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Leaving Safe harbours…

This journey began back in 2019, I’d just completed a thirty week ceramics course after compressing my working hours into four days. I found myself sat at the top of a hill in the half light that is the Simmer Dim in Shetland.

The view was breath taking and one that provoked such a strong reaction I found tears fill my eyes with the sheer beauty and stillness around me.

It was there that I decided I was going to give up my job and take up the offer of completing a Masters Degree in Ceramics. I have returned to Shetland all but one year since ( excluding the COVID years). In all seasons and weathers and each time more determined not to leave again.

In ten days time that dream is becoming reality. This time I am giving up my job in the Ceramics department where I completed my Masters and have worked for the last two years.

I will be heading sixty degrees north. A new job, a new home and a new leap of faith….

I am beyond excited and despite being surrounded by piles of things to pack and walls filled with to do lists and post it note reminders, I am sure this is what I should be doing now.

The space, the weather, the wildlife, nature in all her rawness embraced by a community who have made me welcome every time I have visited pull so strongly.

It is a constant thought with me during the day and if I am having a tough day, closing my eyes can immediately take me back and the calm I feel there returns instantly.

I know it’s not going to be easy all the time and the hardest thing for me is leaving my parents and my pottery ‘family’ made up from the amazing community of potters I have been so lucky to share the department with at work and the generous potters met at shows and exhibitions I have come to know as friends.

I am hoping to get back for some shows, visits and that friends will head north at some point to. I’m trying to entice them with the offer of Puffin and Otter spotting.

I have already been encouraged to ‘pot’ when I move by Shetland based potter Sharon McGeady, again the generous nature of the craft and local community comes through.

So the count down to departure begins, more boxes to pack, furniture to be collected by a charity who support people on low incomes, journeys to the tip and the flat to clean ready for inspection to ensure I get my deposit back. All being done whilst finishing off the last few days at work.

The ending of my job there has also coincided with the end of life and condemning of the two main working kilns in the department. So the sign off for the new kiln will hopefully be my leaving present to those that remain to carry on in the 50th anniversary year of the department.

New starts all round.

I again look to Mark Twain’s quote…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did. So throw of the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream.Discover’. Here goes!

Coming home

March 2nd 2024.

My brother and I had the calmest of crossings after the previous night packing the van with my worldly belongings, mainly boxes but the large items consist of a potters wheel, kiln, bike, surfboard and two chairs that were my grandparents. Priorities!

This was the first time I had booked a cabin on the Northlink boat and oh my goodness, what a joy. Normally I have either had a pod or more often slept in the bar on the sofas, along with the other snoring people. This is partly because it’s quiet expensive having a cabin on your own but mainly because I am so excited I don’t sleep much and go out on deck a lot.

This time, the snoring was my brother but I forgive him, as it’s just such a joy to be doing this trip with him and he’s been the most help you could wish for if you are moving your whole life.

The cabin was immaculate and the extra details, the view out of the window and the little treats, tea, coffee, biscuits and ‘Peerie nips’ small bite size pieces of brownie, (also went to my brother).

The service in the lounge for dinner and breakfast was first rate as was the food and all the complimentary drinks, hot and cold, you could want.

The sun was shining as we docked in Lerwick and drove up to Voe.

The house..my new home, more than I could have hoped for. ( I had only seen the details on line, I knew the location from previous visits but this had been potentially a gamble. ) and the view!

We had unpacked the vans by 11am, I had the tea bags but no milk so we headed up to Brae and the Coop there for some essentials. We did a drive round to Aith to see the cake fridge..( that’s a whole other post) and then my brother wanted to have his photo taken with the famous road sign, if you know, you know!

All too soon it was time to head back, have some lunch and then go back to Lerwick so my brother could get the return ferry back to the mainland. Once he’d gone it was time to head home.

I still can’t believe a week later that this is where I live. The weather as you would expect has gone through the range of sunshine, rainbows, shows, hails, gale force winds gusting 10, torrential rain and calm and still. It’s still chilly but when it’s bright and clear there is warmth in the sunshine.

