It’s been a tough 2018.  I will admit that.

We said goodbye to many beloved members of the family.  Too many.  It was awful.

Obviously Delia was on borrowed time and her demise was sad but inevitable.

But the loss of Wu and then, in the blink of an eye, Loki, was tragic and both deaths were very unexpected and shocking.

As a family, I think we all felt very robbed as suddenly a gaping hole in our family appeared.  We were not prepared.

We did our best, but failed dismally with Little Cattie, the calico cat that was given to us.  She took one look at our family and left.  So that was that.  For those that mightnot know, Little Cattie subsequently turned up again safe and well with her previous owner where she will now remain.

So Daisy and I went on the boat south and found, or were we found (?), by Monster who said we would do and made himself at home straight away.

He managed to settle in very quickly.

and has never looked back.

So, life goes on.

The animals we lost were loved and we did our best.  At the time, I always wondered if we could have done more, but in my heart I know we did all we could for them.  They were loved.

So here’s to 2019 and the future.  A huge thank you to everyone who reads my mumblings and for your wonderful support too.  It is hugely appreciated and I ❤️ you.

May your fridge door always be open and all the food fall out, as Monster would say.

An Addendum

Puzzah, I forgot Puzzah.  He was not with us for long but he was family in a sort of Mafia-esque way.

During my search for an email address to write my Christmas thank you letters, I found these photos of ‘Bert and Lambie taken by some friends in, we reckon, Summer 2015.  It was back in the days when I was a loved and appreciated Muzzah.

Little Lambie was obviously being unhelpful and uncuddly. “Get off, Muzzah.  Ziss is vey uncool”.

But he was such a dude but always a Mummy’s boy.

I love seeing my Boyzens all small and extra cute.

I found these videos in my Youtube account as well.  They make me smile when I watch them.

But the sheeple grew up and are now huge hulking great Boyzenberries who like biscuits very much (but in my heart they are still my little boys).

And here is ‘Ster who was never cuddly-wuddly as he was quite big when he arrived in November 2015.  I didn’t want him to feel left out.

I found his first blog post.  We have all moved on since then.

An Addition

The weather – it comes, it goes and some us are obssessed with it and that would be me, then.

Today was no exception.  There were good parts, which we immediately grabbed and did stuff like ride our horses and then the bad parts, in which we just rode out, got wet and wondered what we were doing outside freezing.

First I rode Haakon, who was a good boy.  He took me to the bottom of the canter track (a little over a mile away from home) in a variety of gaits which he chose.  While Taktur cantered up the track, Haakon stayed at the bottom, meditatively chewed a cauliflower stalk and waited for his friend to return.  It was a nice, if cold, ride.

Next up, after I changed into some warmer boots, I took out Klængur who was fabulous, fast-going but listening to his own voices.  Not a ride for the slow or the semi-retired.  Anyway I tell myself that riding a willing horse keeps me active and on Klængur, as Daisy reminds me, I have to actually ride and not just sit there.

Klængur enjoyed himself.  He is a funny little horse with many foibles – today he spooked at a bird and then something he imagined.  For the bird, I stayed on.  For the something imaginary, I told him to “get a grip” and his fear was not indulged.  I think he spooks to see if I am still there.

So that was my day.  Riding horses because tomorrow the weather is a-changing.

Today has been a dreich day, totally uninspiring and I am typing this drinking a not-so-wee dram of Talisker happy in the knowledge I achieved the bare minimum today.

After walking Vitamin and her retinue over to the other side of their field (again – it is a daily task), I came home and, while still light, took these photos of my new she-shed, studio, shu-dio….. whatever.  The builder has been and gone so it is our turn now.  When I say “our”, I really mean OH’s who is very nifty at DIY.  I will watch enthusiastically.

There are a few things to do before my shudio habitable.

We have to insulate and line the walls and ceiling.

This is my wonderful view.

Oh yes, the electrics. It definitely needs electrics.  I nearly forgot them.

I am very pleased with this new little space.  It is my space.  No one else’s.

Obviously the first item to go in will be Her Maj’s second-best bed. That goes without saying.

Meanwhile I am deciding on the decor.  Chabby-chic or Medieval Renaissance?  Minimalist Japanese or all my much-loved stuff that has sat in boxes under the bed for many years?

There is much to think about and plan.  This is my Pinterest board of things I desire, can’t have but none-the-less want very much.  Exciting times ahead.

If anyone has a Louis XVI chaise longue going spare, give me a shout. I really fancy one or shelves.  I need shelves.

I am fed up with seeing the old bags (Fivla and Vitamin) stopping the young Minions from exploring their 40 acre field and having fun.

So, armed with two headcollars, OH and Flossie, we showed the Shetland ponies the whole of their ginormous field.

When we got to the top of the last hill, the old ladies were let go and everyone happily galloped off.

The traditional Boxing Day walk.

Along with excellent views.

Storm even managed to have an argument about the headcollar that he wanted.

And so today  I went back to Leradale for the daily check only to find everyone back in their original spot.  The one by the Icelandic ladies where the grass is becoming worn down, shat upon and eaten.

This timed, armed with only a bag of chopped carrots (we are running short now), I was followed by Storm, Tiddles, Albie and Newt leaving Silver, Waffle, Fivla and Vitamin behind.

I walked my four Good Boys across the small streams and into a lovely ungrazed part of their field and then returned for Vitamin (who I know is the ring-leader).  I had no headcollar so I grabbed her extensive chin hairs and determinedly walked her to join the others while her followers followed.

And, of course, everyone was thrilled to be together again and off they galloped.

I think Lilja may be one of the problems.  She stands by the fence and shouts for her Minions to come back to her.

We had words about this.  She can’t keep doing this.

Henceforth I am going to keep a Vitamin-sized headcollar in my car so I can move her on a regular basis.  The others will follow and soon get bored of hanging around the fence next to Lilja.