I’m just looking at my phone, trying to find today’s blog idea when I realised I have many photos of Monster on our Persian rug.  I think it is because it makes the perfect background for his beautiful physique.

Some pictures are more flattering than others but Monster does look very good against the vibrant Persian patterns and colour.

(a lovely waistline but rather stubby chubby little legs – that’s all I am saying!)

Sometimes, Pepper is added to the mix.

As an almost invisible cat, Monster features a lot in my life.

Mostly, he wants to join in with whatever I am doing.

Or likes to drape himself all over my iPad while I am having breakfast, trying to catch up with various forums and websites.  The little-kitten look melts my heart, every time and I give up all thoughts of anything but tickling Monster’s dangerous tummy.

And then I will be biffed by a paw.  Resistance is useless.

Monster also does a very good sulk as well, especially when I have shouted “enough” because it all gets a bit much.

I dropped Ted off at his dog groomers first thing this morning, only to discover I was an hour early for his 3 monthly appointment. Of course I felt guilty for him but as the dog groomer mentioned, he does whine a lot, so I wanted rid quickly.

Then I drove to town to drop off more sheep.  My field was severely diminished so it was good to refill and rearrange it.  The sheep are selling slowly but steadily.

I had left OH for the day dog-sitting Pepper who hates being on her own.  Luckily, as he thought it was going to rain (he is painting outside), he was happy to stay at home until I returned.  Apparently, they went on a very nice walk so I stopped worrying about Pepper.  Anyway, she has Monster.

No cruise ships in today, which made the town quiet.

I did a few messages and had some good chats with long lost friends.

And then I went to collect Ted, who was his usual abominable self at the dog-groomers (I feel so sorry for her) and took him home.  To Ted’s credit, though, there was only minimal whining in the car on the drive back so that’s a slight improvement.  Ted is a creature of habit. Anything out of the ordinary is unthinkable.

Ted looks very handsome.  I knoww Mum would not approve – she hated seeing him with a short coat but it is my choice now and I think he looks so much better when he is not a greasy muppet.

This is Kolka’s house now.  She’s made it her own.  It is official.

And everyone else is not allowed in.

Kolka makes a point of going and standing in Her Shed every morning after breakfast. She also leaves me a present, which I clear up later.

(btw, I love this photo – Kolka is very photogenic, unlike others).

I don’t think the old men mind too much about not being allowed in the shed.  Haakon would barge his way in if he felt he must.  No, is not a word he cares for very much in his life.

And Iacs has bigger fish (carrots) to fry.

He was on the rampage, trying to follow me for more carrots – I had very kindly taken out three on my dog walk to feed them en route.  I like to check they haven’t got colic or laminitis, ie show me you can eat and walk.

And when I said out loud “that’s it, Iacs. No more”, he made this face!  Silly old thing.

Today is the start of Operation Lets-Make-Winter-Easier.  We need this.  Previous years have been beyond awful at times and, as no one is getting any younger, I think the ponies need easily available shelter.

Yesterday, with the help of Skippy (my yellow electric little skip on wheels), I moved all the bowls and hayboxes. Next OH and I build a new temporary fence to keep all potential helpers out of the building site while the work is going on.

I don’t think anyone needs small ponies around.

Next up, all the sheep went into a field that they can’t get out of, allegedly because there would be plant coming and going during the day.

And later on, a digger and its driver (Harry) arrived.  Huzzah!

Pepper was determined that she was the best digger around.

But I said that no one needed to know this.  I was not popular.  She sulked all afternoon.

So the soil in the wee paddock is being removed down to the boulder rock, which is not that far down and then quarry waste will be put down tomorrow. This will make the ideal surface for the two shipping containers that will arrive next week.

Dragging Pepper away, I left Harry to his work.  This is an exciting time for us all.  I am optimistic this will make our lives much easier.

I have a new job.  Ok, not a paid one but an essential one.

When Mum died, I took all the family photos in various shoe-boxes back to Shetland.  I realised that I am probably the only person who mostly knows who is who (though, my cousin might too).  So I have taken it upon myself to try and write on the back of every photograph for identification purposes.

These memories are part of my Great-Great Aunt Kate’s diaries and there is nothing better than an old photograph with the characters identified.  Otherwise it is worthless to everyone and rather annoying.

Anyway, I may be some time – I have suitcases full of photos!  So, so many.

Other than that and everything else, while writing on the back of photos, I heard a loan whinny from the next door paddock.

So I popped my head outside my shed and saw Iacs by himself.  He has a bad habit of losing his herd and then coming to ask for help.

Armed with an old dog-lead which I wrapped around his neck, I led him to find his friends.

They weren’t far away, but they weren’t helpful either.  Some might say they were hiding very quietly.

There was a small reminder about their responsibilities and Care in the Community.

And I left them all together to get on with grazing.

Obviously, I had company, which is always lovely.

Once back inside, and everyone was in a very silly mood.

Now, back to labelling the back of old photos…… I may be some time.