Category Archives: MyShetland

Wall of Primroses 2026

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It was rugs off again this morning and I heaved them into the shed to hang up and dry.

I have realised that I must wean myself off the rugs as the horses and ponies don’t need to be wearing them in the sunshine and the temperature has gone up a little.  I am the one with the problem. I admit it and I need to tell myself that no one will actually melt if it rains.

So, after giving myself a stiff talking to about my rug problem, I took the dogs down to the stream, which is very peaceful.

Whenever a therapist tells me to think of quiet place, this is where I always go.  There is absolutely nowhere better.

  

And I know I was whingeing on about how the wild primroses weren’t really very good this year, well now I take it all back.  They have suddenly gone mad and are everywhere.

They grow like scrambled eggs on both sides of the burn’s banks, in huge voluptuous clumps.

They seem to compete happily with the celandine too.

So, a very good effort this year from both celandine and wild primroses. I am very impressed and love the fact that this abundance of colour is in my field totally unaided by anyone.  Nature at its best.

Meanwhile, in sheep-land, ‘Ster’s medicine has finally arrived, though he has been living off my homemade version while we waited.

I am encouraged that he is a bit brighter now – he has had two doses of antibiotics and the homemade drench daily.

Tomorrow ‘Ster will get his measured dose of the packet stuff syringed down and let’s hope it breaks up the renal calculi.  I did also note that he is now peeing ok (ish) and seems much less miserable so, please God, that he is on the mend.

My Westside Tour

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We had a visitor and I asked her if she would like to go for a drive to see a little of the Westside of Shetland, ie all the places I think are pretty spectacular.  The weather was vile.  Most of our photography was from the warmth and shelter of the car.

So we started with the Dale of Walls beach, which is set in a perfect little cove with Foula in the distance dead centre.

Then to Norby beach in Sandness.

Lots of lovely colours and we had a quick walk and then the weather descended into sleet.

If you think it looks cold, I can confirm that it jolly well was.  We had the beach to ourselves most of the time too.

Sandness hill in the background from Norby beach.

Loch of Norby

Bousta, Sandness

A bird of some description. It was huge – I thought was an otter at first.

Peats stacked, ready to dry out.

Looking over Brindister Voe to the east. Every single wind turbine was switched off.

My favourite kirk – West Burrafirth Chapel

It was sadly closed and slowly falling to bits.

More scenery.

These are Horizontal Mills – there are three of them.

From Canmore – “The Norse, or horizontal, mills ….. are typical examples of a once-common type of water mill found in Shetland, Orkney and Lewis. The mill used one wheel (tirl) with blades mounted on a horizontal plane, driving a single pair of grindstones. This simple design meant that multiple mills could be built on a length of stream, with a family or small partnership each owning their own mill.”

So, if you come and visit and you want to see some of my favourite local places, this is where I will take you.

Rugs Off!

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It was a lovely sunny day so I took off everyone’s rugs and was surprised that they almost looked like they are putting on weight.

They look less bleak anyway.

And then, after worming everyone (and, yes, I am wearing it myself as well in a rather fetching smear across my shirt), I opened the gate into the big field. This is where they will spend the next few months, leaving the other fields to grow back for when we need them again.

So that’s everyone wormed now and I’ve written it in my Farm Book to remind myself when it was done as I always forget.

I also managed to grab ‘Ster this morning to givce him his homemade ammonium chloride drench and painkillers much to his disgust.  I also had in my pocket two ginger biscuits as a reward for my heinous ministrations.  The ammonium chloride stinks so it probably tastes disgusting too.  I am praying it is working, though as that is all we have to treat him.

;Ster took it like the top chap that he is.  And the biccies.  Such a dear boy.

Tiddles’ rug came off too.  He has his container to run to if he gets cold.

And one day, who knows, I might brush everyone but it’s a bit early for that yet and far too much like hard work.

This and That

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It’s been an odd day – not very peaceful and I feel like I’ve spent most of it shouting and feeling agitated or worrying.

Pepper went missing most of the late afternoon.  After walking about looking, yelling and whistling and about to go out in the car to the neighbours to see if she was a-visiting, I eventually found Pepper in my big shed.  I swear I had been in there at least three times looking for her.

So I can’t be cross with Pepper but inside I am raging (mostly with myself for obviously not finding her every time I looked in that shed!)

This morning the sheep were wormed, fluked and checked over.  ‘Ster is not very well again – renal calculi and/or urine infection – so he has had his undercarriage sheared to clean everything up, started a course of antibiotics and painkillers. I also talked to the vet.   He will be drenched daily with ammonium chloride which will hopefully break up the stones.  Poor lad is going around like a wet weekend but perks up mightily when he sees the ginger biccie packet.  Food is worth living for and I must buy more biccies to say sorry for the daily drench which tastes disgusting.

The wind is blowing in force too.  The ground is drying up and actually, you know, I am glad I left the horses and ponies’ rugs on.  It feels like winter out there.  Everyone is very fed up – both people and animals.

As the temperature is also low, I have given the ponies extra haynets because I doubt the grass is growing much, if at all, on their track.

And today’s piece of resistance….

Haakon, looking like he’s in a boy band…

And Newt.  I am sure I had a friend at school who looked like that.  He doesn’t suit a centre parting and neither did she.

Rug Indecision

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I have spent the day looking out of the window wondering if I have got it all wrong with the horses and ponies’ rugs.  Sometimes it is hot, sometimes cold. I can’t win.

This morning started with sleet, so I felt that everyone was keeping dry and warm in their rugs.  They all have rainsheets on – with no fill.

But then, to spite me, the sun came out and it was lovely.

The horses and ponies still have their rugs on because it is a back-killer to keep nipping out to take them off, put them on, take them off, etc.  It also isn’t very warm (a constant vicious north-west wind) and that sleet was a nasty shock.

And the minute I decided everyone could keep their rugs on, until the wind changes direction and it gets warmer again, the sun beat down unmercilessly.

Of course it ruddy well did.

But I have felt under everyone’s rugs and they are either slightly warm or cool so no one is over-heating – I changed everyone’s rug yesterday and it was very hard work, lugging etc.

At night the temperature dips and the range is about 10 degrees. Tonight is no exception  – the forecast is for -5 °C (RealFeel).

Anyway, Fivla says I can take her rug off in August.

Rugs on?  Rugs off?  Rugs on?  I am very uncertain and tomorrow there is rain all day.  I might be slightly obsessing about this, which doesn’t help.

Anyway, here is today’s hairstyle oeuvre.

Gussie (oh my! swoon)

And Lambie (oh dear)!