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Hello, a belated Happy New Year to you.

Great to see that you’ve been busy with your blogs over the festive season! A big welcome to our new bloggers: from Bute; from Yell, and from Arran. I hope you’re enjoying blogging with us. Welcome back to and too.

As ever, if you have any queries or problems, please email islandblogging@bbc.co.uk and I’ll do my best to help.

Anne

I recently received a suggestion to add a link to southuist.com to the page. I’m happy to do so and thought I would draw your attention to it here too.

If you own or know of any local sites that you think should be included on Island Blogging please email me at islandblogging@bbc.co.uk with the details and we’ll add them to the appropriate pages.

Thanks
Anne

Earlier this week Lorraine from Wales posted this comment to (come back Eday Echoes, we’d love to hear from you again!) which I thought was worth highlighting. Can anyone help her out?

“… been resurching eday. we would love to move to eday. trying to find out lots of useful info on everything about moving and all it intails to jobs for my husband martin a farm worker/fencer/tractor driver. and information or contacts for my boys to find out what school is really like for 11and 13 year olds. do any children do home schooling if so is there some one we could talk to via email about this. my oldest son is nearly 15 and would like to know what life is like for a teenager on eday and what oppertunities are available after school. any info or contacts would be great. lorraine and tribe from a wet and gloomy wales “

On another topic, we occasionally receive comments from those who are keen to trace their ancestors from the islands. is currently running a series called Digging Up Your Roots, which has advice on how to ‘flesh out the bones’ of your family history research. The team welcome calls, letters and emails, so it could be worth your while listening in as they may be able to help. The programme is broadcast live on Sunday at 1205 but you can also catch it on the facility.

Finally, I’d like to apologise for the recent publishing delays. Back to normal now!

Cheers,
Anne

England, Wales, France, Norway, Canada, America and Australia. Off the top of my head those are the countries - outwith Scotland - we receive regular comments from. But do we have any far-flung readers who are content to read and not join in?

Lately I’ve been wondering just where in the world Island Blogging reaches. If you’re an overseas regular visitor to the site please let us know! Add a comment at the bottom of the page detailing where you are and what brought you to Island Blogging. Do you have links to the islands or are you simply interested in Scotland?

It’s a completely unscientific survey – I’m just curious! I’m sure our regular (and not so regular) bloggers would be interested to find out where their blogs are being read too…

Thanks
Anne

Is it correct to wish someone Happy Up Helly Aa? If not what’s the best thing to say on the last Tuesday in January?

Anyway, don't forget about us amid all of the revelry - I'm sure we'd all love to hear about it. And if you’re taking your camera to any of today’s celebrations please let us see the photos!

Have fun!

Anne :)