How to educate your dragon

That last Tuesday of January

usually rhymes with high spirit throughout the islands' capital. Friend and now retired line manager, Dorothy Nickerson, reminded me earlier on this afternoon how she remembered a buzz  culminating inside the walls of our high school alone, as young Vikings made their way to Lerwick's frenzy of fire sparked off by men marching with axes & shields throughout the day and with torches that same evening... Tuesday's sunrise was later felt as an omen, as our skies glowed as if the whole of our galaxy had foreseen what would happen tonight on this grain of rock here on Earth.

da peerie galley

mirrors its big sister one that is being burnt at the centre of the payground situated in King Erik Street. Its first sighting in the front carpark of the Anderson High School  generates many smiles of exhilaration. Parents of the members of the school's Junior Jarl Squad flock on the steps of the school's main entrance. Pride and excitement reverberate through each other's eyes. This peerie galley is traditionally awaiting destiny inside the compound of the Islesburgh Community Centre, itself formally an academic establishment built in 1902. Lerwick Junior Up-Helly-Aa 2011

                                                                                                                         shiny helmets for a special day 

 

The boys are shining in their gear and wear it with such amour-propre, they will mirror the senior Jarl Squad for the rest of the festivities. Meantime, their day of freedom and merryment begin at home, before the eyes of their own school.

Like their elders, they brandish axes and sing the Up-Helly-Aa song... Their self-esteem balloons up further as they are wished the best of day by their  broadly smiling head teacher. The Anderson High School is proud of them.

The atmosphere turns electric, as they march through corridors with sheer audacity until breaktime, when they will join in the parade across the town.

 And what about that red, red rose?

As the town prepared for fire and non-stop merryment over two days & nights, some favoured toasting to Scotland's National Bard, as the galley went down in smoke... 

Since Burn's birthday coincided with this year's Lerwick Up-Helly-Aa, my poet's heart favoured a toast to the haggis in the warmth of our hearth. Though I paused for a  thought for our Junior Vikings, who followed in their elders' footsteps...

That final Tuesday of January felt like dew on that red, red rose.

Haiku

sky of fire,
shiny shields in faux fur -
but then again, a red, red rose.
 Haiku fae 60N
   

  

Winter adventure on the island

Moments of pleasures

To many folk coming to do their weekend shopping in Lerwick, Victoria Pier, adjacent to the Small Boat Harbour, rhymes with carpark & familiar trawlers from Shetland, Banff or Peterhead most of the year. 
To the explorer-yachtsman (or cruise liner)-visitor, it may feel like the starting point of some delectable adventure. This focal point, officially open in 1886 as the main landing area for fishermen and wealthy visitors traveling on steamers, hosts (during the high season) memorable events - marquis and booths, erected around Johnsmas (Summer Solstice), celebrate A Flavour of Shetland and renewed bonds with Norway through (notably) the Lerwick-Bergen Race... Victoria Pier welcomes the world to the island's pictoresque (and only) urban centre.  Small cruise liners tie themselves to its bollards - tenders from much bigger cruise ships whizz through the Bressay Sound to bring their hords of passengers to our shore. Excursion coaches' drivers and Tourist Guides wait with a smile... 
The "Bay of mud" turns a beehive! Visitors to Lerwick Harbour


During the winter months, STGA Accredited  Green Badge Tourist Guides prepare for the next high season through an elaborate educational programme. With an ever-increasing number of cruise liners pit-stopping in our Venice of The North,  a new class of guides are training for 2011, as some 58 cruise ships already line up on paper, together with The Tall Ships Races back in Lerwick... The Tall Ships Races 2011

Yesterday morning, Victoria Pier basked in generous winter sun. Saturday shoppers flocked to "Da Street" (the main commercial artery) whilst we began an adventure. Down to Sumburgh we went on our minibus! Wilson was at the wheel, Lawrence & Catriona, at the microphone, whilst our cohort of guide trainees held to clipboards and pens on their final demo tour. Deborah and I sat at the back. As we crossed the 60th Parallel, our nordic sun powered our smiles. Mr Tulloch delighted us with his expertise & experience at the mic' down to Grutness map via Fladdabister and Bigton  before he handled me the device for a demo tour at Sumburgh Head.  

