For me, the most depressing thing about the growth of Tesco in Shetland is not the threat the company poses to local businesses, to consumer choice and to the local economy, nor the fact that they have, apparently, outsmarted the council’s planning department with an application that gave them free reign to do whatsoever they wished. No, for me, the most depressing thing has been the response to these developments from the general public.

In the past few years, the internet has spawned a dazzling array of opportunities for anyone with a desire to waste their time and money. Computer users are offered an ever-increasing choice of cyber-hobbies, social networking sites and online procrastination options, each of which allows us to disconnect just a little bit more from the real world and the real people around us.

Da Gairdins, Sand, is one of Shetland’s best-kept gardening secrets. The plantings were begun by Alan and Ruby Inkster almost 20 years ago, and include woodland, a wild-flower meadow, ponds, native planting and southern hemisphere collections.

Whaar we bide used tae be a fine plaece. A peerie howe under a quiet peerie knowe on da hill. Weel, no ony mair, we hae new neebours. As weel as bein noisy dey threaten wis wi violence regularly. Dey’ve even teckled wis! Wha wid dae sicca thing tae trows? Scories, dat’s wha.

I have found myself having to steal a quick half hour here and there during a busy schedule to get on with writing this article. On Friday I played snare drum in a samba band on the back of a World Cup float in a carnival. On Saturday I not only hosted a concert but played bass for a vocal group performing there, not to mention singing Corries’ songs with a male voice choir.

If the Queen lands on Fair Isle on her way north to Lerwick, she will be the first member of the Royal Family to do so for 175 years.

It was in 1785 that H.R.H. Prince William, third son of George III and later William the IV landed on the island. Today the population is only about one fifth of what it was on the former visit but she will find most of the islanders going about their daily tasks and the young men will not be hiding in the cliffs.

This is my last Media Matters column. The reason for this is simple. As from August (this is written in July) the Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company Limited will start to operate, although the radio station won’t be on the air before the end of the year.
Since I have a large shareholding in the firm it would be unreasonable for me to comment on other media and on the SIBC and expect to be regarded as objective (if ever I was).

Is it worthwhile continuing a free reading room in the county library headquarters? There was a divergence of opinion at the annual meeting of the Feuars and Heritors of Lerwick on Wednesday afternoon, when there was a suggestion that the grant to the reading room should be cut by half.

When I was a child, listening to the Foula folk counting kin, one name that often cropped up was that of Jean Jack. It seemed to me that name was pronounced with an air of satisfied finality and since all family trees appeared to lead back to her, I grew up with the impression that she was the Foula equivalent of Adam and Eve.

Wir been grippit by a terrible feerie dis mont, da laek o wir niver kent. First da bairns fell ill, den me an Meenie. A’m niver felt dis pr aamos afore.

A former Lerwick optician is suing his estranged wife and erstwhile business partner for more than £800,000, claiming that her actions after they went their separate ways six years ago effectively left him out of work.

New SIC chief executive Alistair Buchan came face to face with all councillors this week for the first time since taking up the post for what he described as “very positive” initial discussions about how to react to major criticisms in the Accounts Commission’s recent report on the local authority.

Multiple Grammy winner Steve Earle, the outspoken singer-song­writer responsible for a host of classic Americana songs including Copperhead Road, Guitar Town and Galway Girl, will be stopping off in Lerwick next Thursday for a re-arranged show at Clickimin.