Matthew Price will be bringing you a regularly updated
blog on his experiences at the 2005 Island Games in the Shetland Islands.
As well as Matthews experience look out for special guest contributions
from the rest of the 大象传媒 Island Games team and photos from behind the
scenes at the Games.
SUNDAY,
17 JULY
Fogbound
in Shetland
It's foggy. I feel like an extra in "Brigadoon". The airport
here in Sumburgh is only across the road and yet I can't see the wall
outside the bedroom window. We're supposed to be going home today after
fourteen days in Shetland. That might not be the case.
In "Brigadoon"
you'll recall the Scottish village only emerges from the fog once every
hundred years, stays a while and then should you remain, you too disappear
for a hundred years. I'm beginning to think this may be the case for us
too.
It's 28 degrees
in Jersey and the sun is beating down. Here in Shetland it's 12 degrees,
there's low cloud, drizzle and yes, more fog. Hard to believe it's the
17th of July.
Our party
is in good spirits nonetheless. I suspect the spirits include several
measures of "Highland Park" still coursing through our bloodstream
after our farewell party last evening.
The good
folk at 大象传媒 Radio Shetland gave us a bottle as a leaving gift. It's distilled
in Orkney but is the most northerly single malt produced in the British
Isles. It proved to be most acceptable.
We're delayed
at Sumburgh Airport, which is where I'm writing. Actually Roger Bara's
not delayed. His booking didn't exist. He's not scheduled to leave now
until five tonight, he flys to Aberdeen, on to Gatwick and then on
Monday morning onward and home to Jersey. Not what we had planned.
Then again,
I hadn't banked on being stuck in Shetland - nice as it is - for yet another
day. The rest of us were supposed to leave at 1100. As I write the fog
shows little sign of lifting. The irony is Roger could get home before
us.
You know
there isn't even a boat in the morning....the boat doesn't leave for Aberdeen
until Tuesday and it's fully- booked. If we don't get away today, it could
be Tuesday or even Wednesday before we return to our own "septic
isle".
Then there's
the programme with our baggage. The 大象传媒 on tv, on radio and online doesn't
travel light. Our half tonne of technical equipment was shipped to the
airport yesterday. It'll be sent on to Jersey bit by bit over the next
five
days, flights permitting. The problem was our suitcases....
Roisin and
Isla have two each. Simon has a bag bigger than Herm and Crispin has bags
and cameras and tapes. Even his smooth-talking couldn't convince the check-in
operator to allow him to take everything on board as hand luggage. I fear
Crispin may be losing his touch with women....
We had to
prioritise our bags. Rosh wanted her make-up bag to go through first.
Isla faced a dilemma. Should it be the one with her clean underwear in
or the one containing her essentials? Ken said all his bags were a priority.
We're guaranteed
one piece of luggage each should travel with us to Heathrow, then we have
to collect everything and carry it across London to Gatwick on the bus
service which runs between the two airports. Deep joy.
The rest
of luggage - we're told will eventually end up in Jersey. Not much help
when four of our party are bound for Guernsey. Still, we'll borrow that
problem if and when it arises.
Shetland
is a lovely place. The welcome we've received from islanders has been
second to none. It's just that we're ready to go home. I'm sitting in
the Visit Shetland Tourist Office writing this. I'd recommend a trip sometime
soon.
Just remmeber
to come in the summer, when the weather's better!
Submitted
by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 16 July 2005 at 18:00
SATURDAY,
16 JULY
From
north to south
It's our last full day in Shetland. The games finished yesterday evening
with a famous victory for the host island in the football final.
 |
| Shetland
v Guernsey |
Shetland
beat Guernsey 2-0 at Gilberston Park I one of the biggest sporting upsets
in recent Games history. For my part it was a privilege to organise the
first joint broadcast between 大象传媒 Radio Guernsey and 大象传媒 Radio Shetland.
It was quite
an achievement. There's no means of broadcasting out of Gilbertson Park,
so special facilities and a high-powered broadcast line had to be arranged.
Then there
were the commentators to be found. Jersey's Brent Pilnick was the obvious
choice. He's not Sottish and he's not from Guernsey either! His summarisers
were 大象传媒 Radio Guernsey's Simon Fairclough and Brian Spence from 大象传媒 Radio
Shetland.
More than
a quarter of the population of the Shetland Islands - around six thousand
people - packed into the park for the final.
Those who
couldn't make it were tuned to 大象传媒 Radio Shetland on 92.7FM. Back in the
Channel Islands all hopes were resting on favourites Guernsey to play
to form and trounce the local opposition.
It wasn't
to be. First one goal and then another were dispatched to the back of
the net by the home team.
The crowd
roared and you could hear the cheer all over Lerwick. Walk down "the
Street" and all you could hear coming out of very shop was our Brent
commentating on the "biggest football match ever staged in Shetland".
What a result.
One 大象传媒 working
together - linking the most northerly station in the British Isles with
one of the most southerly. Even 大象传媒 Radio Jersey got in on the action
and carried some of the match live too.
What an upset.
Of course - had Jersey sent a team to compete in the football, I am certain
they'd have run away with the gold.
But without
Jersey in the final, what more could I do when faced with a choice between
Shetland and Guernsey? Yes I was rooting for the home side and boy did
they play a blinder!
I cannot
think of a more fitting way to end the Island Games in Shetland than with
the home Island taking Gold in one of the Games' best set pieces. A fairy-tale
end to a magical event.
And it was
a proud moment to hear our own Jersey-born Brent calling the outcome of
such a super match on two far-flung radio stations.
Submitted
by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 16 July 2005 at 18:00
FRIDAY,
15 JULY
"rumpy
pumpy" cakes
I've not been eating very regularly. I've not been eating very healthily.
I've not been eating at all. But then neither have my colleagues. The
Island Games are all-consuming.
 |
| Food
Glorious Food |
Once
we leave our breakfast table, a sixteen hour day has become the norm.
