Paweł's first report

     We reach Lerwick at night. From Edinburgh we fly by SAAB 340, a small funny thing for 35 people. A very friendly atmosphere on board because most of the passengers and the crew know each other very well. Right after taking off and passing the layer of clouds we see Glory – an amazing optical phenomenon, multiple rainbow rings around the shadow of the plane reflected on clouds. I've heard about Glory but for the first time in my life I witness it. Unfortunately, seat belts fastened, no chance to take the camera from the locker... A moment later we pass by highlighted by sun, famous from many songs, the entrance to Dundee – this time we manage to take a kitsch-type photo. We cross Pentland Firth, crosswise for a change ;-) and touch down in Sumburgh in a quite tough way.
     The airport is deserted, dark and windy. We don't feel like looking for a public transport on Sunday night therefore we ask for the price of a taxi. 40 pounds. Well, fair enough, it's roughly 40 kilometers. Off we go. In Lerwick the meter shows 45 pounds... ”How much do we pay?” - we ask. ”Deal is deal, 40 pounds” - replies the nice she-driver. All we have to do is to throw our bags over a crash barrier and we are on board of Jonathan IV. There is Mark and his crew, or whoever is left of it, to be exact, to welcome us. We spend a very nice evening together with ”szarlotka” based on regional product called locally ”Żubrówka” brought from Poland. The crew is delighted and so are we.
     Before dawn I'm forced to visit the place where you get rid of the balance of liquids from your body. I cannot find the light switch so I use the Brail system. Then, standard procedure, I use a pump, and, all of sudden – the lavatory bowl beams!!! First thought – there must have been something in this ”szarlotka”. @#$%^&*(*&^%$#$%^&* OK, cool down. Second thought – backlit lavatory bowl??? Pure nonsense. Fully awake I use the pump again and it beams again. %^&*(*&^%$%^&*()(*&^% What the heck??? Got it: it's a fluorescent plankton indignant at something sucking it into a lavatory bowl. I've seen the thing around yachts but never in the toilet.
     The night of miracles is over, the weather's quite typical for Shetland Islands and this season (meaning wind and rain, surprisingly enough), a nosy seal is observing us while we start our preparations for taking over the yacht.

Paweł