Unst rambling.
Posted: Thursday, 02 March 2006 |
Comments
it is an innocent question. stick to the facts: the facts are that we don't really know who the bloggers are and does it really matter - its their contribution that counts. and the facts are that many a soothmoother has as much or more to contribute as a local. About a hundred years ago or less perhaps, all the educated folk - the minister, the doctor, the teacher, were incomers. Many of the top jobs today are held by incomers, and quite rightly so IF they have the qualifications. As to your question will the dictionary be compiled by a soothmoother - yes if they make the best job of it. However the existing dictionary was compiled by John Graham - and he was local, a headmaster, very qualified and did a good job. On radio Shetland there are many 'south accents' - but they do a very good job and are dedicated. But whit aboot Mary Blance, Jane Moncrieff, Carol Anderson, John Robertson, Philip Goodlad - all these are local and are top notch.The Shetland Times is a newspaper - how do you know what accent they have got?
scallowawife from shetland, land of eternal days off school due to s
Why the confrontation? This causes me to retaliate. Of course it matters who the bloggers are. People from all over the world visit these sites,expecting to read the news and views of local people. Try as we might,we incomers impart a spin on news which is not truly representative of the islands. Much like people believing that the true state of any country is as portrayed by Michael Palin on his travel broadcasts. Half a century ago I was very proud of the fact that Yorkshire county cricket fielded a side comprised totally of Yorkshire born players; the rest lured foreigners with high salaries. Your implication that only qualifications matter makes me think that you would approve of a Shetland team visiting the next Island Games which consisted of ten incomers to every two locals. As for the dictionary. I have long been an admirer of both John and Lollie Graham and hope that John can be persuaded to take on the task of the new compilation. Radio Shetland had,in my opinion,it's best ever producer in Mary Blance who,for unexplained reasons,has been demoted to office girl;replaced by a good but not as efficient incomer. A station manned solely by the ones you mentioned would be superb. As for the Times ;it's accent depends on it's editor,another import. There again,I wish that we could access he latest census to find out how many of the 22000 inhabitants of these isles were born here. Of the 500 or so left in Unst,a very vocal minority are from South. I hope that this rant does not upset you too much. My late wife would have declaimed "Oh Go Claudias" and pulled the plug. Claudias
Claudias from Unst
I posted an answer to this comment in the early hours of Saturday but it seems to have gone absent. Any comments moderator? Claudias
Claudias from Unst
Thanks,
Claudias from Unst
Goodness. Did I sound confrontational? I just think that the bloggers, if they live and work here, have just as much to contribute as the 'locals'. I do object to people who don't know what they are talking about sounding off or representing Shetland when they cannot do so, however sometimes that's just how things are and we locals can't complain because these incomers have so much to offer in many ways, and sometimes they take our culture far more seriouly than we do. I remember having a conversation with a couple in Orkney about traditions - I was of the belief they had held on to their traditions and we had lost ours, but when we pointed out what we saw in each others lives, we understood. things we take completely for granted here, things boringly common and humdrum, are sometimes much more valued when viewed through fresh eyes. in truth, we simply can't appreciate what we have until it is threatened or we go away, come back and realise that what we have is unique and needs to be protected. someone spoke about how much sky there is here - something I had never noticed. another friend went to Africa and spoke longingly of wir peerie flooers, so delicate and pretty. our long summer nights - one very nice evening I was on the phone to Edinburgh and commented that my hen was still out, it was 11pm. I said she must be exhausted, because she wid have to get up again at 2 am. my friend sounded wistful and said she had forgotten about such long light nights. I did not say that only qualifications matter, or did not mean to imply that! It would be great if we could muster up a team of Shetlanders - but that would be very wrong to exclude people who weren't born here, but who live here and have much to offer. would you not let those talented twins fae Baltasound compete? I think we are probably singing from the same hymn sheet - and I suspect that most of the bloggers are indeed not born here. but does that make their contribution less worthy?anyway enough of this rambling - will find you next time I am in Unst.
scallowawife from shetland
If we are looking at the worth (or otherwise) of someone just beacuse of something as arbitrary as their birthplace, what about those people whose parents, grandparents etc were all Shetland born and bred - but who were born in Aberdeen because of complications which meant their mothers being flown south to give birth in the ARI?
Far North from Unst
Sorry folks. I suppose that I am being a bit too extreme and far too general. What I feel deeply is that nations and areas are judged on the words of their spokespersons. Far too many people in the world now hate Britain and America because of the attitudes of their leaders and.judging by public surveys,few of their own nations populations agree with their decisions. At a local level I feel that queries about Shetland matters should be answered by Shetlanders, Despite my long stay in Unst I am not qualified to utter opinions about how the depopulation will affect the rest of the local population. I learned, many years ago,that my view on a local topic rarely corresponded with that of my wife. She,like scallowawife, tended to take for granted things which had me up in arms, I look forward to meeting you,smoorikin or not. As for representation at sport,winning is what matters to most people. There may be a five year rule for Guizers but a medal winner is welcome from the day of her/his arrival. My attitude is that they are welcome to compete but should do so as individuals rather than representing the county. As for Far North's comment;Children who were conceived and carried in Shetland,only having to be born in Aberdeen because of lack of local facilities,are as Shetland as their parents. My daughter was born in a British Military Hospital in Germany but is English. Again,let me emphasize, I am not knocking incomers,just questioning their right to represent Shetland.
Claudias from Unst
winning is what matters - or is it the taking part that's important - try sorting that one out! As my young son went on a sporting trip - kinda rare for him, he's not competitive at all - one of the teachers said something like make sure you win a medal, winning is important. I was horrified and said so, but was overruled! I'm just not sure what line to take on this as you can put kids under a lot of pressure to perform well.
scallowawife from shetland
winning is what matters - or is it the taking part that's important - try sorting that one out! As my young son went on a sporting trip - kinda rare for him, he's not competitive at all - one of the teachers said something like make sure you win a medal, winning is important. I was horrified and said so, but was overruled! I'm just not sure what line to take on this as you can put kids under a lot of pressure to perform well.
scallowawife from shetland
Please Graeme just erase the duplicate one its so embarrassing to have made such a silly mistake.
scallowawife from shetland
i am horrified by the content of the comments. Southmoothers? Incomers not allowed to represent Shetland in sports competitions? Radio Shetland limited to natives? Not only is this attitude grossly discriminatory and xenophobic - it is also unworkable. How will you assess whether someone is a Shetlander? One Shetland parent? Two? Four generations back? Born in Shetland? Called Jamieson or Williamson? What if every other area in the UK does the same? Will we all be stuck in the place all our ancestors come from? Terrifying prospect. Shame on you all.
another incomer from shetland
How can an accident of birth make one person more worthy of notice than another? Good for you, another incomer. Where would all the Shetland diaspora go if they were all repatriated north, all the people whose parents or parents' parents went off to make a better life for themselves? And would people of Shetland descent be banned form representing Yorkshire at cricket ? Or England in swimming ? Or USA in some other sport? Luckily for us, in the UK we have the right to express our views wherever we live, as long as those views do not incite hatred. And remember, whitesettler wants us all to be nice to one another............
Flying Cat from in a fluff
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