As Flossie hasn’t left the house since last year – just after Christmas to be precise – I thought we should have a day out.  It would do us both good. And I am also panicking about any potential snow dump that might happen.  After all, if there is a life-threatening snow storm about to hit the USA (please, all stay safe everyone) and mega-snow in Russia (Kamchatka peninsula), then I have to worry.

So I got the horsevan out (first offering up a prayer to the Gods of starting vans) and off we drove to Lerwick, sadly leaving Pepperpot behind.

It was cold, windy with occasional biting rain.  There’ve been no boats for many days so I couldn’t get some of the animal feed I wanted.   Never mind, we have enough for a while, no one is going to starve.  I did, however, get a big bale of hay so now we are well stocked with hay.

Everyone in town is gearing up for Up Helly Aa – held on the last Tuesday of the month.

I checked the sheep field in Jamieson’s and kicked myself for forgetting to bring any one. Never mind. OH will go in on Monday and I can send them in with him ready for the cruise ship full of tourists arriving specifically for Up Helly Aa.

We had a nice lunch – our reward for all our recent hard work – and then a quick nip around Tesco’s.  It was very obvious there had been no boats.

Apparently no one likes watermelon.

Or beetroot.

I think (but I could be wrong) the only local produce Tesco will sell here is milk from Shetland Farm Dairies.  There was absolutely no bread in the aisles – which is disappointing because there are at least 8 – 10 local bakeries scattered all over Shetland.  At least the local shops are well stocked with bread.

We went home feeling full (delicious lunch) and with a good supply of hay too.