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Summer Visit


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I'm not. I'm ignoring my girlfriends and close friends views on the place, so I'll be sure to do the same. What I do like about the more vocal people is that they seem to give you the good and the bad, it's more heavily on the bad but at the same time that's still not a bad thing as the Internet is full to brim of articles praising the place.

 

Looking forward to visiting.

 

I've found your postings very interesting; I don't live very far away from you - a few miles West of Oswestry near the Berwyn Mountains . . . I've made a few trips to Abakhan with my better half to buy various fabrics etc and bought some things from Deeside Furnishings in Greenfield and over 20 years ago, I did a course at Kelsterton College, so I know the area where you live quite well.

 

Shetland is entirely different . . . but in a good way.  

 

Given the fact that you are young and have no children, you have much more 'freedom' than those of us who are older and 'settled down'. Given your circumstances, there'll probably never be a better time for you to go to Shetland; if it doesn't work out, you'll be the only one affected.

 

Obviously, I can't know Shetland as well as anyone who lives there - my perspective is one of having a strong emotional link to the place, partially because that is where my Mum's family is from (I've many relations there). However, I can give an opinion on Shetland - from a similar perspective to your own.

 

The Positive Aspect

 

Shetland is totally unlike anywhere else that I've visited - whether in the UK, or further away.  It is impossible to make any comparison with where you currently live, or anywhere else, for that matter.  I first went up to Shetland in 1971, to stay with my grandparents on their croft in Burra Isle; I thought it was fantastic and over 40 years on, I still feel the same way about the place.

 

It has changed quite a lot - back in the early 70s, there were still quite a number of small fishing boats in Lerwick harbour and the main street in Lerwick seems much quieter nowadays.  However, most of the good things remain - magnificent scenery, friendly people, community values etc.  Whilst I've never needed any healthcare up there, my older relations praise the health system.  Things may have changed, but I've always had the feeling that in Shetland, they really look after the old and the young, far better than they do in England - both of these, seem to be much more involved in the community.

 

In the Summer of 2003, I went up to Shetland with my better half - she'd never been there before.  We were very lucky, because the weather that year was glorious - the temperature was in the 80s . . . . . . but it isn't often like that ! We stayed on Burra Isle and I remember going to a beach called Banna Minn and lying on the sand, sunbathing. The beach was great and we were the only ones on it, the sea was crystal clear . . . . . . .  I don't think that we could have been on a better beach - anywhere in the world.

 

http://c.shetland.org/assets/files/8806/img_9005.1680x0.jpg

 

We decided that we'd do a pub crawl around Lerwick and call in every single place that sold alcohol.  We started at the Marlex and then worked our way into the centre of Lerwick.  Despite being rather older than most of the others, we even had a drink at the Posers 'nightclub'.  We finished up at the Lounge Bar.  

 

A point that I'd like to make about this, is that in England, we'd have been rather wary of carrying out such a pub crawl - because of all the idiots who are often out and about.  But in Lerwick, we've never felt that we might face an uncomfortable or threatening situation.  Sure, there were a few drunks about, but everyone seemed very good-natured and friendly . . . such as the large group of young men dressed in Hawaiian shirts, who seemed to be out on a birthday party or stag night.

 

I've always found people to be very friendly, good-natured and helpful towards strangers such as myself.  I remember talking to a guy on the harbour in Scalloway - what started as a casual remark about the weather, ended up as a conversation of over an hour.

 

The (potential) Negatives

 

Well, there aren't many of these; because Shetland is so far from Mainland UK,  if you wanted to visit your family (or have them visit you), it is quite expensive.

 

It sometimes rains  :-) and sometimes, it can be quite windy  :-) .

 

In the Winter, it might be depressing, 'cos there's not much daylight.

 

I don't actually know, but I suspect that you might find it difficult, to meet a single lady of your own age . . . or any age. From what I've observed on nights out in Lerwick, there always appear to be significantly more single men, than there are single girls.

 

Summary

 

All in all, Shetland is a wonderful place !  If you do intend to live there, if you don't have any transport, I'd consider living somewhere like Scalloway, or even somewhere on Burra Isle; that way, you'd be able to experience the rural side of Shetland, but not be too far away from Lerwick.

 

You are going up at a great time of the year - try to get to Sumburgh Head before the end of July, to see the Puffins.

 

I'm going up there in July and I'm really looking forward to it !

 

Best of luck, with whatever you decide to do.

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