Stan Abbott reflects...
faroese days Stan Abbott
Farose Days
Stan Abbott reflects...
Should I bother? I mused … Then I decided, that, Yes, I would invite recipients of my invitation to let me know whether they intended to be there.
The thing is, I knew for certain that most people simply wouldn’ t reply and that, of those who did take the trouble, at least half of those who said Yes, would fail to materialise, while a similar proportion of those who said No, would actually turn up, smiling, when the day came.
The occasion was the first of two events planned to mark the launch of my book, Faroese Days, published in the Faroe Islands by the prolific publishing house, Sprotin.
Both events were scheduled as part of Culture Night, in Tórshavn, the islands’ capital. The Faroese love a party and Culture Night has grown since its inception to feature countless pop-up stages across the town, featuring live music, poetry, art exhibitions and, of course, the odd book launch.
My first“ launch” would be in the back room at Jacobsens Bókahandil, the oldest bookshop in the Faroe Islands, at 160 years. The back room has remained largely unchanged since it moved to its current grass-roofed premises in 1918 and had been the venue of a previous book signing for a novel I wrote, which was set partly in the Faroe Islands.
This would be followed later in the evening by wine, song and readings in a converted laundry in downtown Tórshavn, when I would be one of a trio of authors launching new work.
In all my years visiting the islands, I can’ t recall an unsuccessful social event, even if catering could often be based on no more than an educated guess. The thing is, when you live on a remote, rugged and generally inhospitable archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic, the fine weather you need to complete fine-weather-only tasks may come in short supply.
Put another way, in the Faroe Islands, you should make hay when the sun shines, or face having no hay at all. And if the sun is shining on that long June evening when you hinted you might go to Stan’ s book launch, then“ haymaking” or working with the sheep will always win. So, best not to raise expectations by saying days in advance“ Yes, count me in!”.
Faroese Days is my tribute to the ingenuity, resourcefulness, friendliness and free-thinking spirt of the 55,000 islanders and their stop-start progress along the road towards complete independence from Denmark. It draws upon my experience during close to 25 years of working primarily with Atlantic Airways, the national airline, but also with the tourist board, the airport and a few other businesses. If I have a“ second home” it is here, at Europe’ s wild frontier.
Jackie Skúvadal, an Australian who married a Faroese man and settled in the islands to raise a family, was one of many incomers I interviewed, and her take on Faroese social habits casts light on my own experience.
12 OUTDOOR FOCUS Spring 2026