The weather has not been brilliant today – rain and wind so we gave the horses and ponies a day off from us and headed off into Lerwick.

Summer in Shetland brings the huge cruise ships.  They moor in the harbour and their small boats ferry in many visitors to Shetland.  The summer bunting is out.

Today was a bit quieter than usual (no visiting ships) so we enjoyed our leisurely day, looking at the shops and having a nice celebratory lunch – one birthday, one university entrance (Masters) and one degree achieved.  Success all round.

This is the old part of Lerwick – the picturesque south end of our capital – the Lodberries where there is a hotel and some houses built into the sea.  Lodberries are piers, developed as warehouses, where goods could be directly loaded and unloaded from boats (thank you Shetland Visitor for this information – I did not know).

Apparently it is Shetland Boat Week too and even I noticed there were boats everywhere – a celebration of Shetland’s close relationship with the sea.

This anchor is a new piece of artwork in Lerwick, arriving earlier this year.

It marks 20 years of work from The Friends of Anchor (Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy) charity.  There are 20 anchors situate all over Scotland.

Ours is entitled “The Parting Song” by artist Lindsay Allardyce and will be on display until October when it will be auctioned off to raise funds to go towards a project to establish a world-class oncology research unit in Aberdeen.

There is a saying originating from the 19th century that states, “a Shetlander is a fisherman with a croft, while an Orcadian is a farmer with a boat.”

It was a nice celebratory day in town.  Shows on Saturday and Sunday so hard work ahead.

I am still exhausted from yesterday.  I suppose I had forgotten just how much work there is to be done behind the scenes at a Show.

So, again, I am going to take the easy option and just plaster the blog with photos that didn’t quite make the grade yesterday!

Floss and I were helping Bergli Stud.

Throughout the day, they did very well.

It is always good to be part of a winning team.

Yesterday’s Show results are as follows:

Bergli Hera – 1st – Mare with foal at foot.

So well done everyone.

Today, I cleaned the house (visitors on Saturday staying for two weeks) and then went to work packing vegetables for Transition Turriefield.  BeAnne came with me and it was nice but everything then catches up with me and by now, I just don’t have the strength to write much.  Sorry for the recycling. I think it is really off to bed and catch up on Game of Thrones.

Saturday – Walls Show
Sunday – Viking Show

So I am trying to conserve my strength.  My back is a bit tetchy at the moment and I am trying hard not to resort to analgesia.  I tell myself that at least I don’t have to run around the Show ring!

 

It has been a long day so I will let the photos do most of the talking.

Lots of ponies – Flossie and I had 15 to get in and out of the two show rings (standards and miniatures) for their handlers with the correct numbers on.

The showing started early – 08:30 – with the ridden classes.

While the ridden classes were on, the ponies had their final brush and polish.  Each one had had a full bath in the last few days.

I had the easy job – in charge of numbers and which pony was going where, while Floss was poo-picking pens, and getting the ponies ready.

When there was a brief respite, I wandered about to take photos.

And then it was our turn to go into the show rings.

Everyone worked very hard.

There was time for chatting.

A “loose horse”.

Beautiful ponies.

Nose Kisseys.

Winning.

Brushing – this was a spectator who picked up a brush and started to brush one of the ponies (?huh? – like you do).

Waiting to see who was in next.

Watching to see who was in the ring.

Everyone was involved.

There was a good crowd, too.

The weather threatened us on and off but mostly it stayed midge-free and not too cold.  The odd rain shower, but nothing serious.

Once the Championships and trophies were all handed out, Floss and I went to see the other exhibits.

  

My favouritist class of the whole show – inspired and imaginative art work.

Best chicken hairdo ever!

Yes, there really is class for 5 potatoes on a dish!

I was particularly taken with the fairy grotto in front of the German E-boat model – a surreal moment.

We met the usual reprobates loafing around.

It was a good day. We are exhausted.  Supper, shower and bed, I think.

It is lovely today.  Hot and sunny.  We are all enjoying it.

After lunch, I went out, armed with my black bin bag, to go a-ragworting in the fields.  I loathe ragwort.  It is a very dangerous plant to horses, sheeps, everyone.

Of course, I also took my camera.

And, of course, BeAnne, Her Maj, still sporting her beautiful neckerchief, came too.

First up was my little separate croft, Clothie.

A perfect five acres with its own spring and old crofthouse and outbuildings.

Apparently, it used to be a school many years ago and is mentioned in the Parish Records.

Clothie is now sadly derelict. I cannot get permission to renovate the house without having to build a tarmac road up to the property, which I do not want.  I want it to stay as a little crofthouse situate in the middle of the scattald.

So, I dragged my binbag and dog around looking for ragwort and I was happily suprised.  For the first time in over 15 years, there was barely a plant to pull up.

And that is totally due to my daughters, Daisy and Floss’ huge efforts.

They have been brilliant.  Working so hard, regularly going out pulling ragwort.

So, for my part, I blocked up the hole under the fence where the hill lambs get in.

My ragwort search and destroy patrol then moved to the other fields around the house.

Again, barely nothing.

Therefore, I had a much-deserved rest.

I was instantly spied sitting down.

And then it was a case of What’s in the bag? Can I have the bag?  I need to eat the bag. My only recourse was to sit on the bag to keep it away from prying teeth!

My reward – an extensive Minion hug sitting in the Shetland summer sun.

We had a visitor yesterday.  A fan.  Someone who loved The Minions (and the Boyzenberries).

So, of course, I took her out to the field to meet everyone.

They were all delighted.

And I think our visitor was fairly enchanted too, if smothered.

(almost all!)

But, to be fair, our visitor had never met an Icelandic horse so, on behalf of all Icelandic horses everywhere, Efstur and Hjalti made their presence known.

They love a new face in the field.

Our visitor knew exactly what to do.

She also came bearing gifts – the most delicious honey and a present for Her Maj – we adore it.  Even our postie this morning mentioned how beautiful she looked in her new bandana.  BeAnne now has a slight showey-offey spring in her step – a sort of “look at me, I have a neckerchief!”

After meeting The Minions, I tried to find The Boyzenberries, Lambie, ‘Bert and ‘Ster – who had gone out for the day.

So, I called and called and, upon their return, I texted our visitor to come back and she duly appeared, having been visiting another Shetland pony stud on her itinerary.

‘Bert was on top form.

‘Ster was very loving (this is today with Flossie).

And Lambie?  Lambie who is the most famous of all Shetland sheep?  Well, Lambie sulked and was in a vile not-talking mood.

Personally, I blame the midges.  It was horribly midgey yesterday and he hates them with a passion.

(this is his Greta Garbo “I vant to be alone” face).

Uncanny!