Lucky Jack

Congratulations to Stevie and his squad on their invitation to 'Tartan Day'.However they had better wear a tartan sash over the 'Hollywood Viking' outfit as many U.S. citizens are not up to speed on British geography and may think that their kirtles are a new 'plaid' form of kilt. The squad must also watch out for Donald Trump in case he discovers that his great grandad came from Shetland and he wants to build a massive golf complex at Voe, providing there are no wind farms nearby. Woops !

Perhaps the problem for many people was the title 'Shetland' rather than the individual book and they possibly expect more accuracy in local detail because of this. I would be happy enough if they tried to make a series but would suggest that the scriptwriter liase with more residents in order to give things a more accurate local feel. However I feel sad that on the few occasions when we have drama sited outside the Glasgow area the regional accent is rarely featured even in a cameo role. This does not happen in tv drama produced in England and we all have to tune in on Geordie, Manc.,Scouse, Brummie and Cockney accents. The future success of the show might well need to involve Simon King in the cast i.e. "Inspector ! - There's been a murder ! - An Orca has been reported eating a baby seal !

As usual with productions made in or about Scotland, the Shetland drama with it's good scenic shots promised more than it delivered in the first episode. I admit that I haven't got round to reading Anne Cleves but this TV production seemed to try and crowbar as many Shetland icons as possible into the episode without due consideration. Either Lerwick Up Helly Aa has been shifted to July or global warming has encouraged visiting yachts in winter ! Glad to see the north boat is now berthing at Victoria pier (it will make for a shorter walk) and locals don't usually say "I'm taking the inter island ferry to Bressay" Don't get me started about the music session for the 'Ceilidh' ! More importantly,I am not aware of any Shetland men sailing with the 'Shetland Bus' ( this seems to be an important part of the plot line) and believe that the participants were all Norwegian resistance fighters,apart from some of the shore staff. Surely more local advice could have been taken on matters such as these or am I just nitpicking ? However if they could throw in a few otters,seals,neesocks and an orca or twa the place would be packed with tourists.

Never was a Mareel supporter at the beginning but now we have it I am happy to pay my money and give it a go when a film or concert takes my fancy. Last Friday evening's concert was first class in music, sound quality and comfort. I normally prefer a folk concert in a village hall type situation but I can manage in a concert hall with a glass of ale at the ready. Local boys 'Vair 'gave the evening a great start and Kris Drever with Eamonn Coyne and Megan Henderson made it memorable.

I find myself watching quite a lot on BBC Alba as they have some excellent trad music programmes and excerpts from Celtic Connections plus other festivals. Some of their documentaries are quite relevant to people in Shetland and as with some other BBC3 foreign language dramas ( The Killing and Borgen) you can easily get used to the subtitles. Such material is way ahead of much of the drivel on BBC1/STV etc. Did you notice that the Foula program featured a young Bobby Gear who had his 50th birthday two weeks ago and lives in Lerwick.

Although Mareel is not quite open yet,one of the star attractions on the ground floor may be viewed from the sea through a north facing window. It appears to be an art installation by Damien Hirst or Tracy Emin entitled ' Les Trois Pissoirs '

On my usual stroll past the alehouses and and grog shops near the harbour, I chanced to overhear the most fascinating tale which I will now relate. At the time of the Jubilee celebrations, it appears that someone in these isles wrote to a local news publication criticising the monarchy and it's role in the present day.The article was deemed suitable for publication and appeared in that journal. However several days later, the letter writer's home was visited by two of Lerwick's finest who embarrassingly revealed that they had been sent by higher authority. Their mission was to enquire if the writer intended to disrupt any of the forthcoming Olympic Torch relay events !!! Now I don't know if the 'anti monarchist', or whatever the title should be, is still around or in Botany Bay, but it would be interesting to hear the whole story. Perhaps it could even be something for 'Tavish the Torch' to investigate.

I think that we have various debates goining on at the one time here. In my opinion the Olympic ideals are being slowly throttled by rampant commercialism and competition by host cities/countries to out do each other. Somebody told me that the torch relay was costing £80 million in total. We could have had an all weather football/hockey pitch with our share of that cash and could still lay on a pre Olympic spree. Maybe if folk want to open up other debates about commercialism and government misuse of sport for propaganda in the olympics, world cup and europe 2012 etc. it might be interesting. However I have to say that on Sunday, the Shetland organisers, relay particpants and public did themselves proud. Our visitors were totally amazed that volunteers in a small community could have the Lerwick Lifeboat Day on Saturday and the Olympic torch day on Sunday. Even 'Tavish the Torch' showed his versatilty as an MC and host,especially when the flaming brand refused to unflame.

I used Mary Robinson as an example of a president who was well regarded in Ireland and abroad. Para Handy suddenly launches into a diatribe about the IRA and Guy fawkes but I am unaware if Mrs.Robinson approved of either cause. Neither was she responsible for Ireland's present economic problems and I don't think that her presidential position was overly expensive compared to royalty. Scorrie quaintly asked me to name half a dozen current presidents without looking them up - I can't because I would have to seperate the political leaders from the honorary position of president I am arguing for. On the the same level I could ask you about the crowned heads of Europe but I would much rather ask people why they think that no one in Britain from inside or outside political life could be elected by some format as as Honourary President. After almost 100 years of the right to vote for all adults, why do we still adhere to something set up over 300 years ago with the Union of the Crowns. I have no personal quarrel with Queen Elizabeth the first of Great Britain but I think that the job is out dated. As for the argument about tourism revenue, I guess Majesty World could be marketed like Disney World and give the tourists access to Buck House to boost the revenue with out tenants.

I'm sure that someone spoke to me about the Dim Riv taking part in the Queen's Jubilee trip down river in London but I couldn't see it. Maybe it never got a fiddler's bid after all ?

Para Handy - You are using the wrong name- perhaps you should sign in with Attilla the Hun. The Captain Macfarlane in Neill Munro's wonderfull stories would be far more gentle and subtle with his arguments. Your theme is basically that there have been dictators in history but we were lucky because we gave an unelected young lady the throne in 1952 because her qualifications and experience were: 1. Her uncle gave up the throne to her dad 2. Her dad died Are you reallly saying that there is nobody in Britain with the decent qualities to make an honourary position of President? Does this then mean that her Majesty's rule has left Britain in a terrible,immoral and decadent condition? To my recolection Mary Robinson was no dictator and was president of Ireland and highly regarded internationally. Still if we prefer to persist with medieval ways in the space age, then so be it. Here's a toast to the king - over the water !