During the dogwalk, as I had a good phone signal (rare here), I phoned the vet and booked Pepper in for a consultation as every time I looked at her, she was still hopping more.  We go tomorrow morning – me, my guilt and my dog.

On the walk, Monster came too to do a spot of prowling.

I spent my time trying to take photos of him being a White Panther in the tall grass.  White Panther Cat is his official veterinary name.

(and no, he hadn’t stopped to have a pee. This is not his pee face)

When we reached the old derelict croft house and school house, which is at the end, I knew what was going to happen next.  There is a small window and Monster was determined to get through.

And this is possibly the first time I have ever seen him dirty and defeated.

When I heard the miserable wailing of utter dispair, I went round to the front door of the house and called Monster down from his ledge.

Can anyone see a cat?

And as Pepper is lame, I didn’t want a long walk, so I turned for home, calling Monster too.

As Daisy would say, “look at him go!”

Home over the scattald (open hill)…..

And Monster took to his bed to recover from the trauma of being a White Panther Cat. It’s hard work being an icon.

We all went to Norby beach, the nearest sandy beach to us which is about 4 miles away in the village of Sandness.  The weather was descending rapidly (rain and then wind) and the dogs needed walking before it got too nasty.

We were the only people on the beach, which was perfect. I love having the beach to myself.

Our friends from south brought their dog to Shetland and he had a lovely time chasing and catching a frisbee.

I spent my time looking for groatie buckies (cowrie shells) but there were none to be seen.

I did, however, see a bonxie (Great Skua) flying menacingly over the cliffs where the fulmar’s nest.  My first bonxie of the year but I haven’t really been looking all that much.

OH had set off with our dogs in the opposite direction of the beach as Ted is not a fan of the collie.  They had words yesterday so we are trying to keep the peace while they get used to each other.  Ted grumbled about the newbie and Pepper was oblivious to the tension.

And Pepper seems to have mostly got over her trauma but is still a bit 3 legged and limpy when she sees I am watching her.  The baleful eyes of resentment are working over-time too.  I remain feeling guilty.  She is good.

A quiet Sunday, spent with friends while everyone outside wanted their allocated ration of food for the day, which includes the afternoon round too.

After the dogs had their tea, I made the mistake of going outside to get some fresh air.  I had a feeling I was being followed.

So, being the nice person I am, I put out some bowls of grain. The ducks and hens are being wormed (for the first time), which is a process that takes a week.  This means all food is weighed, worming powder added and only that food can be eaten.  It is a most complicated process.

And the drakes look all moth-eaten because they won’t stop fighting.

It’s a result of too many drakes and not enough girls and I am not sure how to kindly resolve this situation.  No one ever wants drakes.

Leaving that dilemma behind me, I went into the field where the horses live. I hadn’t seen them myself today.

I like to check everyone is walking fine as they have unlimited grass (30 acres thereof).

And that they are also eating with no problems.  I can’t tell you just how much I dread finding anyone with colic.  It is my main worry.

There is no picture of Bibble as he was busy farting to himself (so definitely no colic) and I was downwind wondering where the over-ripe Camembert was!

Luckily, Haakon just looked gorgeous.  I have always loved his black fur-lined ears.  Magical, as always.

I did a terrible thing last night.  I opened the front door and Pepper got her foot caught, I think, under in it.  In my defence she was totally in the way, trying to get out before I had even opened the door properly.  Terriers do not wait nicely.

Anyway, it was all awful. Lots of squeaking about the pain.  I really had to go out quickly into the rain and sort out various animals but when I came back in a few minutes later, I found a pile of unhappiness shivering miserably to herself on the sofa.

So I scooped Pepper up, checked her over (no obvious breaks or blood or anything to speak of) and spent the rest of my evening hugging, brushing and apologising to her over and over again.

And now today, Pepper is mostly fine except when she remembers the trauma of last night.

I did phone the vet and we agreed on pain control over the weekend with a view  to bringing Pepper in, if things have not improved by Monday,

This afternoon, after flute duets, Pepper insisted on telling Mandy all about her woes and insisted she should be carried everywhere….. from henceforth.

When I look down at wee dug, there is a lot of this….. poorly paw.

And I still feel dreadful, which I think is possibly the aim.

Let’s hope Pepper makes it through the weekend.  And, again in my defence, when no one is looking or sympathising, then Pepper goes perfectly well on four legs with only a very slight limp.

Shoot me now.

Rain, rain and more rain.

To be fair, everyone didn’t hang around after breakfast asking for more food but I decided to give the ponies some hay to eat which would keep them warm and hopefully prevent them from shivering.

I speeded up this film as they all took their time coming up the hill but it is keeping them all fit!

The hay was a wise decision, I think.  They were very appreciative.

And even Vitamoo-bag was in a cooperative mood, letting me put her rug earlier on without the usual chasing after her fight which is quickly becoming the norm these days.

Fivla is always the tail-end Charlie but she got there eventually.  Speed is not her thing.  It never has been.  When she was a riding pony, she had two speeds – slow and stop.

So, while it poured with rain on and off all day, with more to come tomorrow, I went to my shed to make the grey sheep on the left.

I have a fibre block on soak and will go out later to dish it out to the ponies if they are still around.