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We Stromnessians are recovering from Shopping Week. Every year for the third week in July, Stromness puts on its best clothes, hangs out the bunting and puts on a grand show for the townfolk. This tradition was started 60 years ago, in the austerity of the post-war years, and is still going strong. People come from as far away as *gasp* Kirkwall to enjoy the doughnut eating competition, the pet shows, the jugglers, the pavement artist contest, and especially to look at the fantastic shop window displays. The shop keep their designs a closely guarded secret until the first day, when the Shopping Week Queen (a lassie from Stromness Academy chosen by popular vote) and her attendants arrive by lifeboat and declare the festivities open!

Prizes are awarded to the best windows, and the good folk of the town spend the next week scratching their heads over the Odd Man Out competition also held by the shops. A person could get seriously obsessed by Odd Man Out. The first prize window went to The Quernstone for their fabulous Dr Who-themed display - and their Odd Man Out was a robot from another Sci-Fi programme (which caused intense debate as to whether it was that one from Lost in Space that has the wobbly arms and says ‘Danger, Danger’ etc.).



This year to celebrate the 60th anniversary, a very jolly light display was erected on Inner Holm (a tidal island in the Hamnavoe). It must have been visible from the whole town just about, and it was the last thing I saw before drawing the curtains at night: ’60 – SSW – 60’ it proclaimed in big flashing lights. We tried to take a photo but without much success.

The three legged race goes past our house and we always have a good laugh at the couples tied together and arguing. Here’s Batman and Robin dashing past!



This year we were treated to a mini-Up-Helly-Aa with two Shetland squads (Scalloway and Cullivoe). We took hundreds of pics but here’s a small selection. I have never seen so many folk in the streets of Stromness – it was absolutely brilliant. A huge thank you to all those who came down to take part. Can you come every year?



The main street in the town is usually closed to traffic during Shopping Week and it looks strangely quiet





……the cats enjoyed it.







So did the cyclists.



On the Saturday night of Shopping Week there is always a big parade with floats and fancy dress. Pulled by tractors, the floats give the local people a chance to unleash their artistic streaks, score a few points against the council, poke fun at the ferry service, and get in touch with their feminine sides (see Shetland Up-Helly-Aa blog ref: Transvestite Tuesday…). Some of the floats were very close to the bone, but some were suitable for a wider audience – here’s a selection.



And the other BIG event of the week was………….we got our new kittens! Attempts to photograph them have been thwarted by the fact that they romp professionally and will not sit still. As you can see they are all little wrigglers. 10 weeks old now – it will soon be time for formal introductions to the older felines of the house. Please enjoy these blurry kitten pictures.