Day 13: It went to the right family!

One of Mum's life goals is to collect as many relatives as possible.  She prefers meeting them in person, but if she can only read about their lives, that's acceptable.  

Today, we found three more relatives.  I think that's a record for Mum.

While Mum will read phone books to find people, Dad searches Facebook, and he found Shona Bairnson, another one of Mum's 5th cousins (once removed).  After messaging they worked out that today would be the best day to meet at the Shetland Library.

We were up at a decent hour as we didn't need to head to the library until quarter of 11.  Sleeping in a little is wonderful, especially considering we're up early tomorrow for another day with the intrepid Jolene.

The library could not have been more accommodating.  They put us in an activity room that wasn't being used that had a table and chairs and let us spread out what we had brought which was good because our new relatives brought their own gifts of information.

Shona brought along her sister, Marie, and her Aunt Marion.  Marion is Mum's fifth cousin, like Betsy and she brought some research done by a friend of hers who is big with the Family History Society here.  It included information that showed the connections.

New information to Mum is like new toys at Christmas for little kids, so she was extremely excited as she went through everything.

On a side note that picture in front of Mum is important later.

Shona brought along the pictures of her grandparents and great grandparents and I'm in love with her grandmother's wedding dress.

While Marion shared the research she brought, Mum shared the family tree done by Katherine Smith, Betsy's sister.  Katherine gifted the her family history to Mum when Mum and Dad were first in Shetland in 2014.  Mum also shared all of her Shetland jewelry as some of it is old enough that it would be connected to all of us.  Dad had the computer so he pulled up Family Tree Maker, as it would be able to make all the connections between Shona, Marie, and Mum.

I, unfortunately, got send downstairs to go print off a variety of things, but despite all the help from several of the librarians, my computer did not want to connect to their printer no matter what we tried.  And we tried.  And tried.  And tried.

Just before I went downstairs, Marie had to leave us to return to work.  Mum wishes she'd talked to Marie more but hopefully there will be more opportunities in the future.

Remember I said that photo in front of Mum would be important later?  Now is later. We received that photo last year from Elizabeth as she knew it had something to do with the Bairnson family but wasn't sure what.  Mum discovered the three children were Robert, Mina, and Elizabeth Bairnson.  When Shona saw the photo, she exclaimed, "That's my Dad!" Well, Elizabeth was right; it was related to the Bairnsons and through Mum's research and Dad's Facebook searching, we were able to do exactly as Elizabeth asked.  We returned it to the right family.  The three children were Marion's siblings and the picture was taken before Marion was "a sparkle in her father's eye" as she put it.  What a weird and wonderful connection!  We were quite happy to return it to the family. 

Here's the family tree Shona brought, which shows her dad's genealogy, her Dad was the little boy in the picture.

Sadly, Shona and Marion had to leave because Shona had to return to work.  Still, we are grateful for the time they spared for us, as we learned so much, and we got to keep a promise to Elizabeth!

Oh, here's the view from the room in the library.  Even the room had a spectacular view.

Before I left the library, I had to do two things.  The first was tell them how much I enjoy their Twitter war with the Orkney Library, and the second was get a picture of their mascot: Super Sheltie!  Now I only need to meet Tommy the Cat, and I will have met all the fluffy cuteness that represents Lerwick.

 We caught a cab to drop me off downtown to do a bit of shopping, and Mum and Dad were taken back to the flat.  I got my pick of things I wanted then stopped at the Blyde Welcome to pick up some coffee and sweets.  Oddly, no one objected to the coffee and sweets when I came back.

On the walk the wind was so strong it was causing a spray to come up over Bain's Beach, where there was only one, lone, Arctic Tern.  I didn't get a picture because if I tried to get a picture, either the shopping, or worse, the coffee, would've blown away.  Imagine my Dad's reaction if I got back to the flat, told him I did have good coffee for him, but lost it in the wind.  I don't want to see a grown man cry.

Here's Dad enjoying the millionaire cupcake I brought back for him.

I've written before about our herculean efforts to get delivery from Tesco and today, we had success!  They even came and hour early and absolutely everything we ordered was available.  From now on, no matter what, I'm using Tesco delivery whenever I'm in Shetland in the future!

