“Simmer Dim” is the shortest night or the longest day, depending on your perspective.

We were invited by Houlls & Hounds on Burra (another island) to join them on their Simmer Dim ride.

As we were four, I transported over Klaengur and Haakon the day before and then Kappi and Iacs on the day.

We set off – at about 21:30, all wearing hi-viz and/or lights.

We were aiming to get to Bannamin Beach – about 2 1/2 miles away.

Bannamin is a tombolo and connects Burra Isle with, I think, the Isle of Banna Min (though I may be wrong – please tell me).

We started by walking in a a very controlled way up and down the beach, so the horses could become accustomed to their surroundings – for us, our horses had not been here before.

Then there was a tölt down and a canter back up.

Now, that I can do, I think.

Then we walked back down and cantered back up at a speed that was most acceptable to horse and rider, apparently!

It was brilliant.  The best fun I have had in years.  So nice to ride with folk who were happy and in control (because they had all been trained by Bjørn).  This was a relaxed ride with like-minded folk.

No one squealed, no one was out of control and all the horse and riders got on beautifully.

Even me, with my “bitchy resting-if terrified” face.  God alone knows why I look like this.  I can only think that I was realising that it was one of my last rides as my back was very unhappy in a give-me-painkillers-now way.

Darling Haakon.  I haven’t ridden him for months – I lost my  mojo .  But he is always the same and I am always very grateful.  My best friend forever.

We went home, having been endlessly photographed by various folk, including The Shetland Times.

It was a wonderful evening.  Nice people, beautifully behaved horses and much fun for us all. I would definitely do this again, if my spine let me.

I think I am getting too old for this (I never thought I would write that!)

Yesterday was our Simmer Dim (midsummer) night’s ride.  It was magical bit I am exhausted now.  I have seem to have lost the art of being able to go to bed at 02:30 without suffering for the whole of the next day.

I am writing this arse about face (back to front).  We went for a ride with the ladies from Houlls and Hounds in Burra yesterday evening (I will write about it tomorrow as the photos are just coming through, I am too exhausted and need to go to my bed).

Today, we returned to Burra to collect two of our horses that we had left behind.  I only have room in the van for two horses and there were four of us last night.  We also helped Bjorn with a voluntary stallion assessment for Merkisayre Surety.  Boy, that Shetland pony stallion can more – I mean really move.

While the assessment was going along, I spent some time taking a few photos of the surrounding scenery.

So, here they are:-

Even in Burra, there is telephone box vandalism. Sad.

I found a beautiful old boat that had been lugged onto the shore. never to sail again – now, more ornament than function with a giant hole in the hull. The wonderful texture of the weathered old wood contributed to the fact that this boat was spending the rest of its days in a field.

Splendid and so very Shetland.

There were beautiful sea pinks growing everywhere on the shore.  I am very fond of these flowers.  Always strong in the sometimes fierce summer weather.

And so to bed.  Tomorrow, I will put up the simmer dim riding photos.  The best fun I have had for a very long while.

I had a bad night – dreaming and worrying in my dreams about Tweet-Tweetums-Tweet (aka Tweet2)

I was right to be worried, waking at 06:00, I hurried downstairs to find him nearly dead – cold and with a lolling head, barely breathing.

So I spent the next few hours getting him back on his feet and was beginning to feel hopeful that we might be maybe slightly, even perhaps, moving forward.

We put a black and white toy in his box to sort of look like a relative.  It was mostly ignored or used it as an escape route if possible.

I put some tweety sounds on a loop so birdsong was all around him, like in the wild.  Tweet2 was enthusiastically tweeting in reply.  He was becoming more and more active, running around his box on his little legs.  It was wonderful to see.

Things were going in and coming out, the right colour and consistency – Floss and I worked hard all morning keeping him warm, full of food and happy.

And then suddenly, totally unexpectedly, Tweet2 quickly downhill and died.  So Rest in Peace Tweet-Tweetums-Tweet.  We tried our hardest.  I spent every minute looking up various care procedures for wild birds and realise the odds were very low.

So, to try and cheer ourselves up, Floss and I went over to see the chaps in Sandness.

Always good therapy.

We did our best.  I hope we didn’t do anything wrong.  I am always happy to learn.

Tweet2 is buried under the comfrey in the garden.

I was asked if I could help this little bird – a baby oystercatcher, whose mother was tragically eaten by a cat.

This tiny wee thing started well – eating enthusiastically earthworms that I had dug up and chirping along happily.  He seemed strong.

But when we came home this evening, having delivered two uncooperative horses for their Simmer Dim (longest day) ride tomorrow, little Tweetums was less chirpy and a bit flop-bot.

I have been given some paste stuff by the vet to feed him and, after a little cuddle as well as this paste stuff, Little Tweetums perked again.

At the moment, LT is sitting in a cardboard box on top of a hot water bottle in a large barrel in the kitchen near the Rayburn  There is a lid on (protection from Wu) and I have popped my iPhone in playing English birdsong (thank you YouTube).

Apparently Oystercatcher youngsters are notorious for being very difficult to raise.  Death seems their only friend but Floss and I will do our best but we are not holding our breath.

On a good note, though, Tweet (the original – a carrion crow I rescued while staying with my mother) has made a friend in his wildlife sanctuary south.  His wing bones are healing very well so he may be released back into the wild soon.  I hope he has a future.

So healing vibes please for Tweet No 2.  Things are not looking too good at the moment but I will do my very best for him.

Little Brisk is part of the Tor (mare) and Camus (her foal) family.  This afternoon, we took all headcollars off as they were annoying.  I am still holding my breath but everyone is much calmer and that is progress. This little pony heap says so much.

Then there is the Ménage au Quatre with Taktur, Brá, Efstur and Hetja.  It is certainly “different”.

Suddenly, Efstur and Taktur are best friends.

It seems that Brá and Hetja don’t care one little bit.  They barely raised an eyebrow between them at this new relationship.

So we don’t interfere and let them get on with it.

If you think Taktur will probably kill Efstur (apparently this is a distinct possibility as I was told by someone who had never met Taktur), then perhaps you might like to admit that may be you are WRONG! (However, I won’t hold my breath).

If little Efstur has a crush on just one “person” in his life, then Taktur is a good example of everything tolerant, well behaved and just plain wonderful.

The stalking, sorry following, has now begun.

Efstur watches Taktur’s every move.

He is wondering what he can get away with.

And then he keeps going.

Until there is a reaction and then he will runaway…… or not!

Dearest Taktur is wonderful with Efstur.  He will teach him everything just because he genuinely likes this little chap and he hasn’t got a mean bone in his body.

Failing that, he could kill us all in our beds and then murder Efstur, as I was told by an “expert”.