The crofthouse ... "Before"

Da Kitchen is pretty old and has been home to many crofting families for over 150 years, only being empty for the last 7. The more  Steve & I talk to the locals here on Yell the more we're learning about the previous occupants and the hardworking history of Da Kitchen. An elderly  lady who was born in this croft is still living here in Yell. She's watching with interest the work we're doing bringing it back to life.

This photo shows the room stripped back to the bare walls and earth and shows how it would have been lived in until the early 20th century.


We've been told (on more than one occasion) by our architect and the Scottish Goverments Crofters Commission, that we'd be better off pulling the old croft house down and starting again with a newbuild (ie a modern Norwegian looking log cabin) Just because this is a simple crofters house it seems that some people don't recognise the value in retaining these lovely buildings.



The crofthouse is surrounded by fields that haven't changed for generations , water meadows, pastures full of wild flowers and animals keeping it all in good condition. Why would you want to change anything? We don't want to be the ones to. We'll post a picture of the wild irises when they're out, there are thousands of them .We also have wild orchids too .... just coming out.




Before we took over Da Kitchen croft, we very nearly built a new house in the green field next to it.  We are so glad now chose to save this old cottage and bring it back to life and make it a home again.



Walls are 3 foot thick for warmth , windows are small to minimise draughts, with fireplaces of a good size for cooking and living by.

Although we still have a huge amount of work ahead of us, we're beginning to understand how important it is to take it all one step at a time. This crofthouse - by the time Freds finished with it - will still be standing in another 200 years, thats for sure =)

As my wise brother-in-law told us before we moved up to Shetland (he and Jane having recently finished their own rebuilding) "just keep your eye on the prize" . And in the words of the Beatles, its a long and winding road to get there. But we'll get there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=JrcYPTRcSX0

Feet up at last after another dirty day

They say a picture paints a thousand words, based on his facial expression in this pic ... can you guess what he's kindly sharing with me and Fred? Hmm.

Naughty Stephen.

Shorn - The Sheep

Rambo & Hattie undergo their first shearing - looking a little naked =)

Ably shorn by our neighbour Gareth

A Foody / Footy few days

Our long weekend is now but a distant memory but we made the most of a few days break before returning back to it yesterday.  After waving goodbye to Nige at the ferry, we motored north toward Yell, stopping at the Mid Brae Inn for a swift half. Nice place, eaten there a few times, and surprisingly heaving for 4:30pm on a Friday. Clever barman even put a shamrock in the creamy Guinesss head on Steve's pint. Nice.



Departing there for home it would have been considered rude not to have stopped in Frankies for our Friday night fish supper. Local fish, lovely chips - I was happy - but my 2 northern companions were v. unhappy at the absence of the mushy peas. (sold out) ..... Still gotta 9.5/10 from them both though.



My rating? Would have got 20 out of 10 if I'd been lucky enough to spot the previsouly served dish pictured below otherwise known as the delightful Simon King. And the Olde Norse/Shetlandic description of Simon King? Phwoar.




Saturday we did little, sorry to all my Man Utd mates out there but Steve was itching to see em beat. Neither Fred or myself being big footy lovers we escaped to Mid-Yell hall where they had a charity concert on for "Yell for Cancer" , all proceeds going to this. We had a great night which started with a 2 hour concert/performance of local artists - my favourite being Elsbeth Clark (my new next door neighbour) who wrote and sang some funny ditties.

However, as the bar in the hall wasn't open before the perfomance we were fair gasping for a drink come the end of the concert. Next though was supper which was being served by ladies coming round with large teapots offering "sugary tea" .



You can only imagine the unhidden look of disappointment on Freds face that the bar shutters were staying firmly shut as he was handed a teacup. At it was at this point, utterly embarrassed, I was forced to claim that I was only his carer, such was the following tantrum ... I think the phrase "you got me here under false pretences" was spat out at one point.

Anyhow, a few mutton butties and beef bannocks later , out came home made cakes, quantities of which we had never seen before. A grin - thank the Lord - returned to Freds little face as he consumed AT LEAST 8 cakes. Then , as if a sign from heaven for being good and eating all his food .... the bar shutters went up. All smiles.



Was pleased to meet a new friend who has also just moved to Yell. Look forward to seeing her again and meeting her family.

Sunday, another food orientated day with a drive up to the next island Unst to the North Isles Farmers Market at Baltasound Public Hall. Bought lots of nice food and on sitting down for a cuppa we met Dorothy, the "mother" of our new ducklings we're picking up in a couple of months.

Once again the lovely ladies in the hall had prepared lots of lovely fancies and once again Fred & Steve drooled at the offer of "Buy a plate for £1 and fill it up". Oh dear , oh dear , oh dear. Clearly they'd neither net or heard of these two geezers from Cuppaster.I have a feeling that the Unst Ferryman may well be asked to look out for our car next time there's a do involving cakes on ... forewarned is fore-armed as they say.

Finally , in the evening we'd been kindly invited over to our neighbours - Simon & Vera - for a lovely evening of great food and splendid hospitality in their beautifully renovated old crofthouse. Our walk to and from The Schoolhouse over 3 fields to theirs was a little soggy, but we had our boots on .... and on our return home around 11:30pm there was still enough daylight to help dodge the boggy bits.