You know what makes me grumpy? All the Grumpy Old Men who appeared on the BBC TV series were younger than me, that's what makes me grumpy. Mutter, mutter....

The Grumpy Old Artist

The Grumpy Old Artist
Would YOU pose for this man???

Exhibition Poster

Exhibition Poster
Catterline Event, 2011

Oil Painting by Jim Tait

Oil Painting by Jim Tait
Helford River, Cornwall

Oil Painting by Jim Tait

Oil Painting by Jim Tait
Full-riggers "Georg Stage" and "Danmark"

Other Recent Works

Other Recent Works
Fordyce Castle and Village

Hay's Dock, Lerwick

Shetland-model Boats at Burravoe, Yell

Tall Ships Seascape

The Tour Boat "Dunter III", with Gannets, off Noss

The "Karen Ann II" entering Fraserburgh harbour

Summer Evening, Boyndie Bay

1930s Lerwick Harbour

Johnshaven Harbour

"Seabourn Legend"

Greeting Cards!

Greeting Cards!
Now Available in Packs of Five or in Assorted Sets of Four

Sunday 21 February 2010

SIMON KING'S SHETLAND

I watched the final episode, as I did the previous two, of Simon King's Shetland, on BBC2 on Thursday evening. As did, I suspect, most of the population of my native islands, I couldn't help being affected by his obvious love for this archipelago and its wildlife. It has to be said that the summer he picked for this enterprise was one of the best in living memory, although I suspect that, had it rained for most of the time (as it did only 200 miles south in Aberdeen), his enthusiasm would have been none the less. After all, he did see the other less beneficent side of the place during a winter visit too.

The series had some breathtaking scenes, such as abseiling down the cliffs of Noss to place mini-cameras at a gannet's nest, and the winter crossing of a burn in spate at the beach "up nort". It also had its comical interludes, such as the visit to Lastditchology, and little Savannah chasing a "shalder". All of these elements, and the spectacular otter, killer whale and gannet photography, combine to make this a memorable series.

Now I wonder how Shetland is going to cope with the multitude of visitors who will descend, like a plague of clod-hopping locusts, on the islands next summer. No doubt they will experience the other, more familiar, kind of "simmer dim" - the one which is permanently shrouded in permadrizzle! I always feel sorry for these damp cagoule-clad pilgrims wandering the hills and roads in a fog of misery, their eyes glazed in an expression which says, "Why didn't we go to Benidorm?"

Seriously though, Simon and his family have produced a masterpiece here. The superb camera work (which was not without its problems), coupled with the presenter's knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, his subject, have resulted in one of the best ever showcases for Shetland. Whether this was his intention or not, he has produced, for the wildlife of these islands, what Aly Bain's Shetland Sessions did for its music. That is no mean achievement, and he is to be congratulated on it.

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