Colin

Hi All, For anyone interested in these events, there are 3 visiblie tonight in the space of 20 minutes from about 12:20 am. One of the will be Mag 7 from Scalloway (they don't get much brighter) Exact time, Distance and, brightness will vary according to your location. Best prediction can be had by subscribing to www.heavens-above.com Just hope the sky stays clear.

It is irrelevant in so much as a business would pass the extra cost to it's customers. Most crofters however are not able to do this. Their income from livestock sales is usually the best price offered at auction, which they cannot control. Other income may be subsidy in the form of Single Farm Payment, membership of Environmental schemes etc which is fixed and unlikely to increase in the future. So additional costs are not irrelevant. Point taken although it does seem to me that the 'business model' in question seems to depend on hand-outs to be viable in the first place. Best to sell the 4x4 and buy a van with a tow bar. Works for my sis-in-law and she can get sheep etc. in the back as well.

One of my better ones from many years ago. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!! We were just passing and..... Well, don't let me stop you.. SLAM!!

It is irrelevant in so much as a business would pass the extra cost to it's customers.

Then I would assume that any increase would not affect you. As the vehicle appears to be part of your business, any expense would be deductable. PS. I am NOT unsmpathetic. Just pointing out a gap in your argument.

I am with Jordan on this one. Churches are a part of our heritage and are in many cases well worth preserving as buildings. With declining congregations and rising building costs use of lottery funds to preserve churches is as valid as spending on any other historic building. I suppose it costs us less than letting the council turn them into libraries..

I took an IQ test and the results and the results came back negative.

I once had one of these people try to justify their opposition to gambling and the lottery by claiming that the lottery wasn't gambling because the odds were so long ??? I also find it odd that their opposition doesn't extend to the money that's made available to them. I would have assumed that if they were so vehemently opposed to gambling then, by default, they would be opposed to receiving the proceeds.

Here's a link I found some time ago. Hairy..

I would assume that Scalloway Gala are doing one as usual. Only problem seems to be that there are contractors blocking the park entrance at the moment. Don't know when they should be finished.

I've organised an open air dance and it isn't simple and, for August, you might have left it a bit late. Additionally, there is a LOT going on each summer. Try and avoid clashing with other events Things you must do. Get a 'safe' venue. Make sure that, if required, emergency vehicles and personnel have proper unrestricted access. You will also be responsible for cleaning up afterwards. Make sure that you will be able to cope with this. There will probably be a lot of debris etc. Be the 'boss'. Only one person can be in charge of an event like this. Make sure that you have a good, reliable, team around you and don't be afraid to delegate responsibilities. First Aid. Make sure that you have adequate first aid cover available. The Red Cross can provide this cover for you but, remember that they are VOLUNTEERS and tend to be very busy most summer weekends and that they might already have been 'booked' for your preferred date. I believe that that the Red Cross now charge for this service. (Not surprised having seen some of the pathetic donations made for this cover over the years). You should also provide suitable facilities for them. (I provided a place to operate from and tea, coffee, sandwiches etc.) Organise your stewards. Best is to approach a 'respected' local organisation with the appropriate experience and offer them a suitable donation in return for their services. DON'T expect your 'mates' to do it. Personal experience from a number of other events suggests that most will be pissed on the night and nearly all will be useless anyway. Pinning a badge on the willing isn't good enough. It's YOUR reputation that's at stake not theirs and it is YOU who will be held responsible. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Make sure that you can properly direct them as the perceived success of you event will depend on them. They will need to know what is expected of them. They will also need access to hot drinks and other refreshments. Make sure that they are readily identifiable. Hi-Viz slip overs would be a good idea. Not to expensive if you shop around. If you want a marquee, it will have to be of an approved type and will have to be inspected and passed by a Fire Officer. You will also have to provide suitable fire extinguishers etc. Personally, I would avoid a marquee. Better to erect a stage or use a large truck for bands etc. Avoid selling alcohol and do not allow anyone else to do it on site. Most will turn up with their own anyway. Your call but, do not allow glass into the site. To many idiots think it's 'fun' to smash it against walls etc and it's very difficult to clean up properly. If missed, will remain a danger for years. Also, leaving any behind will not endear you to the site's owners and will probably affect permission for future events. You should also be prepared to deal with other acts of mindless drink fuelled vandalism. Franchise a burger van (or similar) to enter the site. I would think that the operators would be interested and would be willing to pay a suitable fee for access. Provide litter bins. Some will use them though most won't. Provide appropriate toilet facilities or make sure that they are available. You will need to place stewards at/in the toilets and will need an amazing quantity of loo roll. Transport. Most visitors will arrange their own but, at the very least, you should contact the local Taxi Drivers Association if only to make them aware of the event. If possible, try and arrange for a temporary Taxi Rank to be established. This will avoid and confusion and help to get people in/out of the venue quickly. You DON'T want people hanging around and causing a nuisance into the early hours. Only when you have all this in place, apply for a licence. You will be sent a form that requires personal details and details of the event etc. This must be paid for in advance (which, I think, is non-refundable) and you will have to show that you are 'competent' to run the event. It would also help if the event has a 'purpose'. Your application will be passed through several bodies for approval before a licence is granted/refused You will also need to contact Northern Constabulary who will send you their own questionnaire or arrange an interview. Sorry for making this so long. Perhaps I should have PM'ed it but others may be interested. Anyway, if you decide to go ahead, better to know in advance some of what is required. Others here will have experience of this that may be different to mine so, don't be to disheartened. Properly run open air events are great things.

