Shetland Ponies

Winter is a hard time for everyone and especially for animals living outside. Sheep and Shetland ponies are hardy creatures and can withstand most conditions if they can find food

Its been very wet and windy recently and sheep have been finding hollows to shelter in but many ponies are out in the open, often just stood taking the full force of the wind and rain.

Shetland ponies are working horses, or perhaps more used today for riding schools and very popular with the bairns

They do have a lot of character and always come across to see what is happening.

They are also very stubborn, I remember having to wait for about 15 mins when they blocked the road in Unst, all part of the fun.

Of course `Socks' is the  most famous Shetland Pony with a youtube video having 13,480,000 views since March 2013

Storm Dennis

Its been a stormy winter so far with Storm Dennis the last to pass through Shetland, Force 11 winds at 68mph recorded in south mainland.

Lots of rain and hail as well but nothing like its been like down in England and Wales. Not been able to get out a lot since Christmas due to illness but this Sunday managed to get down to see a few waves .

These waves crashing high above the cliffs at Scatness, just a few people braving the conditions.

On the Monday it was much quieter with less rain so after delivering a photography course on Black & White photography I ventured into Lerwick

 The Queens hotel is still up for sale and has been closed for about 6  months, no doubt a lot of damp inside with waves crashing up against the walls.

 Must tell Jimmy Perez to take down his 3 Christmas trees. The BBC drama- Shetland will be back for a new series next year. Filming starts soon

Always lots of photo opportunities down the old part of Lerwick

why not check out my other Shetland blogs
shetland.sky.blogspot.co.uk
shetlandsfp.blospot.co.uk
ww2preserved.blogspot.co.uk

and join Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook

Up Helly Aa - Shetland

Everyone in Shetland always looks forward to Up Helly Aa, for the Guizer Jarl its the end of a 15 year wait

Below one of the squad

 This year I decided to attend the junior Up Helly Aa, much less crowded than the main one. Its only a 1/2 hour march and burning, unlike the main one which is about an hour long

 The rain had just stopped as I got out of the car, but even at teatime parking was a problem

 It was good to see the main squad supporting the bairns and they came out of the Town Hall and lined up ready for the procession

 Guizer Jarl leading the singing, an important part of the night

 Even the Joker turned up to watch

 The big start up, lights out torches lit

 Burning of the Galley and an end to the night for the Junior Up Helly Aa.

The Lerwick Up Helly Aa takes place the last Tuesday in January and nothing stops the procession other than a World War.

People arrived from all over the world, I gather one couple from Vienna arrived on the day without any accommodation and were very luck to get a bed in a hotel due to a cancellation. They were back on the ferry the next day. A long way to come, but they said it was worth while.

Next year a cruise liner will be dropping off 1350 people just for the event and then setting off again that night.

A Japanese film crew arrived, all with face masks and most with purple hair  and wanted to capture the experience for folk back in Japan. Its certainly a busy event, especially when the weather is good.

Don't forget the other night lights in Shetland- the Aurora, join Shetland Aurora Hunter (Facebook) for latest updates

Storm Brendan hits Shetland

Better later than never

Storm Brendan hit Shetland around lunch time on Monday 13 January with the worst of the weather arriving late Monday night.

Both the Lerwick - Aberdeen and all inter island ferries were cancelled and on Tuesday the North link ferry set off 2 hours late, at 9pm

For anyone living on an island winter weather can be very disruptive, no ferries mean no food arriving and going round Tesco's can be a very quick trip with empty shelves.

On Tuesday morning, we woke to find a wheelbarrow and a trampoline in the field in front on the house. Some people never learn.

I headed up to Eshaness around 10am on Monday just as the wind was picking up, the light was looking good with the sun coming out.

Passing the Drongs, the light shone down in shafts creating a nice orange over the rock sculptures. It was disappointing to find that at Dore Holm the sea was calm.

I headed up to Eshaness where the sea was getting rough and it continued to get better around lunch time just as I had to leave.