There is a school of thought that there isn't enough to do in Shetland for the teenagers. It is better now than it was when I was that age, but it is always great when there is something different.

What a shame then, when someone did do something different - Aberdeen based Codona's took a small selection of fairground rides and amusement arcade type machines up - that the weather has been absolutely abysmal. We braved it one night with the kids as they were really keen to go and the weather wasn't quite so bad that night, but it wasn't busy. Apparantly they are thinking of coming up in May. I hope this experience hasn't put them off, and that they have managed to at the very least cover their costs.

The weather is wild. The wind is battering my window at the moment and I will admit to being a bit uneasy about how much the window bends in the wind! The ferry from Aberdeen - a lifeline service to Shetland - was cancelled last night and is postponed tonight, they are planning to set sail at 3am. I guess thats part of the price we pay for living in Shetland, the weather causes delays and cancels flights and ferry journeys. I do feel for the people that have had an extra night in Aberdeen, even finding accomodation there can be tricky, especially at short notice. I hope their journey north is safe and not too uncomfrotable. I'm not sure I would be braving it, but sometimes all you want to do is get a night in your own bed...

Hey, it's been a while, apologies. A hospital stay and subsequent recuperation took a bit of time, but I'm walking and typing now, so can't be all bad!

It has been in the news the last couple of days that the prices of fuel have been reduced, and two supermarkets have taken the price down below £1.

Here unleaded is still 122.9p and diesel 130.9. And with the Sullom Voe on our doorstep! Orkney has apparantly managed to find a way to reduce the cost, by using a different supplier. Maybe we should be looking at doing the same, although logistically it might be a bit harder (Orkey's new supplier is in Wick, just a stones throw over the water, we are a bit further away).

On a different but related note, the council are looking at providing allotments. Great idea - land is usually difficult to come by up here. But what alternatives are there? I happened upon a programme last night (can't remember what it was now, River Cottage maybe?) that featured a woman with an amazing idea. She started planting vegetables and herbs in public places. By the bus stop for example, and in the local cemetary (not on the graves however!). The produce was freely available to anyone that wanted to use it. What a great use of green spaces that currently don't have anything going on! She ultimately got backing of the local council. What an easy and accessible way of communities working together for communal benefit.

Now I just need to cultivate green fingers....

I had the great pleasure of meeting member of Grassroots, a Zimbabwean theatre group that were touring Shetland schools very recently.

They come over to the UK every year for four or five months to tour and do workshops with community groups and schools etc, highlighting issues such as HIV, racism and human rights.

I had the opportunity to see their concert on Wednesday at Sound Hall, and they were so full of energy and talent, the whole room was energised and buzzing afterwards.

Robert from Grassroots and I got chatting and spoke about football, which seems to be a universal interest wherever they are – and how it can both unite and divide.

He was in Edinburgh when he was shocked by how anti-English the Scots were when it came to football, and how they would support any team that played against England.

Sadly the same happens here and is most evident at World Cup time, when Scotland are usually nowhere to be seen anyway!

We discussed whether that constituted racism and although we didn't get a definite conclusion, I do wonder how it would feel to be English in Shetland when so many people actively speak against your countrymen, and cheer when it goes wrong for them.

I'm sure for many it's not intended as a major anti-English slur – but I'm not sure that's how it would come across.