We recently took possession of this little treasure – introducing the Suzuki 4×4 Eggbox!  I am very happy and feel much safer driving around especially in the winter months.   This will get me across the hill and the four wheel drive has already got me out of a few snowy/black ice scrapes.  We still have Mum’s Jazz, though I have currently lent it to a friend in need.  I can’t bring myself to sell it as it was my Mum’s last car (silly, I know).  It costs almost nothing to run and is less thirsty than the Eggbox.

So today Floss and I set sail in the Eggbox to deliver a late Christmas present that had arrived in the post-Christmas delivery.  After the delivery, we thought we would go and find some spectacular waves to photograph…..

A flat calm at Garderhouse Voe

Barely a wave at Silwick

But I did like the hill there.

And then off to Westerwick.

And Westerwick from the other side.  Note, not a wave to be seen.  We decided the other side of the island had probably the rough seas and there they could stay.  We were going home to lunch.

I spent my afternoon making this little chap to join his Mum.

It is vile outside.

Penthesilea, my Amazonian duck, is single-beakedly digging up the path to my shed.

She did it last year.

It is her constant winter chore and one she takes very seriously.

Luckily, for my last birthday, OH gave me some path tiles laid to my shed so I can walk safely and cleanly along through the mud or wet ground.  They are a god-send.

In my stocking, Father Christmas (though possibly OH) gave me these three beauties and I am pretty convinced they depict Muscovy Ducks as a breed.  They look not dissimilar to my lot.

The perfect sheep garland is a Christmas prezzie from another friend. It makes my shed “very me”. I love it.

While I worked at making a sheeple out of Harrel-the-Barrel’s fleece…..

…… out of the window I could see Penthesilea still at her job working hard.  She is a duck on a mission.

Luckily, for me and my feet, she followed me out to eat her tea.

As did the rest of her family.

And thank you for those who asked – Daisy made it home safely to Glasgow.  Phew.

Well, that’s Daisy gone after her Christmas holiday.

And I think we can all safely say that we will miss her hugely.

She was, of course, a delight (which is actually Daisy’s description of herself).

And I’m sad as we won’t have anyone to play flute trios with now so it’s back to duets again plus Pepper as our audience who has to be paid in chews.

So safe flight home, Daisy. Thank you for all your help this Christmas (Bibble was beyond happy to see her) and phone me when you land or get home because that plane sat on the runway for at least 3 extra hours with a mechanic trying to put it back together after two aborted flight take-offs.  The wind here is an ambient F8, gusting 9, with horizontal rain and there are no flights tomorrow. So it’s now or never and I am not worried, I am not worried, I am not worried……

(here we are waiting at Sumburgh airport which was almost deserted). 

Daisy knows the Minions and the Old Ladies very well so I asked her to come and inspect them in their field today.  I wanted her valued professional opinion.

And, of course, the Minions all know Daisy too.

Daisy said Vitamin looked good which made me happy.

Newt was a fat little Newt.

But incredibly cute so we forgive him.  If he could just be a tad nicer, that would be good too.

Silver was diagnosed as fat.  Daisy said it as she saw it. FAT.

Fivla, for her age, was ok.  We tell ourselves that she needs her excess weight for the bad weather ahead.

Storm and Waffle were hiding in their “bedroom” – the old walled garden.

I fear they have made it their own, like little boys do.

And the others were all said to be looking good.  The weather is disintegrating again for what seems like the rest of our lives so anyone’s extra weight will be needed for keeping warm and storing heat.  No one has rugs.

Anyway, I am glad Daisy saw the Minions.  She is going back to Glasgow tomorrow and we will all miss her hugely.

A dear friend sent everyone a Christmas Box and when I type “everyone”, I mean everyone.  Sheep, cat, dogs, ponies, horses, chickens, ducks, people – in possibly that order.

Monster got his treats first, because he was very insistent, made a huge fuss and then he wanted the box too.

Others wanted that box.

They coveted it, actually.

And then they coveted the cat toy too.

But what is Monster’s stays with Monster.

He had a lovely time playing with the toys and enjoying the catnip.

It was definitely Monster’s box and toys.  No argument.

With the lovely presents distributed, or put away for later because no one should eat all their treats in one day, Pepper took to her bed.

Flossie took these photos from her prime spot on the sofa.

I adore this one.

And Daisy took this one earlier!  I am not sure I adore this as much.