The croft house, with its thick wails and thatched roof, was a surprisingly snug dwelling, warm in winter and cool in summer. Once inside and with a good peat fire going, the worst of winter storms were scarcely felt. Here in the but end (the living room), the family worked, cooked, ate and entertained their friends and neighbours. During winter, farming and fishing equipment was made or repaired; harnesses, kishies and meshies, simmonds for thatching, fishing lines, buoys, nets, clothing, knitwear, yarn and so on.

Everyone took part according to their abilities in what was being done and while hands were busy, conversation went on apace. Stories were told, local happenings and gossip discussed and digested, guddicks (rhyming puzzles) were solved  and the traditional knowledge of generations was communicated to the young folk. Neighbours dropped in for a smoke and a yarn and tales would have been told of their voyaging and happenings in the far corners of the world.

The fiddle was the chief musical instrument of the Shetlanders; most men could play and many women also. A good fiddler was always welcome at any fireside.

Sleeping accommodation in such a small building could pose problems. The parents, grandparents and youngest children usually slept ben. Box beds gave privacy and most ben ends would have had more than one.

The older children usually slept but, the boys up on the loft possibly and the girls in another box bed. It was not unknown for the older children to sleep in the barn.