Yesterday was lovely.  Today was dreich (dreary, bleak).

And very windy.  Windy enough to be annoying but not windy enough to be termed an actual gale.

After making a sheep in my shed, I stretched my legs and walked over to check on the Ancients (I can see the Shetland ponies from the house). I took an apple to see if they were ok.  I worry hugely about colic in this field.

All well there and they were drinking the water I lug over in the Eggbox, which is good.

I stood and watched these two cousins “chat”.

Aged 30 and 28 years old, Haakon and Iacs have lived together for over 25 years now, which is I think is lovely.

And yet they still bicker!

And these are the faces of sheep that found out that we have run out of all things biscuit in this house (possibly to town tomorrow).  Oh, the disappointment.

Daisy was asking for more Monster content so here goes.

These photos are all from today.

I had just walked up the hill from mending the electric fence on the track in two places, having this morning found four escapees stuffing their fat little faces (that would be Newt, Tiddles, Storm and Albie – surprisingly, Waffle and Silver didn’t bother).  Anyway the fence is all shored up and the energiser is now happily zapping away and I will admit there absolutely nothing more satisfying than watching a wicked Shetland pony testing to see if it’s on!  Oh, it’s on. It’s Junior rodeo on! And off they sniggered not even trying to look ashamed.

Anyway, back with Monster and his inherent weirdness, one job I wanted to do was to vacuum my shed which needed doing badly.  Obviously he came too, walking along the path with great care.

And helpfully sat on the table so I phoned Daisy and we had a conversation.

And she got to see and possibly talk to her cat too.

While we were chatting, I noticed Pepper was by the door and so were Huey and Dewey.

It felt like a version of the Fox-Chicken-Grain puzzle only I had substituted with dog-duck-cat instead.

This is not quite normal, is it?

There were flute duets later and we were, again, accompanied.  It’s been an interesting day.

Kolka came rushing down the field in the hope that I had something (this time, I didn’t as I had only come to check the water).

She really is a very pretty horse.

And she has piercing eyes (by now, I was beginning to feel slightly guilty about the lack of carrot situation).

And then “Pinky and the Brain” arrived.

I will let you decide who is who.

Hint – The Brain is highly intelligent, self-centered and scheming, while Pinky is good-natured but feeble-minded! 

Another hint:  Haakon has always wanted to Rule the World and Iacs name spells I-Am-Completely-Stupid!

And they are so rude to Kolka.

So I shouted at them and said “be nice” in a firm tone.

And that obviously had no effect at all.

Despite this, they are all very good friends except for when they aren’t.

So, I noticed, when I fed everyone their breakfast this morning, that no one had actually explored much of their new track.  They had all just been standing around.

Later, on the dog-walk (much to Ted’s horror as he hates all things Minion), I grabbed Storm who is the most gullible (read willing) and led him around the track to show him that there were other lovely places to explore.

I knew the others would follow wondering if I was leading Storm to a land of endless chocolate cake.

Yer, right!

I showed them the other side of the burn and they duly waded through and I was reminded of The Jungle Book – the 1967 Disney version. A favourite film.

Once I saw Vitamin arrive and she had a drink as she wandered through the burn, I knew everyone would be ok.  She would see to it.  She is still the leader.

And tail-end Charlie, or Fivla, duly crossed too (I have since returned and added another strand of wire on the burn fence to stop Waffle ducking under).

Oh yes!  We know, don’t we Vitamin?

Later on today, I could see the ponies all far away.

(a close up)

And even later on, they had all done at least two circuits of the track and were perfectly happy pottering around.

Today the track was open for business.  It is for the Minions’ and their constant battle against laminitis. I hope this is the answer as it was a lot of hard work to build.

I don’t want the Shetland ponies to eat the spring grass when or if it arrives as that has a high sugar content which will start the laminitis process all over again.  I am so bored of laminitis.

I explained all this to Vitamin and of course, she understood because she is a wize old pony.

The track is 700 metres around the whole field with two easy watering and crossing points at either end, ie the burn runs right through it.  Yes, there are some muddy spots like at the gate but hey ho, they will manage.

And best of all I can see everyone from any upstairs window!

Tonight, there is a storm with some rain and F10 (55-63mph winds) but the track is laid out so there are good points of shelter if needed.  I think I thought of everything.

Having said that, I put dry rugs back on Vitamin and Fivla as rain is also forecast.

So that’s the latest plan.  I will get around to turning the fence actually on but, as there is currently something to eat on the track, I doubt I will find anyone tomorrow morning where they shouldn’t be – unless they fly over in the wind!

I am, however, taking bets that the first pony to “test” the fence will be Waffle.  Any takers?