, Vivian and Clare came to tea and we had sweet and sour chicken.

Daniel (6)

Da Week dat's awa'

Saturday was belatedly designated as FAIR ISLE CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR PARTY DAY but the weather conspired, as did the viruses at the end of 1999, to thwart us again. The only person to take~pleasure in the hurricane force winds was probably Dave as records - as well as roofs - began to tumble, but Kirkwall beat us to it. I was going to write that as a result we had a quiet day but it was in fact very noisy for many hours. 

The sheep sheltered against the dyke and even Chips, the dog, abandoned balancing on three legs when urgency impelled. Our new TV aerial also swayed alarmingly on its one leg in the garden but still received signals which enabled enjoyment of the History Zone programme about St. Magnus cathedral. The two part F.I.Times was interesting and entertaining, covering a wide range of items associated with the Millennium, and other features such as excerpts from The Tristan Times. I also had some magazines from Jude which were read from cover to cover for ideas on house improvements. By bed time, the wind had dropped and on Sunday morning the weather was almost calm. Ian appeared with an uIlick from Brian, one of many which were thrown up onto the rocks during the storm. It was gutted and filleted before morning service, although I still had the lingering perfume of Eau de Mer which attracted the Kirk's resident bluebottle. Cara assured me that bluebottles only live for 24 hours (she said that Tom had told her this and Tom is always right) but this one has been climbing through hair and hats for some months. When the children were being herded out for Sunday School Scott commented loudly on the preacher's brevity: Stewart thought that this was the first time he had been chastised for saying too little!

At 1.30p.m. we gathered for the PARTY at the Obs. Hollie and Deryk did well to cope with everything after some major plumbing problems there. Festivities began with the pantomime of Goldilocks which highlighted the bearlike abilities of Michael, Fiona and Eileen, and the sylph like figure of hair tossing Ross. Jane as narrator/singer provided the main story line and kept us all absorbed in the plot. Food came next and we did justice to the fine variety.

Santa Claus was unable to travel down from the North Pole where he is snowbound at present but sent Mr. Blobby with gifts for the children. These were very well received but several of us were perplexed when Daniel explained that his cars had dinosaur names. Some of Fair isle's vehicles may be ancient but surely not that old. He was also telling us about the family's new house at Setter, into which they are moving this weekend. A lovely site overlooking much of the Isle.

Back to the party. The choir sang and there were several games organized by Phil., the best of which was the back-breaking, leg-splitting,cornflake-box-picking-up competition. The box is lifted from the floor by the teeth - no hands, no kneeling - then cut down bit by bit until only the base is left to be raised. Contestants were eliminated quickly until only Lachlan and Eileen remained as joint winners. As the Naked Chef would say: "Wicked!"

Thanks to everyone who organized or helped to make the afternoon so enjoyable. Monday dawned bright so one of the first jobs was to hose the salt encrusted windows. The resulting clarity exposed the layers of dust in the livingroom so a quick burst of housework was unavoidable. Just as well: the applicants for the nurse's post, with Rachel and one of the Health Board staff, called for coffee anti chat ‑ to an immaculate house .....

John was busy with the Northmen team repairing storm damage around the isle but found time to check the e-mail. There were letters from Paddy and Claire who are enjoying life in Oxford, and from Wendy Christie in Australia with her good news (already heard on the grapevine). Tuesday was wet and windy so the Good Shepherd did not sail. It was good opportunity to do some reading.

Wednesday was Ian's birthday and we all had morning coffee at Utra. Alice handed round biscuits while Lowri helped himself to her breadsticks and juice. The morning plane was delayed until after lunch, when Michael, Cathy and family left us for their new home in Yell. We hope they will enjoy their future there. In the evening, Alexander and Angus called in. Whenever there are visitors from the National Trust there is sharp increase in gossip/definitive statements from the knowledgeable amongst us. So - on Thursday morning, a delayed coffee session with Pat W. enabled dissemination of non-classified material as well as the regular erudite discussion. This was not a calm-weather day but the boat made its trip to Grutness, and we had plenty of mail to pore over during the evening, and the prospect of happy shopping for fruit and vegetables on Friday.

