Last night the alert was given….. the Merrie Dancers (the colloquial Shetland term for the Northern Lights) were out.  Some friends told me and pointed me towards a northward facing webcam.

So this time, having learned my lesson from a few nights’ past, I had my camera kit set up and ready.  As you can see, it is all fairly glamourous staring outside into the pitch dark at the backdoor next to the vegetable rack and the floor mop.

I was just trying to work out where to point the camera.

I managed to miss the bit when they were doing well – dammit – the problem is I can’t actually see anything through the view finder so I am just vaguely pointing and praying.

And by the time I had got everything back under control…..

The clouds were descending, the dancers stopped dancing and then it poured with rain.  Still it is looking good for the next few nights so I will keep trying.

I remind myself of my moment of glory – taken in January 2012 when I was featured on the BBC website.  I know I can do this. I have before so I can do it again.

Anywho, also, now feeling fairly awful about leaving the little hedgehog from the other day, I then saw another (could be the same one) yesterday but all I had to carry it home in was my riding hat and I didn’t think that was a good idea.

Today I vowed to go and look for small hedgehogs, weigh them and decide whether to bring them home or not.  The plan is to fatten them up and release again before hibernation.  I drove around at dusk but saw nothing. I am leaving my kit in the car and will try to do this regularly.

I brushed my horse and, if you know me well, you would realise that this is something I don’t do very often. Hardly ever actually.  A bit like cleaning the house.  It’s just not for me.

There was a good reason for this sudden rush of blood to the head.

I was already tacked up when Daisy arrived back from work, so I waited for her to fetch Taktur out of his field, tack him up and then we went out for a lovely Sunday afternoon ride together.

I even brushed Klængur’s “chrystanthemum” bottom and trimmed his tail as its winter and I hate tails trailing in the mud and being stepped on.  That must hurt.

However, I did not brush the dog.  That would be one step too far.

We were all slightly less beautiful upon our return.

A sudden rain shower on our way home.

After the ride, we moved the Old Men to their Winter field which is across the hill – 5 acre “Clothie”.

They all love this field and it is perfect for spending winter in, as long as it doesn’t turn to mud. Then life just gets depressing. I am not hopeful.

The thing I learned today….. that the photos I took of the Aurora last night were total rubbish mostly due to the fact that I had no tripod or remote gizmo thingy (in my shed and I was not going out in my dressing gown to get them).  And holding my breath for 15 seconds with the huge camera around my neck is not as good as using a tripod.  But still, live and learn, and I have now got the tripod and remote gizmo thingy in the house set up ready to go if the Aurora ever appears again.  Apparently Sunday is hopeful.  I don’t think I could’ve made a worst job if I had tried, to be honest.  Shameful.

This morning was a full on gale complete with horizontal rain so I made a massive pot of vegetable soup to do us for next week’s lunches.

And as quickly as it arrived, the gale was gone and this afternoon was splendid.  We couldn’t ride because my horses were stuck the wrong side of a very full and flooding burn (stream).  I had to visit the Minions anyway.

All were fine.

None the worst for the morning’s inclement weather.

And yes, I had carrots about my person.

I took this photo to show just how small and teensy-tiny Newt is by comparison to Sóley.

No one must ever show Newt the photo as he thinks he is 17hh.  Oh yes, and rather an attitude on him at the moment.  Something about wanting all the carrots.

On my way home, as the sun was setting, I met a hedgepig on the side of the road.  He is a bit small for the time of year and now I am going to worry about his future.

This is GCHQ.

Great Cat Head-Quarters.

A bed Monster has made under the piano, next to the bag of recycled wrapping paper/bubble wrap while behind the Minion’s things (when they are open to the public).

This is Monster’s second favourite place to sleep – BeAnne’s bed, carefully and lovingly placed next to my desk so we can be together and she can be comfortable.  Monster adores this.  His mission is to stop BeAnne from sleeping there, even if it means being near me.

But so does BeAnne. They take it in sort of turns. Life is not fair despite my best efforts and yes, I have been known to turf Monster out for BeAnne.

Third best place to sit is on Monster’s OH’s knee, and preferably while he is on his computer looking at Important Things.

And then lastly he has his Fortress of Solitude.  A small cave that is the last resort when all else fails and life won’t give a poor cat any peace and quiet.

The struggle is real. I am just not sure who is struggling sometimes.

To town at the crack of sparrows for an NHS appointment, all well socially distanced and cared about.

I was surprisingly relaxed and, for a change, left feeling “normal” (well, as normal as I ever am about anything these days).

In a good mood, I decided to go for a wander down Commercial Street, to see how, when and if I could even contemplate doing any Christmas shopping ever in the next few months.

I am trying hard to support local shops.

I feel it is very important.

I think there is a “Neepie Lantern” competition along the Street and there are some inspired entries.

I laughed out loud, and received a few strange looks, at this one.

I even popped into the local wool shop to see how my little field was doing. It needs a refill.

And then I had a quick drool at their beautiful gloves. The trouble with potential-Christmas shopping is that I want everything for myself. Possibly not the point.

And this is my prize winning neep.  Specsavers at their best.  I hope it wins.

Home again and out for a ride while we had a break in the weather.  It all starts again tomorrow.  Rain for the rest of our lives.  Still, today was beautiful while it lasted and I’m feeling more positive about my Chrimble shopping.