RugyDavy

The Dimplex storage heaters I'm familiar with have all had two controls. an input and output. The more you turn the input down the less heat will be stored in the heater and the less power it uses. The trick is figuring out how low you can set the input control and be almost run out,  but not quite of stored heat before the timer kicks in next to recharge it back up. Not an easy task given that you've got to second guess how much heat you're gonna need 12-24 hours in to the future.
Its a fine enough idea in a very modern house with tip top insulation and draught proofing as indoor temps don't get influenced all that much all that quickly, different story even with some houses no more than 20 years old where a change in wind strength or direction can turn the place from a sweat box to an ice box in a couple of hours. Without spare stored heat to call upon to compensate at such times you either sit and freeze a while or have to pull in temporary conventional heating, which cancels out the small savings for storage heating usage worryingly quickly.
A new or near new high spec house, or in town or a few really sheltered locations its probably fine and well, but anywhere else in Shetland its very difficult not to end up paying for heat you don't use and still and on ending up with a few hours here and there that you need to keep your jacket on, and thats with watching the weather forecast and attempting to fine tune the input/output settings daily to best cope with the predicted weather.
A leaflet came through the door the other week bragging that 'there was now an alternative supplier to SSE for THTC customers. I've not got round to reading it yet, but if its not been chucked already, I'll see if I can dig it out and see if its promising anything worthwhile/realistic.
 

I should have has better faith in the postal service! Souwester arrived today! Thanks for all your contributions.

I should have has better faith in the postal service! Souwester arrived today! Thanks for all your contributions.

I should have has better faith in the postal service! Souwester arrived today! Thanks for all your contributions.

Welcome. I recommend joining some of the many facebook sites devoted to the isles. Shetlink used to be awesome and I still check in from time to time, but a few years back it became clear that a few folk were dominating the forum and their negativity has deterred most folk from getting involved to the extent that they used to. Not intending to put you off, just best to be aware that the forum isn't really a representative sample of the wider Shetland public! Good luck

Drools at the thought of a Sainsbury's within reach again.  There again, where would it stop?  Fortnum & Mason on da web, Harrods food hall or just simply Selfridges' food hall?  Ohhhhh, the possibilities.  But yeah, gimme Sainsbury's over Grotesco's any day of the week.

try
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdidentifier/

Chuck,
 
This is something we can claim to know a bit about. It all depends what you are after. Mr.Singhs is indeed good, and up the west end so stuff to explore there.
But for more city centre try Browns on George Square. Great food, great atmos, got clientelle (easy on the eye to both sexes) and great cocktail list. Your Mrs will love that.
 
D

This week I went and bought a Golly from this lovely lady. I actually went for something else. While there I noticed a witch toy with a hook nose. No doubt a Jewish poet will now claim racial stereotypes for this being on sale. Then there is the 'protect the troll society' worried about their image when some are scary and frighten children and others are friendly. Also the electricity board could object to her sale of oil lamps as it suggests the possibility of needing them for powercuts and this could cause distress to those without any. some of her vintage toys represent war and this could be distressing to pacifists. Also lack of money distresses me since I can't afford most of it. Since this shop is potentially causing so much distress I recommend its closure along with all other shops where distress may be caused to some one somewhere. Thus all shops selling clothes in sizes too small for me must close with immediate effect. Now obviously I don't mean this but what I do want to say is grow up. Everyday there is something disagreeable and distressing in some way, its life and not worth getting distressed over. This man has a different upbringing, a different culture he sees racism in things where others do not. Reading his blog he comes over as bitter and angry so he wishes to project this on to others. Lets waste no more time on him and his sad world. we live in a better place.

I'm deeply saddened to see this in The Shetland Times and to see a born and bred Shetland lady being tricked and abused by some waife of a visiting, self professed "poet". 
 
I think it says a lot about this individual that he would come to Shetland as a visitor and think he has the right to behave in this way.
 
If this is the ilk that Shetland Arts is promoting and bringing to Shetland then I despise them and Mareel even more than I did.
 
A very sad day for Shetland and the owner of the Magpie's Nest......

I wouldn't blame Shetland Arts.  Where there is no sense, there is no feeling... <G> but, just typical of the local rag to try and make something of it.  Glad I don't buy it....
Personally, I think it's a non-story but, if you are going to push me, I would suggest that the real racists(?)  are the people who are so aware of the percieved differences(?) that they have to make an issue of it to make themselves feel better.
Colour is only skin deep....

So, now the issue is in the paper!
 
(** mod edit - link added - http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/09/13/shop-owner-considers-closing-after-criticism-for-selling-golliwog-dolls **)
 
I've bought two of these dolls (gollies) as my wife thinks they are cute little dolls. We don't see them as a symbol of racism and I don't consider buying them an active racist comment against any ethnic race.
 
How many folks on this thread have a legitimate reason to feel they have been personally affected and racially abused by the sale of these dolls and how many are just pontificting as self-styled forum and moral PC police officers.
 
Being racist is not demonstrated by buying a doll or collecting marmalade badges.
Real racism, the racism that targets people who are "different", is a state of shallow mindedness of the person/group who is subjecting their views and abuse onto others who they perceive as being different in whatever way. It comes in many forms and degrees of offense. 
 
 
I'm a 40 something year old white caucasion with a mixture of gaelic and celtic roots and I can tell you that based on some of the definitions of racism posted here I have been actively racially abused most of my life. (I'm emotionally crippled....{sarcasm}  )
I can also say that on the same basis I have equally demonstatrated racist comments and views towards other white caucasians. (hair shirt and ashes for me from now until the end of eternity; {sarcasm again}) 
I'm pretty sure if we look deep enough we are all guilty of it. I could provide examples, but that would only lead to more off-topic rants and maybe even some broken windows......{even more sarcasm, when will it end. I hope the sarcasm police don't target this post}
 
We need some perspective on this particular situation; the sale of black cloth dolls dressed in comical colourful outfits. Not one these dolls makes me think "ha ha ha, its a black dude dressed as a chef! Lets buy it as a demostration of how we hate people who originated from a country other than ours and who happen to have brown skin".
 
Its a doll!!!!!!! {swear words self-edited to save the moderators the trouble}

My wife had a 'black' baby doll when she was a young girl. This was in a completely white working class Yorkshire town in the 1960's, she's still got that doll now and it is sat in our spare room as I type this.
 
Some other kids had gollywogs, no-one saw them as being a parody of a black person and no-one bothered to comment on the fact that a white girl had a 'black' baby dolly. No-one cared. Remember that this was in the allegedly 'bad old days' when fowk weren't 'enlightened' regarding race issues.....
 
Fast forward to 'caring' touchy-feely piltocks trying to label anyone who doesn't toe a sterile line as a racist. We've really moved forward, haven't we?
 
Give yourselves a pat on the back, you wonderful champions of racial equality. My bowels are moved by your incredible worthiness.