Age is no barrier

It was the kind of sunshiny day that makes being alive worthwhile, never mind that it was cold. I met up with a book group friend for a coffee and natter, and then was reluctant to go home and attend to the nitty gritty of a dusty house (which always coincides with the sunshine) and to do more chopping to prepare a sausage stew. However it’s now done and dusted as they say! 
Before we parted I blipped our footwear, imagining what our grandparents or even parents would think of such colourful daring.

Yesterday evening I watched the Lerwick Up Helly Aa on YouTube. It’s 13 years since His Lordship and I flew up to Shetland to watch it in person. It’s the most dramatic street theatre I have ever seen and it still gives me goosebumps when I wait for the maroon to fire over a darkened town signalling the lighting of the tar torches. I can almost smell the burning paraffin.