Skyumpi

What I don't understand is how commentators seem to be saying that the BNP are benefitting from the "protest votes" of those disaffected with the main parties.

What sort of protest is voting for the BNP???? If it's anything other than a protest against johnny foreigner or those uppity coloured types then I suspect that these protest voters are very much mistaken.

As low an opinion as I have of racists and xenophobes, at least I can start to understand what their position is. Voting for the BNP because you think Gordon Brown didn't handle the global recession well or that some Tory MP's have been claiming chandeliers and butlers on their expenses is, quite clearly, bonkers.

I tried Gossa Water at the back end of last season with the spinner. Only managed a couple of tiddlers from the north shore. I have been told it has some better fish - but what loch does somebody not say that about .

It was fairly shallow with good areas of shingly/sandy bottom but there were also some nastier bits so I'd be careful of wading in this dark water. Might try it again on a warmer summer night this year.

Never tried the Loch of Wick as we ran out of time so somebody else may be able to help you out on that one.

Trying to see things from opposing camps is good.

Senselessly putting the boot into something is not.

Almost unbelievable.......

This chap comes into the job, the son of a man who is celebrated as a shrewd negotiator who faced down the multi-nationals to secure an unprecedented deal for Shetland, and we're supposed to hold it against him?????????

Who are the people responsible for this terrible cronyism? How many of the people involved in his selection from the field of candidates are actually old muckers of Ian Clark? Few? None? There were certainly some strong local candidates but those in charge of selection chose Mr Clark Jr. so it can only be an old boys network that's responsible. Piffle and poppycock, I say!

paulb is keen to get the knife stuck into the new Chief Exec and warn us all that, because we don't understand what's going on "were screwed".

I don't know paulb and have never met him but, by his reasoning, it's entirely OK for me to insinuate on a public forum that he's a workshy layabout who's out to line his pockets at our expense and, and, probably nips kittens ears when their owners aren't looking.

Have you had much of a chance to try out the pontoon boat, Michael?

Must admit I've been looking at few peerie isles off in some of the lochs I've been at and thinking "if I had a pontoon boat..........."

Not that I've been catching much anyway. I seem to be struggling to reach the one-and-a-half fish per trip average - which is supposedly the norm for a "chuck it and see" angler! Hopefully things will improve as we head into June.

BTW... Line Trays are blooming excellent things

I've thought about trying one of them as I'm forever tripping over my line. It's no problem when you're out on the water but when working along a rocky or heathery shore it would be dead handy.

That was a lucky guess! Now I know I'll be able to recognise you if I see you on a loch. I'll be sure to identify myself by roaring "Pollock!!" from the shore

Hi MB,

When you say pontoon boat, do you mean one of these?

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww2/rasmie/PontoonBoat.jpg

This would be great on most of the lochs around Shetland but I'd be very wary taking to the sea with it. Pollack tend to be found around rocky headlands which by their nature are exposed and often very tidal. It would take an awful lot of weather and tide watching before I'd venture out on my own in one of them.

Hmmm, no, on second thoughts, I wouldn't go anywhere I'd expect to find pollack in a pontoon boat. The lochs are hoachin wi troots an I'd stick to working my way round all the peerie isles I canna reach wading.

Saa twa tirricks at da Loch o Collaster dis moarnin - dis dat mean Summer is here?

I've been out a couple of times, once at the Voehead of Weisdale and another in the Loch of Strom, but haven't even seen a fish yet.

It's a amazing how good standing in the rain flicking a fly all over a cold grey bit of water can make you feel

Just to muddy the waters a little more, here's a pic looking south into the Loomi Shun that Njugle mentions on the previous page - complete with oily loom and (although you probably can't make it out at this resolution) a raingös at the far side.

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww2/rasmie/Tingon017.jpg

Both seem to be perfectly good explanations as to the origin of the name. I'd always thought it was the to do with the oily loom appearance but only because I didn't know that "lom" was norwegian for raingös until Dagfinn's post.

A widget that was supposed to let you make crisps in a microwave.... it seemed like a good idea at the time....

^^^

I'm so glad it wasn't just me who bought one of those! Looking back it seems amazing that I actually believed that Wondrous Golden crisps would appear from my microwave - in reality it turned thin slices of raw tattie into thin slices of leathery cardboard.

for Skyumpi:

Nice wan!

I tried to come down the steep bit of the Cuppins this morning but made an 'arris of it, fell and lost a ski. Not easy getting back up to retrieve it the blighter. I was pretty puggled by the time I'd got it back so woosed out and tracked north a bit to take the easier route down.

