Tiddles was better this morning. His smiley face greeted me saying he could manage a bucket and thank you very much. So, relieved, feeling we might’ve turned a corner, I put him with his friends into a big field.

I did notice that Tiddles was still a bit subdued but he was more animated so I was hopeful this would do the trick.

And off they went.

They were all happy – Albie and Storm were thrilled.

This is Albie rolling with happiness, not colic.

And then, after lunch, I saw Tiddles lying down, rolling, kicking his belly, lying flat with legs straight out and I so brought him back up into the school to run him round.  He is passing a fairly loose stool but he is uncomfortable and miserable again.

The vet is on his way……  Everything crossed for Tiddles, please. I hate seeing him like this.

A little known fact – colic trumps laminitis and Tiddles has colic.

I know this because he wouldn’t eat his supper (bucket of nothing with chaff), then he  lay down beside it and rolled and then sat.  So I threw them all outside in the hope he would be so pleased he would eat.

Nothing. So the emergency on-call costs-a-million-dollars-a-minute vet was phoned and she came out to see Tiddles.

While we were waiting for her arrival I caught Tiddles and put him by himself – he was furious and cantered up and down.

Storm was his moral-support friend from the other side of the fence.

And I worried about Tiddles.

But he was passing splats and I could hear vague bowel sounds. He was feeling very sorry for himself, too.

While we were waiting, I put him in the school and walked him round and round. More splats.

Anywho, veterinary came and fully examined Tiddles. She saw the splats, gave her opinion and medication (painkillers, anti-inflammatory) was given too.  The verdict:  Mild colic from bowel irritation and to get him eating again.  The drugs should help.

So Albie, Storm and Tiddles are around the house (outside) and I will pop in and out, keeping an eye and working out if I can put Daisy (first born) on Ebay to pay the vet bill (Sunday afternoon/evening vets ain’t gonna come cheap – I swear the ponies know.)

*** sigh *** it is such a toss-up between colic and laminits.  My nerves are shredded.

This morning’s breakfast scene – OH staying with Kolka (in the corner), Klængur and Iacs.

I was further up the field with Haakon.

And then I was joined by a small ginger doglet.  Quelle surprise!

Pepper was there for one reason and one reason only ….

…. to clear up any dropped food.  To, as we say in our house, “scrushle” – it means clean up.

Wee One loves this job and I trust Haakon 100% to be nice about her involvement too.  Kolka did have a go, the other day, so Pepper learned her lesson and now stays away from the old dragon. A wise move. But Haakon, he don’t care.

No stone remained unturned.  Pepper is nothing but thorough.  She knows her job.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field….

…. the others were finishing up and OH, armed with his carrots (one each, thank you), was busy too.

It was very sweet to see. I will make a horseman out of him yet!

The little boys who have, or had (please, God), laminitis are still inside and they are not minding it one bit.  The farrier is coming next week and only then, after he has seen them and trimmed, etc will we make a decision as to the next phase of their treatment.  Despite their hooves needing a trim, they are actually moving very well and are happy.  I feel they have turned a proper corner but I want my farrier’s opinion first.

Recently the big doors have had to be shut because of the unceasing wind and rain and I feel bad about that.

I like them to be able to see outside and watch the day go past. There is some light from the roof panels but it is not the same.

I tell myself that the boys are actually very glad not to be out in this weather and mud.  They can hear the rain pounding and wind howling outside and know they are safe, warm and dry.

Pepper visits her best friends.

She is very interested in everything and the boys reciprocate – never a mean word – I am very proud of them for that.  Other’s would be less kind (cough *** Vitamin ***).

The hay-boxes are a life-saving game changer for us.  They work brilliantly and do exactly what I need them to do – keep the hay off the sand (oh, the worry of sand-colic).

So that’s where we are.  The farrier’s opinion is needed and I hope he can see an improvement.

The weather is still fairly terrible (understatement of the year – it is ghastly), so having done all my crofting chores, I sat down in the sheep’s stable.  ‘Ster and ‘Bert, who have now rejoined their friends, have not really forgiven me for the eye treatment and I wanted to see if they would talk to me again.

Lambie was up like a shot giving me his best Winning Smile.

And his Greta!

He is so handsome.  What a dude!

Barrel is still perfecting his art, which is very sweet. He is Lambie’s BFF, even though it is totally unreciprocated.  Barrel knows if he follows Lambie everywhere, he is in with a chance for any secret treats.

While I sat down, Edna was one side. She wanted me to kiss her nose constantly.

And ‘Ster was on my other side.  His eyes are much better now.  We did hugging.

‘Bert and ‘Ster were indoors together for a week, and had two injections. I gave up on the eye ointment as it just made Ster hysterical and did nothing. He hated me. Bert never had the ointment and recovered just as quickly with just the injections, which didn’t go well.  Interestingly, when they rejoined their flock, there was an almighty battle between Bert and Barrel.  Thankfully, they’ve sorted themselves out now and, touch wood, no one else has caught it.

Zombie sheep! I am never alone.