North Mainland Notes

Stories of Papa Stour

If there was ever a time when our secondary English class at Brae was a peerie bit bored of hearing about punctuation, nouns, verbs and sentence structure from our beloved teacher George P S Peterson, someone would slip a question about Papa Stour into the conversations in the classroom. This was sure to give us a reprieve from the monotony of written English and a chance to hear one of the wealth of stories Mr Peterson had about his home isle of Papa. Many folk have commented over the years that Geordie should publish some of the tales and now at last, encouraged by his family and especially his son Peter, a book has been published.

Auld Papa I’m Dine will be launched at the Delting Boating Club tonight (Friday) and the author will also be signing copies of the book at the Shetland Times Bookshop from noon until 2pm tomorrow (Saturday). The publication features a wide range of Geordie’s work and includes a dip into the history of Papa through short stories, poetry, trowie tales and bedtime stories for bairns. Geordie himself has beautifully illustrated this extremely interesting and eclectic mix. Lang lippened, come at last; congratulations Geordie and here’s to the nixt een!

Festive Bingo

For the past two years the Muckle Roe Hall committee has hosted a hugely successful festive bingo night, despite some fairly awful seasonal weather. This year ex-Tchuggie, now resident in the Wild West, Terry Mayes, has agreed to act as bingo caller and host for the evening on Wednesday night.

As well as some exciting prizes with a Christmas twist, there will be a raffle and refreshments with mulled wine, spiced apple juice, tea and home bakes. Doors open at 7pm and it is eyes down at 7.30pm. All proceeds will be used for the hall refurbishment scheme.

North Haven variety night

Although the recent fund-raiser for the Brae-based North Haven Care Centre Comfort Fund was billed as a music night, there was real variety in all the performances. Not only was there a superb selection of musical items, the evening also featured sketches and poetry readings. The event was very well supported and the appreciation of the audience was evident in the splendid sum raised of £859.

A spokeswoman for the organisers said: “We would like to express our thanks to the Delting Boating Club for providing the venue and being so helpful; compere Christine Brown; musicians Alexander, Ryan and Adam; Alex Couper; Davie Clark and Andrina; Northmavine Fiddle and Accordion Club; Joan Tait and Mary Hughson for the poetry readings; and Meggie, Betty and Ertie for the play and also North Haven kitchen staff for the delicious soup.” She added: “Local businesses and individuals once again donated generous raffle prizes and we are very grateful to them, but most of all we’d like to say a huge thanks to all the folk who attended and helped to make it such an enjoyable night.”

A recipe for success

The Vidlin Under-fives group always have a project on the go. Last year they produced a very successful version of the phone directory for the local area and this year they’ve teamed up with the Lunnasting Young Ones group to produce a recipe book. The book will be launched at the Vidlin Farmers’ Market in the hall on Sunday from 12-4pm.

Something fishy at Voe

There are fish and chips on the menu at the Voe hall tomorrow night from 4.30pm-8pm. After supper folk are invited to settle down at the hall for a musical night featuring Alan Tulloch and friends. Phone bookings for food will be taken from 2pm, please call (01806) 588281.

Bargains at Brae

In order to make room for an ever-changing range of stock at the Brae Good as New Shop, the lasses have organised a 50p sale for tomorrow. The shop will be open in the Brae Youth Centre from 2-4pm.

Technological teething troubles

Technology was apparently designed to help speed up processes in our modern world, but getting the technology installed isn’t always a very fast or easy process as the folk involved in re-opening the Hillswick shop have found out. As a community-owned new business, the installation of the machine to accept credit and debit cards was always going to be a slow process and directors accepted that the shop would have to open without it; it is due to be installed in mid-December.

Although there were concerns, these were somewhat allayed by the fact that the shop previously had a cash machine. The machine is still in the shop and could be recommissioned. This would allow folk with cards to pay for their goods by withdrawing cash from the machine in the shop. Although there were numerous obstacles on the road to getting the machine up and running again – mostly due to the fact that the suppliers of the machine would not return phone calls – a month ago directors received welcome news that the shop would be able to use the machine for a trial period and as long as a certain amount of transactions were made per month, the machine would remain and all should be well.

Is all well? No. On Tuesday this week, two days prior to the opening of the shop, an email was received stating that the company had decided not the recommission the machine. The company might change its mind at the 11th hour, but it’s doubtful, so directors would like to apologise in advance for this inconvenience and ask that customers pay by cash or a cheque with a guarantee card until the debit card machine is in place.

Hillswick fund-raiser

Tomorrow there is a marathon fund-raiser for the hall at Hillswick. The day will begin at 3pm with an indoor car boot sale with teas, tombola, bric-a-brac stalls, home bakes, bairns’ activities and a raffle. From 5pm fish suppers will be available for folk to eat in or takeaway. Anyone who fancies themselves as the next Darryl “The Dazzler” Fitton, can step up to the oche in the evening for a darts competition and the chance to win a selection of superb prizes from Bully’s prize board! There’s guaranteed to be fun and activities for all ages and the hall will be open from 7pm tonight for donations. For further information or to book a car boot stall, phone (01806) 503246.

Tickets are also available from committee members for the Festive Night at the Hillswick hall next Saturday night. The night begins at 7.30pm with a Christmas-themed meal and a winter-wonderland of entertainment.

All tastes covered

Everyone’s tastes will be catered for. That’s the promise of the spokeswoman from the Ollaberry Christmas Party committee while we were discussing tomorrow night’s curry evening to be held at the local hall. She added: “We’ll have lots of curries for folk to try from mild to mind-blowing, something for bairns, vegetarian and a diary-free option.”

As well as being able to eat at the hall or take your food home, there will be a range of sales tables, a sale of children’s crafts, a raffle and an auction of special items. The bar will be open so all bairns must be accompanied. All funds raised will go towards the bairns Christmas party and Ollaberry school funds. For more information or to book a sales table, please phone (01806) 544337 or 544321. The hall will be open from 2pm for donations.

Maree Hay