ariel

Thank you indeed. Mareel's website is a dreadful mishmash. With luck it will improve, but then Shetland Arts one never has...

Thanks for this. I have to say I've never even considered eating in the Brae Hotel before! But might now.

Do, please, get a sense of proportion. Staying in the country I would not book flights for a Sunday, and would not expect a bus service laid on just on the off chance I wanted to go somewhere on a Sunday that I couldn't organise for one of the other six days of the week. If I have several buses every other day of the week I feel I'm doing pretty well in the current economic climate. The only way we are going to sustain bus services while budgets are being cut is is to make sure they are well used, and that means you can't lay ones on to satisfy the every whim of individuals. It does mean that organisations would do well to look at bus timetables when planning events and services, and that services are planned round real need - hence this consultation. If bairns need brought in to the hostel on Sunday night I hope other members of the public would be able to use that transport - and all other school buses. Not sure why you'd drag bairns if from Sandness on a Sunday though, when the journey can be done on Monday morning.

Most buses in the new timetable leave town at 5.15 or 5.20. Though in my experience most folk who say 'I would use the bus if only...' actually just set up more and more conditions as they are addicted to their cars.

I just assumed that must be some new fashionable Shetlandish spelling... Fewer busses for Scalloway I see, but I think that's fair enough as they can run very empty just now. As can some airport busses, but hard to see how to cut that more without serious disadvantage to the folk that really need them. An extra run on the Lerwick Town Service - maybe not all that useful at 8pm? Not sure what the reason for it is. Walking or taxis are do- able in town.

Para Handy Ach well, stay at home with your chip on your shoulder to keep you company then. Dizzy Kipper is right that Bigton has been a bit of an omission. Whereas if you live in Dale o' Waas and want to party moderately late in town, you're laughing. The commentary on this report is poor, it should note what the changes are and explain them. Timetables are quite a good first draft I think, let's hope it can be tweaked. I assume we can't have everything we want and that any extras will have to be balanced with cuts.

Agree, Staney Dale - and I can also think of several places that have a school that don't do all that well at community spirit...

Sounds totally sensible to me - get in the crowds, encourage families, promote inclusivity, fill seats. They can put prices up if they need to later. Most folk with these deal cards end up not using them as much as they think they will anyway.

I always thought the box office service was incredibly cheap and I still think it's great value. Just glad they are now charging more realistically, to keep it viable. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

...and what is not to like about that?

Have you offered to pay?

Don't be silly, you are in danger of being tasteful when we need EPIC on the hilltops. Thor straddling Cunningham Way. A horde of Valkries atop the waterworks. The new turbine at Hoofields could have an Odin totem pole built round it.

Geordie's DIY. You can ask them things and get good advice even if just buying a miserable packet of cup hooks.

My mother also recently got very good service from George Robertsons when her washing machine broke down. They offer far better value than buying Sooth. I used to be very pleased with Lerwick Building Centre too, hope Jewson can keep it up.

This is a real problem for folk. Can I suggest all interested parties be sure to bring it up at the coming consultation on bus services? The only info I can find so far is this: Public drop in session 19th Sept in Bowlers Bar, Clickimin, 3pm to 7pm, but you can also contribute by post, online etc and the documents will be on the SIC website and Zetrans 2 weeks before the drop in. ( Assume there will be more publicity around it soon.) In the meantime maybe call the vets and ask if they can suggest ways to help? Or the SSPCA, Cats Protection may help.

A conservation area doesn't mean - thank God - that you don't build anything new, nor that you only build ersatz copies of old buildings. Towns move on, and we are lucky to be getting some decent modern architecture on Shetland, at last. The natural extension of the continuing obsession with being able to park is that everything will be built out of town, American style, with giant car parks - or even drive-in so one doesn't have to heave oneself out of the car at all. Only people with cars then have access, the town centres die. I thought a bit of investment bang in Scalloway centre might be welcome to most.

I agree, Tatties and Point is looking like there's thought and enthusiasm going into the food and the staff I've seen lately have been cheery and bright.

[quote name="Colin" Personally' date=' I would write to the council advising them that, if they stopped the school bus, I would no longer be sending my kids to the school as I considered the journey far to hazardous for young children.[/quote] So no exercise and no education. Great parenting.

Kids are done no favours by parents who think they should be driven everywhere. There is a well-recognised health time bomb for young people because of their sedentary lifestyle. Why would they walk alone? Parents can accompany their children or organise group walks. It's quite worrying that someone thinks bairns can't walk from Soond.

The Co-op shelves have been emptying of various sizes lately too. I wonder if it's down to more folk buying? I hope so, and not just down to the charming incompetence of the co- op, or the dairy running out of bottles. ( there was no butter for weeks once as they'd run out of tubs.) I wish the good old Co-op would do more to trumpet itself as the champion of local fair trade, and maybe save itself as well as the milk industry. Pleased to see lots of Facebookery going on for local milk. Tesco's loss leading is unfair competition, is immoral and should be illegal.

Is there a case for locking this thread as it seems to have descended into repetitive tediousness?

Thanks Muppet, Bug and others - reasonableness, common sense and intelligence on Shetlink winning hands down over the carping negativity. And there appear to be people out there who are prepared to actually walk half a mile, and wear a waterproof jacket. For once, I'm glad I logged in and can retire happy.

Anybody being an extra? Are they seriously doing Up Helly Aa in July? Wish I was there, sounds bizarre and splendid.

Am I allowed to bring Haagen Das into this? I saw salted caramel advertised sooth. Anyone know if you can buy it here?