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John Allan

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  1. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from George. in Literacy and illiteracy.   
    I love apostrophes!
     
    Wheelsup is quite correct, it is in fact Person's. The apostrophe indicates possession, which in this case is the "argument or question". If the possession was a plural noun of course, then apostrophe would generally come at the end, e.g. Persons', though I notice this usage is becoming more and more defunct.
     
    The word persons is a functional plural of the word person, for example "Person or persons unknown". Though as grammar is something that changes over time, and many writers now use "people" instead of "persons". 
     
    With this said. I do agree, and written structure is being sadly lost in a world of 128 character limits and digital soundbites.
     
    As a disclaimer. This post has not been checked for spelling or grammar 
  2. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Xolile in Hoping to move to Shetland in 2019   
    Depends where you want to live. If you're happy on the outer Islands (Yell/Unst/Fetlar/Whalsay) you would get a place very quickly. Though jobs on the Islands are thin on the ground. In Lerwick, you could be waiting a few months. Alternatively, you move out of town but on the bus route, North or South of Lerwick. 
     
    Private rental prices can be high. Not as high as they were in the boom years of the Oil. But all the same, some folk are still charging some ridiculous prices for flats. A bed(sit) in Lerwick will be anything from £450-£500 a month, yet outside of Town, you can get a house from £500 a month. Depends how convenient you want things.
     There is always minimum wage going on Shetland and more professional jobs; Tesco, Co-op, fish processing, cleaning work, labouring jobs. If you're not proud and don't mind getting your hands dirty you can always earn a crust. Shetland Times on Fridays for the jobs pages and myjobscotland and SIC are good places to look. I would say that you need a job on Shetland. Not just for the money, but it is also a way of keeping in touch with people, especially if you're living out of town.
     
    Shetland is a grand place to live, but you will be told quite accurately, that "you know you like Shetland" if you can stay through a couple of winters. This is when the white noise from wind can be incessant, the rain falls upwards into your face and you get a delivery estimate from Amazon that only shows the year    
  3. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Davie P in Brexit (merged threads)   
    That is difficult to answer as no one knows at this point whether or not it is in the best interest of the country. Clearly remain voters do not, and leave voters do, both depending on their respective agendas.  Politicians should have predicted and then stopped the concept of a referendum before it was promised if they felt it was in the best interest, and then it would not have become an issue.
  4. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Davie P in Brexit (merged threads)   
    Democracy is a principle of equality upheld my elected representatives. This means we vote representatives to make decisions which they feel will benefit us as a people and a nation, and we should vote against them as representatives if we feel those principles are not met or upheld.  Democracy does not mean that every decision is put through an electoral process. That would be absolute mayhem.
     
    We did have a referendum in 1975 on whether to join the common market (EU) and agreed to the Treaty of Rome based on that. The result was almost a flip-side of what we had with Brexit. Scotland and N.I. averaged 45%-65% for yes, with England and Wales averaging well over 65% and more for yes. Shetland and the Hebrides well below 45% for yes. The UK at this time had few other options, trade within the commonwealth was falling rapidly and the UK was losing world influence, so a free trade agreement with the European states was a pretty logical thing to do. I guess time will tell whether UK trade has now recovered enough to be independent of the EU!!!
     
    With all that said, I would not trust the current level of competence of a politician at Holyrood, Westminster or Brussels at the moment.
  5. Like
    John Allan reacted to George. in Supermarkets in Shetland - prices, ethics and experiences   
    Tesco always seem to have a better selection than the Co-op and it's at a better price. That, plus the fact that they deliver makes a massive difference, especially to those of us that no longer drive and don't live within walking distance of either. Even the Co-op in Brae is about twelve miles away, no good for frozen food, but Tesco have a frozen section in their delivery vans.
  6. Like
    John Allan reacted to MegDavis in Hoping to move to Shetland in 2019   
    I'm hoping to move to the islands next year, but don't entirely know how to go about it.
     
    I'm defintely in a renting stage of my life, I have been told it is possible to get a council house (I'm 25 and have been told that being young helps). Where are the best places to look for rentals?
     
    I work in reprographics at the moment and in the past worked in cafes and museums (and have an archaeology degree), but also have my own weaving business which I hope to continue. I will need a new job though - where do you go to look for such a thing???
     
    I've definitely left part of myself in Shetland, and just want to get it back!!!
     
