D-DAY

Well we got to Claymore super early and managed to have a good mooch about while people were setting up.

I got some shots of some of the games before the doors opened, meant to take more and totally forgot… too busy spending money or pondering whether or I should get something, in some cases my choice wad helped by someone else choosing before me.

I did consider Warlord’s ‘Epic’ Punic wars army. At one end Of the hall Warlord had it for £240 and at the other end of the hall N independent had it for £180… but only one of them. Luckily someone else got there first. I can do the wars in 2 and 6mm so didn’t need another set.

We also had a little participation game run by Warbases. It was a fun little Dungeon crawl…

The mdf tiles are pre coloured and they were for sale… I managed to stop myself buying them. The Miniatures were from Bifrost Miniatures.

I came away with a nice little haul, or should that be a medium sized haul!

I could have easily come back with a massive haul.

Once I get back I will show you what I got.

My son was especially chuffed as I persuaded him to keep visiting the Bring and Buy tables (people had their own this time). He managed to blag himself a pair of big GW Kinights for £50… saving a whopping £160! Up to that point he had been flagging a bit, but was perked up by his purchase.

All in all we were there about five hours. Six if you include pre opening.

Now I wasn’t there last year, but it did seem quieter than last time. Some of the traders thought the same too. Maybe the crowds had spent up at Carronade which by all accounts of said traders was rammed.

Under Sail

Today I took my older pupils on rhe Swan. She was built in 1900 and was rescued from Hartlepool in the 1990’s

She was built as a Herring fishing boat. One of 400. She is now one of 8.

It was a gorgeous day and we coveted 11.2 nautical miles.

Me having a go at steering!

Once we got round the island of Vaila then we did hit a bit of choppiness!

All Hands….

Brace for Bouncing

So I made it onto the boat and it is heading out two hours later due to the rough seas. It is now a 15 hour crossing instead of 12. We are missing out Orkney altogether.

Lerwick in the dark.

Here I am being stoic!

A day of Gallivanting

This morning I was off to my Union Branch meeting. Well I thought I had better show willing as I have changed unions. I came home replaces a few more bits of floorboards and sliced some shields for the Knights.

After lunch my good lady and I hurtled off to the South end of the island to visit Jarlshof. This is a Historic Environment Scotland site. It shows that a settlement has been there since the Neolithic…some 4000 years.

The name Jarlshof was basically made up by Sir Walter Scott. He had visited Shetland around about 1814. His book ‘The Pirate’ has a location, which was basically the ruined 16th Century Manor house, which he named… you guessed it Jarlshof…the house of the Jarl.

In reality in 1814 the only bits to be seen was the ruin. In the late 1800’s a massive storm rolled in and eroded the sea front and voilà…dwellings appeared from under the sand.

On ‘Out and About in Shetland’ I am uploading a number of videos… they are taking FOR EVERRRR!

West of Wick…

Sort of!

Well according to Google Maps I am here…

What three Words had me down as: Suggestible. Mimicking. Nations.

Either way, we are far enough off shore to not see the shore!

We are about two hours out of Orkney where I think my seat partner will join me (whoever they are). As you can imagine, we don’t have super fast wifi on a boat in the middle of the North Sea. It has taken so long for the second photograph to upload that we are now: Schoolrooms. Sock. Differing.

Last Leg

Aberdeen Harbour with one of the the rig support vessels in view

Well, that is it, we made it to the boat and are safely on. You can tell it is the last weekend before the schools go back as it is heaving. I have already spotted three teachers. We are back in the pods so it won’t be the most comfortable night’s sleep.

On the way down I was in a pair of seats by myself, on the way back I am pinned on the window by another person. If I am lucky they won’t get on until Orkney.

It is really nice to let someone else do the driving. I left Prudhoe at 08.30 and got into Aberdeen at 14.00. Okay we did stop off in Dundee to grab some sandwiches, and a slight detour caused by a strange Google Maps glitch.

It’s a 17.00 sailing so in a tick I am going to fight the throng and grab some food before it gets too crowded in there.

We may have a view of some dolphins/porpoises as we leave the harbour.

Expected arrival at Lerwick tomorrow morning is: 07.30. I reckon it is going to take us five hours just to empty the car.

Early Morning Wake-up Call

We are heading off North in a few minutes, unfortunately, some oik (who wasn’t me) decided to have a shower at 4.00am. There are big signs all over the bathroom thus…

Somehow they forgot. The whole hotel woke up. Luckily it is only an hour’s drive to Darlington. And another hour up to Newcastle. Tomorrow is the drive from Prudhoe to Aberdeen. Probably 4 hours if I have no breaks. The ferry leaves at 17.00 and cars need to be there an hour ahead.

Day Four…Royal Armouries

Today was a visit to the Royal Armouries. We used to visit quite a bit around twenty years ago. The Museum is pretty much the same but the outside bit has totally changed causing me much consternation on where to park. In the end I was in the multi story car park. Which was a bloody nightmare in first finding a space and then finding the car didn’t fit the spaces.

My phone died when I got in, so I only managed a few photos…

I did end up spending some pennies on a new book…

We are heading back to Northumberland tomorrow and then heading North to catch the ferry on Saturday night.

Tomorrow is a stop off in Darlington to pick up a beastie for my daughter then into Newcastle for leather for me and a comic book shop for my eldest.