Today we practiced with Lilja and Sóley, loading them into the horsevan, ready for the off, whenever….

We set up the horsevan first in the indoor school with lovely enticing and easy to eat haynets while filling our pockets up with bite-size carrots.

Sóley marched straight in and we put the partition across for the first time.  She was happy to stay there and munch her haynet.

Lilja was a bit more cautious but, with lots of praise and carrots, she did load and I think Floss and I are going to practice this speshul skill every day.  We took her in and out a few times rewarding her massively while Sóley continued her munching.

Sóley would live in there if she could.  The haynet was her friend.

But we succeeded, which is an achievement.  Flossie was very good with Lilja.

So practise, practise, practise and more practise until they sail.

Today has been a mud-drying windy day.  The Old Men are still being put out in a field every morning, and while Haakon goes off to eat, Iacs stands by the gate looking hopeful.  So I gave him a haynet to appease my guilt that I was mean and put him in a field with his best friend.

Good old Haakon. He waits for no man. Not even Iacs.

Being me, I am constantly looking at the weather forecast wondering if Lilja and Sóley will get to travel south on Thursday.  To appease their new owners, because I am not hopeful, I took my big camera over to their field to try and take some nice photos.

And one of Klængur who said “could we start the riding thing again soon, Mum?”. I said I didn’t know and it all depended on his hoof being healed 100% plus a promise of no spooking.  We will see.

I am just praying the wind will turn round (currently standing at Force 7 southerly).  A northerly is better than a southerly for sailing but who knows. I am not the captain of the ship.  Fingers cross, peoples.  They need to go to their new homes….. safely.

Ok, so one duster has appeared.  Thank you Pepper but where is the other one? No one knows.  OH met his wellies in the garden. She drags them through the cat flap!

But Pepper continues to enchant.  She is a very determined little member of our family.  She makes BeAnne look like she wasn’t really trying.  This weekend I am going to blow an egg or two to fill with chilli as she steals freshly laid eggs.  Yesterday, she stole 4!  Awful dog and the farts were not much better.

A little known fact – the word “no” does not actually apply to Pepper, ever. So you know.

And, although I am very ashamed of Pepper’s appalling begging and stealing behaviour, she gets nothing at mealtimes – ok, she gets a little something but only at the end of the meal. I keep telling myself this. I am not to blame but how can anyone resist this little face?  I mean, seriously? She is adorable.

Meanwhile Monster remains happy, fat and equally awful.

He is not allowed on the tv table so of course he did this and then I had to take a photo because it made the perfect backdrop.

The only one with any vague semblance of manners is Ted.

A total suck-up while very aware of who is also trying to climb up his ladder of success.

And Ted wins. He doesn’t beg at meals or climb onto the tv. A winner in my book. I have low standards.

Looking at these photos, I feel very ashamed.  **** sigh ****

It was a lovely day today – as in the rain and the wind had both stopped. Ok ,not the warmest but small mercies and all that.  I told Haakon and Iacs that they could not stay in their stable forever.  They disagreed so I put a headcollar on Haakon, and led him to the field. Iacs grudgingly followed, stopping at the feedshed, just in case….. well, you never know.  I gave them very well-soaked fibre block as a reward.

Plus two haynets, which Edna took a fancy to.

Onwards, ever onwards, feeding the Minions, etc and when we returned at lunchtime, I found Iacs waiting. He was disgruntled.

With a hint of optimism. I could tell.

Haakon had gone off for a wander.  I was pleased.

So being the nice person that I am, I put out more hay but not in the haynet where they had to work to get it.

That went down better.  The weather is disintegrating again so I doubt these two will ever leave the stable again. Still, it was nice while it lasted.

Well, it was always going to happen. I knew this when they were born and, while I am in my heart sad, I am also realistic.  I was never going to keep them so Lilja and Sóley have been sold to fabulous new owners.  A lovely home awaits.

They are going south together, which is perfect.  The difficulty at present is getting livestock off the island – they were supposed to be sailing tonight but when the captain of the ferry said there would be a 3 hour rough swell during the passage, I said no.  The girls didn’t need this.  They will travel when it is calm. If we have to wait, then we wait.  They have a long journey ahead.  Let’s make it as comfortable as possible.  It will be all so new to them.

We will miss the girls but they are ready to go and to be loved by someone who will give their hearts and time to them. I deliberately don’t attach myself to animals I know won’t be staying. I can’t afford to.  But I am so pleased they are going together.  They are ready. Ready to see the world and to be loved.  They so want to be loved.

Please someone just tell the Weather Gods to stop their ridiculous shenanigans and then they can travel to their new home.

(I promised their new owners some baby photos – gosh they were cute and still are, just grown up now).

I am very proud of them *** sniff *** – I’m going to miss my girls.