Author Archives: Frances

A Morning Away

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Today I left my bed.

It was bliss. My friend, Monika, kindly offered to drive me to Lerwick. I desperately wanted to stock up on animal feed before the next snow arrives – it is threatening for next week.

So, Monika collected me at 10 o’clock, when we had all finished our crofting chores, and drove me to town.

First stop, the feed merchants. It felt very odd being amongst real people as opposed to my family who are used to my current prone form on the bed for most of my day.

    

Then on to another feed merchant – to get all the stuff that the other one hadn’t got.

And lastly, to the chemist who supplies the drugs for Bibble and his cancererous bits. They are lovely in there and I always show them a photo of a very happy Bibble so they know all their efforts of finding the cheapest version of the drug and ordering it for him are totally worth it.

Just before we turned for home, I said that I had more energy than I thought I would’ve and could we possibly go to Tesco for a quick nip round with a trolley. Such luxuries before me and I stocked up on the essentials – yes, my Tunnock teacakes were replenished.

It was lovely to be away from home, animals and around other people and things. For me, it was ridiculously wonderful.

And then home, unpacked and I spent the afternoon resting on my bed remembering that I can be normal, I can have a normal life and I will get better one day to reclaim it.

Huge thanks to Monika who was the best chauffeur.

Edited to say I am paying for my galivanting now – currently on acupressure mat wondering when I can take analgesia.

 

 

Rugs On Today

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I’ve not been very energetic today as I’m not feeling very well – back pain, sciatica, general malaise.

I had one thing planned – to put rugs on the older horses and ponies.  So Flossie and I managed to carry down five rugs to get on before the rain for the day set in.

I also cut tails a bit shorter as I know everyone hates treading on long tails.  I might’ve been a bit over-ambitious. I can never tell until the job is done.  Never mind. It will grow back.

I think everyone was quite pleased to have their rugs on as it started raining almost the minute we clipped the last one into place.

I tried to take a nice photo of all three Icelandic horses looking smart so Haakon and Iacs stuck out their tongues.  Honestly.

We can do better, I told them.  So they did.  Much better.  Thank you.

(is it me, or do they look like a now-photo of an 1980’s band?)

And then it started to rain, so Floss and I walked the perimeter of the field with the dogs, putting fence posts back that had fallen over in previous storms, and I went back to bed, where I’ve been tucked up with a hot water bottle all day.

Fresh Grazing

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Everyone is fed up.  I could tell.  The fields that had grass are now almost bare.  While that’s fine for younger and fatter Shetland ponies, it is not ok (apparently) for the others.

So, I rallied the troops and we went down to the field that is inside the Shetland pony summer track.  The grass here hasn’t been grazed for two years and it could do with being eaten down.

We pulled up all the plastic electric fence posts that I had previously carefully planted in two straight lines to join the track up at both ends.  And then we wound up all the electric fence wire as well because if anyone can trip over, walk through or ignore an electric fence, it is Kolka and Iacs.  They are my two worst (read stupid) culprits who instantly get tangled up and then just stand there saying nothing for hours.  It is all cleared now and put away carefully for possible use another time of year.

Then I called the horses, who had all been watching me from a distance. I could hear them hoping and I quickly caught Kolka, as she was the first to arrive at the gate.  I led her down and the two old men, Haakon and Iacs, in a meandering way, followed.  Once through, though, Iacs did a happy buck and Haakon trotted off.  Heads down and eat.

The two old ladies were brought down by Flossie as they couldn’t work out where everyone had gone.

Vitamin trotted happily off to find the grass.

And I’ve not seen hide nor hair of anyone again.  Lovely.  Oh yes, and the younger Shetland ponies are all now sulking hugely as they only have their grotty 25 acre field to find something to eat in.  One word – “Track”, guys.

 

A Glorious Day

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It has been one of those rare calm Shetland winter days.  Even the sun made an appearance and everyone just breathed out and relaxed.

I am trying to get out more now, doing little things, but definitely doing.

 

When my sciatica sneaks back in, I then rest up until it’s gone again.  I am learning my triggers and also realising I am going to have to avoid them for the time-being.

I am also trying to get my brain working again, so I brought one of my Great-Great Aunt Kate’s tiny weeny diaries (1947) up to work on.  As it is not easy to read and type while lying on my bed, I tried dictating the diary entries one day at a time.  It did not go to plan. Talk about random words! One month’s entries usually takes me just over an hour of fast typing.  I managed one week in one hour, left feeling pretty exasperated but it is something I want to keep doing.  I need a better microphone, I think. And the computer doesn’t understand the words “Full stop” or “Brackets”.  Humpf.

My afternoon walk was much longer today too and Pepper and I enjoyed the quiet calm scenery.

Listening to the Hobbits traipsing along helps too.  They’ve just been caught by the Barrow-Wights and are about to sing out for Tom Bombadil (who I find incredibly annoying).

So that’s my day.  Slowly getting there.

In My World

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This is my Night Nurse who finally turned up having cleared up the supper things first.

And this is my Day Nurse, who likes to sit on my arm, gaze at me (probably to check I am still breathing) and ruin my sweater with his pummeling claws.

I went for a little walk this afternoon, and met a kind friend bringing us hay to replace all that the horses and ponies ate while living in the shed.  We had run out and were down to nothing. I am so grateful for the kindness of everyone who has helped during this difficult time.

And then there are the sheep who came home tonight to a lovely new bed – four bales of straw were also delivered (2 now down) – and the horses’ old haynets to finish up.

Now, the snow has gone things are beginning to get easier as there is less work for me to do.  Floss is still here and she does all the daily lifting and carrying, which is helping hugely.

I am still spending most of my day lying on my bed resting up and listening to a very good version of Lord of the Rings on Spotify.  We are just leaving the Shire and entering the Old Forest.  The Black Riders have not arrived yet but they’re coming……

(I wonder if I could have LOTR wallpaper in the bedroom – or maybe even a map?)