Shetland Meal Roads; A Talk By James Arnaud

A windy and cloudy morning, but cleared into a sunny day.  A lovely calm evening. 

Another day off, and up early.  Headed out walkies with Sammy, popping along Madeline's for a cuppa.  I've been on call all day, waiting to fetch sister Julie from the hospital, also picked up niece Elise, and dropped them both to mam's.  Me and mam have been at a talk in the museum tonight.  My first time back in the door since I left, so good to see some old colleagues I've not seen in almost 18 months.  Walkies with Sammy, now early to bed. 

A really interesting talk this evening about the old meal and trunk roads around Shetland.  I always heard stories about them, but never really researched it, and wow, so much more than just paying the poor in oats.  The Central Relief Board had certain criteria for the folk to meet, even around their homes and attending kirk, if you didn't meet the criteria, even after a days work, you didn't get paid.  The main construction started with the 1840s famines, but very little built before 1847.  1848-1852 there was 102 miles of road built, which most is still in use today, obviously been upgraded and extended.  The roads I take for granted need a little bit more respect, and some research.  It's been a while since I last looked into meal roads, must have a look for some old ones again.  James Arnaud giving his talk, in the auditorium, Shetland Museum, Lerwick.