Snowy times in Shetland

Its been a snowy icy week difficult driving conditions and a fair number of accidents including one person knocked down in Lerwick and a large articulated lorry jack-knifed hitting a car with both ending up in the ditch.

Blue Door Scalloway

After it stopped snowing the weather settled and we had some nice sunny still days although it was still cold. This year has been the coldest in Shetland for over 20 years with -5 recorded + wind chill.

                                                                       Looking north from Sumburgh

The Gritters have been out in force and have had a further ship full of grit and salt delivered to Scalloway. Like most places the gritters have been given names including Sir saats a lot, Gritty, gritty bang, bang & Mr Plough.

                                                     Clearing snow and ice from Sumburgh runway

                                                                                  Looking towards Scatness

                                              WW2 buildings at the north end of Sumburgh airport

                                      We have been treated to some superb sunrises, this one over Mousa

                                                                                      Sweening , near Vidlin

                                                             Looking out into Sandwick from our living room window

It was surprising how quick everything cleared, it turned to rain on Sunday and the temperature increased and by Monday all the white stuff had gone.

We are all gearing up for next weeks Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, its been a few years since we have been up to watch the procession due to the bad weather, hopefully this year things will be better. We are also going to see the Up Helly Aa concert featuring Brian and Maggie on the Monday.

People thing this event is all about the tourists but this is totally wrong, Shetlanders look forward to it all year. Its a great privilege to get chosen as Jarl, often the person has to wait 15 years for his turn and he need all this time to safe up enough money to pay for everything.

This time of year is also good to see the Aurora, for more information go onto facebook and join Shetland Aurora Hunter

Up Helly Aa Scalloway

Shetland has more than one Up Helly Aa which surprises a lot of people as they have only heard about the one in Lerwick

Scalloway is always the first one with Lerwick Up Helly Aa taking place a couple of weeks after, this year on the 30 January

Although we didn't manage to get to the procession and burning it was good to see the build up for the first time. It was very cold but this didn't deter a good turn out.

A lot of people think the whole thing is put on for tourists but this couldn't be further from the truth. Shetlanders talk about these events for months before and it is a proud moment to be chosen for the Jarl or even the squad.

months of preparation are involved in making the costumes and the galley.

                                                               Not everyone likes the cold weather

You can always tell who has been chosen for the squad as they are the ones who suddenly start growing beards 6 months before the event

It always a good occasion and the squad sets off mid morning to visit care homes and schools before the big event at 7pm when they process through Scalloway and then set light to the Galley on the sea.

Some people don't like the winter months, the long dark nights or the cold but events like this certainly warm you up and its great to talk to those involved.

I was talking to someone who was Jarl in 1956 and remembers every moment, he tells me the squad was made up of family members including his father and son and friends from near and far, two coming over from Australia.

The weather was reasonable on the night just a bit windy unlike tonight which has around 70 mph winds and torrential rain. We are looking forward to some clear night so we can get out and see either the Aurora (Shetland Aurora Hunter on Facebook) or the milky way (shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk)