My back has still not forgiven me for the coat-stripping morning.  I ache all over and I twinge with every step I take.  Unhappy days.

I hate feeling like this and I hate taking painkillers.  I avoid them at all costs because the side effects get me.  Alternatives include lying on an acupressure mat in the evening and a tens machine.  All this helps but it is not helping enough so I am trying to walk out the pain.  Exercise and endorphins.  That route now.

BeAnne and Lambie come too.  The hill sheep are still in the middle of lambing so BeAnne is on a lead, even though we are just walking along the road.  It is a gentle walk and one we all know very well.

Lambie could be on a lead if he or I wanted but he is happy to follow along.  We get odd looks from passing cars.  Occasionally Lambie will take himself off-road to see if the hill sheep will talk to him. They won’t.  They look around shiftily while moving away, swiftly disowning him as one their species.

Lambie is quite intrigued by the new little lambs following their mothers, but then I call him to keep up and he remembers and runs back to us – his real Muzzahs!

(one of Lambie’s “baby photos” – awwww, in the days when he was small, floofy and could fit in his favourite spot)

Lambie still loves BeAnne.  He still remembers all she is to him.

He is just a bit bigger now and funnily enough, in her way, BeAnne still loves her little Lambie.

I love seeing them together.  The other sheep just don’t have this relationship with BeAnne.  They are more sheep, than sheeple.

While Floss and I were stripping the winter coats of the Minions yesterday, I noticed that both Tiddles and Storm had sunburnt noses.

Not a good look and, as someone who also gets burnt just by looking at the sun, I can completely appreciate how utterly miserable it feels too – crunchy, itchy, hot and painful.

So today Floss and I came armed with Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream – my go-to over-the-counter healing unguent (that and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream).

Floss put a headcollar on Tiddles and I slathered the Sudocrem all over his poor sore nosey.

He took it like a man.  Tiddles is always a good boy.s

Then it was Storm’s turn.

His poor little pink nosey had also started to burn in the rare Shetland sunshine.

There were those of course who pointed and laughed!

Poor Storm was not impressed.

There were also the same “those” who insisted on wearing Sudocrem too even though they didn’t need it but wanted to feel involved.

Floss dished out some Carrots of Appeasement.

Carrots are always popular with everyone.

I have now ordered from the vet proper sun-block cream for horses (and cats) as I think we are going to need to use it this summer but, for now, the Sudocrem nosey treatment will have to do.

I don’t think anyone was particularly put out by having a white nose.  They went back to their life of eating and enjoying life.

Some of the Shetland ponies have not lost their woolly winter coats and so, armed with a box of various types of brushes and two headcollars, Flossie and I went over to the Minions’ field to do battle.

First up was Newt.  He has a thick coat of almost foal-like quality that has no intention of shedding whereas someone like Storm needs no brushing at all.

The box of brushes was entertainment in itself.

There was also mutual grooming.

And chatting.

We didn’t completely strip Newt – we just took off his outer coat so that he could be a bit cooler and hopefully nature will take the rest when it is ready to fall off.

Albie and Newt didn’t want to go away.  They loved the attention.

That box of brushes was very popular with everybody.

Albie was happily throwing them about.

We gave all the boys a swift coat strip using BeAnne’s Mars Coat King and a Furminator I had bought for Little Cattie, but never had the heart to send back after her disappearance.  It was actually quite effective. I might have to buy a proper pony-sized one now.

Last up was Tiddles who, like Newt, was very hairy and uncomfortable with it.  He has been avoiding me these past few days.

He stood for ages while we tidied him up and was much happier with life once we had finished.

Afterwards Floss fairly distributed carrots and we tidied the fur up from out of their field.  My back is complaining bitterly now but it was worth it.  Everyone is beautiful and ready for summer.

We got tacked up and got ready.  I heaved myself onboard in a dignified fashion.

We went out.  It was a lovely day.

We saw a little lambie (no, absolutely no – step away from the lambie and stop making Lambie-Muzzah noises is what both my daughters were saying under their breaths).

En route we collected Bjørn who has a mare staying training.

More little lambs.  This time of year, they are everywhere.

Floss and I bombed up the hill in a controlled way.

We waited for the others who taking it gently.

Haakon was allowed to introduce himself to the Pretty Lady.

Then we all enthusiastically tölted home, except for Mr Bimble (Daisy’s noble steed) who doesn’t do that sort of thing.  He trots.

We dropped Bjørn and his mare off at their croft and then continued on home at a fair pace.

I let the youngsters go on ahead.

I was now walking because I had opened/closed the cattle grid gate.

I loosened Haakon’s girth and let him make his own way home.

He left me behind as he took himself home.  I walk slower than him.

I found Haakon eating grass, waiting patiently for me to arrive.

It don’t get no better than riding on a sunny day in Shetland on Icelandic horses.

We have had two fabulous sunny days this weekend so after some serious cleaning chores, Daisy and I went down to the burn for peace and quiet.

Of course we were followed.

BeAnne took herself swimming.

A keen otter.  She always has been and needs no encouragement.

Monster was happy to explore.

Here is photographic evidence that these two are getting along fine now.

Monster is a very happy cat.  He loves his environment and is totally settled. I have no worries that he will leave.

After a few hours, we wended our way home back up the hill with our companions.

Today’s afternoon sit by the stream had a slight variation in faithful retainers.

It was much warmer in the sun so we dunked our feet in the stream to keep cool.  After a while, the stream felt like warm water but it did help.  I hate over-heating.

BeAnne had gone off on some private enterprise so we just had Monster and Lambie for company.

Monster played with the frogs which made us laugh.

Lambie, who was also getting very hot under his wool, was eating primroses at me.  I was not impressed.

I would much rather he ate the marsh-marigolds that are everywhere.

Can you spot the sheep?  Poor Monster, he sticks out like a sore thumb wherever he goes and he follows us everywhere all day, even offering to get in the car and come too.  I do not encourage this.

It has been a wonderful two days – such luxury for us to have warm weather.