Betty

TOP

"A VERY FINE DAY OOT"  

It's been a week of anxious phone calls to the met men - calculating how the weather's going to be for Friday, though I've made sure whatever I've got scheduled on Friday night can be done by someone else in case I get stranded on Fair Isle. I've often wished for a little longer to spend on working visits to the isle, but it's never happened.

Up and off, and it's not till I'm at Tingwall that I realise how long it is since I've got myself comfortably strapped in on the Islander for the flight Sooth - not since Lise and Ian's wedding.

Big reception committee at the airstrip - for Stewart coming home, loping along like an overland skier on the walking sticks he's striding out with since the operation. But Florrie Stout there to meet me with car and the first interview of the day. We set off to the North Haven where the floating pontoon's going to prove its worth once the Intrepid Tourists step ashore from their Zodiacs in the summer. It's a lovely day at the Haven and a glance across at the old slipway is proof the pontoon's going to be worth the money spent on it. For a visitor it's interesting to learn how much the knitters with Fair Isle Crafts benefit from the cruise visitors.

Then it's off to Skerryholm for coffee, a yarn, a look at the latest knitwear designs rattling off the Fair Isle knitting machines. And of course, a chat to the cats - friendly ginger beasts with many relations on the isle.

From Skerryholm I set off to Kenaby to talk to Ian about his boat-building and specifically about the one he's been invited to build at an important exhibition in Edinburgh this summer intended to highlight the healthy state of Scotland's indigenous crafts. A tour of the house, which is a hamely place full of colour and space, with Lise, then more coffee, and out to the workshop with Ian to do the interview. Now there's a good working environment.

By this time, I need to keep a date with the weather man so it's off to Field. Dave's expecting me and we platch outside with the windshield on the microphone as he talks me through all the different measuring instruments and measurements needed by the Met office in Bracknell. Who would be an Observer, out in all weathers? There's plenty to do inside in the computer room too, and I wonder at the dedication of recording and reporting at all hours.

Now it's lunchtime, mince an tatties at Busta, an conversation with Anne and Barry. The weather's still looking fine - no hope of an overnight in Fair Isle then.

Next port of call - the Auld Haa, where I try a Sherlock Holmes on the shingle at both gates, and opt for the wrong gate and door, surprising Philip and Linda. I've come to talk about the Scottish Islands Explorer, the new monthly newsletter they've launched. I'm impressed by the encouraging mottos Phil has surrounded himself with in the office - thoughts needed when you embark on such an ambitious project. I suggest a few names out of my head of people on other Shetland islands who might have something worthwhile to say. Interview over, my working day's at an end but there's a bit of time left.

So I head to see Betty at Utra, confessing as I come in the door that the view from the house is almost as attractive as the company. Awash with coffee, I partake of some delicious cold tap water, and then the PHONE RINGS ...No plane, technical problems. Wow, I'm stranded.

Ring Radio Shetland to say I won 't be there tonight, ring husband who won't miss me since it's curry night in the squad hut, then off to Busta. Robert answers the phone , when I ring the shop to ask if they're open for the sale of toothbrushes, and they are. So I buy a couple of souvenir mugs to take home.

And then the real pleasure of getting stranded on this particular day - it's Anne's birthday and Lise and Ian have cooked up a feast. I do love sitting at a fine big table with loads of people eating delicious food. It's grand to see the baims too - Alice with her fingers decorated with olives before she demonstrates a very unchildlike taste for them and Lowd with his halo of Oor Wullie hair, quite angelic. I enjoy Lise reading Harry Potter to Tom and Hannah before bedtime, my favourite book too. I don't tell them the ending.

And then it is the end - home to bed (thanks Barry for the pyjamas), the sleep of the just and an easy flight the next morning. As I burst into Sletts Cottage I just feel full of energy - I've been on holiday, and had a very very fine day oot.

And why have I written all this down - because I admire the commitment of the people who keep Fair Isle's community paper going when others in Shetland have become casualties of lack of maintenance. Whaurs your Nortaboot and Bluemull Triangle noo ? Keep up the good work, so that when I read the Fair Isle Times every week I feel I'm keeping up with folk even if I'm not there.

Mary Blance