I started blogging here with my "Dreams & Realities" fantasy but I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams that I'd be in this picture!

Miranda Richardson, Me!, Bill Forsyth and Anthony Baxter.

It's taken me 2 weeks to come down from Viking time and my trip to Shetland for the Hansel of Film Finale (www.hansel2012.org), at the brand new cinema 'Mareel' in Lerwick AND the Screenplay Film Festival.  Not only that... the indomitable Kathy Hubbard at Shetland Arts had a message for the Hanselers... "be at the Victoria Pier at 10am on Sunday morning!" (This was no easy feat despite being in a B&B round the corner - there was very much partying and talking and music-making and we were all very merry til late into the wee small hours all weekend! - am SO glad she texted me at 9.30am as a prompt or I would've missed it!).

She'd arranged for us to take the Seals & Seabirds boat trip round Noss but had omitted to tell us that we'd share the trip with my film hero Bill Forsyth, the very beautiful Miranda Richardson, Donald Trump's bug in his rug - director Anthony Baxter, the wonderful Linda Ruth Williams & Mark Kermode - all on the same trip!  It was absolutely one of the best things I've ever done... I still think I dreamt it up but I did take photos and thank you Linda for taking some of me too or I might never believe it! The weather was bracing but glorious and we had all that beautiful Shetland light with us. As if all of this wasn't enough, minke whales did indeed swim alongside the boat! There was huge excitement when we spotted them and it felt like an absolute privilege - I think they're quite elusive and really are something to see - smaller than I imagined but elegantly revealing themselves through the waves then under and gone again. We all quickly took-up positions on the boat and searched the water. "There!" the cry went up and we all rushed to where the caller stood, sometimes lucky to see another glimpse, most times too late.  I didn't even try to take a photograph as the sea was too wide for a single lens and I think if I'd had my camera to my eye, I would certainly have missed the small sleek body of the minke who swam only a few feet away from where I leaned against the side of the boat. It was astonishing and strange and as we headed back to the harbour there was an amazing sense of elation.

Back on land and straight to the chippie, then to Mareel for the 2nd day of the Screenplay Festival to watch Anthony's documentary 'You've Been Trumped', immediately followed by 'Local Hero' & 'That Sinking Feeling' and a Q&A with Bill Forsyth, finished off by a drink with the great man himself at the bar and an answer to that Sydney Devine soundtrack! All in one day and what a day!

Thank you Kathy Hubbard, for the unique Hansel of Film project (you were right, it was bonkers, but in a good way), and for an unbelievable experience.  Now, how do I get an exchange between the Film Team and Maddrim Media organised for next year......?

Mark Kermode, Miranda Richardson, Bill Forsyth & Anthony Baxter onboard Dunster III Sept 2012

Back Row: Nick Jones, Simon Thompson, Mark Kermode, Bill Forsyth, Miranda Richardson, Michael Dent, Jan Miller, Anthony Baxter   Front Row: Georgia, Cara & Jeemsie bear

Cara McDiarmid filming the Hansel documentary - did she get the whales on camera?

Cara filming me taking her picture!

Mark Kermode and Linda Ruth Williams, curators of the Hansel of Film 2012

One of my favourite pictures - Mark Kermode and Bill Forsyth as we headed back to Lerwick

Back Row: Nick Jones, Simon Thompson, Mark Kermode & Gabriel, Bill Forsyth, Miranda Richardson, Moria peeping through, Michael Dart, Linda Ruth Williams, Anthony Baxter  

Front Row: Georgia & Cara McDiarmid & Jeemsie the Fair Isle bear & Hansel mascot