The house felt instantly like home and I had pretty much unpacked the majority of things by Sunday evening. So there has been plenty of time to explore the local area, finding the shop, the local fisherman to buy fresh fish straight from his boat, the bakery, just the most amazing bread, bannocks and ‘tattie scones, the post lady with news and information. I know more of the people in the village already than I did in my street in Harrogate in all the years I’ve lived there.

I had the joy of going up to North Roe to have lunch and catch up with my fellow potter and friend, Sharon, who’s delightful greeting of ‘ you’re here you’re here’ was so wonderfully welcoming, this was later echoed as ‘she’s here, she’s here ’ when her husband, Bob later returned home

I have walked up the hill behind the house, ‘Sneugie’ where to my delight saw and managed to photograph one of four arctic hares in their winter coats. It was a blustery but sunny day and the view right down the Voe was beautiful but then as I reached the trig point at the top the 360 degree panorama over Shetland was stunning in the late afternoon light.

Today up there was a different story in the skin blasting horizontal rain, but still there’s no where else I would rather be especially having wasted two hours yesterday with the electric company trying to swop meters over!!

Next week is another set of firsts. The first day of School, my new job starts and I can’t wait despite not really knowing what’s to come. The first time meeting my colleagues and first meeting with the students that I will be working with. So tomorrow is another day to get out and explore more of this amazing place I can call home now.

During the week, I have been so grateful and overwhelmed by all the cards and messages from everyone to wish me well in this new adventure, you are all part of this too and I am so thankful for all the support I have received from both sides of the water.

April 2024 – Two Months In.

When I left Shetland after last years trip, I made a promise to myself that this ten pound note would be kept until I was back here for good to spend it. So it sat on my bedside drawers from September until February this year. The drawers were donated to charity in Harrogate upon departure and the note was spent last month paying for my first and now regular bread order that I collect from the village bakers on a Friday, one of the joys of my week. Promise kept.

Spring is trying to win the battle with winter here, there seems to be a lovely, bright sunny day and then just when you think it’s here the weather reverts to windy and chilly again. With that though are some amazing skies and light, the sea crashing one day and mirror still the next. Yesterday I sat out for a morning coffee on the bench in the garden in warm sunshine, washing blowing gently on the drying green, a three peg day, today it’s low cloud and breezy. Having space outside to hang washing after so m

Bird song and calls now fills the mornings, starlings ( staris) rattle about on the roof, curlews (whaaps ) in the fields and sparrows ( spyugg)and blackbirds in the hedge outside the window accompany the piping of oystercatchers ( shalders ) and sandpipers. The shetland names for the birds are almost as musical as the calls of the birds.

Since writing the last post, it’s been busy and eventful. My first stretch at work took me to the Easter holidays, the arrival of my folks and the chance to take them around, the weather was dry and chilly, so nights with the fire lit were cosy. My Dad unfortunately took a tumble out on a walk and ended up at the fabulous hospital here and was treated so well by the staff. Fortunately only a broken wrist. This meant an unscheduled trip back to the mainland with them for me, driving them back home followed by a delayed flight back the next day. I finished the hols with a bug which meant a quick precautionary stay in hospital for me too, all fine and a room with a view.

I have continued exploring the Island, venturing over to Vementry where I had the beach all to myself. I joined a community tree planting day over at Nesting, where as many communities have done, they have purchased important buildings like the old schools and churches and run them for the community benefit. Here they have bought the land and are converting it to growing spaces, with a woodland area overlooking the Voe and Polycrubs, the Shetland version of a poly tunnel / greenhouse. Reinforced rigid plastic is used as glass and sheet plastic would soon be destroyed in the winter winds.

To my great joy I have also thanks to a colleague at work discovered the island has a Samba band and Sea Kayaking club, so I have joined both, the band rehearsals have been a great return to playing Samba again with a lovely group of people and the canoe club has been a practice session at the pool so far and the promise of trips out soon, which will be fabulous to see the island and wildlife from the sea.

