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Last Sunday evening a group of us from the North Isles of Shetland went to Norway.
This was an official visit for me this time - no, not like the Queen! When I say official, I mean that this trip was for purposes OTHER than visiting min kjæreste (my boyfriend).
THIS was an IATE trip.
For the un-initiated, IATE stands for Initiative at the Edge. It is een o dem government funded initiatives that provide help and support for peripheral communities. At least I think that is what the purpose of IATE is, but I am certain that someone reading this will be able to give a much better explanation than I.
This trip was to visit a similar community in Norway, where they already have good practice in training, help and support of rural business.
Us Shetlanders met up with some reps from the Highlands, then we split into 2 groups. Most of us travelled to Aurland, which is deep in the Sognefjord, while others went to Værlandet and Bulandet, a group of islands that have many similarities to Unst, Yell and Fetlar.
Hopefully we are going back with a renewed vigour and enthusiasm, which will benefit our islands.
But the business part of the trip is over, and now I am med min kjæreste, (with my boyfriend) but he told me to say that I am enjoying the company of a Viking. Sorry, The Viking. (He is correcting me as I type this.) Tomorrow for dinner (middag) we are eating pinne-kjøtt, (This is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dish normally eaten on Christmas evening, but as he was in Unst for Christmas now is apparantly the time for it. I will let you know if it is as good as guga.)
Anyway, a photo always makes a blog a little bit more interesting, so here is one of Jeg og min kjæreste.

Anything you ask, Anne!
The school had the customary Jarl Squad Visit this morning, here's a few pictures, have a look at the school website for some more. www.baltasound.shetland.sch.uk











Tonight of course, we have the procession, burning of the galley, the squad acts, then a dance. So there should be more pics to come!

The weather is a bit severe here today, but we braved the conditions to get a few pics of the swell coming into the beach at Haroldswick. The light was poor but you can see some houses on the north side o the voe that help you to get an impression of the size of the waves rolling in.