We meet in the hotel lounge at twenty to nine each day and plan our coverage
on radio, on tv and online.
Then we're dispatched to all four corners of the Shetland Islands to follow
the fortunes of the Channel Island competitors. As you'll have seen we
sometimes need to take a ferry, possibly cross a magnificent bridge or
even catch a bus.
Colin - my
bus-driver - bade me welcome the other morning when I climbed aboard the
10.57 service from Sumburgh to Lerwick. The fare was just two pounds for
a forty minute journey which took in every village and hamlet between
the two towns. And what a wonderful mix of people it was my privilege
to meet.
Young and
old alike, this is a true community service. A box for the school in the
next village was dropped on and then subsequently collected a mile or
two up the road. Shopping was bought for neighbours in the next place
and delivered by mutual friends. Teenagers - on holiday from school -
village hopped to meet their mates. And I just watched some of the most
rugged, beautiful and hypnotic scenery pass me by.
Sometimes,
when we're working non-stop, you need a little light relief. Covering
the gymnastics the other day we discovered the island which boasts the
best National Anthem of them all. Roisin Gauson felt it had a wonderful
tune and a bit of "rumpy pumpy" about it! As you might imagine,
the very mention of "rumpy pumpy" or might that have been "rumpity
pumpity" immediately caught the attention of Roger Bara.
 |
| Matthew
Price as a doorstop |
He asked
to hear the tune in question, so a television tape of a gymnastics medal
ceremony was produced and the tune played out. Within seconds it was off
to the piano (They have one in the studio at 大象传媒 Radio Shetland) and Roger
was giving us his own improvised rendition of the national tune of Bermuda.
My role in all this, to prop open the studio door so everyone else could
enjoy this musical interlude.
Over the
past week, strange things have happened. I inadvertantly ordered Ken Park
a vegetarian meal last night. Not a good idea. Ken's view is if there's
no meat, it can't be proper food. I redeemed myself with a side order
of mussels in white wine to accompany the delightful lasagne in question.
A bag of custard donuts secured complete absolution from my sins this
morning.
We've also
taken to eating a strange selection of food-stuffs to sustain us through
our odd shift patterns. We snaffle the biscuits from our hotel rooms and
pool them on a "need-to-eat" basis.
We acquire
a variety of crisps, nuts and cakes from the aptly named "filling
stations" and corner shops around the island. And every so often
someone volunteers to go to "the street". That's the main shopping
thoroughfare in Lerwick. It's five minutes walk down Pitt Lane from our
base at 大象传媒 Shetland.
It's down-hill
all the way鈥.but the walk back requires crampons and oxygen, so
steep is the hill. The trip's worth it. We're regulars at the plethora
of fast-food establishments in Lerwick. So much so, we've even had them
re-tune their tellys to satellite channel 958.
Don't tell
the Editor of "Reporting Scotland" but "大象传媒 Spotlight for
the Channel Islands" is fast becoming the evening news programme
of choice in Shetland!
And then
there's the tea-shop with the most "direct" waitresses in the
world. Roger Bara and I have taken a shine to their "cheese toasties".
Still at our age, you have to get your excitement where you can. Their
egg rolls aren't bad either. But it's the menu that's most perplexing.
In bold letters it informs you "our egg salad rolls contain salad".
There's no
arguing with that. I wouldn't say the service is bad, nor is it not attentive.
It's forthright. Orders are requested with brisk efficiency, the food
is disptached promptly and the bill must be paid on demand before you've
even sipped you tea or mucnhed your toastie. Must be a local custom?
Whilst I've
been here in Shetland covering the most exciting of international competitions
at this XI Island Games, enjoying such a variety of performances in fifteen
superb sports, I have been unable to attend Jersey's most important sports
event.
 |
| Laura
and friends at JCG sports day |
Yesterday
my absence was noted at the Jersey College for Girls annual Sports Day.
My seven year-old daughter Laura and her friend Reuben Taylor (大象传媒 Radio
Jersey''s Phil Taylor's son) were competing in a range of races aimed
at Key Stage Two Classes.
The reports
I've received is they're both potential Island Games competitors of the
future. Isn't that typical. Just as I gain my own Island Games status,
my sporting potential will be eclipsed by my daughter鈥..Suppose
I'd better get used to it.
Submitted by Matthew Price |
Permalink
| Comments
| 15 July 2005 at 18:00
THURSDAY,
14 JULY
Falling
flags and yellow socks
It's a tough life on the road for the 大象传媒. It's been one of those days
when I've been forced to sample some local delicacies here in Shetland.
But first I have to report I was taken to account at the breakfast table.
 |
| Matthew
Price arriving at 大象传媒 Shetland |
I
reported yesterday about our waitress Rhanna. She keeps us fed at breakfast
time. It seems not only did I spell her name incorrectly, but I attributed
it's origins to the wrong author.
Rhanna
Turbeville is named after the fictitious island created in a book by Christian
Marrion Fraser and not Sir Walter Scott. I've made amends by inviting
her to join us at Brent's 25th birthday party on Saturday. It's fast becoming
the hottest ticket in Sumburgh. Still, look on the bright-side, at least
we only got served white toast this morning - things are looking up!
Whilst I'm
in an apologetic mode, Jacquie has also requested clarification. She was
the recipient of the bouquet. She would like it to be known she didn't
give the flowers to her Grandmother as I erroneously suggested yesterday.
 |
| 大象传媒
Jersey Team |
Her Grandmother
is from Orkney and is presently staying with Jacquie's family in Shetland.
It transpires she just likes to re-arrange the blooms, not claim them
for herself. Jacquie says she likes the flowers, but denies any knowledge
as to who might have sent them. It seems the accompanying card contained
a cryptic message and was un-signed. (Perhaps you could en-lighten her?).
On top of
all this excitement, I've also met the man who broke his leg when he was
taken on a late-night visit to Jarlshof. (see my previous BLOG) He confessed
all last evening.