This week is ‘Voar Redd Up’ or Spring Clean. The islands organise a spring clean which you can join in your local area and go out with collecting bags and litter pick or clear the beaches of the rubbish that has been washed in. So I’m heading out later on to do my bit. I’ve also been gathering drift wood and drying it out to use with my pottery. I was grateful to complete a commission piece and send it to its new home last week. The advantage of working in a CDT department is access to the woodworking equipment so I’m learning new skills again in different media.

So next on the cards, I’m looking forward to catching up with visiting friends at the end of this month, one set as they finish a residency in Fair Isle and then in May dear friends on a 60th birthday road trip taking in Scotland and Shetland. An application is in for a craft fair here in June, I’m still battling to get the electric meter sorted, that’s an ongoing saga and I’ve been collecting ideas for pottery and wood work so hope to be up and running with those in the next week or so. I need to find an electrician to connect the kiln and a garage to service the van. So I’m settling into the rhythm of life and loving and grateful for each day.

Oh there will also be puffins and lambs in the next blog as they are on the horizon.

Summer / Simmer Dim.

It is light most of the night this time of year, ‘simmer dim’ with spectacular evenings which are deceptive, you think it is only around 8pm when it’s actually midnight or later…good job it is the school holidays.

Today marks the last day of July, the van is in the garage for some work which means a day in ‘toon’ for me whilst I wait it out. This gives me the time to visit the library, grab a haircut, do some shopping and if the weather holds take a swim at the beach later. As I walk into town I grab a coffee and head out to beyond the Lodberries, where I can sit and watch the tiny fish swim around in the crystal clear water.

There is a cruise ship moored in the port and I watch the bright orange tenders scuttle back and forth bringing the visitors ashore. My usual quiet coffee spot is soon inundated with German speaking visitors admiring and photographing the crystal clear waters.

I finish my coffee and head to the library, to renew my books and take the time to reflect on all that has happened since the last time I updated this page.

Friends – a flurry of pals from the mainland have brought many adventures and ‘tours’ around the islands. Revisiting places I have been to and also venturing to new ones is such a pleasure. The joy of sharing this place with people and seeing the reactions they have is wonderful and sometimes nerve wracking, incase they don’t love it as much as I do.

I took the chance to go sailing with my lovely work colleagues – ‘the Peters’ on a beautiful evening that turned blustery in the blink of an eye. One Peter has sadly departed on his own adventure this summer. His send off from the Samba band was on a beautiful sunny evening drumming on the beach at St Ninians, complete with fire and marshmallows. The send off from friends and colleagues was a cup of tea and chat on board before casting him and his crew adrift amidst hugs and good wishes.

Craft – I had a really successful two days at the Shetland Arts and Crafts Fair, with two Cruise ships in over the weekend my work was bought by visitors and locals, so pots have gone off to Scandinavia and America as well as some to new homes in Shetland. I met some fabulous people and one lady from over on the Westside invited me for lunch to see her collection of items from over sixty years of travelling. Her house and gardens were an inspiration and it was such a privilege to hear her stories and be shown around.

Unbeknown to me she then recommended me to a gallery in Yell, (the next Island up from the mainland). After a meeting with Shona and Alan the lovely owners of the Shetland Gallery, they offered to take most of my work. I am so thrilled to have my work exhibited there amongst the work of Shona, Ceil Tait, Ruth Brownlee and Sam Dennis.

The kiln still awaits connection, things are hopefully moving forward as without it I am stifled in the firing process at the moment. I have had the electrician to visit, the kiln can be connected, good news, a separate cable needs to be run from the house to the shed, my landlord has not objected but wants to speak to the electrician about it so I wait, with everything crossed. Whilst I wait I have been collecting, processing and making new pots and materials. Enjoying the space to make both in the shed and outside, processing materials is a joy as it’s no longer in a tiny, kitchen space.

Kayaking – whilst I wait on the kiln I am indulging my other passion, sea kayaking. How fabulous to have such a positive and active club here willing to support and put on not only trips but a whole weekend coaching symposium. The symposium is a bi-annual event and this year it was in Shetland, next year Orkney host.

