| Isla
at the Island Games
(but the Pom Pom girls clinched it for me……)
Flowers
are expensive in Shetland, but the quality is second to none! According
to my colleague it would cost as much to send a bouquet to Sumburgh from
Lerwick as it would to buy the flowers themselves. I did offer to drive
them down myself for twenty quid, but he said he didn't trust me not to
say something inappropriate to the intended recipient. (maybe he was worried
I would claim them for myself as my own "romantic gesture"?).
In the end, he asked the lovely Gail to deliver the bunch of blooms on
his behalf, complete with a cryptic message. I know they recahed their
intended recipient and that she "likes flowers", but I am sad
to report the trail now seems to have gone cold. However your intrepid
correspondent is on the case and I'll report back as soon as I am able.
This afternoon
was spent at the Shetland Hotel in Lerwick. It's just outside the main
ferry terminal and is the base for the International Island Games Committee.
They gathered at two to decide who should be awarded the honour of staging
the Games in 2009. It was a straight choice between Ynys Mon or Aoland.
The Welsh put forward a strong bid promoting the redevelopment opportunities
staging the Games would offer. Aoland's bid was based on previous experience
and the determination their Games would be fun. They last staged them
to great success back in 1991.
Each team
had to explain their bid to the Island Games Committee and the two delegates
from each of the competing islands. In the end a secret ballot was held
and just before three the result was known. Of the 54 votes cast, 33 went
to Aoland and 21 to Ynys Mon. So disappointment for the Welsh, who were
encouraged to consider bidding again and delight for the Scandanavian
bid. Their team mamanger told me they were confident they'd be the best
Games to date as everyone in the islands was behind them and the news
of their success would "go down a storm".
So it's
a tough call. Why did Aoland beat Ynys Mon? There was much to commend
each bid. In the end, I think Aoland had the edge. They brought in three
beautiful blonde women at the end of their bid, complete with cheerleader
pom poms and that infectious "Euro-pop" tune that's been going
around inside my head ever since. From that moment I sort of knew the
bid was theirs….in any case I've been to Ynys Mon before. It was
July 1977, we stayed on a camp site near the Menai Straits and it rained!
In those days the place was called Anglesey and the rain was the wettest
I've ever remembered. On the other hand I've never been to Aoland and
Sacndanvia sounds kind of appealing.
Before we
get to Aoland in 2009, there's the small matter of Rhodes two years from
now. I expect the weather there may be a little warmer than we've been
experiencing of late here in Shetland, but they'll be hard pressed to
beat the warmth of the welcome we have received here in Shetland. Our
colleagues at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shetland have been especially tolerant and understanding.
The team from the Channel Islands out-numbers them and, on occasions,
we can seem pretty loud and over-bearing! There's not a lot of space around
here, so we've probably claimed to what amounts to "squatters rights"
in their reception area and second studio. That doesn't stop them sneaking
back in from time to time. Today Roger Bara was turfed out of his studio
to make way for ten minutes of news in Gaelic, whilst Isla Blatchford
had to give-way to the weather for Orkney!
I worry
about Isla. My colleague from Guernsey is as self-assured as anyone and
can certainly hold her own amongst the squad here. However some evenings
she disappears off to make and receive surrupitious phone-calls. We don't
to whom these are made or from whence they come. I wonder if she's received
any flowers?
Still, Isla's
met her name sake. Helen Smith - who works at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shetland - has
been keeping a dark secret. When we were first introduced just over a
week ago, she smiled knowingly when we explained who Isla was. Now we
know why. Helen's Dad Jimmy has his own special Isla in his life….and
as our photo shows both Isla's have now met and get along famously…..
Submitted by Matthew Price on 11 July 2005 at 21:30
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