He's one
of the excellent chef's at our hotel. It was two years ago he went "walking
in the moonlight" like our brave colleague, but came-a-cropper in
the darkness.
Darren is
such a perfectionist, he stayed more than two hours late last night to
ensure our team of intrepid reporters were properly fed after a long day
at the Island Games.
When they
finally returned around eleven, there was excellent salmon, superb seafood
salad and divine roast lamb on the menu.
 |
| 大象传媒
Guernsey Team |
And talking
of food, it's been a good day on that front. I met up with Tom Graham.
He's the man behind the only company in Shetland which makes ice-cream
- "Bloo Coo".
Our intrepid
team of adventurers had discovered this early on, when the mint choc chip,
the chocolate ripple and the cherry flavours all became firm favourites.
Tom once
worked at "The Stocks" in Sark and met his wife there. These
days they've two young boys and are happily settled in Shetland. I can
confirm the "apple crumble ice-cream" is to die for.
If that wasn't
enough I got to sample "Puffin Poo" too. This is made by the
Shetland Fudge Company. It's not as stomach-churning as the name suggests.
Given we can boast our own puffin population in the islands, there's a
natural affinity.
Caroline
Browning moved from Leeds to Shetland more than a decade ago and now makes
confectionery using only local island ingredients. The "poo"
consists of marshmallow, white chocolate and coconut. All very acceptable.
Just as "Shetland Rock" too. This is blue and white seaside
rock with the new blue and white Shetland Flag right through the middle.
On tasting
it Roger Bara was immediately transported back half a century to a family
holiday at Hunstanton. Oh, the remarkable properties of food colouring
and sugar鈥.
I'm worried
about Roger. His socks have gone yellow. Not known for his sartorial elegance,
Mr Bara can "scrub-up" pretty well when necessary. But his feet
are letting him down.
Yellow socks
are not especially fetching and ceratinly not the done-thing in Shetland.
Apparently they'd begun their lives "brilliant white" but the
hotel laundry service experienced a little hiatus the other day! No names,
no pack-drill and no worries. All is well. Roger's yellow socks have been
turned to our advantage. We're telling everyone he's wearing Sark's colours.
And when
it comes to "flying the flag" for our islands, I too have a
confession. Upon our arrival at 大象传媒 Radio Shetland, we set up "Channel
Island's Camp" in their large reception area. To "mark-out"
our territory we've been flying the Jersey flag in one corner and the
Guernsey flag in another.
We stuck
the Shetland flag in the Radio Newsroom in the interests of inter-island
harmony and understanding. Sadly the Alderney and Sark flags I ordered
never arrived. (thank goodness for Roger's yellow socks).
The problem
- as you might expect - is the Guernsey flag. It won't stay on the wall.
Everyday, without fail, it falls down. We don't know why this is. The
Jersey and Shetland flags remain resolutely in place.Not so Guernsey's
emblem.
So, it falls
to me to tape it up, again and again and again鈥..I think that may
be pushing inter-island harmony a step too far. There's certainly no sign
of the Orkney flag anywhere at 大象传媒 Radio Shetland鈥..
Did I tell
you about the doughnuts? I purchased a packet of six only yesterday. The
bag said they were jam. But they weren鈥檛. They contained custard.
Fotunately the dough was fresh and tasty, the filling plentiful and after
a long day out and about, a swift sugar burst is just what you need.
Our engineer
Ken Park enjoyed his so much, it seemed a shame to leave a lone delicacy
at the bottom of the bag. So that one went too. Unfortunately Grant Coleman
had already placed his name against it. It was not to be and they've not
been speaking since鈥..
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 14 July 2005 at 18:00
WEDNESDAY,
13 JULY
GUEST POST
(Simon Fairclough )
The
bridge to Burra
I'm becoming
one of the better travelled in the Shetland Islands on this trip.
Having
made the pilgrimage north to Unst a week ago, taking in the island of
Yell on the way, (which you may have read about in an earlier blog) I
was assigned to covering the Guernsey men's football match in Burra.
 |
| Bridge
to Burra |
Burra is
a small island off the west coast of the mainland, but unlike the larger
islands to the north it has two bridges which take you there, incorporating
a game of dare along the single carriageway of each span!
The drive
from Lerwick takes you over one of the narrower parts of the mainland
(some six miles), and shortly before the pretty fishing village of Scalloway
you turn off following signs for Hamnavoe - the "capital" of
Burra.
The backdrop
for the football pitch has to be the most picturesque of any football
ground I have ever been to or played on.
And the memory
of sitting amongst Guernsey's athletes, who were supporting the team in
large numbers, whilst reporting on the match and looking out north across
the pitch up the coast will live with me forever.
 |
| Guernsey
Support |
The game
wasn't half bad either - a 6-0 win for the Sarnians over Greenland on
a tight sloping pitch, followed immediately by news of Ynys Mon's failure
to beat the Western Isles, thus guaranteeing a place in the final for
Guernsey.
I interviewed
manager Steve Ogier with the sound of the squad singing "gold"
in the dressing room behind us.
A perfect
day for everyone - I just hope the players are more in tune come Friday
at Gilbertson Park, where the Final awaits!
Submitted by Simon Fairclough |
Permalink
| Comments
| 13 July 2005 at 19:30
TUESDAY, 12 JULY
Representing
Jersey
It's official. After four years living in Jersey I am now
qualified to represent my island in international sporting competition.
The
dilemma I face is which sport? Now I'm the wrong side of forty so many
sports at which I might once have excelled are beyond me. Others require
years of training, total commitment and even a modicum of ability.
I am torn. I don't know which way to jump鈥.although having said
that my boss did say if things didn't improve soon I'd be for the high
jump! So maybe he's spotted my sporting potential after all?
 |
| Emma
Douglas |
I've invited
callers to the 大象传媒 Radio Jersey phone-in to select in which sport I would
be best suited to represent the island.
