In my head I have a winter plan and I told the Shetland ponies that this new field would be their January field.

They didn’t need asking twice and I have left the adjoining gate open so I can feed them in their old field, which is easier to reach.

Every morning, I put out the buckets and the ponies canter up, eat it, have a quick row, clean up and then canter off back to their new field again without looking back or even saying thank you

You can guess who always starts the row.

I feed Vitamin and Fivla a little away from the rabble.

But this adjoining field has lots of shelter and old grass complete with some ditches of fresh flowing water.  Everything a small pony could need.

Fivla seems much happier this winter.  Ok, the weight is not dropping off but she is keeping up, walking, trotting and cantering along giving as good as she gets.  That’s all I want for her.

The ponies’ backs are all completely soaked to the skin and hopefully the next few dry days should help them.

And surprisingly, in a planticrub (a small square, circular or rectangular enclosure used for growing root crops, usually without an entrance.  – Canmore) in the field is a monkey puzzle tree.

We didn’t plant it – it was there when we bought the croft years ago and it goes along growing, something threatening to die, but mostly it is alive through nothing we have done.

It is not something you see often in Shetland and luckily the ponies can’t get to it.

We were quite excited to see a smidge of blue skies this morning.  The six day gale had finally blown itself out.

It’s been tough on everyone.  They all deserved a good rest.

And today was the day Floss went back home so I did the airport run down to Sumburgh.  Again, another “busy” day and her flight was only delayed by 3 3/4 hours.  Poor thing. I had to leave her there as a) her meal voucher was only usable at the cafe on the other side in departures, and b) I was dropping off a chair at the upholsterer and wanted to find her house in daylight as I had never been there before.

I drove off to Ireland, Bigton and when I got out of the Eggbox, my jaw dropped at the view.  Wow. Just wow.

I was looking south over the St Ninian’s tombolo – the largest active tombolo in the UK.  It was mesmerising.

After giving the chair to the upholsterer, I drove over to the look at St Ninian’s tombolo.

I remembered riding Haakon along this sandy stretch at a flat gallop in a race. It was magical and many years ago after working for NRK on their tv programme Himmelblå.

This is the episode and our kitchen is featured (yellow walls at 23.28) and the horses were at the end (36;09).  I was off-shot riding Haakon ready to grab anyone who went past too fast or out of control.

And now for something completely different…

(The gale has not let up so it has barely been light and we haven’t gone outside except to feed everyone and for me to chase Lambie round and round the shed until he went through the gate into a ruddy field with his friends!)

Anyway, I brought back with me in Mum’s things a picture which I hung on Floss’ bedroom wall.  It has always interested me so today I took it down to have a good look and photograph.

Things I discovered in my morning’s research:
Measurements – 24 x 30 cm inside mount
The subject is a Chinese Bearcat (Binturong) – Arctictis binturong or 熊狸

The painting is, I think, pen and ink on fine paper with slight colour on the tree.

There is an inscription on the back of the frame in, I think, my grandmother’s hand:-

“From Professor W. Yetts
Given to Dr D. Embleton 1934”

Dr D Embleton is my great grandfather – Dennis Embleton  (1881-1944) – a doctor at UCH with a clinic at 47 Wimpole St, London.

Professor W. Yetts is Walter Percival Yetts (1878-1957) who was a British surgeon and lecturer in Chinese art and archaeology. So possibly something an expert on Chinese art and I suppose the two were good friends.

I got my translator (Floss) out of her room and asked her to do her best….

The seal is upside down and she couldn’t read it, but she made great headway into the characters.

It is the last half of a poem by the Tang poet – Han Yu (768-824) and it says:-

新茎未遍半犹枯，高架支离倒复扶。
若欲满盘堆马乳，莫辞添竹引龙须。

Rough Translation by Flossie:-

“Before they are fully grown, new grape sprouts are like dead trees. The tall grape frames become loose and crooked, before being lifted again.

If you wish to have a full plate of delicious Maru grapes in Autumn, do not neglect them. You should reinforce the frame with bamboo poles to guide the dragon whiskers (vines).”

(the bit in bold is the part written on the picture)

So that is all fascinating and I have put out feelers as to any more information especially for the artist.

I’ll keep you posted.

Day 5 of this gale and we are all heartily bored of it.

The animals have had enough.  Everyone is soaked to the skin and alternating between eating or sheltering.  The weather forecast changes hourly so I don’t know when it is likely to stop and give us all a break.

I tell myself that if I brought the horses inside, they would hate it and all rush outside, looking for green grass to eat (while pooing everywhere). So instead, they have their fields with lots of shelter and grass.  The daily breakfast buckets are also bigger with extra treats to keep up spirits.

The sheep refuse to go into any field, so they are around the house (outside, mostly) and follow me everywhere looking very hopeful.

Very hopeful indeed (this is Edna – she of indeterminate age and no teeth who is the biggest scrounge I know, though I did find myself taking off my wellies in the porch with Lambie who had managed to barge his way in looking for something to eat!)

In the miserable dreich afternoons, I sit in my shed with Pepper trying hard not to eat my weight in the last of the Lebkuchen (my favourite biscuits), drinking tea and making a sheep.

This family are made of Harrel-the-Barrel’s Shetland black wool which I recently ran through the drum carder.

I have two curly families too.

And then, after sheep making, I do the evening chores – putting the ducks and chickens to bed and checking the sheep have everything they want for the night.

The huge mineral lick is a huge success and they are ripping large chunks out of it – probably because it is molasses based.  Sugar addicts all.

And then I tell myself that at least it’s not snowing……

I had run out of the extra nice mash (Rowen & Barbary Ready Mash Extra) that I’ve been giving to the ancient Icelandic horses as a treat during this vile weather so, checking it was in stock, Floss and I drove into town to get some more.

After loading up the Eggbox with a treats for all at the local animal feed store, we thought we would nip round Tesco’s to see if they had anything on offer.  There is nothing better than a post-Christmas bargain

Due to the adverse weather, the boats have been sporadic these past few days and the shelves had a few gaps but it actually wasn’t too bad. I was expecting far worse.  Sometimes there is nothing.

The Street, on the other hand, was empty and almost totally closed for business.

There were a few die-hards out but with almost every shop and cafe shut, it was quite bleak.

I tried to see if more sheep were needed, but there was no one at Jamieson’s (opening on the 8th).

Peering through the glass on the shop’s front door, I could make out they have a few sheep, I think, though it’s hard to tell.

So Floss and I, and a friend we met en route in Tesco, had a nice lunch and then made our way home in the now-stalwart Eggbox.  OH held the fort at home all day. I expect he enjoyed the peace.