I’ve been meaning for ages to brush out the winter coats from all the horses and ponies but then I realised we were going to have visitors and they might like doing this.

So I suggested brushing might be a fun activity for all.

And, yes, everyone grabbed a brush, a pony and brushed out all the old winter coats.  We only had to tie up the unco-operative ones, like Vitamin and Tiddles.

I think the ponies were much happier to lose their heavy itchy winter coats.  Recently, I have been watching them rub their bottoms on all my fences.  I also put on their yearly insecticide treatment afterwards to kill any unwanted beasties.

The dogs were very good, sitting close by and enjoyed watching us working hard.

And all the ponies behaved beautifully, standing patiently while they were brushed, except for Tiddles who kept walking away, hence the headcollar.

And, yes, Waffle tried to get the bottle of mane/tail conditioner. I watched him trying very hard to unhook it off the fence.   He does like toys.

So, job done and thank you very much to everyone who participated and helped.  I can tick that job off my to-do list.

The thing with visitors, which is always nice, is that I have the excuse to take them to places that I’m always meaning to go to.

So Steph and I went in search of cake and, where better, but our Cake Fridge which is full of delicious home-bakes and it really is a fridge on the side of the road.

Alongside is a delightful tea-room with Lovely Things available to buy in the accompanying craft shop.  I was in heaven, I won’t lie.

And the cake is fabulous – we bought a large variety (and I returned for more for Eurovision tonight).

Down the road was a field of Shetland ponies – mares and foals.

So, of course, we had to go and take a look.

Divine.  Darling little peoples.

Another short drive and we reached another of our destinations – the Burn of Lunklet.  Now, I have never been here and have always been meaning to. I’ve driven past it enough times.

This involves a walk – not a long one, but still a walk.

And off we set along a rather spongey path but it was mostly dry.

Steph and I both thought, at one point, “is this it?” as we walked along the side of the burn (stream) feeling rather under-whelmed.

And then we turned a corner and saw this beautiful waterfall.

So yes, most definitely worth it.

I am feeling slightly smug now that we went and also came home with large amounts of great cake.

My verdict; The Cake Fridge is well worth a visit in so many ways (cake and crafts), and the Burn of Lunklet is beautiful (but keep going until you see it – accept no imitations).

We were fog-bound this morning so we all decided to take the dogs for a walk on our local sandy beach.  A change from the usual plod around our fields.

We were the only ones there. We had the beach to ourselves.  Wonderful.

The dogs loved it.  They had such fun and that was good to watch.

They even did as they were told!   Who knew?

Lots of adventuring.

I rescued the crab and made sure it went back into the water.

And then we drove back home into the fog again.

Tomorrow is the Eurovision Song Contest, so guess who came home?

Yup, Daisy and…

Flossie.  Everyone is very happy.

We also have visitors from America staying who we are indoctrinating into the ways of Eurovision (whether they like it or not – luckily they like it, I think or are very polite).

After a fabulous Devonshire Cream Tea kindly created and brought by friends, we went for a little walk to get some fresh air.

I think Vitamin has forgiven me for trying to put her a rug on her yesterday.

We talked to all the ponies and then moved onto the sheep.  Lambie was very happy his BFF was home.

I’m not gonna lie, but he never is as happy when I’m around.  Chopped liver.

I’m not speaking to Vitamin.

It is going to rain all night and she won’t let me put her rainsheet on.  The one she’s worn all winter without any fuss at all.

I tried very hard to catch her but she was having none of it – too busy running away from me.

And she knew exactly what she was doing.  It was a game to her and she didn’t care.

I had put Fivla’s rug on beforehand, which actually is the more necessary as these days Fivla feels the cold and hates rain.

At one stage, I stupidly put Vitamin’s rug on the ground so I could approach the old bat without her rug.  A rookie mistake.  Albie and Waffle started “helping”.  *** sigh ***. Once I had gone back to extracate the rug from Waffle’s teeth, Vitamin was long gone.

Usually, I just put the rug on and I don’t need a headcollar to catch anyone.  The old ladies are used my routine and are very patient while I do up all the straps and buckles.

So Vitamin knew exactly what I wanted to do.

However, I did manage to drape her rug on but, nope, Vitamin was off.

And, as none of the straps were done up, the rug fell off and Vitamin galloped away bare nekkid again.

I think everyone was just in a silly mood.

And despite telling myself I would not give up because I hate giving up, I swiftly realised I was not going to win this battle and gave up.

So I went and told Fivla that I loved her most and she was happy with this.

Sometimes Vitamin can be a right old cowbag – Vitamoobag then.  Still, I thought to myself, she did move very well for an old pony of 30 – as I watched her disappear into the distance, rugless.