So far, the
suggestions have been less than flattering鈥.the "belly flop"
could be my gold for the taking in the pool, the egg and spoon race my
chance for glory on the track and I've lost sight of the numbers of people
who've suggested I should be shot - so maybe I have a hope on the rifle
range ?
It was my
colleague Roisn Gauson who pointed out we have real athletic talent in
our midst. The Jersey gymnast Ben Frith took Gold today in the Men's Pommel
at Scalloway.
She was there
for 大象传媒 Spotlight for the Channel Islands and we marvelled at the agility
and experience we saw before us. Some of the gymnasts were as young as
thirteen, others older.
The Jersey
Gymnasts did well, but those from Bermuda were even better. I've never
seen anything quite like them. In most categories they captured the top
five places鈥.quite remarkable. (to borrow the words of David Coleman).
So how does
Jersey fight back ? Roisin had the answer. Our colleague Emma Douglas
is a former international gymnast. You'll see her most evenings on Spotlight.
But once
a gymnast, always a gymnast. When we get back to Jersey, we're enrolling
her as a member of the Jersey team - and four years from now she'll be
eligible to represent the island in Aland. (sadly there'll be no gymnastics
in Rhodes in 2007). We reckon she's a dead cert for a Gold medal.
And there's
hope for me too鈥.Aoland are proposing Ten Pin Bowling be included
in the 2009 Games - that sounds like one sport I might be able to acquire
some ability in over the next 48 months.
So what of
our present 大象传媒 Island Games team, I promised you an update on their condition.
We're all shattered. No-one's complaining. We knew we'd be working long
and demanding hours. The days start early and finish late.
But it's
such fun ensuring the islands receive the most up-to-date news on the
success of their athletes here in Shetland. Roger Bara, Isla Blatchford
and Simon Fairclough, along with Brent Pilnick are the early-risers. Up
at six, they bring you the results in detailed breakfast bulletins on
大象传媒 Radio Jersey and 大象传媒 Radio Guernsey.
Breakfast
is at eight when the whole team comes together. Rhana is the person we
need to thank for keeping us well-fed. She's the delightful breakfast
waitress at our hotel. (delightful is Crispin's word - not mine).
She's named
after a fictitious Scottish Island in a novel by that great Scottish writer
Sir Walter Scott. Apart from that she retains an air of mystery about
her鈥.however we do believe she may have a surprise or two in store
when the team meets to celebrate Brent's birthday on Saturday.
There are
a number of breakfast mysteries too. Why do we all prefer paoched eggs?
Why do the kindly staff supply brown toast when we all asked for white?
How come Ken Park gets served baked beans, when they're not on the menu?
What do Roisin Gauson and Isla Blatchford do with a whole jug of iced
water ? And why does Grant Coleman never get the tea ? And then there's
the mystery of the box of "seeds" strangely spread on brown
bread by one of our number鈥.?
By the time
it's twenty to nine the breakfast bulletins and breakfast itself is over
and then it's time for our planning meeting鈥..more of which tomorrow鈥︹nd
the update on the flowers鈥er Grandmother loved them!
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 12 July 2005 at 19:30
MONDAY, 11 JULY
Isla
at the Island Games
(but the Pom Pom girls clinched it for me鈥︹)
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"?).
 |
| Isla
meets Isla |
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鈥.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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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鈥.and
as our photo shows both Isla's have now met and get along famously鈥..
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 11 July 2005 at 21:30
Sausages
for Supper
I'm pleased to report none of our
party have any broken bones! The colleague who went on the moonlight escapade
to Jarlshof returned to the hotel in one piece. I suppose it's testimony
to the warmth of the welcome we've received here in Shetland. Wherever
you go, the people we've met have been universally friendly, interested
to know more about the Channel Islands and keen to share their own memories
of having visited Jersey or Guernsey in the past.
As we're just half-way through our island
odyssey, maybe it's time to take stock and to report on the condition
of the 大象传媒 team.
It's almost eleven on Monday night and we're
all hunched over computer screens, editing windows and television cameras
preparing the news bulletins, television reports and web pages you'll
see and hear on Tuesday. There's a frantic air of cameraderie about the
place. In a neighbouring room there are colleagues from 大象传媒 Radio Shetland
and 大象传媒 Radio Orkney doing much the same thing.
It's amazing how these so-called "friendly
games" can bring old foes together - besides the harmony that's broken
out between our Jersey and Guernsey co-workers - the Orcadians are even
talking to the Shetlanders.
On top of that, after Jersey scored a magnificent
victory over hosts Shetland in the Team Badminton event tonight, Jane
Moncrieff from 大象传媒 Radio Shetland still found room in her heart (and her
battered Audi) to drive me and Roisin Gauson back to base from the sports
centre. The Jersey team were in excellent form and as you'll read elsewhere
it was a famous victory! Oh, by the way, Guernsey won the bronze鈥..
Our engineer Ken Park is a man of many talents.
He's gone to the chip shop, laden with a weighty order on our behalf.
The Shetlanders have a lovely way with words. What to you or me may be
a simple portion of fish and chips becomes the quaintly named "fish supper",
"sausage supper" or even "haggis supper" once the order is placed over
the counter. The Shetlanders are pleased to "batter" most foodstuffs on
your behalf and after a long and tiring day, they taste mighty fine. (Incidentally,
even if you order fish and chips at lunch-time - it's still called a "fish
supper").
So, what state are we all in ?
Brent Pilnick still has a swollen eye. His
right eye blew up the other day and we whisked him off to the local hospital
for a medical opinion. With no sense of irony they told him he was allergic
to Shetland Ponies! It seems he'd been patting one angelic looking little
foal, without realising he'd then rubbed his eye with same hand. A course
of medicine later and things are getting better鈥ut Brent has vowed
never to go near a pony again. His scheduled appearance at the "Horse
of the Year Show" has been cancelled.
