tirvaluk

In Unst, any reliance on 'lovely' or 'super' in descriptive narrative is hackneyed superficial gush. Unst people only use adjectives to describe something that is dead, lost or stolen. 
We used to have a policeman.
He was a lovely guy.
 
People still play badminton. The badminton scene is the only scene and it has always been a thriving scene. Whoever and whatever you are.. on Thursday evenings you are free to strut your stuff in badminton shorts. The serial killer probably enjoys Badminton.
 
The population has reached a critical point where it cannot sustain a Masonic Lodge. The Unst Councillor punches above his weight, the schools close and children get rickets. Most children would prefer to be in an orphanage than a happy family unit. At least they would get a wifi connection.
They could post smileys and super selfies like everybody else.
Aww. 

They are indeed a picture of misery and gloom Bluevac, for many reasons;
 
With even the slightest change in ferry timetables they are forced to eat cormorants.
Excessive consumption of salted cormorants over prolonged winters has been linked to rickets in children and diabetes in rats. Rickety children and diabetic rats is the stark reality faced by Unst folks in austere times. 
The parents of the rickety children are also fighting to save the last surviving school and the last surviving Talc quarry on the island to secure a future for the community. Both are riddled with asbestos.
A council survey recently concluded that 76% of Unst people can't even spell 'community' without the help of Google,
Another council survey concluded that 76% of Unst people can' access Google without installing Satellite Broadband.
That same 76% also failed to spell 'Satellite' within seven attempts.
A greater number of Unst people carry a smouldering anger, frustration and paranoia against the world of inanimate objects and failing electronic devices. They punch plasterboard walls regularly to vent their rage. Their houses are well vented too and the rats get in.
There is also a suspected serial killer at large. The population has dropped from 1100 to 500 in twenty years and Police have found no leads. The Policeman disappeared too in 2001.
 
The last job on the island is also under threat of automation since the Waterboard decided not to replace the technician who regulated the fluoride and chlorine levels in the Island's water supply. A lost generation of rickety children had their education tailored for this post and were groomed for the position. They are probably qualified to run a bath or operate anything wth two taps. Their only other skill set would be fishing a dead horse from a loch if required. 
76% of that lost generation couldn't spell 'maintenance' or 'technician'.
That was their happy lot.
No longer.
 
Lastly, following two decades of exposure to the noise pollution of oil traffic they suffer from P.F.T., a Pitch Fluctuating variant of Tinnitus which rings like a constant National Anthem of 'God Save the Queen' in their ears giving them an aloofness and reverent countenance that could be misinterpreted as a dismissive stiffness of character.
 
In sadder times now, the skies are no longer a choppity-chug of helicopters; the toxic talc quarries are no longer a thud of dynamite and diesel water-pumps; the wax-buffed school floors are no longer a-squeak or a scurry of plimsoled feet running to the clangity-clang of a janitor's bell and 76% of Unst people can't spell 'marmalade'.
In Unst they call it 'orange jam'.

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Exactly my thoughts,agree or disagree with what he says he has done nothing but fight for getting shetland people cheaper plane and boat fares.  I know him personally and I know how much work he has put into this.  success or no success doesnt matter at least he is trying to do something about it.  i also know he does not want to be a spokesman on anything but the media come to him because of the work hes done should he say no comment? so easy to criticize someone trying to help us all and such negativity for someone who is only trying to help such unfair stick and we wonder why noone wants to be councillors in shetland?  

What's it got to do with Ryan? He has spoke  up for fair and frequent fares on boats and planes.

What has he has said that you don't agree with?
 
I've found it refreshing having some new young blood in the council have spoken to them all they seem to be very enthusiastic which might change!  Hopefully sort out some of the old ones stuck in their ways.

Well whatever is said,this was an expensive project that was not required.
 
Just a complete waste of public money that should have been spent elsewhere on something more needful.
 
These humps and bumps  will not bring more trade to "Da Street" and I also doubt if it makes it any safer.

Can't see what all the fuss is about. Go to 99.9% of towns and cities anywhere else in the world, and Lerwick will appear to be a motorist's heaven. Very little traffic and easy on-street parking with no restrictions. The speed bumps and 20mph limit is along a very limited section of road. I love the fact that right throughout the islands the road surface is as near to perfection as is possible to attain. I have said to family and friends down south that I have two games I play when driving along a road. On mainland UK it's 'Dodge the pot-hole' which is incredibly difficult. Up here in Shetland, I play the game 'Spot the pot-hole', which is even more difficult. Shetland's roads really ARE that good. And family and friends that have visited me over the past 4 years have said as much. Shetlanders, be proud of what you have here. 

