I should’ve known when I saw this red sky that staying in bed and not getting up to deal with the day would’ve been the sensible choice.

Because later in the morning, I was met with this…….

And, while I was putting it all back together, Albie let himself out to explore a bit.  Luckily, he couldn’t get out any further because…..

We have a British phrase that is very useful – belt and braces.

(from the Dictionary )

(of a policy or action) providing double security, by using two means to the same end.

The belt……

…and the braces!  There will be no escaping here.

I put some new bedding (hemp) into the containers so the outside ponies could lie down if they want to.  I was told that the ponies wouldn’t eat it….. but yet…..

So while Newt and Waffle were busy stuffing their faces with this new bedding, I was frantically searching the internet to see if their new diet would kill them.

Apparently it is not good to eat in large quantities.  I told them this.

But luckily, I thought to myself, I have the vet coming to take Storm’s blood so if the ponies want to be ill from eating the container bedding, I have just the chap to deal with it.  The words “bloody ponies” sprung to mind quite a lot today.

I have been lacking a plan with the Shetland ponies.  I couldn’t see the wood for the trees, which is quite an achievement here in Shetland!

So my good friend, Monika, from Sandness Equine Services came over to help.  She could see my set-up and made an excellent suggestion to fence off a small bit of the adjoining field which could be increased as winter went on.  This means the ponies have access to the containers as well as a little grazing.

Newt, Silver and Waffle watched on with interest while we worked.

We decided on two strings of fence this time.  My trust in the ponies, like the last fence, is completely broken.

And then we let them out.

And then we got Fivla and Vitamin, as they are now fine.

There’s not a huge amount of grazing and the ponies will only have access to it during daylight hours.  Them’s the new rules.

And back in the big shed, I had to go and apologise to the last three – Storm, Tiddles and Albie who looked on or listened to the sounds of munching and complained bitterly.

So that’s the winter plan.  A huge thank you to Monika for giving me guidance.  I needed it.  As far I was concerned, everyone was going to stay inside all winter.

Meanwhile, a small wee dug managed to go a-visiting while we were fence building.  She came home eventually after I hollered and taxi-whistled (two fingers in my mouth which is useful for stopping London taxis) for her.

I went to do my daily check with three carrots in my pockets.

I chucked one over the wall for Kolka.

(she is a very pretty and noble lady).

These two were looking like the idiots they are.

Yup, idiots.  You heard me.

I threw out my two remaining carrots.  One each.  Iacs missed his (fool).

Haakon found his.

And wanted more.

If Haakon had known Iacs had lost his carrot, he would’ve eaten that too.  I said nothing, but silently climbed over the fence to sort things out.  However, I quickly saw that Iacs had found his errant carrot and had eaten it.

Sorry, this is short – I am knackered, worried, now waiting for the vet to come and take bloods from Storm sometime this week.  I need things to improve, please.

I decided today was the day the three Shetland ponies who were not showing any signs of laminitis could move out of their stall in the big shed and go outside.

I led them out one by one, opened up one of the containers and gave them their morning soaked haynet.

I won’t lie – they are very unimpressed with this new set-up.

For the time being, they are only having the small paddock bit which is a mixture of hard-standing (yes, even where Silver is standing) as well as a small short-grassy area which will quickly turn to mud.  But it is outside, I tell them, so they can have fresh air and stop shouting for their friends.

Said friends are not happy either.  They want to go out too but, until I see absolutely no signs of laminitis, that’s not happening.

Albie and Tiddles are going well and I doubt it will be long before they join their friends. I have stopped their painkillers.

However, I am very worried about Storm.  He is not well and I have put him back on the drugs as he is very stiff and very miserable.

I hope he turns a corner soon.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  I hate him being so unhappy.  It makes me miserable too….. and worried, as ever.

Today was the annual visit to the Christmas Craft Fair in Lerwick. I left OH in charge of the animals and put out double haynet rations for the boys, leaving out 4 buckets for the old ladies to be eaten over the morning.   It was a lovely morning off from my usual routine spent with Mandy, my flute-duet friend who came too.  We shopped!

I am sorry there are so many photos but it was set in two huge halls with overspill too.

Everyone and anyone seemed to have been working hard all year to produce a high standard of every kind of art and craft.

I even managed gin for elevenses!

It would’ve been far too easy for me to ignore my Christmas list and to just buy presents for myself!

My heart melted!

At this stage I was wondering whether it was possible to hang pictures on the ceiling as there is no more space on any wall in my house.

Puzzah!  (Lambie’s father forever immortalised in a card – I was lucky enough to have been given the original artwork).

As the morning progressed, the Christmas Fair became very busy and I was tiring fast.

Fish and chips for lunch, a quick nip around Tesco and then home to play flute duets.  Shopping is exhausting work.