    Thanks for any help!
  7. Like
    John Allan reacted to tarsus in Is there life on any other planet?   
    Unless we get the population down we will not be doing any startreking as we will be fighting each other for food and water, that will of course get the population down but it may throw us back to the dark ages.
  8. Like
    John Allan reacted to CrashBox in Is there life on any other planet?   
    I'm looking forward to the James Webb Space Observatory launching around 2021. Unlike Hubble it'll be positioned a good million miles from Earth, in a Sun orbit rather than an Earth orbit, and being a much, much bigger telescope it'll be able to look at light from a host start passing through an atmosphere of an orbiting exoplanet and be able to tell exactly what the atmosphere is made from. Who knows, it might discover a planet that has had its atmosphere altered by an industrial civilisation, just as we have done here on Earth. Doubtful though. 
  9. Like
    John Allan reacted to CrashBox in Is there life on any other planet?   
    Right, forgive me if I'll a little wrong on the detail here but I've read a report recently that suggests the element phosphorus is critical to life and the Sol system is in an area of the galaxy that is very high in that particular element. There are wide areas of the Milky Way that is lacking in phosphorus so that might have a detrimental effect on the chances of life.  
  10. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Sacre Bleu in Is there a God - or isn't there?   
    I don't mean to be rude, but that is nonsense. I'm an atheist myself but throughout the European reformations and counter reformations there were thousands of men and women who questioned the state of the church and what they were being told to believe. They were willing to be tortured and burned alive to have their own beliefs and ideas accepted. Obviously, you may see this as stupid now, but there was an historical context which makes this difficult to understand in today's modern world, and it was also the first fight towards allowing people to have a political opinion. What it definitely does say is that the analogy that "religious people are sheep" is simplistic at best.
  11. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Urabug in Is there a God - or isn't there?   
    Absolutely. Interesting response to the question "Are we really made of stardust?" is here http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/are-we-really-made-of-stardust.html
     
  12. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from George. in Climate Change & Global Warming   
    NASA scientists analysed ice samples for that last 400,000 years and noticed that in that time carbon dioxide never reached more than 300 parts in a million, with most changes due to orbital changes. In the last hundred years or so this has spiked to 400 parts in a million, a level never seen before. https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/  NASA have also reviewed data from other respected scientific organisations and the consensus is that this IS happening https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
     
    I will probably err on the side of caution and come down on the side of NASA in regards to this issue, rather than the more unscientific research Donald Trump probably did on twitter.
  13. Like
    John Allan reacted in ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS.   
    Use your internet and go to U Switch its that simple.
  14. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Lizzington1 in Commuting from Yell to Brae.   
    Yes very viable, many people do this. The Yell ferry doesn't take long. Weather is just a factor that employers understand on Shetland, "It Happens" so to speak, though its not often they cancel the Yell ferry. The drive from Toft to Brae is not too bad (15-18 miles maybe?). though a dark one in Winter of course! You would probably want to block book your ferry place, though outside of the summer season I can't imagine you'd have a problem getting on board. Yell has fine people and some great activities through the summer.
  15. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Scorrie in Moving to Shetland at the end of August - advice wanted!   
    Shetland is a fine place to live. Though the test of it all is normally through the winter which is extremely dark and at (most) times, extremely windy. Personally, I like it, the seas are wild and it helps you appreciate the spring and summer more!
     
    Housing, you have little to no chance of social housing around Lerwick unless you fall under a number of special circumstances. Though the further you move out into the Islands, the higher the chance. Unst, Yell and Whalsay have housing available for example, and you will definitely be as far north as you will get from a housing perspective! Though as a note, if you can pick up a job before moving here you will stand a far better chance of getting a better placed house.
     
    Transport to the North is poor, but to the south it is "slightly" better. You should pick up a zettrans timetable online which will give you a better idea http://www.zettrans.org.uk/Though you will normally get a lift if you stick out a thumb.
     
    Work wise. A lot of casual work is seasonal, so you may have a chance of a number of part-time jobs through the summer; grass cutting, fish work and the like. In the winter it's a peerie bit hit and miss. Though Scorrie noted already a number of good options for you on the Islands.
     
    I cycle on Shetland, just keep a mind that many folk use the road as a motorway, with many going well over motorway speeds, so make sure you are well and truly visible and remember, the bus here does not take bikes (madness), so if you cycle you're pretty stuck with it for the day.
     
    Positively though. The air is clean. Crime is minimal to none (ignore that TV show!). I never lock my door (mind, it maybe different in Lerwick). There is always something to do and the summer days are long and mild,  and Shetland folk are some of the nicest in the world.
     
    Good Luck!
  16. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from Frances144 in Moving to Shetland at the end of August - advice wanted!   
    Shetland is a fine place to live. Though the test of it all is normally through the winter which is extremely dark and at (most) times, extremely windy. Personally, I like it, the seas are wild and it helps you appreciate the spring and summer more!
     
