jaydee67

I would suggest Braewick too, they have a children's play area and great views. Phone 01806 503345 to check the menu - I'm sure Christina will be able to help.

Bonhoga has wheelchair access through the bottom cafe door, and to the middle floor from outside, access to the top floor is by stairs or chair lift. the children would like Michael's Wood in Aith which has lots of things to do among the trees and your parents should manage the grass paths, at least on the lower levels where the most attractive areas for the children are - pirate ship, teddy bears' picnic area, toy car play area, picnic benches, bird hide, , etc.

For beaches the Sumburgh beaches are easily overlooked with parking, the 2 bigger ones wither side of the airport and the one below Scatness which is small but right below the car park. St Ninian's Isle beach can be seen from the car park which is at one end of the beach, there is a cafe in Bigton too 01950 422 417. There is also the Sands of Sound in Lerwick which has a gate and wheel-friendly path across the grass - good for rock pools too!

Been out with my sister and niece for a lovely walk today, ending at 4 old watermills hidden from sight of the road with the added bonus of a geocache to look for which got us out there in the first place. We would never have been there if not for the geocache, a really interesting spot, great exercise and some fun thrown in.

There are now 2 geocaching events in Shetland in the next 4 weeks or so. You can find out more by going to http://www.geocaching.com/ typing your postcode into the search box and looking through the 74 entries for Shetland.

On the subject of kerbside recycling, I was told by the guy promoting waste reduction at the agricultural shows last year if I wanted better recycling facilities I would have to move to town. Not impressed!

The Big Lunch, Sunday 5th June in Michael's Wood Aith will also be a geocaching event. Sign up (if you're in Shetland) and spread the word - it will be great to meet other geocachers and have a picnic in the lovely woods.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=a3a3d48b-fb53-4614-a8e5-803c11eadcfa

I am potentially going to be sending large boxes to a charity based in Fife containing knitwear, etc. Does anyone know what the best delivery method would be costwise? I've only used the postal service for stuff up to now but was wondering if one of the couriers would be better?

What's strange about the Up Helly Aa holiday is that schools outside Lerwick are allowed to stay open and pay their staff treble time. This seems to be because of rural resentment at it being a 'toon' festival- they scorn the holiday but claim the treble time. How do they get away with that?

Having worked in schools for the last 10 years outside Lerwick that have been open for either a normal school day or an inservice day after the Lerwick Up Helly Aa I can assure you that no staff have ever been paid treble time - misinformation rules again. What happens is that the holiday is taken on a different day, usually after the local Up Helly Aa at no extra cost to the council.

My experience of public consultation has been that it's management's way of communicating to the masses what has already been decided.

The free bags are coming to an end - any shops that still have them will not be getting new ones as they were supplied by environmental services and as part of cost cutting, they will no longer be supplying free bags.

My sister couldn't get into a disabled space at Tesco recently because a birthday bus was blocking the spaces. He couldn't move because he was waiting for his passengers - in stocking up. No shrinking violet my sister complained to store staff, as she has frequently in the past.

That run is in column C, doesn't say what C stands for.

http://www.zettrans.org.uk/bus/NorthMainland.asp

Central Garage in Brae has a delivery of winter tyres on the boat tonight. Might be worth a call to see if they have the size you need tomorrow.

Dales Leas is usually best avoided in bad weather as the gritters concentrate on the via Brae route.

I left Ollaberry at lunchtime and the roads were white to the north Sullom junction then you could seen the road all the way to Voe. A lot of snow has come down since and the roads are white everywhere. The essy cart was in a ditch on a side road in Ollaberry when I left. My daughter has just come home from Lerwick and there is heavy snow falling with road conditions worse as she came north.

No internet for most of the evening in Voe tonight.

Don't know about the Shetlands, the kc drakes we usually just took the breast meat. Another breed I have known people keep here is muscovies which are bigger.

Mary Isbister at Burland in Trondra has Shetland ducks which are definately suited for here! Khaki Campbells seem to be popular too and I have kept them in the past. I know someone who has some and she sells the eggs to the local shop so she would probably have some available next spring, if you are interested pm me your details I will pass them on to her.

As an aside - as someone who works in a school (not a teacher) can I clear up the fact that although I get more free time than other council employees, I only get the same paid holidays as everyone else and 8 weeks a year I am on unpaid leave? Salaries are divided into 12 monthly payments to make sure we have money coming in each month, but please don't assume we are paid for all our 'holidays'! (and breaking out in a sweat is not unknown!)

It's a hobby I enjoy and I've seen places I would probably not have if there hadn't been a cache to look for. I have several caches hidden and have found 60 odd up to now. My nickname there is also jaydee67 so not hard to spot mine!

And Fifi's not in the least bit biased - but it is a great little shop!

I had a friend here for 4 days last month, we had one day at the south end - Scatness, Sumburgh Head, picnic on St Ninian's Isle, Crofthouse Museum, Shetland Jewellery in Weisdale on the way home. Another day in Lerwick via Bonhoga art gallery and cafe, browsing shops - Shetland Fudge, Shetland Soap, Spiders Web (knitwear), ninian and Shetland Museum with lunch at the Fort chippie. A day north - Mavis Grind, Eshaness, lunch at Braewick Cafe, Hillswick - beach, seal sanctuary and Oily Muggie craft shop, Ollaberry and North Roe. Other day was Yell - West Sandwick beach and not much else due to time - and Unst - viking longship, Chocolate Factory, Norwick beach, Skaw - Britain's most northerly house and beach, Saxa Vord, Keen of hamar - Edmonston's Chickweed and Bobby's bus stop. Evening meals we had at home, Golden Coach in Lerwick, Mid Brae Inn. A few of the stops we made were down to geocaching which fairly takes you to places you might not otherwise visit.

www.geocaching.com

Enjoy your visit to Shetland, get a copy of Shetland visitor magazine from the Tourist Office in Lerwick, it has loads of info in it on lots of places to visit and makes a great souvenir too!

Keep an eye on the agricultural and pets section of the classifieds in the paper, there are pol birds advertised there when available.

Found 4 in the south mainland today, my daughter found 5 (I had previously logged one of hers). We had a good day out and had a picnic and walked the dogs on Quendale beach - never been there in over 30 years in Shetland. Great day to be out and about taking photos and enjoying the scenery.

http://www.thecameracentre.net/shop/kodak-esp-5250-all-in-one-printer.html

If you need it printed before you get a printer sorted give me a shout and I'll print it for you!

Only if you live there! I live in Voe and have one in the house, 4 of us now on Vodaphone in the house. I had to get a 3G phone to use it. You can't pick up the signal unless you are registered to the unit and the range doesn't go far from the house.

I've been geocaching for over a year and have spread the hobby among family and friends both here and south. It's a great way of getting out and about and taking you to areas you may not normally visit.

I love the global links too with people from all over finding caches I have placed and leaving messages. I also have several travel bugs, one that is currently in Oregon having made its way there via the Netherlands. I have to use an online translation service today to 'read' some comments made in German. Very educational! lol!