I used to watch it just for Wogan's comments.. Worth the agony to hear some of his gems such as ".. here they come, Ant and Shrek.." wonderful. Might the flag have been Greece? Was the flag waver wearing a 'ganzie' ?

I tell them. I tell them to sit down. I tell them to shut up or stop shouting. I also encourage the driver to tell them. You never really 'win' though, unless you want to escalate the situation and take issue with the whispered snide comments that follow but, it's worth it just to see the look on their faces. If enough people stood up to them they just might begin to moderate their behaviour.

You could try and contact Lerwick Radio Club. They used to meet weekly at Isleburgh. Don't know if they still do but they were quite active at one time. There was also a Shetland Net operating on 80metres every Sunday morning. (3775Mhz +-) Haven't listened for a long time. Might just get the old Yeasu out of the loft for a listen some time.

I can remember a friend of mine trying to deliver supplies to a boat in Lerwick called the 'Peerie Valley'. Took 2 hours to discover it was the 'Prevail'

Seem to remember reading somewhere that whales were land animals that had returned to water.

Quite a lot I would think. Sheep will strip the bark if they can find nothing else to eat. No bark = dead tree. Anyway, plenty of trees around Scalloway.

I don't know who said it first but I was told that women change their names when they get married. Traditionally, Miss Right becomes Mrs Always Right!!!

I think it (and the car park it encloses) belongs to Anderson & Co.

To do is to be JP Satre Or, if you prefer... Dobedobedo Sinatra..

Light pollution is a problem for anyone who, like me, has a passing interest in astronomy. It's intrusive and a nuisance. Look skywards some night and check the 'Milky Way'. Can you see it? What about the Andromeda Galaxy. Roughly the apparent size of 4 full moons. Can you see that? When did you last have a really good view on an aurora? What annoys me most is the amount of unnecessary lighting we have to contend with. I have neighbours who leave bright outside lights burning for hours (sometimes all night) for no obvious purpose. My outside light is switched by a motion sensing PIR. No problem. Scalloway School/Swimming Pool is another nightmare (should that be lightmare?) There are upwards of a dozen 'bare' lights around these buildings. Bright sodium lighting illuminates the surrounding area with a horrible orange glare. It seems to be left on all night long and must be fairly expensive to run. I kid you not but, I used to walk my dog on the hill to the west of Scalloway with no problem thanks to these lights. On the plus side, the new street lighting appearing throughout Shetland seem to be hooded to project nearly all their light downwards but, there are still far to many that are little more than a 'bulb on a stick'. I might be wrong here but, wasn't there some kind of Government/EU directive on street lighting nearly 20 years ago, to combat this problem? If anyone wants to start a petition etc. Let me know. I'll sign it willingly. Final thoughts. Instead of community wardens, what about blackout wardens. Why not arrange to have every 2nd street light turned off after 1am or so?

Last bike I had (AJS 600 twin) cost me £32 pa 3rd party.. Also had an AJS 250 Saphire Sports that came in at £18 pa OK, it was a l o n g time ago. Last car premium I paid was £47 3rd party way back in '93

Yes and No.. I've seen/handled one in 'new' condition and it doesn't feel quite right. However, I have a 'used' one in my possesion that has been 'worked' a little and it would fool anybody who was unwary.

I've just spoken to the person in charge of the bar at the Tingwall Hall. Only ONE note was passed as a joke, and the person immediately confessed and paid up. Thanks for that.. Typical Shetland. Fart at The Ness, by the time word gets to Lerwick.. New trousers needed.