Roger Bara never sleeps. His room is home
to our make-shift studio and so is in constant use. It makes the Weighbridge
on a Saturday night look like a walk in the park. There's a constant flow
of people in and out, in various states of dress and undress at various
times of the day. Each demands their time on the computer or behind the
microphone. Roger just sits on the bed, makes a cup of tea or looks wistfully
out of the window while all this unfolds in front of him鈥︹nd
yes you did hear him taking a shower during Sunday's Jersey Today, just
after the interview with the Bishop of Tanzania!
More on the intrigues of our makeshift studio
another day鈥..but before I tuck into my "sausage supper" there's
just time to let you know one of our party has been to the florists鈥.the
flowers look and smell beautiful. Sad to say, at present we don't know
who the lucky recipient will be鈥..
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 11 July 2005 at 20:30
SUNDAY,
10 JULY
Dancing
in the moonlight
We work very odd hours at the 大象传媒. And now the
Island Games are officially underway, those hours have become even more
unpredictible. Roger Bara is broadcasting on 大象传媒 Radio Jersey from his
"bedroom studio" at 0635, 0735 and 0835 every morning. Isla
Blatchford and Simon Fairclough are doing the same on 大象传媒 Radio Guernsey
at 0725 and 0825.
Whichever way you look at it - it's an early start. And
then there's the lunchtime and early evening reports too.
Trouble is an early start is preceded by a late night.
Much of the competition in these Games goes on until around ten each night.
大象传媒 Radio Shetland is some half an hours drive from where we're based
in Sumburgh.
Consequently there's much to-ing and fro-ing at "odd"
times of the day and night! That's why we've coined the phrase "alternative
shift patterns".
This explains why some colleagues can be back at the
hotel in time for a swift drink and a sandwich before turning in, whilst
others remain in Lerwick turning around TV pictures for 大象传媒 Spotlight
CI, loading images on to the 大象传媒 Jersey website or filing news and information
for 大象传媒 Radio Jersey.
However, for those who do make it back to the Sumburgh
Hotel, there's an attentive staff on hand to pander to their every need.
From my perspective - now I am on the slippery slope
away from 40 - the team at the hotel all look impossibly young鈥.still
Andrew (he's the one in the middle) must be old enough to drive because
he's just bought a new car (send us an email and tell us all about it).
As for the two ladies, it would be impolite to try and guess鈥.
We're being well looked after, with meals served at unusual
times, the odd glass of wine nursed for an entire evening and even the
occasional pint of the local beer "Simmer Dim",brewed here in
Shetland being quaffed.
Our engineer Ken says it passes muster, so it must be
good. It's named after the strange effect common in Shetland at this time
of year when the sun never quite sets in the sky and, as you've learned,
if you stay up late enough you can see the sun set and then rise again
within an hour or so.
One of our party is being looked after more attentively
than most. I will spare his blushes. Two nights ago, he went for a walk
in the moonlight with four or five of the younger members of staff.
I believe most were of the female persuasion. Before
they left Gail - who seems to be in charge of most things at the hotel
- warned them to take care鈥"Remember what happened to the last
man you took to Jarlshof ?" The "Famous Five" promised
our enthusiastic and trusting colleague would be returned safely and with
all his limbs intact.
Apparently a less hardy soul than he had gone on a similar
jaunt and returned many hours later with a broken ankle.
Fortunately Jarlsfof is not as foreboding as it sounds.
It's an ancient Viking settlement dating back some four hundred years
and located some couple of hundred yards from the hotel.
I'm told - and I'm still waiting for a second identifiable
source to verify this - the location is popular amongst courting couples
in search of an undisturbed "kiss and cuddle".
However some of the paths around this ancient settlement
are uneven, there are pieces of rock everywhere and the ground can become
slippery at night鈥︹ne could easily fall into another's arms
quite unintentionally.
Our friend and colleague was gone "some time"
and the Shetland moonlight glistened on the dark balck sea of the incoming
tide.
The peace of the night was disturbed by nothing more
than a distant groan (from the fog-horn) and the gentle hum (of a generator
firing up the electricity supply). What fate had befallen him ? Would
he return with every bit of his body functioning as it should ? Would
he ever be able to lift a television camera again ?
You'll have to wait until tomorrow鈥..unless he
- or one of his fellow explorers - posts a response first鈥︹.
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 10 July 2005 at 10:30
SATURDAY, 09 JULY
Weather
Obsession
It rained! You might think
I've become obsessed by the weather since arriving in Shetland, just under
a week ago. Well, you'd be right.
 |
| Opening
Ceremony |
Saturday dawned bright as we prepared
for the official opening of the Eleventh Island Games. And then things
started to slip a little鈥.
I was dispatched early to meet the Jersey
team as they arrived at Sumburgh Airport. Sadly they were delayed and
the two chartered aircraft finally left Jersey an hour late.
The Jersey team arrived in Shetland just
before two and then it was a three quarter of an hour coach ride to their
temporary home. They'll be aborad the MV Van Gogh berthed in Lerwick Harbour
for the duration of the games.
Roger Bara and I drove to Lerwick this
afternoon sandwiched between the two coaches carrying our Jersey competitors.
If only they'd realised a great sporting
icon (and Roger Bara!) was in the vehicle between them. I'd suggested
we got out at the traffic lights at Cunningsburgh to introduce ourselves,
but Roger was having none of it.
Actually, we have been joined by a real
sporting icon. Grant Coleman from 大象传媒 Sport arrived to augment our select
broadcasting team this afternoon.
He's been in Singapore this week to report
on the announcement that London is to host the 2012 Olympics. Now he's
here in Shetland. It's cooler but wetter than Singapore, but the atmosphere
is just as exciting.
Torrential rain and a cold
wind failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Shetland Islanders as they
prepared for six days of competition in fifteen sports.听
The opening ceremony at
the Clickimin Leisure Centre began ten minutes ahead of schedule and lasted
just over an hour, to spare competitors and spectators alike from being
kept out in the rain too long.
