If you want to be popular in the Faroe Islands tell them you're Scottish. That's because the Faroese beat the Scots at football a few years back and have never forgotten it (nor allowed us to). Mind you, considering how football mad they are, I was surprised not to see more coverage of the World Cup while I was there last week. But we had better things to do. The islands were their usual selves - glorious warm sunshine one day, force 11 gale with lashing rain the next. In fact our last full day was so bad everyone loved it - the water tumbled off the mountains in spectacular waterfalls and any thoughts of a walk quickly evaporated. I think they call it a "go out and die day" in the Faroe Islands.
Now if any one knows of a Danish-speaking (or even Faroese) student who would like to do a PhD on the archives on the island of Suduroy please get in touch. Their National Museum can't help but there is masses of material which doesn't even have fire protection. It really needs to be studied and catalogued and recorded but there's no money.
It was such a good trip - 12 clients and me and our local guides - and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves thoroughly. I know I did. We're already planning next year's visit and details will soon be available. Meanwhile Rich is working on our new website - the old one is still up and running but will soon be replaced - hopefully by the middle of next month. It's a lot of work and he does it so well. Cuba is already filling up for next March - another popular destination - and we've still got space on our Falklands and St Helena trips in January.
This will be the first year that I've not produced a brochure and it's bliss! I was able to go to Spitsbergen and the Faroes at a time of year that I've been tied to my desk for years and years and years. Such freedom. Not that there isn't lots going on - our newsletter has to be out by the Bird Fair and there are also some new exhibition panels to be dreamt up plus all next year's tours to be sorted out and costed. But it's less pressured this way. Having said that, it still takes a lot of time so I'd better get on.
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