Mum and Dad are currently watching, not so ironically, Shetland, and then we're off to bed so we can be up early for our western Mainland adventure.

Stats

Horses: 1 (Super Sheltie counts!)

Dogs: 4

Day 12: I remembered you liked Shetland ponies

 Today was a busy, busy day as we had to be up, ready, and out by 8:45 to meet our intrepid tour guide, Jolene.  Not enough coffee was had according to Dad and me, but we still made it.  We even made Dad take his cold medication so he'd be as comfy as possible.

Jolene was kind enough to get us little welcome back to Shetland gifts, and she remembered us well.  For example, she remembered how much I love the Shetland ponies, and thus my present featured them.

It was one of our two tour days here in Shetland, this one to Yell and Unst, to see some sights we have seen before and some new places.  Last year, we didn't start so early but the Shetland Council has been playing hide-the-pound with the ferries and sometimes they don't always run when they say they're going to run, or they don't have enough people to run, or, well, you get the picture.  One councillor even told the people of Unst to only take "necessary trips."  That's easy to say when the only thing you can't get in Lerwick is delivery from most of the restaurants.  I'd like to see the councillor who said that to try living a year on Unst and take only "necessary trips."

Our first ferry of the morning, the one from the Mainland to Yell, left on time, and we were grateful.  What we weren't grateful about is that the sheep on Yell haven't improved their road sense in the last year and we nearly had free lamb for dinner a few times.  

 

Yell is sort of like Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering, you only drive through them to get to Toronto, or in our case, drive through Yell to get to Unst.

 Let me digress for a second and say I missed taking a picture of Windhouse on Yell. It's famous for being the most haunted house in Shetland.  Dad would like to make it famous for being the nicest done-up house by a Canadian.

It's a pretty place but there really isn't any place to go, so off to Unst we went on the second on-time ferry.  Really, the decades long discussion of a tunnel between the two could easily be solved by everyone who has ever taken the underground tunnel to the Island Airport in Toronto: do it.  The very brief ferry ride isn't worth it, and I do mean very brief.  We're ten minutes getting on to getting off the ferry.  You can wave at Unst from Yell and be clearly seen.  Just build a tunnel already.

Our first stop on Unst was Bobby's Bus Shelter.  Last year, it was decorated in a tall ships theme.  This year, the decorators took leap year literally.

Get it?  Frogs?  Leap Year?  Punny?  Very.

We signed the visitors' book and went travelling up to Baltasound, where I nearly had a job nine years ago, and yes, I'm still bitter over losing it.  This trip though had nothing to do with potential employment and everything to do with tracking down Victoria, who runs Victoria's Vintage Tearoom.  If you ever come to Unst and don't go there, you are missing something special. Unfortunately, it's not open on a Monday so Jolene, ever intrepid and ingenious, found out she would be catering at the Baltasound Community Hall to a group of tourists and got Victoria to agree to let us sit in and have lunch.  It was just as good as if we'd been to the tearoom. Just look at the scones.

If possible, they tasted even better than they looked.  We were very grateful to Jolene for finding Victoria, and Victoria for let us hone in on the other tour group.  

After lunch, we headed up toward Muckle Flugga but that exact moment, fog descended from the heavens blocking the view.  Dad was really anxious to see it, as Jolene remembered since Muckle Flugga was the theme of Dad's present from the morning.  He likes lighthouses.  He also likes the Shetland Webcams and Muckle Flugga's lighthouse keeper's house is on them, which is where Jolene took us while the fog was rolling in.

 That is the view from where they launch the boats to head to Muckle Flugga and Dad was amused because the same red car was there that he sees almost every day on the webcams.  

The fog still in the way we headed to the Unst Heritage Centre which has displays on everything from harvesting peat, to lace knitting, to crofting, to the wars and how they affected the island.  Like the Stromness Museum, it is little but mighty and totally worth the visit.  I think Dad's favourite part was going through the book of all the ruins on Unst as his dream job would be to rehabilitate one of them and turn it into a livable abode once again.  We just need Mum to play the lottery right so he can do that.

Jolene decided we would make one last attempt to see Muckle Flugga and took us up another road where we might catch a glimpse between patches of fog.  I secretly think Jolene controls the weather because this time, we could see it.  Remember, I am not a professional photographer, so the lighthouse is the white blur in the picture below.

