up helly Aa

[deltinglass]

I was in Lerwick this morning and tried to get a few photos to give you a flavour of what I saw - sorry they aren't the best quality but it was heavy rain at first and there were just so many people around that I found it impossible to find a good view point to get any decent pictures but here's the best of them for you

The Bill at the Market Cross - a topical but rather irreverent account of the happenings over the year, think some folk might think it a compliment if they appear in it but ....!


The Galley - and to think that all this beautiful work went up in flames earlier this evening


The Jarl




The Jarl & his merry men....




And finally the raven banner floating high over the Town Hall today

[aitch]

Hi' Deltinglass, you have absolutely no need to be sorry about those photographs at all, they are excellent, well done you

[maree]

I totally agree with you aitch. This is the first chance I've had to see what the Lerwick Guizer Jarl, Stephen Mowat, is wearing this year. I actually really like it. Over the years many of the Jarls in Lerwick have made sure there is more than a touch of Holywood in the suits his men wore.........remember the horrendously heavy bear-head helmets back in 2007? Stephen seems to have gone for a more understated, traditional look. For me, less is more, so well done Stephen

[benjiesmum]

TYhey are brilliant photos DL. I agree with aitch there! They give a real flavour of what is happening. It's wonderful to see these traditions being acted out. I would love to go and see it for myself. Thanks for posting.

[Fifi]

Great pics, DL. Well done!

[maree]

Jan 28, 2009 8:18:08 GMT 1 benjiesmum said:

I would love to go and see it for myself. Thanks for posting.

There would be a warm welcome fae your friends fae the Northmavine forum

[maree]

Although we all know the REAL Up Helly Aa takes place on the third Friday in February in Northmavine, the Lerwick festival is happening tomorrow.........well I suppose it's today now as it's 12.41am!

This year Promote Shetland, the new Shetland organisation set up to..........well........promote Shetland ;D ;D ;D is hoping to provide www coverage of the Lerwick Up Helly Aa throughout the day and night. Web cams are in situ at various locations in 'da toon' and folk can log in to www.shetland.org or www.uphellyaa.org to catch live coverage.

There might be some shots o Vikings parading through the streets of Lerwick during the morning/afternoon, but the main event (the torchlight procession) takes place in the evening.

Jarl Squad Timetable from uphellyaa.org

Outlined below is the outline timetable for the Jarl Squad for Tuesday morning:

09:00 March to British Legion - starting location varies year on year.

09:45 Leave British Legion and march along Esplanade, along Commercial Street pausing at the Bill located at Market Cross. Finish at Bressay Ferry Terminal for photos; please note area is cordoned off for official photos.

10:30 Depart Bressay Ferry Terminal for civic reception in Lerwick Town Hall.

Throughout the rest of the morning and early afternoon there are a series of visits to the Primary Schools, Hospitals and eventide homes with some lunch in between.

15:30 Visit Shetland Museum

19:15 Guizer Jarl Squad passes up the ranks of the guizers

19:30 Procession commences

21:15 Visit first hall of evening

[benjiesmum]

I've got the live webcams on my other screen. At the moment someone is having a big fire - but it's only 18:11 so I expect there will be more action soon.

[deltinglass]

That's the remains of the Junior Up-Helly-Aa galley burning BM - they had their procession starting at 5.30pm but the main one will be coming tonight starting at 7.15pm I think with the light up

[hampdenquilts]

One of these days you and I should head over for the celebration BM. I would LOVE pt see it! Think we can sneak in as part of the band of merry men? Short hair and a big helmet??

[benjiesmum]

Ah! They have a junior version - ecellent! Thanks for that, DL. I'm watching it now! What a spectacle it is! I bet the Health and Safety people are swooning with worry. What a great night. I spotted the long boat and a few Vikings too.

[aitch]

Hair raising stuff

[bod]

Am just on it at the moment - they seem to be burning a boat - bet its fantastic to see it.

[benjiesmum]

That really is something I would like to see too. there looked to be hundreds and hundreds of torches parading around the streets. How the Health and Safey bods aren't reeling from shock I don't know!

[hampdenquilts]

I was getting very blurry stuff from the webcam, couldn't really see it well. Seems as though everyone was having fun! Probably a few headaches today...