The exploring from the land is stunning but from the sea, accessing places you can only find by boat and small boat is amazing. I spend most of the trips silent and awestruck. Anemones, star fish, seals, puffins, gannets, clear seas , great company it’s just another pinch me moment. Oh and did I mention the cake.. I braved the bake and with the rest of the club we made the refreshments for the pre and post paddle. The weekend was finished off with a dance and the whole place was up on its feet, what a treat, the paddling continues into the following week as people from the mainland stay up and organise group paddles.

Wildlife- The seasonality is noticeable here in the wildlife and plant life. At the moment the hills are turning purple as heathers and scabious begin to take over from the yellows of ragwort,white umbellifers and cotton grass whilst earlier on the orchids and spring squill were abundant. The birds, sparrows and starlings everywhere are eating me out of bird food, whilst Curlews have raised chicks in the field behind the house, Oystercatchers have run the gauntlet with theirs by the side of busy roads and Tirricks ( Terns) screech and dive to catch fish. The Guillemots are sending their chicks known as jumplings off the cliffs into the sea and the pufflings will soon be off at night to spend the next few years at sea.

There is just over a week and a half of the school holidays left now, the plans to do some ‘school stuff’ once a week has not happened…it was an optimistic plan. The rest of this week sees more paddling opportunities and the weekend heralds the start of the Agricultural Shows, my local one is first with the 40th Anniversary of the Voe Show, and I am also undertaking ‘Shorewatch’ training, to become a volunteer to identify cetaceans.

It’s been a busy time, I am so glad to have been here for the whole summer, island friends have gone south for holidays and warmth but to have the time to take all this in and find a rhythm has been important after the move and reset of life. Here’s to the rest of the holidays and the advance of my favourite season Autumn…knitwear at the ready, as are needles and wool for my challenge to master knitting..well if I can’t do it here, there is no chance.

With love from Shetland x

Bumps in the road, back to school and the first six months here.

It is really easy these days to only show the positive and successful sides to the things we do but this doesn’t give a truthful or accurate reflection of the lives we lead. Even living the dream has bumps in the road to navigate and I like to think of them as bumps, some may be bigger than others but all will be overcome …eventually.

The bumps this last month or so are extra expenses, repairs to the van on top of the annual tax and insurance, still the joy of having my van and the freedom to take off on the adventures it gifts me are priceless. I am still navigating the kiln connection permissions, I am sure it will all be organised and arranged but in the meantime as I have no fired work and no guarantees of this I have sadly had to withdraw from exhibiting at my favourite event ‘Potfest’ in October. I will still be visiting the Potfest Family as I’ve already booked the boat over.

Lightning strikes a few weeks ago took out routers, tv aerials and phone connections. The village shop had to close early as the tills went down. The lovely lady I spoke to at Plusnet, (I know a real person) having run through all the possible resets with me decided the only option to fix the dead hub was to send a new one, three days later and I’m all connected again.

The continued fine weather allowed me to get a second cut to relentlessly growing fuchsia and flowering currant hedges that surround the house. I have never seen Fushia grow so prolifically as it does in Shetland.

The plants and flowers in the Islands have been beautiful, the wild flowers hold some of my favourites of all. I took a drive over to ‘da wast side’ the west side to ‘Da Gairdins’ a beautiful community garden free to all, a few minutes away from one of my favourite beaches at Sand. This is the second place I have seen water lilies, I don’t know why they surprised me here, I don’t know why I hadn’t expected them in Shetland but I am glad they are here.

The weather provided a hot and sunny day for the 40th Annual Voe Show. The car park is packed and the roads are strewn with cars parked wherever there is a space. It feels like the whole island has descended on the show field but this is impossible as the Scalloway regatta is also in full session so the rest of the island will be championing sailing and yoal races for the pride of the district.

There are some more sea paddling trips and as the wind speeds and swells increase the chance to go out in bigger seas and gain more skills and confidence are too good to turn down. On a day paddle out exploring caves and rock hopping my paddling buddy points and we are paddling with an otter, it doesn’t see us at first, we drift and watch it manoeuvre gracefully. Suddenly it spots us and with a dive is gone. We watch for a while incase it resurfaces but nothing. Then as we return to almost the same spot a few hours later there it is again, it doesn’t see us and this time with a fish in its mouth climbs onto the rocks and begins to devour its catch.

