Today was the day that Mum was due back from the hospital, so Richard was busy all morning getting the house ready for her, particularly her bedroom.

He even put out flowers from the garden.

The washing station is ready.

And the fork biscuits are primed – mainly because I was too late to help tidy up and wanted something to do.

One of them fell on the floor, but I won’t tell anyone which one, even though Richard would happily eat it anyway.

Wuss is still in his modelling phase. Honestly, if I made these black and white, they could be from a ‘male fragrance’ advert, don’t you think?

Noir, a new fragrance for him, by Wu.

Loki is also practising his depressed and abused face.

Mum arrived late afternoon with Jo, and proceeded to make her way upstairs as I held BeAnne in a neck lock, in case she got underfoot and tripped her up. Needless to say she was positively beside herself with Mummy back.

Loki even ventured upstairs and did his best to get Mum’s attention too. We decided to remove BeAnne’s lampshade a day early, as her stitches are coming out tomorrow.

The collar isn’t really in the best state after over a week of BeAnne scratching it on every available surface.

I kind of miss it on her. She looks rather odd without it now.

And here is the result of Mum’s trip. They decided just yesterday that they wanted to put a full cast on it, but waited until this morning to see if Flybe would let her on the plane with it.

I don’t think BeAnne is planning on leaving the bed anytime soon. She is currently plastered to Mum’s side.

So glad Mum’s back. It certainly hasn’t been the same without her.

Today, Jo and Fiona kindly came around to take me out on my first hack (unless you count riding Whiffy outside once or twice more than a decade ago). Fiona lent me some jodphurs, and Jo quickly gave me a short lesson on Iacs while Klaengur watched from the sidelines, pointing and laughing whilst he played with his cone. Sadly, I was unable to capture that on camera, but it was hilarious to watch.

Afterwards, we set out, although Iacs had a little trouble keeping up with the brisk walk of Haakon and Klaengur. Every so often I’d let him trot to catch up, but then we’d inevitably fall behind almost at once.

I didn’t get many photos of the hack either, as I was concentrating on keeping my balance in case Iacs decided he needed to catch up again. It was very strange seeing the familiar roads on horseback, rather than on foot or in a car. Everything just looked very different, but it may have been just the added height.

Mostly, the ride was rather sedate, until we came past the canter track. Before I even realised what was happening, Iacs left the road at once, immediately going into canter. After realising that neither reins nor legs were of any help (although I admit I was too scared of falling to move much), I ended up just holding onto the saddle for dear life. Eventually he stopped at the top of the track, and Jo and Fiona caught up with us, half amused and half shocked.

My first ride for years, I stayed in walk. On the second, I was trotting. And the third, I got up to canter. When I’d caught my breath, I realised it had actually been quite fun when I realised that I wasn’t about to fall, and Iacs has been up that track so many times, he probably wouldn’t trip or go off anywhere else. I think he probably forgot who was riding, and just instinctively did what he always does there.

Anyway, I don’t blame him, and all’s fine. It was scary at first, but more of a shock than anything else. He was blissfully slow the rest of the time, and Jo and Fiona stopped and waited several times for us to catch up. Luckily, he didn’t try again when we passed the track on our way back.

Other than the ride, I learned that Beeble and Snati are nearly impossible to photograph.

While BeAnne is perfect, and always poses. I think she’s learned this from being the subject of Mum’s photos for years.

And Wu gave the phone a nose-kissy.

Thank you for all your feedback and comments, especially yesterday. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the posts. I think yesterday I was just getting more and more frustrated trying to think of something to say, and having some college form problems. But everything is being sorted and I had lots to write today, so I’m happy.

P.S. – For those of you who were wondering, I’m reading a collection of short stories by Lu Xun. Rather dull, with very odd, jarring endings. It’s all for experience though, which is good. Before that I had Alex Haley’s ‘Roots’, which is a fantastic book that Mum lent me. That one is about an African American man tracing his ancestry back to a man who was captured in Africa, taken to America and sold into slavery around 180 years before. I’d seriously recommend this one. Daisy has also read it and loved it.