This made Dad very happy (as did further cold medication that he had at lunch) an we could turn around and head back to the ferry.  We would likely make it on time except...

...it was cancelled.  At least our first ferry hiccup happened at the end of the day and not the beginning so we sat and chatted while we waited for the next one.  With the cancelled ferry they had nearly double the amount of people trying to get on when it, and I swear they only allowed two inches between cars to try and stuff everyone on.

Our drive back through Yell gave us even more opportunities for free lamb and one very terrifying chance at a free pony, but not the way I would want it.  If anyone on Yell is reading this, someone's ponies have escaped their enclosures.

The ferry from Yell to the Mainland fortunately was on time and when we hit the Mainland, Jolene was kind enough to stop for a moment so I could phone in dinner for takeaway.  Since it would take about 45 minutes to make, the amount of time it would take to go from the ferry terminal back to Lerwick, we didn't rush.  

I wish I had taken pictures of the wind farm they're building.  It the biggest one on land in Europe and Jolene has a brilliant idea to let local artists decorate the bases, and I think it's brilliant.  That councillor earlier who only wanted "necessary trips" could redeem themselves by setting something like that up.

On a side note, once the wind farm is finished, Shetland will be connected to the Scottish National Grid for the first time, and will likely be sending energy to the mainland, rather than taking it.  If only my provincial government could take some lessons from Shetland in this case.

The timing for dinner pick up was perfect and Jolene got us home a little after 6pm, with presents, souvenirs, and a hot meal.  I swear, there is nothing that woman can't do.

We are now tired but contented people, and if I was really mean, I'd snap a picture of my father asleep in the chair right now and post it.  I admit, I almost reached for my phone to take a picture but I shall resist and let him sleep in peace.

Stats:

Shetland Ponies: 28

Horses: 1

Sheep: 30000

Sheep on the Road on Yell: 8

Day 11: Happy Father's Day From Thora

Somehow our dog, Thora, managed to sign Dad's Father's Day card even though she's currently back in Thornbury at a neighbour's.  My bet is she's probably sleeping on a couch right now.  She is a couch puptato.

We were up earlier today (and will be up even earlier tomorrow) as we had ordered a cab to take us to Fjara to go to breakfast but first, we had to make a stop off to pick up Elizabeth, who was joining us.  I'd contacted Fjara way back in mid-May to make sure our reservation was for double-time as Dad doesn't need to rush on the day literally set aside to celebrate people called Dad.

We got the perfect table at Fjara: right at the window.

Even the grey clouds couldn't ruin the view, though there was a lack of all wildlife during breakfast, we enjoyed the rather large boats going back and forth.  Elizabeth assured us they were working boats, one a tug, and the other one for fish.  Likely, the former was coming in to help the cruise ship in the harbour to leave.

Now, I have to fess up.  In a mix up of who sits where musical chairs, I somehow did not get a picture of Dad at breakfast, but don't worry.  I did get one of Mum and Elizabeth and took pictures of Dad later.  

There was much debating about what to eat, as everything on the menu looked good.  In the end, it was Eggs Benedict with salmon for Mum, French toast for me, Eggs Benedict sans salmon for Elizabeth, and pancakes with extra syrup for Dad.  Here's an example of what the food looked like.

As everyone ate like we hadn't eaten in a week, my concern about the extra time needed was unwarranted, but since we had it, we decided on an extra cup of caffeine (not-caffeine for Mum) and use up the time anyway.  Fortunately, we were in the lull between those who go for breakfast and those who come from church, so it's not like we were taking a table someone else needed.  

When it came time to meet our cab to leave I discovered something about Elizabeth: she is sneaky.  What did she do that was so sneaky? Well, she went to the bathroom but snuck up to the till to pay for breakfast while no one was looking!  We invited her out for breakfast!  We never expected to have breakfast covered!  So yes, Elizabeth is sneaky, but also sweet.

Oh, I should mention that halfway through breakfast the sun came out.  It turned into a spectacular day here in Lerwick!

Look at that blue sky and sunshine!  Talk about a lucky day.

