Kolka (again)

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Oh crikey – where to begin.

Floss and I got up very early and fed all the animals 2 hours before their usual time (I was driving her to the airport).  It was just getting light but we could see to do our chores.

Floss fed the Icelandic horses for me, while I fed Fivla and Vitamin next door.  I noticed Kolka running around and behaving very oddly, blindly panicking, as if she couldn’t see Haakon and Iacs.  She quickly settled once she eventually found them (in their usual place) and ate her breakfast. But this was very strange behaviour and my waters churned.

I put Fivla and Vitamin into Kolka’s field to see if that would help calm her down and we saw no more odd behaviour.

Later this afternoon, I went into Kolka’s field to take a few photos and found she had split her head open and had a huge forehead to nose nasty cut.  Dear God, how on earth had she done that?  I have no idea but in herself, Kolka was absolutely fine and totally oblivious to her huge injury.

I called the vet and she came over quickly.  While I was waiting I watched Kolka for anymore odd behaviour. Nothing.

I also put Kolka’s forelock into a bunch to keep it out of her wound.

So the vet checked Kolka over thoroughly, and sewed her up under light sedation.

Like me, the vet got not weird vibes off Kolka but we can’t rule out that there is possibly something else going on, possibly she hit her head when she was lying by the fence.  We just don’t know.  And how did she get that huge cut? Did she scratch her head against something in the field and it opened up the previous head cut which got worse?

So prayers for tonight please.  They’re in the sheep’s shed. Haakon and Iacs are keeping Kolka company while I feel sick with worry.

Quirky Sheepies

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Another quiet day in my life, which is perfect.  Drama and me don’t mix.

So here are some quirky photos of the sheep.  All of them except for Dahlia, who wouldn’t come home, preferring to spend her evening/night with Fivla and Vitamin, my two ancient Shetland ponies.

First there is Harrel the Barrel, who has grown up into a big boy.  Equal thug and charmer when he wants something.  He always wants something.

‘Ster, who is quite aged now – around 11 years old.  He likes a quiet life, enjoys his extra breakfast and doesn’t want hassle.

Madge (you remember, Edna’s daughter) – I am still determined to tame down.  One of these days she will talk to me but that day has not occurred yet and Hell has not frozen over.  I remain the optimist.

My beloved ‘Bert. Another old gentleman.  One of the original three with ‘Ster and Lambie.  He is a dear boy and an old soul.

Gussie has also grown up into a solid chap.  He is my right hand man, quite literally, if he is around he is always next to my hand so I know he’s there. I like that.

Dear little Maggie, Harrel’s mother and such a sweetie.  She is always torn between being Dahlia’s best friend or Gussie’s girlfriend.  She likes attention and food, in that order.

And lastly, of course, there is a very long-in-the-tooth Lambie who has teeth like a pirate nowadays.   But he is old and I forgive him everything.  Much as I would love to say he is always next to me, he mostly isn’t as I threaten to hug him a lot.

And whose your favourite? ❤️

Me, Me, Me!

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It is always me, me, me with Monster.  Never anyone else.

He was on full annoying-cat mode yesterday afternoon while I was trying to work.

He got in the way, he wanted attention, he wanted what I was working on and he wanted to take up as much space as possible and I wanted him to stop.

“Am I in your way?”
“Yes you are, mate!”

So, realising he wasn’t going to stop or go away, I cleared a space at the end of my table (which is not easy) and encouraged Monster to go and look out of the window.  He shuffled off grudgingly.

And eventually Monster settled and I thought that was it and got on with my work, again.

But Monster wasn’t going to enjoy himself, (as long as I knew) or settle.  He had other plans for me.

After a bit more annoying, and getting in the way, I evicted Monster from my work table telling him it was his basket or nothing now.  I could take no more.  Yes, I could’ve let him out but Pepper was itching to follow and run away.

So, Monster grudgingly (again – he does a good grudge) chose the basket.  It was a snug fit but at least he gave me some much needed peace and quiet.

Next time I’m not opening the door to my shed. I am too nice.

Feeling Sorry for the Shetland Ponies

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I was feeling sorry for the Shetland ponies (Waffle, Tiddles, Newt, Silver and Albie) who have been living on the track all summer.  It must be very boring for them.

And they’ve been so good, sticking to their diet, never once (so far) trying to escape, accepting their very miserable fate of pulling hay out of a double-thickness haynet with the tiniest holes ever.  It’s not easy trying to find a scrap of food if you’re a fat little pony.

But they’re looking good. They’ve managed to escape laminitis, so far, and everyone is well.

So, as it is very calm outside, I gave the ponies their daily ration of hay in a big pile and told them to enjoy it.

The equine dentist had also remarked when he visited, that he could see evidence of wear from the double haynets.  If it’s not one thing, it’s another. I can’t seem to do right for doing wrong.  Teeth or laminitis …. you choose.

But a few calm days of loose hay for a change surely makes the chaps happy.

And they must have some quality of life. That’s very important.

Once the grass loses its autumn sugar flush, all the ponies will go into the big field that has been grazed all spring/summer by the others.

Then they can have a holiday from track life.  I think we are all looking forward to that.

Sørlandet – Oldest Tall Ship in the World

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Ted had an appointment with his hair-dresser’s so I dropped him off and went on to town to get a few things.

It was a lovely calm day and the harbour looked gorgeous.

While I was driving in, I noticed there was a beautiful old ship in port so obviously I had to go an investigate.

She was the Sørlandet, a Norwegian heritage tall ship – the world’s oldest and most authentic fully-rigged ship.

I wandered around on the pier side and admired her beautiful lines and rigging.

From Wikipedia – “Construction on the Sørlandet was started in 1925 at Høivolds Mek shipyard in the city of Kristiansand on the south coast of Norway based on a £25,000 grant from ship owner O.A.T. Skjelbred. Completed on 28 May 1927, she measured 210 feet in length and 577 gross tons. She was given the name Sørlandet after the Norwegian region from where she originates.”

From Sail Training Website – “The objective of the ship’s sailing activities is to offer the general public an experience in traditional life on board a tall ship, as well as maintaining the ship by active use.

Our trainees will be divided into three watches; Port Watch, Midships Watch, and Starboard Watch. The watches work in shifts during the voyage. our sail trainees become a part of the crew onboard the Sorlandet. Everyone will receive training and guidance from our professional crew members regardless of previous experience or knowledge. It is exciting and rewarding to be in charge of the important tasks that are to be solved on board. Trainees get and overview and an understanding of life aboard Sorlandet during the sail. “

While I am not a huge fan of boats, as you may be aware, even I might want to have a go (but only might, mind – boats and me are not a good combination. I would much rather ride a horse!)