Seems that you have turned the hardships of isolation into a big success story.

Independence or not, you and your people will go from strength to strength.

Hope you take time to leave a comment or two at my blog.

Well...I've never been to Shetland, but I buy Shetland wool directly from Jamieson's Knitwear, so I have a sort of interest...I mean, I LOVE Shetland and Fair Isle knitting.

Hi leonora

I have a friend up here that started out the same way as you - she started buying shetland wool, then she came up to buy fleece. A couple more visits later and she and her hubby sold up and moved here, and now she has her own textiles business. You never know where an interest in shetland wool might lead.....

And the green party is sadly under-represented here

Seems you are more than slightly annoyed by incomers. It's clear that, along with regular supplies during bad weather, broadminded attitudes have also failed to reach the far north. With all that oil, Shetland islanders would maybe prefer to keep this 'black gold' to themselves. But without these 'incomers' how would its patriotic locals manage to raise it from the seabed?
Clearly you need to come to the mainland of your own country more often to observe that we are not all desperate to 'get away from it all', and that most Scots (like myself) enjoy a rather open minded, liberal and welcoming attitude to people of other nationalities.

Umm - Madame Mainland, I'm not convinced you read what I wrote - maybe you just read what you *think* I wrote?

try this bit for size

"the vast majority of people that I have met that have moved up in recent years are tremendous people that moved here because of a love of Shetland"

And how from:
"Shetland has also appealed to people that want to drop out of society, and get away from 'it all'"
Do you manage to get to the assumption that I think all mainland dwellers are desparate to get away from it all?

Feel free to comment again when you have actually understood the content.

Hi - I was reading your blog and thought you might like to contribute to a new project we're running at the Sunday Mail. We're basically looking to get interesting people to write for a blog we're setting up.
We would like you to write a two or three wee entries a week updating us on what's going on in Shetland, or just your life generally. This would then be linked to dozens (hundreds?) of other blogs by people across Scotland, creating a new online community.
It would be unpaid but read by a lot of people and we'd be happy to give you as much advice and training as you required.
If you're interested give me a shout back and I'll give you a bit more info.
Thanks,

Steve