First thing this morning, I decided that I would call the vet surgery and make an appointment for someone to come to look at Edna and Barrel.  I just wanted to know that everything was actually alright and that Harrel had not done permanent damage to himself, like dislocated his hip.

I also wanted a second opinion on Edna’s chronic lameness.

A visit was booked for lunchtime(ish) and, while we were waiting, I gave my two patients a few branches of willow that I had lopped off in the garden.  They tucked in.

Meanwhile, the dogs needed walking so out we went, over to Clothie (my five acre croft).  Lambie came too and went off to talk to the hill sheep.  They left and Lambie was very put out.

While the dogs walked themselves in my field (bunny rabbits everywhere), I sat on a rock and Lambie came back to talk to me, giving up on being nice to the hill sheep.

He did try and I told him it was their loss.

After a while, I had to go home as the vet was coming soon.  I called the dogs and Lambie and we all went home again to wait.

Vet diagnosis:
Barrel has given himself a gluff (a fright) and stretched his back leg so it is sore but, as he is now weight-bearing a bit better every day, and there is no sign of dislocation, then a few days’ bedrest and he should be fine.
Edna has very soft hooves and the front one is sore from a papilloma that was cut out a few months back and has not healed properly.  So I must keep spraying with zinc/copper spray and see how we go.  She can stay on bedrest too with Harrel.

Oh the worry but good to know Harrel is ok.

The sheep have all taken their shearing very hard and so I am worrying.

Lambie has gone into a decline, even resorting to being nice to me so he must be upset.

I’ve told him umpteenth times that he is still handsome. What more does he want?

The others spent their day hanging around the house, refusing to go anywhere which is not like them.  Eventually, I persuaded them to go into a field and I will leave them there all night.

And I am very worried about Barrel. He just sits by himself.

Edna has taken herself off down to the burn.  Yes, this is a very sheltered field with lots of long grass, but it will be difficult for her to come home (she struggles with walking) and I am worried about her.  This is not unusual behaviour for Edna, though, after shearing.  She has done this before.  The others were horrible to her too, so she might just want some time out from the flock.

I spent my day checking her, popping down with her breakfast and then with some TurmerAid in the hope she will rest here, then feel better and come home.  Failing that, tomorrow, I will get her back by the best means possible.

Meanwhile, Gussie and Dahlia refuse to talk to anyone (obviously Pepper is not just anyone).

And Bert’s best friend is a duck.

Obviousy, I will spend my night worrying about them all.  The shearing needed to be done and I suspect a lot of this are sulking by any other name.

I haven’t stopped since breakfast, only sitting down just now for the first time all day.

We started with the farrier, Stephen.  Seven trims and everyone behaved very well.  There were no signs of laminitis anywhere and Stephen said the ponies looked the best he had seen them, ever.  So I smiled inside.

Then the sheep were all sheared.  It was hard work for all of us.

This was the first time Gussie had been sheared and his fleece is fabulous.

I am definitely keeping this one.

Gussie took it well, looking a bit surprised afterwards.

Hand shears is a new experience for my flock and although, it took a bit longer, everyone is much relieved to have their fleeces off.

You do not want to know just how fat Madge is without her fleece.  The word hippopotamus was mentioned.

Harrel escaped when I let Edna out of the stable first (because they were all picking on her and she was very unhappy) so I managed to lure him into the big shed where he tried to hang himself from the pen by his back leg.  This was not good but he has had painkillers and his leg sprayed.  I will keep an eye on him.

It’s been a very long day and I am exhausted.  Some of my evening chores will be left.  I just can’t do any more.  Still, the shearer remarked that these were the cleanest sheep he has ever seen.  I smiled again inside.

Absolutely no one is to talk to Gussie.  The sweet little black lamb who used to sit on my feet has grown up into a complete thug and bully-boy.  Not good.

I’ve told his mother this too.  I am not impressed with Dahlia’s parenting skills.  I expected more.  Dahlia looked embarrassed and I would like to think slightly ashamed.

Gussie is picking only on Lambie and my poor, poor little boy is being beaten up horribly.  There was a big fight today after breakfast, resulting in Lambie hiding behind me, telling me to sort it out for him.  I put Gussie and Dahlia back in their separate field.

Last week there was evidence of blood after another Lambie-Gussie bust up and today was not much better, but with less blood.  Lambie has already lost his “magnificent” horns to this rivalry.

And Lambie is upset by all this. He hates a fracas at the best of times and has gone a bit Greta Garbo about life in general.  He’s feeling very put upon but obviously is enjoying being a tortured soul.  I feel his pain.

Anyway, today, after the watching the fight and the running away by Lambie, I decided they must stay apart for a while. Everyone woolly is being sheared tomorrow, hopefully, and that might change the flock dynamic too.  I hope so.  I hate fights and I hate bullies even more.

While the rest of Europe roasts, we, in Shetland, are not.  I think the sun might shine a bit on Tuesday but I am not holding my breath.  We might have had our summer a few weeks back.  It was very nice.

To be honest, though, I am not a huge fan of heat and excessive sunshine, which is possibly one of the many reasons I live in Shetland.

And, as the sheep are not yet sheared, hot weather would be miserable for them too.  So we are all happy that the wind blows and it is fairly cool – cool enough for us to mutter things like “perhaps we should turn the heating back on” in the evening.

When it gets hot, I will let you know.

I expect everyone will let me know too.

And obviously I will consult my 5 weather apps just in case.