From the blog

• April 21, 2026 Skerries!
  

  One positive thing about lockdown was that once restrictions were lifted a little, we could explore places closer to home. Many Shetlanders holiday outwith Shetland in a bid to seek the sun and a brief period of anonymity, the travel restrictions meant that people discovered the gems on their own doorstep. The best thing for me about the Gloril tour was visiting places that I have been meaning to for years, I had been to Skerries but only as a baby. Growing up my neighbours were from Skerries and I had friends from there too. Another island where day visits are tricky due to the infrequency of the ferry.

  There are 2 options for public transport to Skerries - both by boat, one lasting 2 hours and 40 mins from Lerwick and the other from Vidlin taking 90 mins. I took the shorter option! I think it is possible to visit for few hours and still get back to mainland Shetland the same day but luckily I was staying for the weekend.

  Skerries is made up of 3 islands two of which are joined by a bridge. It's always fine to visit somewhere new and I was blown away by Skerries beauty. Around every corner was another view!

  

  Day 1 of the workshop was in the Skerries Hall. It's a wonderful hall, home to many a dance and spree. While the weekend was full of laughter - my cheeks were genuinely spaghied (muscle fatigued) from laughing there was an air of sadness too. A few years ago the population was 70 and dances and events in the hall was a fairly regular occurrence, now following the closure of their school on one casting vote, the population has dropped to 30. It's hard to explain the richness of education that a child can receive in such an environment. Exam success of students was high, onward career progression of alumni can boast Captains, Drs and entrepreneurs but hard as the islanders fought to keep their school open, it closed, family left and the population declined. Now, except for occasional visiting grandchildren, it's a childless isle.

  Day 2 we moved to the Waiting room, newly built to provide temporary shelter for travellers. With chairs and a table, tea and coffee facilities available and a view like a painting it was ideal for our second day.

  

  Here's Violet with her lamp outside the house she was born it. Violet is an incredible knitter and if you're lucky you might find one of her hand knitted jumpers at the Shetland Arts and Crafts November Craft Fair. Shes' also an author having published 'Skerries - The Forgotten Isles' recently. Surrounded by rocks, as its name suggest, and pre lighthouse, Skerries has witnessed shipwrecks. In iher book Violet recounts finding real treasure as a child in the shores around Skerries. She brought in one such coin dated 1711 that had been made into a necklace. Show here with a £1 coin for size comparison. 

  

  I love Kelly's use of the scraps of 'mistakes' that were made into balls and attached to give a new design shade with even more texture. It's great when creativity strikes! 

  

  I love how Marina made a lamp that matches her cardigan! 

  

  She later elevated her shade with a glass base to give contemporary Victorian chic!

  

  With the improved weather conditions we were able to take photos with the lamps outside. I love the way Patti turned her accidental hole into a spiders web! 

  

  The community have begun to raise funds to create a Skerries Heritage Centre in their old Kirk (church). If you'd like to support then in this quest you can contribute to heir crowdfund using the QR code below or by searching 'Skerries Heritage Centre' in the crowdfunding site. 

  I truly had the best weekend and was sad to leave. It's thanks to Shetland Arts that projects such as this can take place. People in small islands are used to having to travel to the mainland to attend events and often miss out. Small populations require that a few folk do many jobs and perform many roles within the community. It was a privilege  to travel to them and I hope to be back again soon. 

• April 21, 2026 A Canadian and A Crang
  Find out what links an elderly Canadian poet to my Crang Seabird Skeleton!
• April 21, 2026 Papa Stour!
  

  Having watched the sun set over Papa Stour all my life, I finally visit! 

• April 21, 2026 Highway to Yell!
  

  Covid appears at its own afterparty in Yell.