Mum and Dad got dropped off at Elizabeth's for an afternoon visit.  They met her neighbour, Sullum, a former guide-dog in training who believes ball is life, discussed genealogy, and had a general catch up.  Elizabeth was a great hostess, offering coffee and cake, but Mum and Dad were totally full from breakfast.  

They stayed until nearly 4 o'clock and Sullum's servant dad, Bruce, was kind enough to drive them home.

As for me, I got dropped off downtown as someone had to get ole Sicky McColdface some medicine.  About the only thing open in Lerwick on a Sunday is one of their drug stores, thank heavens.  He needs this medication to get through the next couple of days.

After finding out cold medication is a controlled substance (okay, I must be very naive but why would anyone want cold medication for anything but treating colds?) I walked back to the flat.  Yesterday, Commercial Street was so busy it was almost hard to walk down.  Today, I could've performed a lively choreographed dance and neither hit a soul, nor had a single member of an audience.   Not that I did perform a lively choreographed dance.  I just could've.

 For the record, that is Market Cross, the closest thing Lerwick has to a four corners downtown. I had it all to myself today.

Back at Bain's Beach a few of the terns were back, only five, but they were still lovely to watch.  I'd like to share a video but it turns out no matter what I do, it comes up as unavailable.

The rest of the day was pretty quiet but we managed to put together a dinner despite most places in Lerwick not offering delivery.  This is Lerwick's only true fault, the lack of food delivery.

Oh yes, I promised pictures of Dad on Father's Day.  Here he is!

So happy Father's Day to everyone!  We're off to Yell and Unst tomorrow!

Stats:

Dogs: 3 and a 1/2

Puppies: 1 (hence the half)

Shetland Sheepdog seen in Shetland: 1

Arctic Terns: 5

Day 10: A Person Can Develop a Cold

I do not apologize for the title.  I was raised by my mother, therefore, I know all the words to classic musicals.

Now, which one of us has a cold?  It's Dad.  It's just a cold, not the dreaded Covid, but he's not a happy camper about it.  Still, we have brunch tomorrow with Elizabeth and no one is missing that.  We'll just bring extra Kleenex.  (Guess what? It is real Kleenex here!  Come back to Canada, Kleenex! We miss you!)

Today was another not so busy day but we had to go out to find food, by we, I mean Mum and me.  There's a company in Scalloway that makes ready to eat meals and they deliver Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and Mum was not going to miss first choice.  In the 1980s, my Grandpa Jack lined up for hours to get first choice of a Cabbage Patch Kid for me.  Mum?  She lines up early for meals she doesn't have to cook.  

On the way there, Bain's Beach offered up some entertainment.  On one side of Jimmy Perez's house, all I could see were razorbills diving in and out of the water, which was fascinating enough.  

I will never be a wildlife photographer, so you will have to forgive the pictures.  They're the best I can do.

Anyway, on the Bain's Beach side of Jimmy Perez's house, was a flock, and I mean probably 100 arctic terns.  A local explained that they were eating sand eels, and that it's a good sign for the recovery of the bird population as the bird flu decimated the population a couple of years ago.

My inner 9 year old was thrilled because I did a project on the arctic tern when I was in grade 4 and it was one of my favourite projects I ever did in school.  This was the first time I'd ever seen one in person and I got 100 of them.  

For those of you wondering, and I'm sure it was utmost in your minds, did Mum make it to get her meal selections in spite of my insisting we stop and watch the birds?  Let me put your mind at ease.  We made it even before the delivery as the driver was running half an hour late.  Mum got her first pick of everything.

At the same time, while Mum was awaiting the delivery driver, I made a quick run to the tourist centre to pick up a few things, including postcards for the people who requested them.  I even got a book of an author I've been following on Twitter and its called Ponies at the Edge of the World.  The book is about a woman who moved to Shetland to study Shetland ponies.  I want her job.  I also want the ponies.

Getting back to Mum, she was excitedly going through the delivery boxes to the amusement of the driver, to keep us fed for the next couple of days.  

On the way back, I insisted we stop and watch the arctic terns again.  The birds were very busy eating, so much so that they completely ignored the group of wild swimmers who were also on the beach.

I also snapped some shots of mum, and vice versa.

Yes, that is a cruise ship out in the harbour.  I think I was behind every passenger that came to shore when I was at the tourist centre.

