‘Bert vanished into the hill yesterday.

When I called the Boyzens home from their field (it backs onto the scattald/open hill with a good fence), only two came a-frolicking home – Lambie and ‘Ster.  No sign of ‘Bert.

I walked to the end of the field and shouted for ‘Bert just in case he hadn’t heard me or seen the others come home, but he was not there.

I did, howver, see a moorit (dark brown) back end standing in the hill and going away from me.  There was nothing I could do.  He didn’t turn round when I called and the light was fading fast.

So that would be ‘Bert gone again then.

First thing this morning once it was light, I went out with a bucket of food to see if I could see him.  I did.  He was far away with other hill sheep and when I called him, he ignored me and followed the others who were quickly departing.

Desolate and soaking, I followed the sheep trails home.

OH went back this afternoon and said ‘Bert was in a group and, from the description it sounds like he has taken up with the hill tups (rams).

I phoned my neighbour who put the tups out and he is caa’ing (herding home) them in hopefully next week, so maybe we will can have a shot at getting ‘Bert home again.

So, come-home vibes to ‘Bert please.  We are all miserable without him.

‘Ster has spent the morning wandering around calling out for ‘Bert. It breaks my heart to hear him sound so miserable.  You may remember that it was ‘Ster who originally brought his friend home last autumn.

I think I heard ‘Ster muttering something about being left to look after Lambie, who doesn’t give a damn.

Addendum

(I may have had gin)

We brought the little ones (The Littlies) inside to be brushed.

They have been recently wearing their little rugs for a while now, when the weather is bad, to keep their precious weight on.

Little Albie is still not very waterproof.

(happy but still not very waterproof)

And tiny Newt is still falling to bits.  His fur is coming out in large clumps and there is not much growth underneath.  More fuzz than growth.

This is mostly on his face with the odd tuft appearing out of his body too.  I tried not to brush too much, favouring the comb-over instead.

Albie is already a fully paid up member of The Minions.

He is looking very well and is a huge character.

Because of his fraught beginnings, he remains a very sensitive little chap who instantly gets hysterical at the mention of Tor going anywhere.

I have no idea how we will take her away when the time comes, in Spring.  We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

Tor is wonderful. Both her little boys adore her.

We appreciate everything she has done for us.

Some smaller people are horridly jealous, though.

They are attention-stealers.

And then they want to talk to her too.

Anyway, the little boys are good.  They live with Delia and Tor, though Delia comes out during the day to eat the grass around the house.  She wont eat silage so this is a better situation.

We measured Albie and Newt standing on the concrete.

Albie is 29.5″ and Newt is still 25″.  Although not taller, he has definitely put on weight.

Newt is a darling little chap.  Nothing gets in his way.  His determination to be loved is enormous and he doggedly follows us around.

 

Back on with the rugs and back into the field.  A happy little family.

Three things….

Firstly, the cake recipe (word for word that I wrote down about 30 years ago from my mother’s cook book).

“Chocolate Belgium Cake”  How can a cake be Belgium?  I have only just noticed this!

Ingredients:
1/2 lb butter – NEVER, EVER MARGARINE EVER!
1/2 lb Cadbury’s Plain chocolate – I use 70%+ chocolate – less sweet but very nice
1/2 lb Lincoln Creams or plain digestive biscuits – I used Rich Tea as I forgot about Lincoln Creams and I am not actually sure what they are!
1 egg

Method:
Melt butter in saucepan
Melt chocolate in bain marie (bowl over hot water)

Break up biscuits (use bag and rolling pin – you want lumps not crumbs)
Beat egg in a big bowl.
Pour melted butter in and stir – you do not want scrambled egg.
Blend melted chocolate into egg/butter mixture
Add biscuits and stir

(You can add chopped walnuts and/or almonds if you want.  Even rum or kirsch)

Mix everything up in big bowl.
Grease low cake tin with butter
Put mixture in
Allow to cool
Put in fridge

Then slice and serve.

Sorry, no pic but it never lasts long and is delicious.  Easiest pudding ever!

😀 🍰 🍫 🍪 😀 🍰 🍫 🍪 😀 🍰 🍫 🍪 😀 🍰 🍫 🍪 😀

Secondly, Daisy and Kappi are back in training.  They are back to working hard now the holidays are over.

Yes, there was instruction (Bjørn Roar Larsen) as well as the odd obstacle.  Very odd.

The viewing gallery was full too.  Everyone’s a critic.

While they were tölting, trotting and cantering round the school, Mr and Mrs Wren were happily flying about inside shouting their heads off.  They make the best noise.  I have a very soft spot for my wrens.

Thirdly, today was spent in the Big L (Lerwick) to get more equine supplies and perhaps a few human ones too.

Plus the Dentist.

And then a mad dash home before it got dark to dish out the afternoon silage.  There was family waiting.

(and someone asked why Lambie is always clean?  Because that is what Muzzah is for!)

 

I helped my neighbour feed his Shetland pony herd as his car had died.

Always the way this time of year and such an embuggerance (best word ever!)

We’ve all been there.  It happens to us all.

But little horses have to be fed, no matter what ,and so I volunteered to help.

The minute these ponies saw the bales of hay, they came cantering down from where they had been standing.

It was lovely to watch.

The enthusiasm for food.

The hay bales were duly split and distributed along the dry stone dyke (wall) so that all the ponies had a pile to eat.

There is something undeniably enchanting about miniature Shetland ponies.

Always photogenic.

Expressive little persons.

Determinedly enchanting, ie You Will Love Me or Feed Me!

With lots of character.  You can see it in their eyes.

And then I checked on own my fat little lot at Liradale and we went home. They were all fine. Very bouncy but pleased to see me and my carrots.

There is another gale coming and now, as I write this, it has arrived and blowing hard.

I may be very slightly bored of winter now.  It doesn’t seem to want to go away.

 

While, I was busy cooking Belgian chocolate cake this morning, Daisy very kindly gave Flossie a riding lesson on Klængur.

Once I had finished, I went into the school to see how they were getting on.  They were concentrating on Floss’ riding position.

As usual, everyone wanted to be involved.

BeAnne brought Daisy a piece of hoof-trimming.  Her favourite food (BeAnne’s, not Daisy’s)

The sheeps wanted in because living in a field is not what sheep do, apparently.

Feeling generous, I let the Boyzens out so they could come and “help”.

Or check out everything.  Lambie, this is a bucket of ropes.  Not food.

‘Ster decided to be a cone in the corner.  Something for Flossie to ride around.

‘Bert walked alongside.

Lambie offered kisses.

The Boyzens were on top form or getting in the way, depending on your perspective.

‘Ster is still very keen on being with people.  He is obsessed about never being on his own and shouts loudly if he loses the others.  As a lamb, he was kept by himself and he will never forget.

‘Bert is very much one of the boys now. He remembers everything he did when he lived with us.  He is settled and happy now. His nervousness has gone and he even bounces when I call him home.  He is a very honest little chap.

Lambie is always the same.  He is a sheep with no fear, no natural panic and is curious about everything.  He loves everyone and he smiles all the time.

This is Lambie trying to get his Christmas treats from Flossie!  When he jumps up for his treats (I know he shouldn’t but he does), he can support his own weight by balancing on his back legs.  Very clever.

So while Floss was finishing up, I was taking lots of photos of my Boyzenberries.

They are such dudes.