Category Archives: Something different

Dark and Dismal

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It’s been a dark and dismal day with constant wind and rain.

Ugh!

None of us wanted to go outside – there are days I would gladly swap lives with Monster.

Still, I donned my full wet-weather gear and plodded outside with buckets for all.  I honestly think there is nothing more depressing than trying to complete Wordle in a driving wind and drizzle (got it in 4, thank you for asking).

Later in the morning, on my way out (to see a friend and work on her website (Squarespace)), I went via the sheep shed to see who was hunkering down.

Surprisingly, they were all outside on the long-side of the big shed which was offering full shelter from everything.  Sensible sheeps.

I had a quick chat with Lambie.

And immediately I could understand the advantages of this well-chosen spot.   Everyone was there, except for Gussie and Dahlia who were long gone into their hill field, either eating or resting.

Of course all the Minions had shovelled themselves into one of their containers.  When I went inside, it was warm and dry.  I think they spent the day there – their choice – and I hung up some haynets when I got home later.

And so Pepper and I set off on our expedition to the other side of the island to build this website, which we did with a modicum of success and Pepper behaved beautifully.  Ted stayed at home with OH as he would’ve only let the side down.

A Lovely Day

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FIrst thing and I was out with my usual buckets to my usual ungrateful lot of animals.

I title this photo “Good luck with that!”

Breakfast for me and then off I went for a day out.

First, I had to drop off my car for its annual MOT and was picked up by Kerry in her car. She was taking me to Bressay for the day.

Bressay is the island next to Lerwick – 11 square miles (28 km2) and it is the fifth-largest island in Shetland. Population – 350 people.

We turned right off the ferry and went to see the lighthouse first, which is currently for sale.  Details here.

But the gates were locked so we couldn’t have a look around like we always used to (sadly).

But the views were nice and interesting.

Definitely worth the effort.

We decided to drive around a bit before lunch and went to see the memorial cairn to honor Bressay fishermen lost at sea between 1880 and 1912.

Local history is always interesting.

And there were the excellent views looking over the southern approach of Bressay Sound to Lerwick.  It’s strange to see my usual world from a completely different angle.

A delicious lunch at the Speldiburn Cafe (which had been the island’s Primary School) – great cake and a sublime hot chocolate – and off we drove to the far side of the island to see the island of Noss.

Separated by the narrow Noss Sound, Noss lies off the east coast of Bressay and is famed for its spectacular seabird colonies.  I have been round it once in a boat and can attest there were birds clinging to the cliffs.

And then we drove around for a bit.  I found some seals basking in the afternoon sun in the shelter of the Bressay Marina.

  

And then it was time to catch the ferry to go home again.

My car failed its MOT and subsequently had to remain in Lerwick so I cadged a lift home off Kerry.

A great day though, apart from the MOT failure.  Thank you Kerry for the change of scenery.  I needed that.

And thank you for all your kind words of support, encouragement and advice – I have taken it all onboard.

Invisible AI Master

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Ever since I had the meeting with the internet social media chap, I seem to have lost my art of writing the blog.  I feel like invisible expectations have been placed upon me and that my every word is being monitored by AI, word searches, bots, things I don’t understand on the big inter-super-highway (as my aged neighbour used to call it).

I hate this.  My ability to write basic English, to describe my life and to enjoy writing this blog has vanished overnight. And, worst of all, I was told my Blog has to be 350 words long if I want to be found on internet searches, which then instantly gave me mental block for my writing (I had always stuck to being 300 or under as I didn’t want to bore).

What I did before seemed to work fine – albeit, I wanted more readers, hence the meeting – but I have been left with the feeling there is a giant AI bot looking over my shoulder who I have to please at all costs and I don’t like that.

I need to think about a way forward with this because I don’t feel that my blog will be very genuine or be part of the real me if I have to please an invisible Master.

Gah and *** sigh ***. I have always hated homework.

(in my head this all makes perfect sense and I can still take photos of autumn in Shetland, so please enjoy them).

I was happy being a Luddite, I realise this now.

 

Physiotherapy

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I chucked the old horses and ponies back out into their old field.  They were not impressed.

But, as I told them, you don’t need all that grass for the foreseeable.  I am saving it for the winter storms as it is the ideal field for exactly that purpose.

That went down like a lead balloon.

But I left them all mooching around the gate looking whistfully back at their ex-field full of grass, while surveying the shorter grass around them.

Tough.  Last seen, they were miles away just vanishing over the horizon so they must be finding something to eat.

And then Uwe Abendroth from Central Equine Physiotherapy paid us a visit.  He is our local visiting animal physiotherapist from Stirling.  We’ve used him a few times on the horses in previous years.

This time it was Monster and Pepper’s turn.  Monster has become increasingly stiff in his gait (front legs) which is probably old age but it couldn’t hurt him to have some help.  As Monster was not very cooperative and kept trying to leave, Uwe put the Pulse Electromagnetic Therapy mat (PEMF) under the bed while I lightly scattered some catnip to keep Monster in place so he could get the full benefit of his treatment.  It seemed to work.

And then it was Pepper’s turn.  She was very taken with Uwe.  Her second best friend as she loves our farrier, Stephen, most.

What a good girl Pepper was having ultrasound therapy on her poorly right front shoulder that has been bothering her for a while now.  The one that makes her three legged at times.

 

And then I asked Pepper to sit in the bed, newly vacated by Monster and she had some magical Pulse Electromagnetic Therapy as well.

Uwe could definitely feel something was going on with Pepper’s shoulder and hopefully these treatments will help her and she won’t be travelling on three legs and I will stop worrying. That would be nice.

Here are Uwe’s details – I would highly recommend.

Uwe Abendroth details

A day off from being me

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Today I wanted a break from everyone and everything. No more animals and work. Just one day off from all this.

So I fed all the animals, and made sure they had everything they wanted while OH gave the dogs a long walk and we drove away from home sans dogs, horses, ponies, ducks, cat, etc.

We had been invited out for lunch by friends who live on the other side of the island. For lunch we had Chinese hotpot – my favourite and we ate and chatted all afternoon, which was totally perfect. I didn’t have to think about anything – apart from what next to put in the hotpot, always a dilemma.

I also had a tarot reading – a three card spread, I think it’s called, using a layered technique of transparent cards. It was fascinating, very interesting and uncannily spot on. I have had a tarot reading done many years ago but nothing quite like this. There was no hiding, if you know what I mean. The cards were direct and to the point. Each one.  Joy’s intuitive interpretation and guidance gave me a much-needed grounding and better perception of my life and future. I thoroughly recommend.

So today was something completely different and now I feel far more relaxed and happy. My life has perspective. I can do this, I tell myself. I most definitely can.

Joy Therapies – Joy has a Facebook page and says “I’m Joy Perino Saloschin and I offer reiki, past life regression, theta healing, tarot readings, and hypnotherapy, covering a wide range of issues such as weight loss, stress and anxiety, sleep problems, smoking, fears and phobias. PM me for more info.”  (she can work over Zoom too)