Sorry Admin I know this discussion is way off topic but one thing I cant understand is the complete hatred of outside investors in hotels etc. Taking a walk through Lerwick you can see how far it is behind anywhere else in the country even Orkney is streets ahead of family entertainment with food etc offered in pretty decent local pubs the simple fact is if local hotel and pub owners don't up there game then national brands will see a market and hoover it up. Competition is good the customer benefits most of the time.

Those are the groups Ian Kinniburgh stated would be exempt from the ferry. Given that travel is arranged on the strength of getting an appointment letter for Aberdeen and it can take upwards of a month to see a GP in Lerwick, I don't hold out much hope of being able to see anyone to assess your most suitable method of travel. Most of the patient travel I have done in the past was done with hardly any input from medical staff in Shetland and Aberdeen professionals had hardly any knowledge of the patient travel system. Forgive me if I don't have much faith in these proposals. 

I have heard of several people that have been told to go to Aberdeen for a 5 minute consultation. This could have been done by phone or video link. Ian Kinniburgh suggests that nobody has the courage to tell the consultants in Aberdeen this.

I have heard of several people that have been told to go to Aberdeen for a 5 minute consultation. This could have been done by phone or video link. Ian Kinniburgh suggests that nobody has the courage to tell the consultants in Aberdeen this.

Unless their booked on passage only, destined to sleep rough without a cabin, no meal voucher, or onward travel costs to the hospital, i can't see how it will work out much cheaper to be honest.

It shouldn't matter how many. If one female wants to go out in a squad why shouldn't she. 

I think the whole thing is being overthought. Legal or not, unless there is a change then at some point in the future it will attract a lot of negative attention and may well come to a highly publicised challenge. Why not just pass it to the grass roots, the squads, to be allowed to take in males, females and others as their membership sees fit. Surely that would keep the committees's nose clean without having to make any major announcement or get involved

It's very sexist and traditional. An awful lot of people don't want to change it, women and men. My own opinion is women should be in squads if they want to. 

There are hundreds of tourists that come every year for UHA, they are mostly happy to see the squad through the day and go back to their hotels after the procession. I spoke to loads of them last year. Just see how fast the tickets sell for the Fiery Sessions in the afternoon. Also the Jarl's Squad trips to Edinburgh and NY advertise Shetland as a destination not just UHA.

Not-so-much the morning after
 
Best fun of the year though! And that goes for all the UHAs across Shetland

Yes, its amazing how Up Helly Aa goes from strength to strength every year. Even after getting such wide publicity (since the seventies at least) there still seems to be a growing demand for it. Even unto the far reaches of Dunrossness. As part of the world's image of Shetland it is undoubtedly a major attraction for visitors and keeps Shetland in the light during the dark days of winter. The undoubted health benefits of keeping people active over the winter months in preparation and execution of the various fire festivals in what otherwise would be a gloomy period. I would encourage everyone to get away from the TV and internet and take some part.

Just because the event gets some public funding doesn't mean the squad gets travel and accommodation paid. As far as I'm aware, the squad members usually pay to travel to events. It's an expensive business being in the Jarl Squad!
 
Perhaps you should ask the committee if you want to know the specifics of particular trips - http://www.uphellyaa.org/contact
 
There are 100s of visitors to Shetland each year for UHA which is great for the economy in a usually slow time of year (try booking accommodation for visitors. You need to book months in advance) and the global coverage Shetland gets from UHA can only be a good thing.

Thousands of people loving the jarl's squad .
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4077022/The-Vikings-getting-ready-2017-Torchlit-processions-kicks-Edinburgh-s-Hogmanay-event-attract-150-000-visitors-80-nations.html

I've seen nothing but positive feedback from Edinburgh in the press, on TV and on the internet. Lots of Shetlanders have said how proud they were to see the Jarl's Squad leading the torchlight procession.

The squad trips to New York were paid for by the squad members themselves. The first trip came about as the Jarl had always wanted to march through NY with his squad. If I had spent as much on my suit as any jarls squad does I would go to anywhere in the world I could,to get a chance to use it. 
Nobody can say how much good publicity comes out of such trips for Shetland.

The squad trips to New York were paid for by the squad members themselves. The first trip came about as the Jarl had always wanted to march through NY with his squad. If I had spent as much on my suit as any jarls squad does I would go to anywhere in the world I could,to get a chance to use it. 
Nobody can say how much good publicity comes out of such trips for Shetland.

The squad trips to New York were paid for by the squad members themselves. The first trip came about as the Jarl had always wanted to march through NY with his squad. If I had spent as much on my suit as any jarls squad does I would go to anywhere in the world I could,to get a chance to use it. 
Nobody can say how much good publicity comes out of such trips for Shetland.