The arctic terns were not bothered by the cruise ship either.  Likely because it was far enough away but I choose to believe the birds weren't going to let their lives be dictated by tourists.

If you look very closely at the picture of me, you can see the terns behind me.  They are the most gorgeous birds and when they dive, they're better than Tom Daly (who I follow on Instagram not because of his diving, but because he is a serious knitter).  

Oh yes, and again, my phone felt the need to judge me.  This time it just sent me the emoticons I picked for Dad and his computer bag.

 It was a warmer wind today but the fog was so bad we could barely see the Isle of Bressay from our flat!

Back at the flat, today has been busy getting fluids into Dad, and letting him play on the computer.

Tonight for dinner were some of Mum's spoils from hunting and gathering.  We're to bed early tonight (no staying up and watching Shetland like we did last night) as we're off to breakfast at Fjara with Elizabeth.  It's our way of celebrating Father's Day, even if Dad is all sniffly during breakfast.

One last thing, we have something very rare in Shetland outside our flat window.  See if you can figure out what it is.

Stats:

Arctic Terns: 100

Razorbills: 5

Dogs: 2

Day 9: Rain and Visitors

 After yesterday's beautiful sunshine and light breeze, Shetland decided to remind us what it's usually like so today there's a tonne of wind and it rained all day.  It didn't stop Mum and me from hunting and gathering dinner later but it kept Dad turtling at the flat.

We started off today by sleeping in, something we haven't been able to do since the start of this trip.  I got out of bed about 10 and don't feel the least bit guilty for getting all that sleep.  Mum and Dad were up earlier than me, but they weren't doing that well in getting going either.

While we were still in our pajamas, we had our first visitor for the day: Elizabeth.  She didn't stay but she brought us home bakes of chocolate cake and lemon cake.  Elizabeth is the former Principal Teacher of Home Economics at Anderson High School so she knows how to bake.  Dad will eat her cakes even though he's not a cake eater usually.

Our one trip out happened about noon, which was only down to Pete's Cafe and Takeaway to pick up dinner for this evening.  After a week of stuffing ourselves, we wanted a light dinner so we went with soup, bread, and scones.  

At Bain's Beach Mum and I, in spite of the rain, stopped to watch a pair of loons looking for lunch.  Sadly, I couldn't get a picture because as soon as I would sufficiently zoom in, they would dive under and appear in a totally different spot a minute later.  On the other hand, I did get a picture of Jimmy Perez's house, as there was no one around to judge me for doing so.

I'm sure that's a familiar site to anyone who watched Shetland.

We puttered about at home until my sixth cousin, Helena, and her partner, Nigel came over for a cup of coffee and a visit.  How convenient it was that we had some excellent cake to share!  Not so ironically, Nigel worked with Elizabeth's son.  It's not ironic because everyone in Shetland can be connected not by six degrees of separation, but two at the most!

Also, I now have a local number to input for Tesco delivery.  I'm not saying how but the Tesco delivery van will no longer mock me!  

We'll be seeing Helena and Nigel again next Saturday, along with her mother, Betsy, whose 80th birthday was the impetus for last year's trip to Shetland.  Mum is very excited about that because she adores Betsy. 

Dinner was tattie soup and Reestit Mutton soup, the latter of which being a Shetland thing, but it's really a form of lamb stew, and remarkably delicious.  I recommend it if you ever come to Shetland.

The rest of the day was coordinating seeing all our other relatives as we've only got 11 days here to see everyone and we don't want anyone left out. Dad was busy messaging people all day.

As late as I was yesterday posting, I am early today because we want to be up and out to enjoy Lerwick tomorrow.  Hopefully, tomorrow will have more news to share.

Stats:

Dogs: 5

Loons: 2

Seagulls: Many.  Here's a representation:

Day 8: Onto another set of islands!

 For the first morning of this trip, I overslept.  To be fair, I thought I had set my alarm for 6:30 in the morning.  Turns out I set it for 6:30 in the evening, not particularly useful.  So I awoke to Mum knocking on my door at 7:15 wondering if I'd fallen into a hole, or some alternate universe.

