I needed to go to town for rations – horse, dog, chicken/duck and people.

As Pepper was hopping up and down by the front door on my way out, I decided to take her with me for company.

First stop was the animal feed merchant, where Pepper is allowed inside but back in the car to drive round the back to collect the big sacks.  She watched everyone and everything.

Next, “the Street” – aka Commercial Street where I went to the Bank, etc. chemist, Jamieson’s sheep field…..

There were lots of dogs around and Pepper wanted to say hello to all of them.  I always asked first before letting Pepper talk and some were nicer than others. We definitely stayed away from two Shelties who were shouting their heads off at us.  There was an enchanting little terrier from the USA who was divine and beautifully behaved.  I was so tied up with leads and bags, I couldn’t take a photo. I wish I had.

The street was full.  There were two boats in so masses of folk milling around looking for things to do and stuff to buy.  “Buy my sheep, buy my sheep”, I whispered as we walked past.

The M.S.C. Virtuosa – (6,334 passengers) and the M.S. Island Sky (118 passengers) were in port.

Having done our messages, Pepper and I quickly left.  The weather was beginning to close in too.

Pepper had to wait in the car while I went round Tesco’s so I shared my lunch as a reward for her good behaviour, and drove home in the pouring rain.

By now, the rain was tipping it down and all the ponies were in the container feeling hungry so I made up four haynets because it is only going to get worse tonight and I want them to have something in their tummies.