Sniffer dogs and haggises
Posted: Monday, 30 January 2006 |
As puffinbillyunst has already reported, Friday was a busy day in our little school. He mentioned that our nursery department was given a glowing report by the HMI. Well done!
Our secondary department also had a visit from the Dogs against Drugs team - in a strictly non-working capacity, I must add!! The pupils were very taken by the 2 Labrador sniffer dogs. We, too, had a vist from our "high heid yins". Held my breath when pupils working in computers were asked various questions about what they were doing. Phew, when told that they seemed to know their spreadsheets and databases!!
Anyway time to let my hair (which I am not short of) down at night with our community's Burns Supper in the hotel - Joy's first ever. Cock-a-leekie soup & haggis, neeps and tatties - toasted by seemingly unlimited drams. (I declined the whisky after my experiences at Aald Yule.) Speeches and music were both entertaining and (intentionally) hilarious. One person sitting at our table literally had tears streaming down her face. Perhaps next year the musicians will have learned the words to the songs.
Not being a Burns' fan (but any excuse for a night out) I was amazed at how much I knew when it came to the quiz about the Bard. We didn't win but we did come second - with no help whatsoever from the teacher of English at our table!!
Despite what many non-Unst folk may think most of my good nights out in recent years have been on this small island. More entertainment up here than there often is in the Big Smoke - Lerwick, that is.
Our secondary department also had a visit from the Dogs against Drugs team - in a strictly non-working capacity, I must add!! The pupils were very taken by the 2 Labrador sniffer dogs. We, too, had a vist from our "high heid yins". Held my breath when pupils working in computers were asked various questions about what they were doing. Phew, when told that they seemed to know their spreadsheets and databases!!
Anyway time to let my hair (which I am not short of) down at night with our community's Burns Supper in the hotel - Joy's first ever. Cock-a-leekie soup & haggis, neeps and tatties - toasted by seemingly unlimited drams. (I declined the whisky after my experiences at Aald Yule.) Speeches and music were both entertaining and (intentionally) hilarious. One person sitting at our table literally had tears streaming down her face. Perhaps next year the musicians will have learned the words to the songs.
Not being a Burns' fan (but any excuse for a night out) I was amazed at how much I knew when it came to the quiz about the Bard. We didn't win but we did come second - with no help whatsoever from the teacher of English at our table!!
Despite what many non-Unst folk may think most of my good nights out in recent years have been on this small island. More entertainment up here than there often is in the Big Smoke - Lerwick, that is.
Comments
The Burns community dinner in Unst sounds tops. Probably more congenial than the 130 pounds sterling (plus VAT!! - per person) shindig at Stirling Castle. True, the arrivals were met by a bagpiper. True also, there was Nairn's smoked organic salmon (a favorite of old Robbie doubtless?) on the menu, but I would rather have cock-a-leekie soup any day ... I forgot to add that the coffee came with tablet (at no extra charge).
mjc from NM, USA
Being Shetland, home of world class fiddle players, the haggis was fiddled in (not with) and not piped.
Far North from Unst
The yellow lab looks rather young to be a sniffer dog already. Are most dogs in Unst Border Collies? When do the lambs drop in the Shetlands/Unst?
mjc from NM,USA
I hae a border collie - he's very nice but dusno like posties very much. (Postie maks noise at front door, dog barks furiously, postie leaves. Every day. Perfect example of training).
Ruthodanort from Unst
I know Suffolks have already dropped their lambs in Quendale Farm in mid January and apparently lambs will be, MJC, dropping at regular intervals from now on.....my three saw the same dogs at Dunrossness Primary School when they (the dogs) visited the school and the nursery.
Matthewvl from Bigton, Shetland
Some farms had begun lambing by mid January on the mainland.
Herman from Orkney
Is the lambing in a sheltered place, or does it take place outside? Are the Shetland sheep pure bred, or crosses (which ones). Is it true that the Shetland sheep taste better, or at least different, from those elsewhere in the UK? If so, why?
mjc from NM, USA
Hope we can get a sniffer dog for Orkney too!
Yvonne from Orkney
An insight into life in Shetland in general - and on Unst, the most northerly island in UK, in particular.
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