Some fast scrambling later, I made it downstairs to discover Dad had already ordered me breakfast and it arrived just as I was getting myself coffee.  If Mum and Dad hadn't picked up the slack, we would likely still be in Orkney.

Everything else was smooth: the checkout, the cab arriving on time, getting to the airport with time to spare so we managed to avoid a serious anxiety attack, that otherwise would've happened with the inauspicious start to the day.  I wonder where I inherited all that worry from.  Oh yeah, Dad.  

Instead of Mum holding us up at security (Mum has a terrible habit of being the randomly pulled-aside traveler wherever she goes) Dad was the one setting off the alarms.  We have no idea why as it wasn't reacting to his left hip, which would make sense given the replacement and everything, no, it was the right knee.  What on earth could Dad be smuggling behind his right knee?  It's a mystery.

Our flight did what is the rarest thing in aviation: took off early.  Turns out that with the excellent assistance at Kirkwall Airport, and all the passengers arriving on time, we managed to get into the air five minutes before our scheduled take off.

After what was definitely the shortest flight I've ever taken (35 minutes) we landed at Sumburgh Airport to be greeted by our host, Mandy, and we hit our first hiccup.  The baggage carousel kept choking on baggage.  It was sort of funny watching the airport guys yelling back and forth through a hole in the wall about where luggage was stuck.  I have to say, they dealt with it with humour (one guy pretending to auction off bags when they did come through) and professionalism, of what could've devolved into a mess was just a humourous side note.

Now let me tell you about the flat we're staying in.  It's gorgeous!  Both bedrooms are huge and the sitting room is very comfortable.  Sure it's about a 4 minute walk further downtown than where we stayed last year, but we're happy to trade the time for a ground floor and space.

 Take a look at the view just outside:

Once we got all the instructions about everything from Mandy, Mum and I went on the world's fastest grocery shop.  We were in and out of Tesco in 25 minutes flat, and that's shopping for pretty much the full 11 days we're in Lerwick.  Interestingly, the cabbie who took us to Tesco was the same one that took us to the airport last year when we left Shetland.

I would like to add that I tried really hard to sign of for Tesco delivery but they wouldn't let me register because I don't have a UK phone number.  Anyone want to loan me the use of their number while I'm here in case we need anything else?  I'd also like to add I did not appreciate seeing the Tesco delivery truck delivering to another flat right outside my window this evening.  Curse you Tesco registration!

With the groceries put away, Mum and I left Dad at the flat and made a pilgrimage downtown to the Blyde Welcome, which is our favourite coffee shop.  For those of you that remember, we found it last year due to the extreme convenience of it being directly below the flat we stayed in.

 The door on the left is where we entered last year's flat.

Coffee, tea, and a chai tea latte, as well as some sweets were acquired and we headed back to our new flat.  We took in some of the scenery along the way.

I did not get a picture of Jimmy Perez's house because as we were walking by someone came out of it. I think it would be a bit rude to be all "Get out of the way, we only want the house."  I have 11 more days to get the Lodberries anyway, so I don't feel like I missed my opportunity.

I should mention that my phone sent me an alert while I was out. 

Stop judging me, phone.  Dad was perfectly safe in the flat probably having a nap.  (Do I have an airtag on Dad?  I'm not telling.)

Our arrival back at the flat heralded the start of one of Dad's favourite traditions last year, the eating of the millionaire's cupcake. Blyde Welcome makes them and as said, it was just as good as he remembered. 

How many fully-functioning adults does it take to use a microwave?  If you've ever pondered this question, the answer is three.  It took all three of us to figure out how to use it and no, we're not proud of ourselves we got it to do what we wanted to do.  No, we're stupidly proud of ourselves.

In the midst of the microwave debacle there was a knock on our door.  Mum and Dad's dear friend, Elizabeth Angus, knowing we were now in Lerwick, dropped by to greet us.  There were hugs.  Apparently, Elizabeth, who lives just a couple of blocks up the road from where we are, scoped out where we were staying this morning, so she'd know how to get here.  Smart woman.

Much chatting ensued but Elizabeth left us so we could eat, but that's okay, we're seeing her on Sunday for breakfast at Fjara!

This is the latest I've posted a blog on this trip so I must sign off, but first, the stats.