In the four years since
they were awarded the games Shetland Islanders have improved all their
sporting facilities and built new competition halls and pitches. The organisers
spoke of the legacy of achievement these games will leave.
The traditional water ceremony
was augmented by an unseasonal downpour, but the athletes eager to begin
the competition remained undaunted.
Special mention must go
to Brent Pilnick and Grant Coleman who endured the wind and the rain to
commentate on the opening ceremony for listeners to 大象传媒 Radio Jersey and
大象传媒 Radio Guernsey.
And none of that would
have been possible without the technical brilliance and resourcefulness
of our engineer Ken Park.
He's packed everything
apart from the kitchen sink鈥o when he realised his beloved "kit"
might get wet鈥.a small one man tent was erected alongside the running
track!
So maybe if I want to do
the washing up鈥e might be able to help after all鈥︹.?
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 09 July 2005 at 21:30
GUEST
POST (Simon Fairclough )
The
Great Northern Odyssey
We set out on what can only be described as an Odyssey to find
our way to the most northerly point in the British Isles.
 |
| Road
Sign |
After leaving Lerwick behind we wended our way up the
A970 which forms the spine of the Mainland towards Aith.听
Taking in some stunning views along the western coast
and the island of Burra we come across the rather unfortunately named
hamlet of Twatt.听
Photographs are taken by the sign, which according to
the local constabulary has been vandalised on more than one occasion.
Onwards past the village of Aith, which like many of the
small settlements in Shetland, boasts a small yet impressive leisure complex.听
Volleyball will be played here, as well as back in the Clickimin Leisure
Centre in Lerwick.
In amongst the rolling moors and hills, interspersed by
long lochs you almost stumble upon the oil handling facility at Sullum
Voe, the largest of its kind in Europe.
 |
| Brent
Pilnick in the bus stop |
We are turned back after a 鈥渓ockdown鈥 following
the tragic events which are unfolding in London the same day 鈥 with
operators BP clearly taking no chances with unfamiliar media faces from
the Channel Islands.
Undistracted from our aim we hit the road once again and
wind down towards the small ferry port of Toft.听 The caf茅
is home to 鈥淒a twelve Shetland Apostles鈥, and the usual warm
Shetlandish welcome.
We are advised to look out for whales on the short fifteen
minute ferry journey from the mainland to Yell and the scenery is simply
breathtaking.
One can鈥檛 but help feeling sorry for the inhabitants
of Yell 鈥 which you feel you just have to do 鈥 as you speed
across their island as many others do, to make sure they are in queue
for the next ferry north to the most northerly inhabited island of Unst.
Now you really do feel as if you鈥檝e arrived in the
northerly most outpost of the British Isles.听 We top up the car at
the most northern garage and find out that the owner recently visited
the most southerly church in Jersey.听 It is a small world.
Amazingly, despite boasting the most northerly post office,
pub, house etc. the locals do not seem to have gone to town on exploiting
the fact with the few visitors who have dared venture this far up country.
Only the bus stop, complete with collection of books,
sofa, carpet, computer and keyboard seems to be the focus of attention.
Yet there鈥檚 still further to
go 鈥 another five miles beyond Haroldswick to the most northerly
house (complete with upturned boat roof) and beach where all you can do
is paddle and marvel at the beauty, peace and tranquillity that awaits
鈥
Submitted by Simon Fairclough |
Permalink
| Comments
| 09 July 2005 at 20:30
FRIDAY, 08 JULY
Summer
has arrived
It's official summer has arrived in Shetland! The temperature today has
reached 17 celsius and Isla Blatchford - one of our colleagues from 大象传媒
Radio Guernsey - is sunburnt. She went off to visit Bray yesterday.
 |
| Shetland
Sunset |
It's where the Island Games sailing events and some of
the cycling will be staged. It also boasts the most northerly artificial
football pitch in the British Isles.
I think the deceptively overcast skies and the brisk breeze may have lulled
Isla into a false sense of security that she didn't need sunblock.
But this morning I can vouch she has salmon-pink arms
and a plunging neckline that looks more than a little red. Volunteers
are queing up to apply the appropriate "after-sun" remedy.
As we've told you before, the sun in Shetland is ever-present.
As we explore the most northerly parts of the British Isles it's apparent
the sun never really sets. Yesterday, we returned to the 大象传媒 base at Sumburgh
around eight, had a bite to eat and then sat chattting about the days
events.
We were depleted in numbers as Brent Pilnick had taken
Ken Park and Simon Fairclough to the isle of Unst . By the time they returned
it was nearly 11 and it was still daylight - a remarkable feeling.
When we finally realised the sun was just setting, our
merry team adjourned to the car park to watch it go down鈥.a beautiful
sight.
It was strangely quiet and warm, so Crispin Rolfe ordered another bottle
of wine and we "put-the world to rights"鈥..an hour or
so later (there's a lot to put right) three of us decided to turn-in -
it was 0245 - just as the sun was rising again鈥n incredible experience
to watch the sun set and rise again in a most stunning location, within
three hours.
If you think this BLOG is a new experience for me, you
should see me struggle to come to terms with texting. I'm a late convert
to mobile phones having only acquired one when I moved to Jersey four
years ago.
I'm doing my best, but text messages are so fiddly. Friends
and colleagues have come to expect brief responses from me - a simple
yes or no or even "ta" in reply to the most complicated of requests.
When I do manage to text longer missives, they can sometimes
go astray. I'd transposed the phone numbers of two friends in my internal
phone-book. Not a problem usually as I know their respective numbers and
dial them manually.
However, when I sent a text meant for one, to the other鈥t
wasn't my finest moment and more than a little confusing!
I mention this because I don't get many texts. (Billy
no mates I'm told) In fact since I've been in Shetland, things have improved
greatly on this front. I now get two each day - some one hundred percent
improvement on the average.