Today was broadly similar to yesterday, in that the weather is still terrible, and very little happened. I brought some carrots up to the boys, and was soon their new favourite person, for around 5 minutes anyway.

Klaengur was first to spot the bag and came hurrying down to be first in line.

Mr Bimble quickly followed him, and I soon had to fend off two rummaging noses away from the bag.

The two then bickered until they noticed I was walking away, and promptly fell in either side of me to ‘escort’ me to see Haakon – trying to snatch at the bag all the way. I tried to get a picture, but fending off one and taking a picture of the other proved impossible.

Klaengur soon started to irritate Haakon after I gave him his ration. The latter was disgusted.

I decided to leave them to it, and set off in search of Taktur, who was nowhere to be seen.

The first black blob in the distance turned out to be a sheep. However, I eventually spotted him doing his best Heathcliff impression: dark, mysterious and brooding.

This was soon abandoned as he worked out why I might be there.

As opposed to the others, Taktur appeared to have some sense of manners and personal space, instead of demanding the next piece two seconds after the last. As I turned around on the way back to the others, however, I found he had attached himself to my back.

Jack is trotting around grumbling and growling to himself as usual. Earlier he got stuck on the sofa, unable to get down until Richard picked him up, snarling all the way. We don’t think he’s looking too good at the moment.

Once again, I’m so sorry that these posts are so dull. I don’t really have any other pictures left, and it was either this or a review of the books I’ve been reading. It was a close decision at any rate.

Haven’t heard anything from Mum, but I assume she’s ok. She has two seasons of Game of Thrones to watch at least. Daisy phoned and is still stuck down in Wales with her class. No power, internet, and getting up before 5am. Sounds wonderful.

Once again, Loki has managed to cut his leg, presumably from a fence. He returned from his dog walk with the limp he’d just got rid of, and looking very sorry for himself.

According to Richard, the vet shaved, cleaned and stapled the cut, and gave him some antibiotics. As fast as they can go, Lurchers really do seem to be made of tissue paper. Celt probably had more stitches and staples in his head than bone.

Other than that, nothing really happened today, as you might expect. The rain finally reduced to a faint spray, and everything is just grey and soggy.

This afternoon I went into the field to see how the Icelandics were getting on. Rather than coming down to see me or even expressing much interest, it was clear that they all had other preoccupations.

Nevertheless, each one came up for air occasionally to acknowledge my presence and search my jacket for more food.

Guess who’s who.

Here’s Taktur looking dramatic and manly. He didn’t actually jump, if I remember correctly, but I’m sure he likes to think he did.

Next I went over to see Klaengur, who had slightly distanced himself from the others. Needless to say, he was in a similar mood.

While he was otherwise engaged, I had a go at taking another ‘mane picture’ like Mum’s, but it didn’t quite turn out as I’d hoped.

I’m sorry for the lack of interesting content for the last couple of days. It’s very quiet without Mum here. She phoned and said that she’d had the operation and everything is fine. I know BeAnne misses her terribly, and has attached herself to me during the day. Jack is barking furiously at everything that moves, and Loki is still sulking.

Or at least it certainly seems like it. It’s been pouring all day, and now the smell of wet dog permeates the house. Again, you are stuck with low quality pictures for a few days. Mum did try to set up a camera on her way out, but it made a funny noise and wouldn’t work.

On another note, Mum left early this afternoon, having spent the morning packing for the hospital…

and of course, saying goodbye to her beloved BeAnne.

Meanwhile, Wu supervised the proceedings.

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At least until he got bored and decided to investigate other things.

It’s not the same without Mum here, even after a few hours. The dogs can certainly feel the difference.

In the mean time, I shall try and find something to write about and watch Storage Hunters, all the while attempting to console BeAnne.