Shetland ponies: 11

Sheep: 100000

Cattle: 500

Dogs: 5

Cats wandering the neighbourhood: 2

Day 8: Faffing off and Spending Money

 I missed something in yesterday's blog, so let me add it now.

Stats:

Horses: 11

Shetland Ponies: 2

Cattle: 1000

Sheep: 500000

Owl: 1

Today was our day off.  We got up at the leisurely hour of 7:30 (cough) to be down for breakfast at 8.  Still didn't feel like enough sleep but we've done nothing but go go go since we arrived.  First, we have to show you the humble entrance to our perfect hotel.

We had several goals for the day, the first of which was to spend money along Albert Street.  That's where the majority of the shops are and where they're clearly used to tourists. ("Oh, you're looking for that shop?  It moved last year and Google Maps hasn't updated," we were told by a very polite shopkeeper.)

As luck would have it, the Google Maps fail took us to a lovely shop with plenty of Christmas present potential items.  We picked up everything from hairy coo (highland cattle) socks, to a Scottish baby book for Mum's new great-niece, to a cards saying "Thank you for looking after our plants."  That last one is going to our next door neighbour.  I'm not telling who the socks are for.  Nope, not telling.

After we contributed to the economy on one side of Albert Street, we wanted to be equal opportunity spenders, and went to the other side, looking for the one shop I will always go to in any city I'm in: the bookshop.  It was this shop that had moved but Google Maps took me serendipitously to the first shop.   At The Orcadian, many books were picked up.  Several were purchase.  Some will become presents.  Some are mine all mine! 

I should mention it was at this point we lost Dad, because Dad knows what Mum and I are like when we get into a bookshop.  He wandered back to the hotel because 1) he was tired and 2) he could have a nap and be back before Mum and I would be finished in the bookshop.  I believe his reasons were fifty/fifty for point 1 and point 2.

Eventually, we were hungry because hunting and gathering books is a tiring affair, so we went to a tiny little place called the Pomona Cafe.  I find the name funny because a friend of mine just named their cat Pomona.  There were no cats in the cafe but there was a sultana and cherry scone that Mum devoured.  I had a croissant with brie and bacon, because as much as I love scones, I don't like cherries.  They taste too much like cough medicine for me.  Anyone who was a child in the 80s understands this.

After supporting Kirkwall's small businesses, we headed back to the hotel to both check on Dad and pick up all the souvenirs we've collected thus far.  To avoid having overweight luggage at the airport tomorrow, Mum and I took it all to the post office to ship home.  We discovered last year that it is actually cheaper to send stuff home via the post then it is to pay overweight baggage fees and play roulette with whether or not they will allow your luggage on the plane at all.  

There was one other place I really wanted to go today.  I wanted to see some famous balls.  I follow these balls on Twitter (bite me Elon, it will always be Twitter) and how they frequently get in verbal battles with their counterpart in Shetland.  

The balls belong to the Kirkwall Library and Archives, which will often snipe at the Shetland Library.  This past week they've been playing virtual Boggle where all their words are insults.  Shetland gives as good as it gets though, so no one is either the victim or villain in this battle.

I lost Mum in the library for a while, and anyone who has ever even briefly met my mother knows how likely that was to happen.

Mum and I contributed to the library fundraiser and then went back to Mounthoulie Place, aka, The Albert Hotel for a bit of a rest before dinner.  

Before I discuss dinner, I have to show you my room, both halves of it.  I mentioned when I first arrived there were two halves, a sleeping and seating area, and both have televisions.  I don't know how that would work if both were on at the same time, but Dad would've loved the setup to watch the Stanley Cup Finals (if they weren't in the middle of the night).

I love my hotel room.

Dinner was back at The Neuk because their food is yummy and the chefs there are brilliant at adapting anything for Dad.  

For the first time in years, Dad cleared his plate four days in a row.  He even made room for dessert, somehow, we all did.  It was a hardship but dessert needed to be eaten and we would not fail it.  

Now that we are stuffed to the gills, it's time to pack up as our flight is at 10:40 tomorrow morning.  Mum and Dad are pretty much all packed, but my suitcase looks like it spent some time in the Orkney wind, so I must be off.

Stats: 

None today.  There aren't any horses, sheep, cattle, or owls in downtown Kirkwall.