Time and Tide

Started the day in Lerwick, browsing the charity shops and wandering through the short steep lanes between the harboour and Commercial Street then, after a snack in the Beach Cafe, left for Scalloway.
We visited the castle taking charge of the key from the previous visitors. The castle, built in 1599, is quite well preserved and after a look around we handed the key to the next arriving and walked to the town. As we perused this odd mural in New Street the house owner came out but was unable to shed very much light on the age or meaning; however there is information on the web:-

In the beginning of the 20th century, a mason from Quarff, William Johnson, lived on New Street. He had certain ideas about the tides, and published a book called "The Law of Universal Balance". In 1910 he made a carving with his theories on the wall of his house. When the first World War ended, he made an addition to the carving that states :"German Theories Controvented, Germans are not the Favoured of Heaven".
The carving was plastered over by those who bought the house after Johnson's death, but around 1950, Robert Irvine bought the house and uncovered the carving again. It is still possible to read it.

Another website offers the translation:-

This diagram illustrates the cause of the so called Earth Tides. Also each alternate Ocean Flood, the cause of which has never yet been understood. Re Earth Tides: we are told that the Moon raises the solid surface of the Earth under it about 8 inches and raises the OPPOSITE SIDE 8 [inches]. This I hold to be impossible. The phenomenon called EARTH TIDES IS CAUSED BY EARTH's WEIGHT PULLING AGAINST THE SUN'S ATTRACTION. ............ "The water flows back when attraction over & forms a heap on opposite side of Earth. to balance attn. flood. There is no ..." [the rest of the inscription is illegible and appears to have been deliberately effaced.] The white circle is a diagram of the earth and is also marked: "GERMAN THEORIES CONTROVERTED Germans are Not The Favoured of Heaven.

which, you'll agree, explains everything!

Having realised that the islands of Tronda and East/West Burra are now connected by bridges (we were using old 1" maps most of the time) we drove across there to explore before returning to the cottage to pack.

Backblipped after returning from holiday.