It was a dark and stormy night – no, it actually was.  We had fierce winds with massive short sharp rain showers, like someone throwing a bucket of water out of the sky.  This morning the wind was beginning to die down and I went out to feed the sheep while it briefly hailed.

Storm damage from last night was fairly small – one garden gate ripped off its hinges and a stable door had blown open so I reckon we got off relatively unscathed.

Even though we are past the longest night, good daylight is a rarity these days.  Having had a fit of cleaning the kitchen (New Year, new resolution), I drove over to check everyone at Leradale.

Yes, I brought vegetables.

You may possibly be able to tell.

The little ones were, of course, not moving much and it worries me that they just stay in one place despite having a massive field to live in.

So I loudly waved my bag of veg and they all followed me across the burn and towards the better grazing.

Waffle and Storm never left my side, or my pockets. Faithful followers.

Even Vitamin and Fivla appeared without me having to drag them over.

Having reached some nice pasture, the herd left me to my bracing New Year’s Day walk – New Year, another resolution.

I went onwards, turning back occasionally to check they were all still where I’d left them.

Having done the circuit, it was home to clean my tack – yup, another New Year’s resolution.

Today I am feeling very virtuous, positively saintly.