Paddles in the big swell and evening surf bring laughter, the squeals of delight and whoops of joy carry on the wind as people catch waves and surf them staying upright and getting the rush of excitement and adrenaline when you feel the boat lifted by the wave.

Holidays over and back to school, new colleagues, new bairns and new projects. I can’t believe this is week three already. More over I can’t believe Shetland has been my lovely home for six months already.

The Puffins and Tirricks are heading away to sea and in several weeks so will I, back to the mainland for the October holidays to visit friends and family. The island held the spectacular ‘Rising North’ Festival three nights, two days of local bands rocking Lerwick, I was so thrilled to be a volunteer at the very first one and so delighted for my colleague who was one of the tireless organisers.

The Puffins and Tirricks are heading away to sea and in several weeks so will I, back to the mainland for the October holidays to visit friends and family. The island held the spectacular ‘Rising North’ Festival three nights, two days of local bands rocking Lerwick, I was so thrilled to be a volunteer at the very first one and so delighted for my colleague who was one of the tireless organisers.

The Puffins and Tirricks are heading away to sea and in several weeks so will I back to the mainland for the October holidays to visit friends and family. The island held the spectacular ‘Rising North’ Festival three nights, two days of local bands rocking Lerwick, I was so thrilled to be a volunteer at the very first one and so delighted for my colleague who was one of the tireless organisers.

I am excited as ever by the approach of my favourite season Autumn, (it is also the time I miss most not having a dog,) the walks in the changing colours and light, the chance to wrap up warm in woollen layers, boots and hats, the promise of dark nights, slowing down, fires, storms, crashing waves and soup and stews with comforting veggies like jacket tatties, hot baths, hot chocolate, quiz night at the hall, concerts and dances planned with friends, alongside howling winds, horizontal rain and nights when the fire smokes too much but always the promise of starry skies and maybe just maybe the glimpse of the ‘mirrie dancers’ .

With love from Shetland x

Winter Solstice and Christmas..

I can’t actually believe it’s my first Christmas in Shetland. Time seems to be flying as I reached the ten month milestone. Yesterday with the winter solstice bringing stormy weather amongst the odd glimpse of sunshine I took a moment whilst out walking to consider this year, as many people do as the end of one year approaches. Moving so far away from everything familiar, family, friends, places, ceramic shows, work to start a new adventure.

So how have things turned out?

I’ve spent over fourteen months ( before I even moved and had a job) battling with the GTCS to gain registration as a teacher, finally I have this month achieved it but not yet for CDT so the battle continues into next year and hopefully will be resolved. The frustration for all concerned at school and myself is that I up until now cannot be employed as a teacher and so not only am I on renewing temporary contracts but pay scales are considerably lower than I had anticipated but it’s all manageable and resolution is hopefully in sight in the new year.

My colleagues have been brilliant, the loss of one to a different island school and the arrival of two new ones has shifted the department dynamic and I am no longer the only female. When it’s been tough they have rallied round to help not only with curriculum stuff but personally when I had van issues, offering lifts and even their own vehicles. The overall kindness and help people have offered has been amazing. From the guys at the bakery delivering to the house when they knew they would have to close in the week due to staff illness and shortages, the garage staff going above and beyond to get repairs and parts organised and offering advice and time, to being made so welcome and accepted in the canoe club and yoga classes. Meeting up with fellow potters and being invited into peoples homes for visits and to share food.

I really love living in the house, especially on nights like last fire lit, candles glowing, storm raging outside, the coziness, the spiral staircase and each day waking up to the ever changing view. The big starry skies and bright, blazing moons that reflect off the Voe. The sunny days when I sit out with my morning cuppa on the weekends or before work and watch the starlings and sparrows precariously balance and squabble over whose turn it is on the feeder.