My love for this headland and nature reserve has not waned away from my wardening time within the RSPB, au contraire - as a matter of fact, it glows like the sun. Our trainees already felt it last May in the presence of our seabirds during a first demonstration tour. Yesterday felt no different. Our winter wildlife bathed in light. Guiding is fun in all seasons!
 
Lunch at the Sumburgh Hotel... Early afternoon at Jarlshof.

Jarlshof, that name invented by Sir Walter Scott for the purpose of a novel, remains one of the best places in Britain to walk through time, from the Late New Stone Age to the late 17th century of our era. I never tire of its stones! Whilst Lawrence began the site tour, Deborah ended it with passion. Jarlshof

By the time we returned to our minibus, the sun glittered on Atlantic and Horse Island.

Guiding, training or mentoring rekindle taste for adventures. Yes, we are blessed to live and share this magical environment. I am eager to reach our Vernal Equinox and see how our trainees progress toward their final assessment. Our nordic garden never fails to foster our inspiration.

January, fire power

return of the light

"Day-night... Day-night... Day-night!"
As trivial as it may appear to the visitor to our shore, the most noticeable sign towards the Vernal Equinox remains our return towards light.
At fixed times in the day, 0800 and 1600, we no longer endure darkness. And if our British Met Office provides us with acurate information, we are currently re-gaining 2 minutes of light at each sunrise and each sunset... Heart-warming.

Today, I took two photographs from my school bus on the way home.

...And saw a fire-breathing dragon, as we made our way to the 60th Parallel...

As if our sky was whispering us some omen.  Such sight made me smile!

 

return of the sun

It is now rather well known some islanders go to great lengths to celebrate an old ritual - that of the return of the sun. Between mid-January and April, torches illuminate our nights under a name some may find odd or exotic: Up-Helly-Aa. It is not one single fire festival, but a season of torch-lit processions, longship burning and merryment behind the closed doors of our halls!

A bit like in the Beowulf movie, though minus the curse. Each procession is led by a squad disguised in full Viking gear - led by a Guizer Jarl, that is a notorious Viking Chief or hero carefully chosen by the selected squad leader. Each autumn, carefully chosen boatbuilders and craftsmen meet inside a galley (longship/boat) shed and spend many evenings building a replica Viking longship they will set on fire with their torches in the depth of winter. Teams of seamstresses elaborate the squads' costumes and a Proclamation Bill appears on the morning of the celebration at around 0600.

fire power

It is also well-known men like to play with fire, since they invented it.

This year's season of fire festivals kicked off last weekend in Scalloway, the island's ancient capital. Islanders' tradition. The Lerwick one always follows on the final Tuesday of the month. The Jarl will be given freedom of merryment in the town and will visit a myriad of places prior to the evening procession. A Junior Jarl squad procession also mirrors its senior one. It departs from the Anderson High School and da boys will burn their peerie (small) galley near the burning site of the senior one at Islesburgh.

Each replica Viking longship has a dragonhead.

...We, or some of us, would appear to like dragons and fire on the island.

New year, new decade, wind of change

reconnected with our world

Light has disappeared once again, as I settle at the keyboard. Final hours of a fortnight of freedom melt away like ice to a generous sun.
I shall treasure Yule and Hogmanay 2010. Happy moments shared with loved ones... Precious time of reconnection.
Fun in the sand and at table!
2011 began with soothing light in our boreal sky. Gentle start to the new decade!

With new years come resolutions.

Hmmm, my very first one sounds easy - finish off the Yuletide goodies still stocked in the larder! As fingers dip into that final box of chocolates, the second one demands effort: getting back to fitness... Dumbells and other toys await my determination! Needless to say, the countdown to this summer's Pan-Highland adventure has begun and I intend to give my best. Fun through full steam if I am not mistaken ;0)

Tomorrow also signals a new academic term.

Back to sleepy smiles or gazes at the bus stop - other familiar eyes and voices... Corridors and classrooms! I take each new day as an adventure. Such resolution remains a recurring one, since moments are precious. 

my favourite haiku from this new decade

Inguz,

time of joyous deliverance -

new tide & oars.

Haiku fae 60N

Last of a Year

helping wind

Our world is made in such ways nothing remains still inside time.