    Housing, you have little to no chance of social housing around Lerwick unless you fall under a number of special circumstances. Though the further you move out into the Islands, the higher the chance. Unst, Yell and Whalsay have housing available for example, and you will definitely be as far north as you will get from a housing perspective! Though as a note, if you can pick up a job before moving here you will stand a far better chance of getting a better placed house.
     
    Transport to the North is poor, but to the south it is "slightly" better. You should pick up a zettrans timetable online which will give you a better idea http://www.zettrans.org.uk/Though you will normally get a lift if you stick out a thumb.
     
    Work wise. A lot of casual work is seasonal, so you may have a chance of a number of part-time jobs through the summer; grass cutting, fish work and the like. In the winter it's a peerie bit hit and miss. Though Scorrie noted already a number of good options for you on the Islands.
     
    I cycle on Shetland, just keep a mind that many folk use the road as a motorway, with many going well over motorway speeds, so make sure you are well and truly visible and remember, the bus here does not take bikes (madness), so if you cycle you're pretty stuck with it for the day.
     
    Positively though. The air is clean. Crime is minimal to none (ignore that TV show!). I never lock my door (mind, it maybe different in Lerwick). There is always something to do and the summer days are long and mild,  and Shetland folk are some of the nicest in the world.
     
    Good Luck!
  17. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from George M Campbell in Moving to Shetland at the end of August - advice wanted!   
    Shetland is a fine place to live. Though the test of it all is normally through the winter which is extremely dark and at (most) times, extremely windy. Personally, I like it, the seas are wild and it helps you appreciate the spring and summer more!
     
    Housing, you have little to no chance of social housing around Lerwick unless you fall under a number of special circumstances. Though the further you move out into the Islands, the higher the chance. Unst, Yell and Whalsay have housing available for example, and you will definitely be as far north as you will get from a housing perspective! Though as a note, if you can pick up a job before moving here you will stand a far better chance of getting a better placed house.
     
    Transport to the North is poor, but to the south it is "slightly" better. You should pick up a zettrans timetable online which will give you a better idea http://www.zettrans.org.uk/Though you will normally get a lift if you stick out a thumb.
     
    Work wise. A lot of casual work is seasonal, so you may have a chance of a number of part-time jobs through the summer; grass cutting, fish work and the like. In the winter it's a peerie bit hit and miss. Though Scorrie noted already a number of good options for you on the Islands.
     
    I cycle on Shetland, just keep a mind that many folk use the road as a motorway, with many going well over motorway speeds, so make sure you are well and truly visible and remember, the bus here does not take bikes (madness), so if you cycle you're pretty stuck with it for the day.
     
    Positively though. The air is clean. Crime is minimal to none (ignore that TV show!). I never lock my door (mind, it maybe different in Lerwick). There is always something to do and the summer days are long and mild,  and Shetland folk are some of the nicest in the world.
     
    Good Luck!
  18. Like
    John Allan reacted to Sukibind in Suffragents   
    My goodness me! You really do have a huge grudge against women. All around the world today woman and girls are still oppressed, whilst all males enjoy total freedom. I am not sure why you seem to hate a small celebration of the right to vote being ‘granted’ to women 100 years ago, albeit ones with thier own property and over 30 years of age.
  19. Like
    John Allan reacted to Suffererof1crankymofo in Suffragents   
    Spare a thought for the men?  The suffrage movement campaigners included men and women, and not all of them would consider themselves to be suffragists or suffragettes.  The Act in 1918 didn't put women and men on equal footing regarding voting rights but it did also lift some restrictions on men.  It wasn't until 1928 that women were brought on par with men regarding voting rights.

    Women still continue to be jailed for offences and receive longer sentences than those passed down to men.

    Women still face discrimination in the workplace and earn less than men.
     
    Women do not automatically get residency orders re children in their favour; the Courts go by the Childrens Act and basically do what the children want if the children are over a certain age (If I remember correctly, I think it's 10).
  20. Like
    John Allan reacted in Lerwick Up Helly Aa   
    Frances why would you need to go to the toon to see the Don when he has already visited you (photographic evidence) or is that one of those lookalikes? I hope you had reestit mutton soup & other Shetland delicacies to offer him.
  21. Like
    John Allan got a reaction from George. in Lerwick town centre   
    I thinketh that you may have lost a few peoples attention by the end of your second sentence  
  22. Like
    John Allan reacted to George. in Lerwick town centre   
    I think that there is a difference between a sentence and a paragraph, whether the misspelling is obvious or not.
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