Today, there was a phone call.  The Physiotherapist had a cancellation – did I want it?  Did I?  Hell, yes.  So OH drove me into Lerwick while I complained about his driving.

I didn’t take a single photo while I back-seat-drove so the best I can do is show you some from this summer that are lurking on my computer waiting to be filed.

Remember Zoot as a bebbie?  Remember when grass grew, there were flowers everywhere and you could go outside without a coat?

Zoot was an enchanting foal.  I wish they could stay like that but apparently they can’t.  I am such a fair weather breeder.

Oof!  You could put her in a sandwich…. (please don’t)

Remember when horses had summer coats and were not growing a winter coat that is made up of numerous layers to keep warm?

Remember when everyone would sunbathe and the fields were green ….

….. and little yearlings needed their winter fuzz taken off (to be sold on Fleabay and woven into whatever you use yearling foal for). I am still waiting to see the results.

Just think about sitting on the ground without a wet bottom afterwards – that would be nice.

We take spring and summer for granted when it is around us.  We easily forget the harsh winters and put them behind us as fast as possible, grateful we got through it without too much loss or worry.

And here we are back in winter.  I can’t pretend it is still autumn. The clocks have gone back and it is dark by 15.30.

So, here we go again!

The plus side to winter up here is that we will probably get the Northern Lights dancing (I saw a good green glow out of the back door last night).    Now they are something special.

I took this photo standing by my gate.  In all honesty, I have to say that is the best it has ever been.

In 2006/7, I made a series of dvds based on John J Graham’s poem….

Whaar’ll I in Winter dwell?
Whaar’ll I in Voar dell?
Whaar’ll I in Simmer fare?
Whaar’ll I in Hairst shair?

Voar – Spring
Simmer – Summer
Hairst – Autumn

After making the first dvd, it became apparently clear that I needed someone to narrate this poem plus a few others.  I chose Vagaland’s poems for some of my films.  Vagaland lived in my village of Walls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagaland) and his poetry is considered some of the best in traditional Shetland dialect.

Bertie Jamieson was the obvious choice.  He was retired, having once run a spinning mill in Sandness – http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/About-Us-1-w.asp – amongst other occupations.  His passions were local history, his vintage car and poetry.  He was one of those people who was fascinating to talk to and knew everything and everyone – much loved too and he had a twinkle in his eye.

He died a month back and I will remember him when I asked him to come and read for my films.  He arrived in his lovely car, sat down in our recording studio (aka the sitting room) and off he went.

Bertie’s voice reading the poems lifted my small films up to another level.  We recorded about 10 poems by Vagaland and then he made a request……

Would we record his poems for posterity?  We said of course.  It was the least we could do and my OH spent many hours doing this with him.  His poems were superb.  He was very modest about them and wanted the recording only for himself and his family. 

I have lived in my little crofthouse, that sits at the base of the imposing Stourbrough Hill, for 14 years now.  I have looked at this hill through all weathers from my back door.  The hill is 173m / 568ft high and this is where all the water from my burn originates.

Ten years ago, we rode the horses up to the top and over.  It took us four hours to find our way home!  Never again.  Incredible views, though.

I remember getting off and walking to try and find our way through the million peat bogs and hags.

Both images © Copyright Douglas Law who climbed to the top with a camera – kudos to that man!

The horses climbed up them on their knees. It was incredible to watch and you could see their ancient survival instincts coming to the fore.

I am trying to take things easy again as I think I was over-doing it since having my plaster off and my ankle is telling, no shouting at me, now.  I am not sure what I am supposed to be doing as physio.  Walk?  Not walk?  Rest?  Keep going?  What?  The ankle is not stable and I have had a couple of twinges when I took a bad step.  I suppose I was hoping for instant miracles.  I could do with some guidance.

So back to pottering on the flat track only with the dogs, admiring the view at the end, watching horses and ponies from afar, while trying to gauge what is a good idea and what is not.

The black blobs in the distance are Shetland ponies.

I only discovered that I was actually photographing a sheep as well when I got home (at least I think that is a sheep – probably my neighbour’s prize Shetland pony foal and I can’t tell the difference as it has been so long since I have seen one!)

Icelandic horses are easier. As they are bigger!

There is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow according Irish folklore.

At the end of my rainbow, I have 4 pots of gold (there are 4 Icelandic horses in this field, so qed, 4 pot-bellies of gold!)

That was yesterday evening and today it was beautiful too.  I know for some of you south it has been a tad breezy, but here in Shetland there was not a breath of wind and the sun shone gloriously.  Makes a change as usually it is the other way round.  We suffer, no one mentions it on the news and we just get on with it.

I don’t like to rub it in (ok, I do), but I managed to put out three loads of washing to dry, go for a lovely walk as well as take photos of the sun-bathing boys.

(Is there anyone more handsome?  I think not)

So everyone was outside lapping up the rays.  BeAnne was on guard ready to repel marauders – she sees it as her sole responsibility and spends many hours outside waiting for them.

A little known fact. A Patterdale terrier is never off-duty, you know.

Loki was not letting anyone past the front door, either.

Haakon is back from his holiday at Jo’s.  I found him at the end of my garden waiting for me.  If I am honest, he is probably more like waiting for the biscuit tin.

I said what-ho to the old thing and gave him a sweetie as well.  It is good to see him.  He is still the head of the herd.  You can tell he is related to Iacs – they are cousins with a striking family resemblance although Haakon never does an Idiot-Face quite like Iacs.  He just looks incredibly noble.

Yes, that’s right Daisy Taylor.  You heard me!

Like me, BeAnne has been off riding.  I think she has missed it hugely.  It was her one sport that she really excelled at and enjoyed.

I have pleaded with Janette to ride Iacs regularly now.  We need to reduce his immense girth, and BeAnne offered her help as well, as purely ballast and passenger status.  A bit like using additional weights at the gym.

I hoisted BeAnne on and she started off wobbly with “sea-legs”….

But soon she found her seat.

And together they all ambled around the school.  A very happy little team.

Janette, ever the conscientious rider, took great pains to keep Her Maj aboard. There were regular stops and checks.  BeAnne favours a horse’s winter coat as there is more grip and she tends to stay on better without sliding off.

They all happily relaxed into it and BeAnne’s natural ability returned.

In my opinion, she rides better than some.

Next it was Jo’s turn on Hetja, minus the terrier attachment.  I don’t think Hetja would’ve been too amused by having BeAnne’s bum onboard.  There are some things you don’t try and that is one of them. We are trying to get Hetja relaxed and she does not trust us yet to pull that stunt on her.

Bjørn trained Taktur as well which was incredible to watch.  Remember, Taktur is only 4 years old.  I need to pinch myself.

Meanwhile, BeAnne went into a bit of a depression.  Although she can manage a very credible sitting trot, which is more than most, she still is not ever going to be as good as them.  I can relate to this but at least she had a ride.

I have had to promise my ankle surgeon not to get on a horse until next year at the earliest.  So now I am jealous of my dog!