Hi tarotangel,

Follow the instructions here

http://www.shetlink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6048

and it's a doddle.

What are you doing to that poor sheep that we can see your knees at the bottom of the photo?

Wisnae me!

'twas Mrs Skyumpi and she was being caaed ower by the greedy lipper, looking for his usual digestive biscuit or ten.

Feed Me!

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww2/rasmie/FeedMe.jpg

FEED ME NOW!

Skyumpi, is there any chance that we could use your photo with the skis !! on Shetlopedia ???

We don't have many winter pictures, so if you or others have nice winter pics and will let us use them, we would be very happy !!

You can upload them yourself on Shetlopedia, or post them on a thread here, so I can just copy them

Cheers, Oddrun

Nae budder - I'll send dee dat wan an a couple idder eens.

Kinda lookin forward tae seein whit some o wir professional photographers ir made o aa dis snaa. Dey ir twartree raelly good pictir takkers in Shetland enoo and I hoop dey'll be pittin some o it on dere websites fir a peerie taster.

In Antarctica right now and today it's only -1.9'C sun is shinin and it's Flat calm

 

Lowest here so far has been -9.9'C lately!!!

Dat joost aboot perfectly describes da wadder dat we hed here on Tuesday, Bobby. Wha wid o tocht you wid geen sae far fir mair o da sam!

I love the snow, me. Wiss it cam lik dis fir a guid spell every winter - dan dere could be mair o dis sort o ting:

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww2/rasmie/wfs-09-02-2009-22-39-05-scordski-1.jpg

I love watchin a loch foo o peerie troots böllin awa lik mad on a fine calm Simmers night.

Don't know why but I aye tink dey seem raelly happy and it always maks me feel blyde an contented too.

What is it about Supermarkets in Shetland that causes people to evangelise so?

Not content with actively hating one or the other of these stores many people seem intent on trying to make others "turn towards the light" and let Tesco or the Co-Op into their lives.

There are two Supermarkets to choose from. If you find that you prefer one over the other then choose to shop there.

If you are forced to endure the hell that is shopping in your second choice supermarket or, even worse, find that the vegetable you want is not in stock today then try to rationalise it by imagining yourself in a worse situation such as Darfur or Gaza. Perhaps your ordeal of having to put up with indifferent staff or own brand products won't feel quite bad after that.

Perhaps my outlook is too laid back but, honestly, some people must have very little to worry about in their lives if where they shop causes such distress.

Here is a paper describing some of the ideas.

That was very interesting. Did anyone push ahead with implementing any of it?

It would obviously be easier on fish farmers (and seals) if this could keep the birsy fellow away from farmed fish. It looks like it would provide a better environment for the fish as well, particularly during bad weather.

Also reading Crofter's post - are nets designs still evolving to cope with things like these attacks from above? Shooting/culling of seals shouldn't be the preferred option, especially if a good net design can not only keep them out but help fish growth as well.

I know that selkies aren't quite as cute and cuddly as some people would like to believe but it would be better if it was left to nature to control their numbers.

I am sure that the "poor" fishing men of Shetland can afford other measures.

I am also sure that if you could provide a cost-effective method of preventing seal predation of their fish and damage to their cages they would be delighted to hear from you - and there'd probably be a fair bit of cash in it for you as well if you patented your idea.

I want to include also that why did that man kill the seal pups?

 

Seal pups do no harm to anyone, so why did he beat them to death?

Don't know why he killed the pups.

I could speculate and say that he killed them as pups because it's easier to kill them at that stage than it is to kill fully grown seals.

If you're shooting rabbits to keep them off your crop you don't leave the young ones as they too will soon be munching on your veggies in a few weeks.

Large nip glass of Vodka

Add spoonful of Raspberry Creamola Foam*

Mmmmmmm - Proper foamy, flavoured, get drunk quick vodka!

* Fortunately no longer available so no longer partake this ridiculous pursuit

from the news it's hard to see why it was done; not for food, or skins. I don't like it at all, though there must be some reason, at least to the alledged killer.

Is it illegal?

I don't think it's illegal to kill Grey seals in certain circumstances.

It looks as if it is permitted under the Conservation of Seals Act http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1970/cukpga_19700030_en_1 with a few provisos.

You can't just go round killing them for fun and there are some stipulations on how you cannot kill them but it seems that in protecting fish farming interests it is permissible "provided that at the time the seal was in the vicinity of such net or tackle."

If the chap has actually been arrested and charged then the police must feel he was not complying with the above Act.