On the last day of the last month, a hissing wind has awaken, and seems to help blowing away the final hours of a year I wish to carve so carefully and give away all rotten bits to oblivion... I like listening to the wind, irrespective of direction. Today, it sings W by NW, and if I trust the weathermen, it hardly comes empty-handed.

 So everything is now tidy around the house - fresh birdcakes adorn willow trees, like offerings to our angels... Larders re-filled in the name of defying fate, winter spirits may dance and jig in the garden, they will find food to share with blackbirds and starlings before they return to their cairns.

Today feels like time in transit, hands firmly gripped on door handles.

memorable 2010

 If I turn my head anti-clockwise, I will treasure the following:

gift of unconditional love

Love and care from all my angels, to whom I feel so much grateful. They bring me light when I feel lost; warm my heart with words of pure love, everytime I tread on cobbles in the night... Their presence is a gift of life and I know you're always with me. You may be scattered in this world, miles away geographically, but whenever I lose myself, I always know how to find you. You are my light through those moments tarnished with tears, tricked by some unwanted shapeshifter. Every evening without fault, I light candles on our chimney mantlepiece and whisper words towards your hearts.

gifts from our world

The magic of our very world - those earthly, astronomical spectacles we can witness from our windows, patch of homeground... Every sunrise defines our days, every sunset colours our sky.

Constant source of inspiration, every wander's a treasure trail. This year, I met with Kate Coutts from Unst. Inspirational kindred spirit, we began to walk that shared shore for a couple of days last October. Kate reminded me in her own way how vital our natural environment determines us; how we discover/re-discover our selves through such metaphorical journeys... 

Metasaga speaks the same tongue as Geopoetics.

Deeper questions, just like riddles imagined by Zen masters, invade our minds on such journeys. The process remains so simple - we allow ourselves time to think and embrace oneness with the world.

Thank you, Kate, and thank you, SIC! 

...And the world comes to the island.                      

What a fantastic summer of sharing with many eyes, hearts, cultures and adventurers' spirits!

So many happy memories - moments of sheer exhaltation, 

here at our eyes, hands and our feet.

Thank you, Cat, and thank you, explorers.

gift of creativity

Linked to the world seen through the light, encapsulated in moments of sheer medecine to harm, this joie de vivre impalpable. 2010 might have postponed a few ideas, nevertheless, it has definitely flung new doors wide open. 

Through the world of blogging, words find their way in new places - relayed by friends I've yet to meet for the first time when time dictates. Meanwhile, fellow poets unite and celebrate majesty of our world. Thank you, dear Elizabeth, Juliet and Mason! 

Through the world of publishing: Stormday found its first home within this year's Issue of Pushing Out The Boat, the Anthology of New writing for Scotland's North East Writers. 

Thank you, dear Editors.

2010 is also treasured for four very enjoyable public readings, dear to the heart of the poet, for it gives full meaning to the spoken word. The first one took place at the Shetland Museum last early March and celebrated International Women's Day. Orchestrated by Karen Mckelvie from Woman's Aid, voices rose in the Boat Hall and the blackbird fluttered so happily. 

Thank you, Karen.

The second, through meeting, creating and sharing with Choman Hardi still crystalises magic deep inside and embraces the beauty of geopoetics, as cultures are inter-woven.  Thank you, Donald and Shetland Arts.

The third, through Power of Place, the brainchild of artiste Karen Emslie during this year's Book Festival in Lerwick, nurtured by Shetland Arts. 

Thank you, Karen & Shetland Arts.

Fourth and final, not the least, orchestrated by another Karen, Miss Fraser, from the Shetland Library. Something Wicked celebrated Halloween in great style, with a myriad of talents. 

What a great night of fun and spook all had.

Thank you, Karen & the Shetland Library.

But then, in the eyes of the Visual Artist, photographs found their way through three separate events: 

Norway Liberation Day, celebrated last May for the first time in Scalloway and Lerwick. Norwegian photographer and event co-organiser Anita Orheim trusted my lens for such moment. On such occassion, strong bonds with the Nibakk Clan have been forged.

Tusen takk, Anita.

Hamefarin, celebrated last June throughout Shetland, as Shetland Forwirds celebrated the beauty of our isles through, notably, a photographic display at Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick. 

Thank you, Laureen.

Four Seasons in Shetland, a collective showcase orchestrated by the Islesburgh Photographic Club at the Shetland Museum's Gadderie last September. Some impressive collection of photographic works captured by an eclectic group as we captured moments through our respective lenses. 

