Crofting Chores

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(lots of photos – sorry!)

I was just heading upstairs to bed last night when I thought to myself “I wonder if the Merrie Dancers are out?”

So out I trudged outside and looked north. There was a definite glow.

But it was very cold, so rather than freeze, I went and ran my bath, which takes ages.  While I was waiting, I turned off the bathroom light and opened the north facing window to see what I could see.

Yup, much better and less cold.  At least the bathroom is warm, even hanging out of the open window.

This morning was beautiful too.

Off to work at Turriefield packing veg and the rain poured down outside.  But a good almost double rainbow, though.

As I had more chores to do when I got back home, I didn’t go into my shed to make a sheep. I spent my afternoon cleaning out the water troughs/buckets in Clothie, ready for the horses and ponies when I move them over.

I used “the Eggbox” and in full four-wheel drive we trundled over the hill backwards and forwards four times with the very full and heavy water containers.

It saved my poor screaming back.

I say “we” because of course little Miss Pepperpot came too and every time I got back in the car, and put my seatbelt on, she would lick my nose!

Once done, I put Eggbox away and got Skippy out to take my final load of water to the Shetland ponies’ track.

It is almost dark outside now and I think the Merrie Dancers are forecast again so I will probably spend my evening popping in and out of the backdoor (or the bathroom) checking to see if they are dancing.

Farrier Today

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We had our farrier, Stephen, coming at 10 o’clock this morning so I had everyone up in their paddocks and ready.

Breakfast first, though, obviously.  Priorities.

I told myself that Haakon does not eat like a giraffe.  Well, not very much.

The little ones were desperate to be in with the big ones and for a second I thought it might be a great idea.

And then I remembered it would probably result in all out war and lots of mud churned up so I kept that gate shut.

As none of the oldies eats hay these days, I gave them a good bucket of Fast Fibre hay replacer so their tummies wouldn’t mind that they weren’t grazing while they waited.  The Shetlands got a haynet to share which they weren’t interested in at all – too busy gazing at the others.

Pepper and I waited in the car as it was warm and got us out of the north wind.   She was so happy to see Stephen’s van.

Only four out of ten had their feet done – in winter hooves grow slower apparently.

So we were done by lunchtime which was convenient.  All in all it was a very good morning and no signs of laminitis on anyone – huzzah!  Onwards, ever onwards.

Still Sorting Out

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My wifi/broadband ordeal continues.  Part the Two now it is Monday.  I spent most of my morning talking to BT, who were actually incredibly helpful so a big thank you to Dylan who did his absolute best for me and completely understood my predicament, though by the end he did go into Full Sales Pitch mode which I found a little unnecessary.

So, afterwards, feeling a huge need for some fresh air and sanity, I took the dogs out for a walk over in my little 5 acre croft, Clothie.

I wanted to see the state of the grazing as I will be putting the old horses and ponies in there soon for as much of their winter as I can.

The grass was looking very good but amongst it were a good variety of toadstools, which I decided to identify to see if any were edible.

The short answer is no!  The whole lot are murderous but they do have some great names.

Anyway, I learned a lot today – not just about broadband and mobile phone packages.

Back home and the ponies were waiting for me.

I kissed a few noses and filled up their water (they do get through it so obviously haven’t found the stream in the corner of the field). This was my sanity.

After lunch, I started all over again with Plusnet (my broadband provider), who again were remarkably helpful and I think I have changed over to wifi mobile broadband but, knowing me, I may have got in a muddle and just made things twice as expensive!  I am easily talked into things, I think.

My Broadband Mess

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Our broadband is hopeless, I mean seriously hopeless with no chance of it ever getting better.  No fast fibre or fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) for us.  Just a humble 1950’s copper wire snail meandering along very, very slowly.

A few years’ back, we did have a quote for a fibre connection and, I jest you not, the quote was nearly £1,000,000 but the best bit was when they asked us, in all seriousness, when we would like them to start the work!

We did raise this all with our MP and MSP but, despite their best and most valiant efforts, we were told the situation is never going to change.

Last night, I got more than a bit anxious looking at our landline phone bill (£40 per month for mostly spamming calls) and broadband provider (£25 per month for feeding the snail). I realised enough is enough and this was a complete waste of money –  we need something better.

So, this morning, after feeding everyone and being very grateful that the storm has finally abated….

…… I grabbed my laptop and went into my shed to create a spreadsheet of all our options so I could see for myself at a glance who is offering what.

I was going quite well, when OH arrived to take the dogs for a walk and Monster wandered up the shed track.

I tried to ignore him but the whining outside only got more persistent and louder.

There was a lot of wandering around an already full table.  I was working with two laptops.

Monster was not helpful.

But finally we reached an arrangement which worked for all of us and I went on working out what were the best options in our set-up.  I think my conclusion is that I need to do a lot of phoning on Monday and then make a momentous decision to change everything, with the help of Monster, obviously.

A Tad Feisty Out There!

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It’s a tad feisty out there.

These photos are from breakfast first thing. The light was not great.  The big ones are savyy and know never to lift their heads until all food is finished, or they will lose their buckets to the wind.

One of the sheds offered a sheltered wall and I hid the Vitamin and Fivla behind it.

For the others, they all stopped bickering and ate their food quickly. Even Newt shared which is unheard of.

It was a day of wild hairstyles!

I could see that the container was used overnight (poo evidence) and was pleased the ponies have learned that they have options, especially when it is raining.  Even using the container as a wind-break in their new track is their favourite place to stand.

Around every corner is a sheep staying out of the fierce wind.

There is plenty of grass around the house and in fields so they make their own choices, usually leaving ‘Ster behind. He hates going under certain fences and then finds himself all alone in the world and I have to sort it out.  There is pitiful baa’ing at my front door.

During the day, the horses ignored the wind while Fivla and Vitamoobag stood at the bottom of the valley with a dry stone wall taller than them for shelter.  I know for a fact there will be no wind down there.

And at the moment outside, it is an ambient F10 with a bitter north wind.  I am bored of this now, thank you.