As we drive to and from Lerwick in the morning and then
back again late at night we pass through the settlement of Cunningsburgh.
Without fail, the phone goes "ping" and a text arrives鈥.how
exciting, who could it be ?, which of my friends is missing me? , what's
the latest gossip from Jersey?
I'm getting quite a reputation amongst my colleagues
here in Shetland for being so popular and they want to know who my mystery
"texter" is - making contact twice a day at the same time and
place. For me, I'm just grateful O2 is welcoming me to their network鈥︹.
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 08 July 2005 at 18:30
GUEST
POST (Isla Blatchford)
Trip
up north
Yesterday I took a trip even further North to the town of Brae. Sailing,
Sailboarding, Shooting and Cycling will all be taking place there.
It was such a sunny day that I as I spent an hour or so walking around
the different venues I managed to turn myself a rather delicate shade
of pink! It's an achievement to get sunburnt in Shetland I suppose!
I also managed to catch up with a friend of my Mum's
from school. Marlene and I had never met before but in the good scottish
tradition that didn't stop us having a good old blether (chat).
She took me on a trip to show me some of the sights that area of Shetland
has to offer. I saw the North Sea meeting the Atlantic, salmon in cages
in the sea jumping out of the water, some of the other islands in the
distance which looked like they were sitting on clouds as well as getting
all the gossip and news only a local can add to a tour鈥.
Eshaness was stunnning, looking out over the cliff at
the water swirling below. It was quite hard to keep track of exactly where
I was on the map and have since had to have a look to see. The colours
in that area were particularly impressive, with Red and volcanic rocks
on display.
Submitted by Isla Blatchford | Permalink
| Comments
| 08 July 2005 at 18:20
THURSDAY, 07 JULY
Frisky
with a pony
I'm worried we're getting too close to some of the local wildlife.
Another filming trip for 大象传媒 Spotlight took us to a remote farm some three
miles outside of Lerwick.
 |
| Roisin
Gauson getting friendly with a pony |
This farm, which overlooks Scalloway boasts the oldest
established herd of Shetland ponies in the island. It belongs to the Smith
family, who have been breeding minatures for years.
Their stock at Berry Farm on the west coast is so highly thought of in
showing circles that the ponies often fetch high prices at the annual
sales and have been exported as far afield as America.
To achieve success in the show ring, a Shetland pony
should move well, have good confirmation, presence and temperament. The
Flaws family - who live at Sumburgh in the south of Shetland - have had
many successes both locally and across the water with their slightly larger
standard ponies.
The family-run stud still breeds from several mares each year, and stock
can be found across Europe and even on other islands.
So as the other islands prepare to come to Shetland for
the eleventh Island Games, it's in many ways thanks to this small, hairy
pony that a piece of Shetland will remain in many corners of the world
for years to come.
And talking of small ponies, I do have to report Roisin
Gauson is developing a "Colt" following鈥hilst visiting
these farms to film her report, one "frisky" pony took a shine
to our Rosh.
She turned her back and before she knew it鈥he small creature had
both hooves on her back and wanted to become affectionate (you've seen
the Weighbridge on a Saturday night!).
 |
| Filskit |
Fortunately she escpaed unhurt with just a pair of dirty
jeans carrying some pretty impressive hoofmarks.
Still, it does let me tell you about the games' mascot
called "Filskit", a name which means 'highly spirited, mischevious
and excitable' in Shetlandic.
He is already so dear to many islanders hearts and has captured the imagination
of our 大象传媒 team too. Perhaps this other pony was just living up to Filskit's
reputation?
Having purchased "Daniel the Donkey" in Guernsey two years ago,
my life won't be worth living if I don't return to Jersey with a Filskit
too. My seven year-old daughter Laura is waiting at home patiently鈥.
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 07 July 2005 at 18:50
"Think
of the paperwork"
They say variety is the spice of life and here in Shetland everyday is
different. The weather changes here more often than Brent Pilnick changes
his underwear.
As Roger says one minute you're driving through thick
fog, the next it's all blue sky and (relatively) warm sunshine.
Roisin Gauson and I headed off to Scalloway - the ancient capital of Shetland
- in search of an internationally-known college which teaches the skills
required of North Sea Fishermen.
The day had dawned mild but dry, but no sooner than we were on the road,
our little car was buffetted by strong winds and torrential rain. And
then the fog came down鈥.
An hour later and some thirty miles down the road, we
drove into Scalloway, past it's ruined castle and into the town. You can
tell this is a town, by Shetland standards, because there were at least
two shops, a bottle bank and even a Youth Club. The view from here is
one of the most stunning in the islands.
The green hills come down to the sea, bathed in swirling mists and surrounded
by craggy countryside. The fields are full of sheep or Shetland ponies
and everyone makes time to stop and speak and pass the time of day. The
sea was cold, grey and rough. When we got out of the car, we were nearly
blown over. Not the best kind of conditions in which to attempt filming
a report for 大象传媒 Spotlight.
It's a good story. This college has a reputation second-to-none.
Largely funded by grants from the European Union, it teaches and trains
the next generation of sea-faring folk from Master Mariners to Trawlermen.
Twenty percent of people in Shetland still rely on the fishing tade for
their livelihoods.
The college can re-create what life is like on the bridge of a ferry plying
it's way between the many islands, or help a rookie fisherman identify
the correct catch. Better still, whilst they're being trained the students
are paid a grant.
They come from Shetland and Orkney and from Scandanavia. We were told
it'll only be a matter of time before there are people from Jersey and
Guernsey studying there too.
I instructed Roisin not to fall in the water - survival
rates at this time of year are only 20 minutes and think of all the paperwork
- and then left her to film the flotilla of fishing boats moored alongside
the quay.
As a true investigative reporter, I went in search of the real story -
something to eat! The fish restaurant alongside the college is one of
the best in the island and had come highly recommended.
Just one problem鈥.when we arrived, it was closed鈥..for lunch!
