North Mainland Notes 03.04.09

Boating Club teas and car boot

The clocks have gone forward, the daffodils are trying to flower and the shalder is back; all possible signals that spring might be in the air. One sure sign of spring is the number of Sunday Tea events beginning again in the North Mainland.

This Sunday, the Delting Boating Club is holding teas from 2-4pm in conjunction with a car boot sale. Anyone wishing to book a sales table should phone (01806) 522484.

Vidlin takeaway

Tonight is takeaway night at the Vidlin hall. Included on the menu, at very reasonable cost, is: fish and chips £5; lasagne and chips £5; sausages and chips £3.50. Food will be available from 4-7pm and orders can be phoned to the hall on (01806) 577329.

Vidlin variety

Karlyn Grains from Vidlin has organised a variety concert in the Vidlin hall next Saturday as part of a graded assessment she is undertaking as part of her studies as an HNC music student at Aberdeen College.

Students were given the choice to either make a demo CD, or EP, an album, a music video for a self-composed song, or organise a concert/gig. The project has to show five core skills that Karlyn has learned in the past six months including: creative industries infrastructure, working in the creative industries, music theory, practical musicianship and music first study instrument. After the concert she will prepare and present a portfolio of work relating to this project and this will be used to aid employment or further study.

Karlyn is finding that organising an event in Shetland while studying in Aberdeen is a really challenging, but enjoyable experience. She is delighted that local artists have been keen to take part and has come up with a varied programme that includes: Stewart Grains, Andrew Hughson, Tamar an’ Beenie, Linda Miller, KANSA, Loris MacDonald and The Wishart Family.

Tickets will be on sale at the door and proceeds will be in aid of CLAN 1,2,3 and Macmillan Cancer Support. Karlyn hopes that lots of people will come along to support the event and sample the entertainment.

Ollaberry: fish, chips and meeting

Fish and chips will form part of the takeaway menu at Ollaberry hall tomorrow night. Food will be available from 5.30-8.30pm and folk can either eat in or have a takeaway. Bar facilities will be available and a games night will follow, so under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The committee would also like to remind folk in the area that the hall annual general meeting will take place in the hall on Wednesday 15th April at 7pm. Due to the proposed refurbishment work at the hall, the next couple of years will be a busy time for the committee and they would welcome anyone who would like to help.

Additional North Mainland buses

As a result of community consultation carried out in the North Mainland by ZetTrans, additional bus services for Northmavine, Vidlin and Nesting are proposed. The community council is currently being consulted on the proposed service for Vidlin/Laxo and the intention is to introduce an additional return service in the middle of the day, Monday to Saturday, as of 1st June 2009. The service is designed to fit in with the ferry service to and from Whalsay. The current proposal is for the service to operate as follows: Depart Lerwick (Viking Bus Station) 1315 Arrive Laxo 1350 Depart Vidlin 1405 Arrive Lerwick 1440 In addition, a Dial-a-Ride service will operate to and from the South and North Nesting areas and this service would replace the weekly Thursday shopper service.

An additional Northmavine feeder service will be introduced from May to August, largely to enable passengers to get to and from Brae to Eshaness. The service will operate on Tuesday and Thursday and will link in with the early morning service from Lerwick. Johnson Transport will operate a service from Brae at 0940 to Hillswick and passengers can then travel on to Eshaness at 1005 with Martin Mowat.

A return service, operated by Johnson Transport, will leave the Eshaness Lighthouse at 1645 and the Hillswick Kirk at 1655. This feeder service will link into the Leasks service to Lerwick, which passes through Brae at 1720.

Hillswick teas

The Hillswick hall committee has organised an Easter teas afternoon with a car boot sale on Sunday from 3-5pm. Anyone who would like to book a table for the boot sale can telephone (01806) 503738.

The committee would also like to remind folk that there will be a family Easter fun day next Saturday afternoon. As well as activities such as egg decorating and card making, there will be prizes for the best Easter bonnet. Bairns should bring their bonnets along to the event, so now is the time to start creating your bonnets!

WRVS at Eshaness

The WRVS social club will meet in the Eshaness Community Centre on Wednesday from 3-5pm. The afternoon will be a chance for older folk to meet up for a cuppa and a yarn. Anyone who would like to attend the club, but does not have access to transport should contact WRVS staff on (01595) 693915.

Live music at Northern Lights

Life is neither dull nor quiet for Antonia Sidgwick from Ollaberry. In between completing the dissertation for her Sport and Exercise Science with Psychology degree at Herriot Watt University, she plays football and hockey, works in the Brae Garage during her holidays and writes and performs her own material. Toni also found time to launch her debut album, Baliamo, at the end of 2008 and will support Chris Helme, former front man of the Seahorses, at the Northern Lights next Friday night, 10th April.

Chris Helme also launched his debut solo album, Ashes, last year, which highlights his rich vocals and guitar playing capabilities. Doors will open at 8pm and promoters, A Northern Soul, have asked that people attending go along early to support the local talent. Tickets are on sale at Brae Hotel priced £7. More information on the artists can be found at www.myspace.com/antoniasidgwick and www.myspace.com/chrishelmesolo

Maree Hay