There is a special place waiting for me in Hell today.

Last night I forgot to open the gate and the Shetland ponies spent all night in their wee paddock with no food.  Just water and shelter.

I had shut the gate to let the sheep through for the night (sheep and ponies don’t mix well) telling myself not to forget to open it again.  So I forgot.

I feel awful.  The ponies were so pleased to see me with their breakfast and now I know why.  They were starving and it was all my fault.

To assuage my guilt, I gave everyone two easy-to-eat haynets so that their tummies would start working as quickly as possible.  Starvation can easily lead to “digestive issues” and I don’t want that for any of them.

The hay was wolfed down and afterwards the ponies quickly left their paddock, possibly never to return again to eat grass on the track.

I have been checking them all day.  So far no problems.

Pepper is now booked in again for her x-ray at the end of next week.  I could kick myself for cancelling but at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. Remind me never to listen to myself.

The Duck family went a-visiting this afternoon. I found them in a nearby shed where a sick duck lives.  She is off her feet again.

If the duck family want to make their night-time home in this shed, I really wouldn’t mind. It will give the other duck company and also much more space for them too.

I’ll go back now to beating myself up now about the ponies.  Awful, I am truly awful.

Thank you for your kind words yesterday. I think I am back on track now.

Today OH pointed out that there was a Red Admiral butterfly outside the kitchen window.  I can probably count on one hand just how often I have seen any butterfly in Shetland.

The butterfly flitted about from pansy to pansy while we quietly watched fascinated. Apparently, and I did not know this, pansies have coloured guidelines to help the pollinators land.

Luckily no one else was outside so the butterfly was left in peace to go about its day.

I haven’t seen the Shetland ponies. They didn’t turn up for their breakfast so I left them to it, thinking they might appear some time during the day.

Can you see them? Clue – far distance, miles away.

There you go.

Anyway, I am not talking to Waffle – though, obviously I am talking to Tiddles. We always luffs him. He can do no wrong.

Waffle, however, is equus non grata.  He has been destroying the fences again, by standing on the bottom wire to pull it down and then forcing his head through between the top wire and the mesh.  He wants the long grass on the other side.  This blatant vandalism results in the fence and fence posts becoming weaker and less effective.

So, OH and I ran a strand of electric fence wire along two parts where this heinous crime is committed on a daily basis.  I am optimistic that this will solve the problem and extend the already knackered fence’s life.

And I hope I am around to watch Waffle find out what we have done.  I am that cross with him.  I think he knows his name is Bloody Waffle!

This is war.

I’m leaving this here as I have run out of things to say today.

Everyone is going along ok except for Pepper who went off her front leg last night, the same day I had cancelled her x-ray appointment at the vets because she was bouncing around so well.  On Monday, I will make another one and not talk myself out of taking her.  Dammit.  My fault, I guess for thinking she was fine. She’s very obviously not.  It’s like she knew.

I let the duck family out today and three hoodies (hooded crows) came and sat beside the duck-run so I quickly shut the door again.  Again, dammit.  I really want them to start going out but it is not going to happen for a bit.  The unceasing wind with occasionaly vicious rain showers are not helping.  Tomorrow is meant to be calmer.  At least I can watch them from my shed where I am working every hour God sends – transcribing and stabbing in equal measures.

I am not feeling the love for much today.  Sorry.

It was persisting with rain this morning and I couldn’t find anyone to give them their breakfast.  I fed who was already around.

Later I went back out to find Dahlia and Gussie behind a wall, so I gave them their food bowls along with the accompaniment of a starling, who was not feared of me at all.

The sheep inhaled their food and went off to do their own thing for the day.

Then I picked up their bowls, turned round to go back home only to find the Fivla and Vitamin had taken up residence in the wee shed and were not coming out or letting anyone else in.  The rain, by now, was tipping down and did not look like giving up either.

I secretly admired the ponies’ determination to occupy their space.  Kolka could’ve happily strode inside causing total chaos and misery for the little ones who would be made to leave.  Vitamin might hold her ground, but Fivla would squeal like a pig and exit the shed, tail swishing, in unjust indignation and fury.

Deciding to do as much as possible while I had my waterproof kit on (a survival suit, no less), I threw a huge bag of unwanted bolted celery plants over the fence for the other Shetland ponies who were looking dejected huddled in their container.

This was considered a lovely gift and they chomped their way through the lot, and hopefully felt fuller and happier afterwards.

It really has been horrible outside. I am currently on my third coat, the rest are currently drip-drying in the kitchen onto the floor.  Ugh.  Tomorrow is no better either. Our local show has just been cancelled.

This was taken from last night. Lovely colours and the sunset was pretty too.

This morning, however, was a different matter. I had decided that mother duck and her babies could now go outside of their pen but it was raining and not very nice so I asked OH to make their run a bit more sturdy instead.  They are learning to escape.

As the day brightened into lovely sunshine, I finally opened their door.

So they sat there and ignored freedom for a while.

Later, I saw that the little family had moved around and were perfectly happy outside of their home.  Mum was keeping guard.

Her dearest darling precious little ducks.

Later, on my way out to pack veg at Turriefield, I fould that family duck had all gone back to bed.  As Monster was also around,  I shut the door.  I trust Monster but I don’t really trust him.  I would’ve hated to come home to carnage.

I told you I would follow them around!  I just worry too much.