Other challenges have cropped up, still the process of getting the kiln wired in continues but now at least I have a provisional mid January so fingers crossed. Lugging coal and wood seems constant at the moment from the shed to the house and some evenings full waterproofs are required just for the short distance, making the warmth of a roaring fire all the more special.

I am delighted to have returned to my love of sea kayaking and been rewarded with some of the most amazing paddles of my life, I’ve seen otters and minke whales off the tip of my boat, experienced Shetlands spectacular coastline and crystal clear seas with the best bunch of people to paddle with and had the chance to attend the symposium and learn with some of the best coaches in the sport.

Friends and family have visited, and it has been lovely to share the islands with them. I’ve taken a couple of trips back South and October in particular was a lovely autumnal road trip down though Scotland, the Lakes and Derbyshire to meet up with special people, having and starting new adventures.

I’ve played with the Samba band, been on a kishie basket making course, volunteered with tree planting and at the inaugural Rising North Festival, attended concerts, yoga, sound baths and dances, sold work at craft fairs and been able to put work in the beautiful Shetland Gallery. There have been faint glimpses of the Mirrie Dancers and beautiful moons and starry skies.

It’s not perfect though, nowhere is, there are always challenges and compromises to make, when the van breaks down and parts have to come from the mainland the task of getting to work is sometimes a challenge, the snow in November gave a flavour of driving in those conditions and I have to say the roads are kept open at all costs, no snow days so far. Balancing living further out and commuting is something a lot of people face with the lack of rentals in town versus cheaper rentals further afield. not being close to loved ones has its challenges but video calling and letter writing are lovely ways to keep people close. Potfest., the ceramics fairs which have been a big part of my life the last couple of years have felt unreachable this year, not so much the distance but the lack of a working kiln and I have missed being part of the lovely community, I am applying for next year and the shows that will fit in to the school holidays and one or two I am hoping I might be allowed an early release from school, if I get in, we will see.

Life moves slower in a lot of ways here, dictated by the seasons. Hunkering down just now in the darker winter evenings and now the solstice has passed the anticipation of the light returning slowly. Fire, candles and fairy lights make the place feel snug and cosy. The wind can play havoc with the wifi and then the odd power cut has left me thankful for the log burner and the cooker in the van and my camping stove. The longer lighter days will then seem endless and with it comes plans to explore the further out islands, Foula, Skerries, Whalsay and Fair Island hopefully.

Leaving the island to go South requires a little planning, the longer ahead you can plan means you get the best deals on flights and car spots and cabins on the boats. Getting off and back at this time of the year can be at the mercy of the weather, especially if you take the boat.

It has been a quiet Christmas, the weather yesterday on Christmas morning was damp and wet at first but grabbing my camera and some snacks I headed out for a walk, privileged to see an otter getting dashed by the waves and the sea raging always puts life into perspective. I’m flying back next week, a trip to visit people who are very dear to me for the last week of the holidays.

Then the arrival of 2025, a new year, a new season of the Fire Festivals begins on the 10th January (running through to March), a new term at school will bring new challenges and adventures I am sure. I will be missing the willow harvesting in Cumbria this year and the annual reunion of cutting friends and musical celebration to mark its gathering in. Excited though to witness the Lerwick Up Helly Aa on my birthday, marking the end of the Yule celebration, will be almost perfect.

2025 is unwritten and we never know what will come. I don’t make resolutions but hold hopes.

I hope for….. a year of finding my balance and rhythm here with my first year soon to be under my belt. Mastering my camera better so when the otters and Mirrie Dancers are showing, I can capture something more than darkness or more than a spot in the distance. The resolution with my position at work and my kiln will be straight forward and soon. To return to making my ceramics,exhibitig in the Gallery, being part of the Shetland Arts Craft trail, Potfest on the mainland and more sea kayaking explorations. For those I love to be healthy, safe and know they are loved and supported in whatever they face and to spend time with them as much as possible. To be grateful for all I have, to be kind and patient with myself (and others) and to find joy in each day, not always easy sometimes.

To know what is meant for me will never miss me and what misses me was never meant for me and trust the universe.

Sending love and joy for 2025 from Shetland . x