Or rather so the staff could have theirs鈥..
Nothing left to do, we headed back into town to the only
other place serving food - The Scalloway Caf茅. Battered haggis
and chips was the order of the day. Who says healthy eating is a chore?
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 07 July 2005 at 16:30
GUEST
POST (Roger Bara)
The
trick of the clock
It's quite a surreal existence for me, as we approach to within two days
of the start of the Games.
 |
| Roger Bara
at the Island Games |
Normally, your hotel room becomes home - somewhere to
close yourself away from the day's activities - but in my case, my room
at the Sumburgh Hotel, right on the southernmost tip of the Shetland Islands,
is now a fully operational radio studio and office.
And everyone uses it - so at anytime during the day,
there's hordes of 大象传媒 colleagues in and out, and privacy is at a premium.
Good job I like the guys and gals with whom I work鈥︹︹︹︹︹︹︹..
 |
| Morning Fog |
The weather today is sunny and around 16C - in most parts.
But, worryingly perhaps with the Jersey team due to land here on Saturday,
the airport at Sumburgh is completely enveloped in fog.
Look at the view from my bedroom window this morning - the nearby airport
is normally clearly visible - not today. Visibility was down to 100 metres
at times.
One of the most extraordinary experiences happens every
single evening - it simply doesn't get completely dark. And with the sun
not setting until ten-thirty, the light fades extremely slowly.
 |
| Clock tower |
So when you look at your watch, thinking it's around
7pm, it can be a nasty shock to find it's actually nearer 11pm!
The picture of the clock tower was taken at ten o'clock at night, though
you might think from the light it's actually ten in the morning.
Finally, spare a thought for my colleague Brent Pilnick.
He had to go to the hospital this morning after his right eye started
streaming and swelling up. It transpires that he's allergic to Shetland
Ponies! Seriously. But a dose of anti-histamine tablets seems to be doing
the trick.
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 07 July 2005 at 14:30
WEDNESDAY, 06 JULY
Money
for old tunes
We've solved the problem of the Jukebox. According to one of my colleagues
it has an aversion to playing the "80's tat" I select. The truth
is less prosaic. Some of the CD's it contains are worn out - but it's
a lottery as to which ones work and which don't.
 |
| Roisin Gauson,
The Jukebox and Matthew Price |
Personally it's costing me a fortune, the tunes I want
to hear seem to be among those which have vanished from the system (Eva
Cassidy singing "Fields of Gold" isn't that depressing - surely?).
At a pound a time for five selections I'm averaging just
one in six and, as usual as our own Roger Bara never carries any cash,
I'm having to pay for his tunes too. If we hear "It's a Heartache"
by Bonnie Tyler again鈥teps will have to be taken.
On the musical front Roger's piano playing and my sometime
public performances on stage at the Opera House appear to have preceded
us.
Roger's been booked to play a selection of "Jersey
tunes" on 大象传媒 Radio Shetland next week, as part of their games coverage.
For my part, a crash course learning the words to "Ma Normandie"
could be just what the Scottish radio audience has been lacking.
It's bad news on the pool table too. Some of the "regulars"
at our hotel have realised some of the Jersey team are not as able on
the sporting front as others. I hate to see grown men cry, but Brent Pilnick
losing twice is one evening, brings a lump to the throat.
Two island women were the top pool players to put paid
to any pretence Brent stood any chance of representing our island in the
games.
He retired to bed earlier than usual. Roger Bara lost
his crown too. Although still unbeaten amongst his colleagues, the "locals"
saw through his tactics and even a lst-minute flurry of impressive ball-potting
was to no avail.
Those "Channel Islanders" haven't got what
it takes on the table鈥..but we have been invited to a Karaoke party
on Saturday..so maybe my singing will be better than Roger's pool?
We've bought Jersey and Guernsey flags today and I'm
planning to ask our hotelier to fly them from his flagpoles whenever we're
in residence. Island pride is at stake...
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 06 July 2005 at 18:00
Orange
overalls and a random jukebox
It seems a while since Sunday, when the 大象传媒 Jersey team set off
on it's odyssey to Shetland for the Island Games 2005. We're the advance
party from our rock, the competitors don't fly in until Saturday.
 |
| Roger Bara
beating Brent Pilnick at Pool |
The trip here - covering some 1,100 miles was simple
enough. Jersey - Gatwick - Aberdeen saw us two thirds of the way, with
the final leg taking us to the Shetland airport at Sumburgh.
This is at the most southerly tip of the most southerly
island and thankfully doesn't succumb to the thick fog that seems to have
enveloped us since we've been here.
I know it's not Hong Kong - there's not a high rise building
in site - but the runway seems impossibly short and the pilots conduct
some pretty impressive loop-the-loops before touching down safely. The
main road to Lerwick - some 23 miles away - runs across the edge of the
runway.
Spare a thought for the two men - one in orange overalls,
the other in yellow who sit in little huts at each end of the aiport and
manually open and close the gates across the main road, everytime a plane
lands or takes off.
Our hotel is just a few hundred yards away and that's
where the 大象传媒 team from the Channel Islands is based.
Over the next few days I'll take you on a journey of
discovery as to how life is lived behind the scenes at the Island Games.
It's a journey that begins in Roger Bara's bedroom (!) and ends at the
pool table in the lounge bar.
And maybe you can help me understand a juke-box that
never seems to play the tunes I've selected? Modern technology and our
engineer Ken Park are stumped on that one.
Although only one of our team - Rosin Gauson - has ever
competed in the Island Games, we're not short of our own home-grown sporting
icons. Just last night Roger Bara creamed the "Young Turk" Brent
Pilnick on the pool table.
They're convinced Pool could become a demonstration sport
in Rhodes two years from now鈥.the only demonstration I saw was
Mr Pilnick flounce out of the room, still shocked at having been beaten
by a much older man.
Submitted by Matthew Price | Permalink
| Comments
| 06 July 2005 at 15:30
|
