AM

I've been on the THTC tariff for 16 years and don't think I've had anything from the Hydro to say it is ending although I did get a letter to say about the price increase. My THTC meter had to be replaced four months ago and I suspect if there were plans in the pipeline to change tariffs/meters etc they would have done so then. I printed off my online bill last week as I needed to check it and have just read the back. My tariff is 'Standard THTC', it gives the figures for standard units, THTC units and the standing charge (which I've always had to pay). Under that there is a bit that says when you tariff ends and mine simply says 'no end date' so it looks as though nothing is about to alter soon. I would think that all bills have the same information on them so it might be worthwhile digging out your last one or checking it online to see what it said.

BT 10/10. Not had any problems at all in the four years I've had broadband and have also changed my phone/broadband package with them a couple of times to get a better deal which was done quickly and without any hassle.

There are a couple of online petitions to save the Viking Bus Station, the links for both are at the bottom of the Council cuts article on the Shetland News website. I'd attach the links but can't remember how to do it

Completely agree Mogling. As a child I remember staying with family in Yell where UHT was the norm and when you were down to the last carton or two Marvel/St Ivel Five Pints was mixed up and used on cereal/porridge until the UHT supply could be replenished. Okay for an emergency but not something I'd like to resort to again. I haven't had a problem with leaky bottle tops for ages and find an opened carton is still fresh after 5 days. It's okay for Tesco to bring up milk from South but what about the local shops who only stock Shetland milk? Support Shetland milk - what's that saying about only missing the water when the well runs dry........

I think Billy Fox is standing for Lerwick South - according to the Shetland Times article from 8 March http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/03/08/five-more-in-the-running-for-sic

If you have a cordless phone it may be a good idea to have a cheap corded one in a cupboard to haul out if there isn't any electricity. Was reminded of this the other week when cut off mid sentence during a power cut.

http://www.roundup-garden.com/news_room/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=17&title=The+Trouble+with+Japanese+Knotweed The Council's Environmental Health Section at Grantfield gives advice on Knotweed. We've had Knotweed in our garden for years and it was only recently that we realised what it was. We managed to eradicate it in one area where it was contained by completely digging it up and burning the roots (I think EHS advise to burn it on site). We also dug up the second area but lost track of the roots when they went over a metre deep. We haven't seen regrowth this year but if it comes back we will be treating it with Round Up, link above, which was recommended to us by someone else who had a bigger Knotweed problem. I've used the Root and Stump Killer in the past to get rid of tree roots and it worked brillilantly but I think Ultra 3000 is the same product but with different packaging and a cheaper price tag. Whatever you do, don't cut it down and leave it (makes it spread faster apparently) and when you burn any roots/stems make sure they are completely burnt - when we emptied the ash from our burning barrel we found a bit of root with some healthy regrowth sprouting from it!

It's not that long ago that I saw someone with a cat basket getting on the Sandwick bus at 5pm. Also, a couple of weeks after the Lerwick vets closed I saw an elderly woman getting off the early morning Sumburgh bus at Tescos and wait in the bus shelter there, presumably to catch the bus going to Scalloway. I've taken my own cat on the Sandwick/Sumburgh bus several times and never had any problems.

I've grown 'normal' basil in a window without any problems but this year tried lime basil which has never looked healthy and in fact I threw it out today.

We were at the Museum just after Midday and they were full. We only wanted a quick lunch so managed to get a table that was booked for 1pm, otherwise we would have been out of luck. If evening meals are as popular as lunch then booking would be a good idea. Just been to Eshaness and went to the Braewick Cafe for lunch. The home grown beef and pork sandwiches were lovely as was the burger. In fact, the beef was so good our visitors wished they could have bought some to take back home!

Went to Hay's Dock for lunch today - the food was superb and service excellent. Well worth a visit but best to book as we were lucky to get a table as it is obviously very popular. Looking forward to trying their evening meals though!

After two less than great recent experiences at the Lerwick Hotel I'm afraid they won't be getting my custom again for a while but I think it really does depend on the chef and waiting staff on any given night as to whether you get good food/service. I had ordered a dish with 'sticky rice' and although the meal was good the rice had obviously been packed into a mould and microwaved as it was rock solid and like a lump of rubber. I did complain to the waitress who came back from the kitchen and told me 'the chef says its meant to be like that' even though I was holding it on the end of my fork like a giant lollipop. She then just shrugged and walked away. The second time was a few months later and me and my pal had ordered a three course meal and a bottle of wine while we were sitting in the bar area. Our starters were carried through and left on a table and it was only after we asked how long our starters would be that we were pointed in the direction of two, by now cold, plates of food. Our mains arrived 10mins apart and we had to chase up the side dishes of veg and chips. When we asked a passing waiter as to the whereabouts of our bottle of wine he just said 'dunno, you aren't my table' and walked away leaving us to make a trip to the bar to get it. On both occasions they didn't have many full tables to serve so it wasn't as though they were rushed off their feet but it does put you off taking visitors there for a special meal. My mother-in-law is coming home soon so she will be taken to the Shetland Museum instead.

Thulecraft was where we got our one last year

http://visit.shetland.org/shetland-webcams 60 North TV have a webcam entitled Up Helly Aa 2011 so I think it will be and if I remember correctly they said that after the success they had with it last year they were going to upgrade it

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1047964510.png Cunningsburgh tonight

number 7: Excellent mixes! Perfect for a sunny Saturday afternoon

Try Thulecraft - the OH got a Honda one from there earlier this year. Their price was way cheaper than those online for the same model. Admittedly, it was from 2009 stock so he paid the 2009 price but even if it has increased for 2010 you may still find they are cheaper when you take the delivery charges into account. We thought about hiring too but as it is something we will use every year it works out cheaper in the long run and it's convenient to have it in the shed when you need it!