Something seems to have gone amiss with the wonderful plans for updating a travel log for this trip. I am now sitting in a 'learning centre' in Lerwick library (thanks tax-payers...) and able to give some information. I have dictated, on the phone, some details of the trip so far as well as having had some emails sent to Roly (are you reading this!!!!) which seem not to have appeared. Philip has taken loads of pictures on his digital camera and we hoped to have some uploaded to the website but in tranmission from Wick something went wrong so Lucy deleted the message to remove the bottle-neck.
Philosophical thoughts - well there have been no end of them.....
Mostly I would like to say that the Lord has been unspeakably kind to us - especially in 'sea' crossings of various sorts. The one most to be dreaded turned out to be very calm - I am aware that it is far from usual. We have one remaining sea crossing to make which will be a 14-hour stint starting on Thursday evening - thanks for your continued prayers!!!
This morning the boys at long last had a chance to go swimming - they have been asking for an opportunity to swim since we left home... It wasn't in the sea though - that is FAR too cold.
Yesterday I left the boys down at the beach at Sandness and I drove to the end of the point of land so that I could look out at Papa Stour (an island) at the end of which there are quite a few rocks on small-ish islands (little more than small fields on top of 100ft cliffs really) and indulged my passion for gazing at waves breaking spectacularly. I am beginning to get my bearings - which way is 'North' and would very much like to visit other parts of Shetland but am deterred by the distances involved. The church we went to on Sunday was about 10 miles away - may try the Church of Scotland tommorow. There are spectacular cliff on the North side a bit further round the island but it seems like it might be a 1 hour trip to get there. If the weather is good I might try to do that on Tuesday. Ron has been in his element fixing up various bits of machinery - quad-bikes (four of them) took priority. Next the van breaks needed doing before the MOT which is booked for Wednesday. Philip got a Massey Fergusson tractor started up this morning for the first time in 15 years and got the breaks un-ceased. he hopes that by the end of the day that will be running.
This morning, directly breakfast was over Richard and Simon went out with Robert to check on his crab/lobster creols (sp?) and retrieved a selection of crabs and other crustacea. The most un-appetising (to me) item is a kind of snail - so glad there are not enough to go around!!! They were all boiled before we came out.
The fish which have been caught while we have been here have been amazing. They don't have the 'nasty, fishy' element to them - they are brought back in salt water and killed as soon as they enter the kitchen - shortly to be eaten. Anyone thinking of coming this way should be encouraged to call in at Sandness for top-quality fish and chips (and fellowship of course!).
Ron was not feeling too well yesterday and has stayed back at the house today in an effort to recover - he had a temperature and felt a bit flu-ey. Your prayers for a speedy return to strength would be appreciated (especially because there are three vehicles which are in parts awaiting his attention....).
The boys have been fairly faithfully keeping up with their diaries so on our return we will type in more details and next time (!!!) I think I should bring along a lap-top!
Sorry about the lack of pictures - any descriptions of Scotland I have read just plain don't do it justice.
Shetland is like another place altogether. The climate is much colder that we have been accustomed to (though the rain wouldn't bother me so much - coming from Manchester - if it were not for the wind which drives it right into one's ears!!!) and I find myself, on the 5th of June, wearing two jumpers.....
I shall now go and retrieve the rest of my family from the museum and head back over the 40 mile treck to Sandness to put the little ones to bed.
Trust all those who read this are encouraged and blessed in their walk, as I am.

Tracy