I have been asked to make a film for Transition Turriefield – the nearby vegetable place where I work on a Thursday afternoon, when required.

I took my “sound guy” or my OH as he is better known.  He knows what to do.  His job was to stand in a ditch with a snare drum head to act as a windshield for the microphone.  Whatever works.

It was a Volunteer Day so they were volunteered into being my cast.

I was the Director and vaguely had an idea of what I wanted to achieve.  I see my work as an ever-evolving organic process (in my head, that makes sense), ie I have no plan.

There was lots to think about – like the light, the background, would it work…… (I will admit I took my camera’s instruction manual with me as I haven’t actually made a film like this before. I didn’t tell anyone that I didn’t know what I was doing).

Everyone walked up and down the hill endlessly, shouted, held up cards and hopefully, laughed as well.  I did try to make it fun rather than arduous.

And I was not the complete slave driver.  I did allow a tea break.  I am considering turning up on Volunteer Day from now on, just for the biccies.

Then, once I was happy we had everything “in the can”, so to speak, the volunteers went home.  My sound engineer and I continued to do more filming of Penny and Alan, the owners.

Now we were filming the narrative.  There is still lots more work to do on this project but it is fun and I have plenty of out-takes that can be used for ransome vegetables.

After lunch, Daisy and I went to catch some horses to ride.

It was Haakon’s turn but, as he was peacefully snoozing, I left him until the next ride. We were going out twice so he could wait.

I always feel ashamed when I wake up a horse and make him get up to go out for a ride.  It doesn’t seem fair or particularly kind.

Iacs, on the other hoof, was very happy to volunteer on behalf of himself, the carrot in my pocket and just about anyone who wanted to go.

He definitely knew about the carrot.

There is a carrot, right?!

I tried to get a photo of the two cousins together – which I sort of achieved.

Before Iacs remembered that carrot with his name on.

So, I left Haakon to his snooze.  He is an old man and he deserves to rest when he wants to.  We did go out later and it was a lovely ride.

So I looked around the field and quickly found another candidate and rode him instead.

Suffice it to say, it was a very fast ride on the Ginger Ninja, aka Klængur.

Today I had a hair appointment so I drove into town leaving everything in my family’s capable hands.

I parked the car and saw this little chap on the saunter.

This is definitely a cat who knows his way around town.

And that’s because he is the famous Tommy, brother of Wee Kev (I ❤️ the name) who is a very famous cat and celebrity in Lerwick. You can even follow his adventures on his Facebook Page – The Adventures of Tommy.  I was very happy to see this little chap and we had a short chat.

Like most celebrities, Tommy is much smaller in real life, (though I am used to Monster, who weighs in at 6.1kg). Anyway, I and my stuff were duly checked out.

And then Tommy went on his merrily little way.  Definitely a cat on a mission. He didn’t want to stay around.  Anyway, it was good to see him as he is mostly in and out of the shops in the street depending on his day.

Meanwhile, while I was busily being made into a vision, Daisy was at home lungeing Hjalti in walk and trot.

She also tried on a saddle cloth to see if he exploded.

And then Taktur’s saddle.

There were no explosions so Daisy took Hjalti for a walk wearing all his gear with stirrups dangling.  It all went very smoothly.  Another hurdle over.

Yesterday, the sun shone and it was lovely.  I spent the morning finishing off a very short animation film and then did some sewing (joining Chinese silk embroidered panels together). I hate sewing and so I am breaking it down by setting myself the task of one panel a day.  I didn’t have the heart to move BeAnne who had made herself comfortable on my chair so I sat in her dogbed and sewed.  It was quite nice, really. The things I do.

After lunch, Daisy and I decided to take the old men out for a little potter – Iacs and Haakon.  This is a typical action-shot of Iacs.  He can’t walk in a straight line.  He has to wander from one side to the other, tacking down the road like a small, if slightly rotund, sailboat looking for the wind.

Haakon on the other hoof, maintains a steady direction.  Never wavering.

I will never get tired of this view.

When I looked behind me, I saw Iacs and Daisy were on my right and then the next minute they had disappeared to the other side of the road.  Iacs will never change.  When we had gone a certain distance, both old men flicked their ears, said something unspoken, turned around and we suddenly found ourselves going in the opposite direction and home. Daisy and I just laughed.  There was no point arguing.  And then they raced home like silly youngsters.

We just keep on keepin’ on.

The Minions were all standing in a line yesterday waiting for us and in another part of the field (huzzah – not lurking by the fence with Lilja).   They all turned to a pony to watch Flossie and her box of carroty bits walking round the bog – I went through!

She was, of course, immediately mugged and don’t worry, everyone got their fair share.  Floss is adamant about that.

Once empty, the box was thoroughly examined just in case, because you never know.

Everyone had to check, again, thoroughly.

And then I told her to give it to Tiddles as he had the best smile.

This sight particularly warms my heart.  When Tiddles arrived he would not play. He just stood there watching everyone else and not really getting it.

https://myshetland.co.uk/more-toys/  (2014 – it seems an age away – how we have all changed, including his name – Tiddlypom, what was I thinking?)

Storm is the master of this box.  He knows what to do. A good toofy grip.

Meanwhile, the ladies were enjoying their piece of the sun and were staying well away from the reprobates.  Perhaps they just wanted a holiday from the endless little-boy sniggering.  They have a point.