Fair Isle has been covered in snow for most of the week. The snow started to get really deep on Sunday. On Sunday Dad, Lewis, Vivian, Calum, Duncan, Jenny, Magnus and 1 went up Hoini to sledge. We were going from the top of the hill and it was excellent fun.

On Monday Ruth cancelled school because the roads were slippy. When we heard that school was off we were jumping with joy!

On Tuesday and Wednesday the Education department cancelled school and on those 2 days we sledged and sledged and sledged!! On Tuesday night Charlotte, Kathy and Alan came for tea.

On Thursday we came back to school. The boat went on Thursday and we got a new white cooker for Taft. I got some new clothes. I got navy blue jeans, a blue t-shirt, a pack of 3 coloured tops, purple pyjamas and blue trainers.
Rachel (12)

On Thursday there was a lot of snow in the car park. It was quite deep there, so we made tunnels. One had a hole in the roof, the other one had a curve and a smiley face on the roof. We will hopefully be able to dig the tunnels more, and join them together, then we will be able to crawl right through. The roof of our one can hold two people but the tunnels will probably melt soon.
Lewis (10) and Jenny (10)

Yesterday Vivian, Rachel, Lewis and Clare came for tea and we had lasagne. Me and mum got a box in the mail and it had lots in it like sweets and some cooking stuff.
Charlotte (10)

Mum and I went out to Shetland. We went out on the plane. I needed to go out for my eyes. When we got out we got a taxi. When we got into the town we went to sort out some frames then we would go to the hospital later. Then we went to get some batteries for the phone then we went to get some more stuff. I got a LEGO, model then we went to the hospital but the man who was going to do my eyes was still on the big plane. He would be in Shetland at half past 2 but our little plane left at 3.15 so we went to get a taxi and didn't see him. The little 'plane took off and in 20 minutes we were in Fair Isle and we went home. Calum (8)

Recently we have been reading the Narnian stories. They are about a different world called Narnia and the surrounding lands. In these stories children from our world have got into Narnia and have had many adventures there. For instance in the second chronicle called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe four children called Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter got into Narnia through a magical wardrobe. They are now kings and queens in Narnia. We are now reading The horse and his boy which is the third chronicle. In this a boy named Shasta and his talking horse Bree escape to Narnia. Then prince Rabadash of Calermene and 200 men mounted their horses and attacked king Lune. The Narnians and the kings men won the battle.
Vivian(8) and Magnus (8)

On Thursday we went sledging on the houll of kenaby. The brae was very steep. We kept failing off the sledges and we went in bags. Daniel left his jacket on the brae. Our dads were out clearing the roads of snow so that cars could go out. We all had dinner together at Kenaby. We got a lift to the schoolhouse in lan's tractor.
Daniel and Tom

On Tuesday we went sledging on the Rippack. We made a train then we slided on our bums. Then we went to Kenaby and had some hot gingerbread then it was time to go home.
CARA (7)

Dad and I went to Shetland to see the eye specialist but we didn't get to see him because he was late getting up to Shetland. I went to Harry’s toy shop and bought a make-up set. It has false nails. We went to Islesburgh for dinner and I had a roll with cheese in it. Hannah

We went sledging at one of the hills. We made ramps and we sledged over them. Some of them broke. We made big ones and small ones. We made a corner jump as well. We also built an igloo that could hold two people. We made a snowman and a snow dog. The dog was very small. It was made out of a snowball. Duncan

My impression of the week seems a bit blurred as if I'm seeing things through a snow-storm! And speaking of snow, that really started on Friday (if my memory is serving me well). Anyhow, our problems started then, when we set off to go to the party at the Bird Observatory. Stewart's car wouldn't start, so we set off in mine, going down the road to turn at Burkle. We were no sooner on the road than the car died on us! We struggled to push it off the road, almost succeeded, and finally with the help of J.W., cheery and reassuring, that was accomplished. We got lifts to and from the party; thanks to J.W. and Paddy.

Saturday, Stewart's car was now functioning after help from Ewen. We went to the shop and guess what! No eggs. Now this was a major tragedy, as my weekly treat is a boiled egg for Sunday breakfast. However, the day was soon to improve. First, two little elves from Stackhoull arrived with the gift of an EGG for my Sunday breakfast! Then there was Scotland's win against Wales. Finally, the day ended with a delicious meal in good company at Kenaby. Ian's fish soup made with piltocks was quite something, as was Lise’s grapefruit sorbet!

Sunday - weather getting worse. Snow and high winds led to Chapel being cancelled so we had a leisurely morning. We watched a Service on ITV - an excellent sermon, but a very solemn, not to say gloomy, congregation. This led to a good, in-depth discussion on religion with Pat, Neil and Eileen over a pre-lunch drink.

Monday brought more snow. Stewart's car refused to start again there seemed to be an epidemic amongst the cars on the island so we walked to the shop. School was closed and we watched the children sledging on the Chapel Brae, thoroughly enjoying their unscheduled holiday. That broughtback memories !!

By Tuesday the roads were blocked.

On Wednesday the school was still closed, and choir practice was cancelled so we got the video of "Titanic" from Ruth and spent an enjoyable evening "at the cinema".

By Thursday the weather was definitely improving school opened again and life began to return to normal. The boat went to Shetland, so its return, laden with supplies (and EGGS ) was eagerly anticipated. I'm told it was well down in the water with its load when it got back. It was also my day for the German session at the school, and I hastily changed my lesson and decided to teach words relating to weather, especially snow. Incidentally, if any one knows the German word for igloo, please let me know. I have three German dictionaries and it isn't in any of them. We invented a new word - Schneehaus ( snow house ) - which seems reasonable !

Now it is Friday again, and I'm having to pad this out, because although the snow has kept a lot of folk on the island very busy this week, not a lot has been happening at Aesterhoull. How was "DA WEEK DAT'S AWA'"?

Snow, snow, snow .........