Quite apt that Original 106’s Shetland correspondent (that’s me by the way) should be doing the travel reports on the breakfast show the morning that Shetland features in the news twice.

Firstly it has been claimed that Shetland is home to the fattest people in Britain.  Not so apt then that Original 106’s Shetland correspondent is probably Shetlands thinnest man (I weigh in at an impressive 8 and a half stone by the way).  I was having a think of people I know from Shetland who are obese and I can’t think of anyone. I’m sure that report can’t be right.

Secondly, Shetland has been the sunniest place in the UK this month. Not so apt then that Original 106’s Shetland correspondent hasn’t been on the island at all in August. In fact I’ve only been on the island twice this year (and both times the weather was questionable). I can’t help but think this report is slightly inaccurate as you’ve got to bear in mind that in the summer the sun rises in Shetland quite a bit before most other places.

Oh and by the way, the station don’t employ me because I’m their Shetland correspondent, they get that bit for for free.

David

One of the most anticipated albums of the year for many, including me, is out on September 8th.

This still being the early days of my radio career and being my first year at a ‘proper’ radio station, it was quite an exciting moment for me recieving the promo ‘watermarked’ ‘embargoed’ copy of Glasvegas’s debut album. Watermarked in that if I were to leak it to the internet, they’d know who did it. Embargoed in that I can listen to it as many times as I want but I can’t play it on the radio till the 1st of September.

What was also quite exciting was getting to interview James and Rab from the band. All be it I was sitting in Aberdeen and they were sitting down a very long line in London (so I can’t claim I met them). Interesting Glasvegas fact, James used to play for Falkirk. He at least pretended to be slightly interested when I informed him that he helped my brother win the cup final in Championship Manager some years back.

I’m not too good at music reviewing. But I can say one thing, the album is completely worth the hype.

Look out for “Flowers and Football Tops”. The album version is more polished than all the demo versions on the internet, it also includes a hair raising chorus of “You Are My Sunshine” at the end of the track.

David

Brand new single, The Shock of The Lightning, Radio 1 on Friday 8.10am.

Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, 2nd November.

Exciting times.

Here are some Tweets from my Twitter profile.

• 15:59 Tall Ships are gone. #

And just like that Bergen is back to normal. When the Tall Ships left Lerwick in 1999 the place was a ghost town for about a month. It felt empty and depressing. Bergen is not like that tonight. If you had arrived in Bergen tonight, there would be very little to suggest for the last 5 days that the Tall Ships in town.

Well, very little evidence. The “Picton Castle” is still in the harbour. They’ve lost their ships cat of 11 years. Chibley was on board when they arrived on Friday, but now no where to be seen. It doesn’t look like they are in a hurry to leave without him.

Wasn’t too sure where I was going to watch the ships leave today, but as we crossed the Askøy bridge in the car it was clear that there was the place to stand. So I spent 3 hours this afternoon standing on a bridge. I took over 300 photos. Put the new camera to good use.

And the best weather of the past 5 days has been this evening. After the boats have left. I can’t imagine they will be going anywhere quickly, there is literally no wind. And Tall Ships rules state that they must use their sails and not their engines. Will be a long trip to Den Helder in the Netherlands.

David

Here are some Tweets from my Twitter profile.

• 08:57 Last day of the Tall Ships and it is chucking it down. #
• 22:23 Tall Ships leave tomorrow. Bergen will be empty. I leave Thursday. #

The Tall Ships continue in Bergen. Waved goodbye to Emma today. She is having to head back to Aberdeen for a resit in one of her exams. Had that been me I would have probably decided the exam wasn’t worth it, possibly the reason I’m not at uni?

Weather has been mixed. Perfect for the fireworks last night (above). Not so good for the parade this afternoon (below).

One thing about Bergen (and I’d imagine Norway and possibly Scandinavia as a whole), it’s very easy to spend lots of money on very little. 2 Cokes the other day at one of the outdoor bars was the equivalent of about 9 pounds. A pint (well, 500ml) of beer and a 500ml of cider came to the equivalent of £13. I recommend Bergen a lot to people, but never to those who I think would go on holiday to drink, can you see why?

Emma slowly drinking the very expensive drink.

David

Here are some Tweets from my Twitter profile.

• 14:23 The coke record has just been beaten. 86 kr for 2 glasses. Thats about 9 pounds! Worth it though. #
• 22:34 The Bergen fireworks were impressive. Especially seeing them from the funicular. #

Here are some Tweets from my Twitter profile.

• 15:41 Tall ships are arriving. Streets are packed. Sun is shining…. and I just spent 7 pounds on 2 Cokes! #
• 21:11 The Bergen beer fund lasted 4 drinks. Still having a good night though. #

The Tall Ships have started to arrive in Bergen ahead of the event starting tomorrow, and so far perfect weather for it.

There is always an atmosphere in Bergen, but it seems to be particularly good this weekend.

I’ll update my blog over the next few days with some photos of the event.

David