They were all waiting for us.  Almost all in their right places too.

Floss and I took on a group each.  Floss was overseeing Fivla eating her daily bucket.

While I was overseeing these three – Lilja, Sóley and Vitamin.

The others hopped up and down trying to get our attention and maybe a stray bucket.

I scattered some carrots to disperse the croud for a very short period but they quickly returned.

Once Lilja and Sóley had finished, I gave their buckets to two willing washer-uperers – Newt and Storm.

Vitamin took her time and I must say everyone was very good and didn’t try to get her bucket off her.  Possibly because I was standing there making death threats.

Same with Fivla who is possibly the World’s Slowest Eater ever, in the whole world, possibly universe.

However, Storm did try his very best. He has been to Charm School.

Today was a day in town.  A necessity and on my own.

It was raining on and off, with a blustery wind.  Not nice.

I had some time to fill so I trawled up and down the street.

There was little evidence of people even though a few shops were open. Many were not.

I admire those that made the effort. Times are hard and they need all the support they can get.

Closure is just very sad. I hate it.

I went to see if the knitwear shop needed more Sheeple but they were only open at the time I was going home.

So I peered through the glass on the door to see what I could see……. (I think they are ok for Sheeple).

It was a singularly miserable dreich day.  Not even the seagulls were blagging chips.  Why? Because all the chip shops were closed.  Now, that is terrible.

Me?  I was dressed for the weather and situation.  I saw no one I knew (apart from a friend in Tesco) and kept to myself. It is so sad – Lerwick was always a sociable place.

After filling time, I went to have my Covid injection (my 1st).  It was all superbly organised and, although I was anxious, they all did their utter best to make me feel ok about it.

And thank you NHS Shetland for being so wonderful.

So that was me today. In a way it was nice to have some time away from home but I struggled being away from home. I can’t win!

A windy day today and I’m not going to lie, I think everyone is fed up now.

Everything feels like hard work.  Even the regular stuff.

I worry about everyone and the situation we are in.

Having old animals around is heart-breaking.

And there really is no answer but to ride it out.

I tell myself, and everyone else, that it is the time of year, things will be better when Spring arrives, everyone feels like this….. yada yada.

And I am beginning to bore myself…..

… as well as everyone else around me.

But then I tell myself I have Haakon and I have BeAnne – both of whom I never thought would make it this far, considering, so I should count myself more than lucky. I have my world still with me.  It is truly wonderful and a ruddy miracle.

I think I just feel meh because I haven’t ridden for ages.  That will be it.

Anyway, sorry for the whinge. It’s always good to talk and writing it down has helped.

The snow and ice vanished overnight, which is wonderful. I feel so much less stressed.

We fed those that needed buckets – Lilja, Sóley (who kicked their’s around) as well as Fivla and Vitamin (who inhaled their’s) – and then we gave the washing up to the little ones.

They were on very good form too. Happy, happy, happy.  Lots of little noses in my pocketses.

We could tell they were relieved the snow had gone but disappointed that we refused to bring them any hay/silage/haylage to eat.

When we arrived with only 4 buckets and some carrots, they were in fact quite cross.

But I explained that fat little Shetland ponies do not need extra food in a 50 acre field that has grass if they go and look for it.

There was much looking once we took the buckets away.

As well as some begging!  They don’t give up.

A little film.  I like my little films.  I hope you do too.

After a night of rising temperatures, we are now living in a sultry 6 degrees something and the snow is finally melting.

So we have the sheet ice to contend with.

Plus a Force 9 gale going on. This morning was “interesting” trying to feed horses with buckets and haynets.  We were caught in the wind, and off we skidded along the track.

When it got scary, I turned off the anti-lamb electric fence and we scrambled over that instead to get to the Old Men with their food.  Driving up our track to get to Leradale was also “interesting” but I drove up the side and we got there.  Minions checked and fed, I made the decision to reverse up the Leradale track because there was nowhere safe to turn the car around.  But we got home safely after sliding down our track.  Phew!

Intrepid BeAnne insisted on her walk, and was all over the place.  Silly girl could’ve gone on the green bits, like me.  But no, that’s Patterdale terriers for you. They know best.

And this afternoon, I made a very small film.  Enjoy.

Hot chocolate all round. We deserve it.