My guides to the Museum

Despite a lovely sunny dawn, by the time we had arrived at Tingwall Airport in Shetland at 8.15 this morning the wind was beginning to rise and cloud was building from the west.

20 minutes later we were told that the flight to Fair Isle was " under review" but that even if we got there , we were not going to be able to get back as the 4.30 return flight was very unlikely to run, given the forecast and the speed of the gusts already being recorded.

However we were very fortunate to be able to immediately fall back on an excellent alternative programme arranged by Shetland's Director of Children's services, Helen Budge . At 10.00 we were on the boat to Bresssay to visit the island Primary and then we went to Whiteness Primary where we had lunch. We went on to meet those involved in a project on youth access and poverty, got a chance to talk by phone to the teacher and some pupils on Fair Isle ( who confirmed that in the end the plane did not come out from Tingwall) , had a tour of the library and education centre and then were shown round the tremendous Shetland Museum by these P4 pupils from Bell's Brae Primary.

They are doing a project on life in old Shetland and I learnt a lot from them. I even saw a grice for the first time.

Many thanks to everyone who helped and showed us such generous hospitality. We had a fascinating day.

Now I am getting ready for a meeting at the Fisheries College, just along from the hotel in Scalloway.