The last Tuesday in January- Up Helly Aa!
I had grown my beard all big and Vikingy and headed off to Lerwick.
The strangely fascisty looking black crow flag is hoist above Lerwick Town Hall.
As evening descends the street lamps are flipped off and the town is plunged into darkness . 
Then at 7.30pm -Whoosh! The Light Up! Up go the torches.
To reveal...
The Guizer Squads lined up and ready to go. They stand to attention waiting to follow the Guizer Jarl and his Jarl Squad, resplendent in Viking attire.
And here come the girls...
Hundreds of hairy arsed Shetlanders dressed up a women, giving the night the subtitle, Transvestite Tuesday. (It's a male only thing. That's the only pish thing about it.)They march in their thousands around the square.
The Galley Boys drag the galley...They drag the galley into the centre of the park...
Then they set fire to it!(No photots of that, though. I'm from Glasgow. I've seen vehicles on fire before.)
It was a stunning procession.
I then went off to the Garrison Theatre where I hosted Stand Up Helly Aa, an evening of Shetland comedians. Everybody laughed. Braw!
The following morning...
Enough said.
