60 Degrees North

There was a time, a decade ago, when I couldn't locate Shetland on a map. I knew it was to the north of East Anglia somewhere but, for me, that broad geographic category also encompassed Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff. After marrying a girl from the Islands and visiting many times, I can honestly say that it's one of my favourite places to holiday.

Not that I've quite forgotten the twelve hours of cars, buses and flights that got us here. I still have a burning feeling in my wallet from the £9 FlyBe charged us for a few tiny bottles of apple juice, but that's by the by. The important thing is that we're all togther and, for the first time in a good long while, we're on holiday!

So, we've played on the beach, seen some cows and done very little else. It's wonderful.