Freelance writer Louise Thomason speaks to podcast host Marjolein Robertson about her work, including her own blog: https://www.girlinthenorthsea.com/
They talk about the need for self discipline when working from home, finding creativity and living and writing in Shetland.
The revamped UnstFest Shed will be formally opened tomorrow night (Saturday) at 6pm when Rosie Gazey will cut the ribbon to the new building.
The old cladding on the building had to be completely replaced and so a new shed has been built on the site to store the huge variety of UnstFest equipment that has accumulated over the years.
After the opening the shed will be open for a Tammie Norie Race night where you can speculate on puffins racing round a track, similar to a horse race night.
There will be water jumps and fences for the Nories to cross, so it may not be an easy flight for them.
After a series of races there will be music to entertain the punters.
After the night is over, the shed will revert back to being the Unstfest store, in readiness for this year’s festival which takes place from 7th -13th July.
The main feature this year will be the appearance of the Premier British Wrestling team performing three live shows plus workshops for budding wrestlers, all taking place in a ring at the Haroldswick Show Shed.
Organisers of the Simmer Dim Half Marathon are appealing for drivers to be considerate when passing runners on the roads.
The race takes places on Sunday along a 13.1 mile route from Cunningsburgh to the finishing line at the Clickimin athletics track.
This year’s event will see 145 runners take part – the highest number of entries ever – and includes a mix of local athletes and visitors from all over the UK.
Shetland Amateur Athletics Club, which organises the half marathon, has appealed for drivers using the A970 between 10.30am and 1.30pm to be aware of the event and to be considerate of the runners by slowing down and giving them room as they pass.
Last year’s race was won by Euan Duernberger and Michelle Sandison but with neither of them running this year, and some of the faster local runners also saving their legs ahead of the island games, organisers believe it will be interesting to see who claims the podium places.
Full report and photos will be in next week’s paper.
A former undercover officer who spent years working to infiltrate criminal drugs gangs will be talking at tonight’s This is Democracy event.
Neil Woods spent is the guest speaker at the Islesburgh Community Centre for the debate titled Keeping Shetland Safe? – Exposing the War on Drugs.
Mr Woods spent years working undercover to catch the gangsters involved in the drugs trade.
During this time he underwent a “volte-face” in his thinking on drugs, the people who use them and the criminal justice system.
Whereas he once believed he could make a difference by taking down the bad guys, he eventually came to realise his work and that of the wider criminal justice system was only making the problem worse.
“You could take any theoretical measure of a prohibition policy – reducing access to drugs, keeping people safe from drugs, protecting children from drugs, reducing overdoses, educing addiction,” he said.
“Not only does it fail in every one of those measures, it actually makes every one one of these measurably worse.”
After leaving the police, Mr Woods joined the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (Leap)- an international movement of police officers advocating for drug policies based on scientific evidence.
Put simply, Mr Woods and his colleagues believe drugs should be a health issue, not a criminal matter.
It is a view shared by Shetland Greens councillor Alex Armitage, who has helped organise tonight’s event.
Dr Armitage would like to see all drugs legalised and regulated, thereby taking them out of criminal hands, and making them safer for the people who use them.
By removing the criminality from drug use, Dr Armitage and Mr Woods believe people have a better chance of overcoming the underlying issues which can lead to addiction.
However, opponents say legalisation or decriminalisation risked sending out a message that drug use is acceptable, which they believe is wrong.
What do you think? Take part in our poll and let us know.
Tonight’s event runs from 7pm-9pm.
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