Shops in Shetland's capital, Lerwick, stage mini treasure hunts throughout the year, giving young families a fun activity to complete while visiting businesses in the town. The Up Helly Aa themed Viking hunt is one of the favourites.
"Some Vikings are lost", I said to the bairns as they ate their breakfast, "we need to help find them".
While Finn looked a little confused, his older brother Rohan immediately knew what I was talking about. "We need to find them and write their names on a sheet", he smiled, "and then we get sweeties!".
Shetland’s capital Lerwick has a vibrant town centre, with a wide variety of shops, many selling goods made in the islands. Children are always welcome in the street and there are regularly events specifically for them.
My favourite is when the shops hide pictures in their shelves or windows for young folk to find. Just before Halloween, we spent a joyful day searching for cats in the shops. Each time we found one Rohan earnestly wrote its name on his sheet and was given a prize from the shopkeeper.
These treasure hunts are becoming a familiar part of life, small family rituals to mark the changing seasons.
The last week of January means Lerwick Up Helly Aa, Europe’s biggest fire festival. We picked up our form at the tourist office and in their window we found our first Viking, Thorfinn Sjefen, nestled among a display of helmets and boots.
The street was busy, filled with visitors here for the festival and local folk doing their Saturday shopping. I saw many other enthusiastic children, carrying paper and pens, on the same mission as us.
Shetland’s capital Lerwick has a vibrant town centre, with a wide variety of shops, many selling goods made in the islands.
While the bairns searched for Vikings, I became immersed in the detail of the displays. Crochet Vikings, Fair Isle galley sails, Shetland ponies in horned helmets, poetry and photographs, each window unlike any other while all connected by theme.
It was a cold day and popping into the various shops helped keep us warm. I always love the wool and knitwear available, the variety of colours and patterns is incredible. The boys tried on some hand knitted Viking hats and it took all my willpower not to buy them, reminding myself they already have plenty warm clothes.
Finding the hidden picture in the toyshop is always a challenge, the goods on display proving too much of a distraction for any serious searching. But it did give us a chance to pick a present for a friends birthday party.
This is something I love about these events, as well as keeping the children happy for the day I can also got my shopping done. As we went between shops I stocked up on island made soap, got some chocolates for a friend and bought some local fish and meat for the week’s meals.
Finding the hidden picture in the toyshop is always a challenge, the goods on display proving too much of a distraction for any serious searching.
By the time we had found all 16 Vikings we were getting tired and hungry so I decided we deserved a treat. Fish and chip picnic by the harbour.
It was getting close to four o’clock and there was still light in the day. It is thought the origins of Shetland's fire festivals is a celebration of the returning light after a long winter, and it is always in Up Helly Aa week that I first begin to truly feel its return.
Check out our Up Helly Aa Fire Festivals page to discover more about what all the fuss is about.