Thank you, Jim, Sidney and Martin.

Continuous creativity shared with friends from the Westside Group - with the Wird Group from Shetland Forwirds, as two distinctive projects grow.

Thank you, Westsiders, Donald and Laureen.

Flying haikus via Twitter since the autumn, as moments turn into gemstones... Precious, captured within three lines. They seem to tie my raison d'etre to the real world and taste like the seeds of the pomegranate. 

I still feel endebted to a kindered spirit based in Leith for directing my pirate's heart to a Glaswegian boat builder. Thank you, dear Al! Since our meeting last August, Miss Macdougall and I have been sharing ideas, weaving lifelines and carving notions of geopoetics inside wood.

And if I turn my head clockwise, I see...

A year of adventures steaming ahead! Humblyband, The Tall Ship Races in Lerwick, return of da Nibakk - all smell kelp and salt, as boats will take to water! Geopoetics in action as hands grip oars, ropes on and off bollards!

Publication in several forms from either side of the Atlantic, Poseidon willing... Great projects are in the making and may 2011 grace each one of them as it will grace your own.

 my wish to you

May the forthcoming year adorn each of your days with beauty and light.

Happy New Year to each and all, wherever 

you stand in our world !

Renewed geopoetical flutters fae 60N

Happy Yuletide, everybody!

Season's Greetings fae 60N

Happy Yule

   Joyeux Noël
geseënde Kersfees
Eguberri on
fröhliche Weihnachten

gleðileg jól

feliz Natal

god jul

Wesołych Świąt

feliz Navidad

圣诞快乐 (shèng dàn kuài lè)

veselé Vánoce

vrolijk Kerstfeest

hyvää joulua
 Nollaig shona

gioioso Natale

Nollick ghennal
Nollaig chridheil
heri la Krismasi
Nadolig llawen
С Рождеством Хрисовым (S Rojdesvom Khristovym)

merii kurisumasu 

Noela we pîroz be

gojan Kristnaskon

 

wherever you breathe in the world, 

with very best wishes for 2011

Astronomical Wonders of our Neck of the Cosmos

cosmic magic

I love to peep through my window before sunrise.
Sometimes dawn taints itself in blue, indigo, titanium or black... At other times, Venus retires without a sight... Or our great sky reflects the mood of some angry horned deity. 

Today was just something special.

Last night I hoped for a blue dawn... Well, angels granted my heart such wish!
Our crystal clear celestial vault offered first-class view of some starry sky gradually switching itself off - but, then, N by NW, before 7 a.m., I saw "yin & yang", as our Cold Moon absorbed all sunrises and sunsets! Clad in the shadow of our world, our familiar satellite friend eclipsed itself in cabaret style!

Full lunar eclipse coinciding with Solstice Day, such spectacle leaves hearts speechless.

wonder-world,

caught through a more dare-devil lens before I left for the bus stop.

shameless blue

On shortest day, our island graced with untamed light, nordic, magic, almost shameless or pedantic........................ Shetland Blue!

From other windows, I kept an eye on one of my favourite Sounds (or stretches of water), Bressay Sound, as I hovered around lessons. Rare sight, fog in winter on this latitude. We are far more accustomed to traditional seafog in summer!  Bressay clad in ice and freezing lace. Wow!

However, by midday, true Shetland Blue unveiled beauty. 

... That's more like it. Perfect day bleu. In other words, my nordic version of The Big Blue.

But then, I remembered sunset would turn snow into shades of pink after lunchtime. By 1440, les jeux sont faits, for the island slides into duk for the the longest night of the year. 

It feels a game of frantic blues...

I love that blend of tainted hues inside our world. Behind 19th century windows from the second floor, honey preceeds pink on snowflakes. George Peterson's poem entitled Contrasts deals with snaa (snow). Second Year pupils explore a peerie grain o dialect, as they re-draft their own version.

As lesson ends, steam fill glass panes without a sigh - strange graffitti popped on windows. 

By the time of the final bell, we switch back to electric glows, mostly orange. 

Back into black.

So was Solstice Day 60N.

As I'm about tro click PUBLISH, our Moon returned in full splendour, illuminates our longest night , boreal sky and crystal land.

Tomorrow, my last day of term.