Out first thing with the buckets.  The Icelandics are doing ok in this horrendous weather. I have been keeping an eye on them from a distance knowing they have lots of shelter, grass and a full belly.

The old croft house and the outbuildings are invaluable on days like these.  They don’t go inside (I don’t think but you never know with Iacs) but use the shelter they offer and can choose where they want to be.

Ted refused to go outside for his dog walk so we didn’t push the point.

Pepper has been my constant companion, braving some pretty fierce wind and rain.  She thinks it is her job to be with me.  I find it comforting though I do sometimes worry for her safety.

All the Shetland ponies went out for a few hours but when I found them all sheltering in one container with the rain lashing down, I opened up the big shed doors and shouted, praying to the Gods that no one had a fit of the Silly Buggers. But, no, they all went inside without a second thought….

… though Waffle struggles with the thought that Fivla and Vitamin get regular buckets of hay replacer.  He would like that too, yes please and thank you very much.

I’ve just been in mucking out the grubby little boys’ pen and Tiddles wanted to be with his friends, so I have opened the inter-connecting gates and they are now all the together.   He is much happier.

I gave the sheep some hay nets to nibble on.  Gussie and Dahlia are hard-core and staying out – their choice, though I had to shut their shed as otherwise we would probably lose the roof. There are other sheds they could go in, though and they know this.

I think tomorrow is going to be worse.   I may not get over to see the Icelandics but have to hope they are ok.  Sometimes the wind prevents walking.

We are in the calm before the storm so I got the Icelandic horses up to dry off, put rugs on and worm.  They will stay outside but in a more sheltered field across the hill.

Iacs was very unhelpful, parking himself next to the hay bale while I worked away at the others.

I decided to lead Haakon and Kolka to the new field hoping Iacs would follow.

Pah!

On my way out of the shed leading H&K, I shouted at Iacs to follow so he went on a rampage instead and tipped up all the buckets looking for things.

Feeling thwarted, I took off Kolka’s headcollar, told her to follow and got Iacs instead.  He could obviously not be trusted.

We set off across the hill, a route everyone knows and Kolka was dutifully following to start with and then she had an independent thought and left!

See that dot under the derelict house? Well that’s Kolka going on her adventure.

I shouted at her and told the boys to shout too, but of course they were completely silent.  Kolka eventually realised she was on her own, panicked and came rushing home…..

Useless, useless men.  Completely silent.  No help at all.

I love how the little ones are all watching transfixed by Kolka’s behaviour.

I think at this stage Kolka realised she should hurry up and get in that field.

Well, Haakon was very pleased to see her.  Iacs couldn’t care less.

And I could tell Kolka was remembering her dream of adventures.  Let’s keep them only as dreams, Kolka, please.

Another storm is on it’s way – Storm Éowyn, I think – I watch my ten weather apps avidly for one to change and say the storm will miss us or be less fearsome.  I am not hopeful.

So, while I was delivery my breakfast buckets, I decided on my plan for the day.

(You can see just how well Haakon has me trained as he came rushing up for his breakfast!)

I told Pepper that I had decided to go to Lerwick to get supplies for Monster and Vitamin and she would have to stay behind (which she didn’t as apparently she ran off to our neighbours!)

Ted, of course, was A Good Boy.

Lerwick was it’s usual self – I got my tyre sorted out (breathed a sigh of relief when it was a cheap puncture), and rewarded myself with haggis and chips with this view.

After the weight in, I think that Vitamin should have a little more weight or condition on her – she has lost quite a lot of recently and so I bought some micronised linseed for her, and the other oldies and possibly Tiddles as he just seems very “dull” these days.

I also popped into the supermarket and bought every known expensive pile of cat food I could find, including frozen white fish (for hoomans) and lovely little amuse-bouche.  We cancelled Monster’s vet appointment as he is not looking or acting ill but is just eating less.  He may be much older than we really know or helping himself from the outside snack trolley of life.

Interestingly enough, I haven’t seen our neighbours recently!

Monika from Sandness Equine Services came over with her horse/pony weighing scales.  No one has been weighed for 13 months and I need to know accurately what everyone weighs if I am going to consider drug treatment for Waffle and Tiddles for Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  This has been diagnosed by the vet from previous blood results.

Pepper offered her help while Monika set up the weighing scales.

I had got everyone in earlier so they would be easy to catch and the put outside afterwards.

And after weighing each pony, Monika was kind enough to feel each horse to see who had ribs or fat pads or not.

There was a remark about a little woolly mammoth when Newt climbed on.

They all behaved well and it was just a case of walking each pony onto the mat, weight recorded, a quick feel for ribs and then outside into the field.

And the results are in…..

This was 13 months ago and, as you can see, everyone has lost some or a lot of weight, so that’s encouraging.

Now to keep it off for the next year.  That is my next challenge.

Huge thanks to Sandness Equine Services.   Waffle and Tiddles will have blood taken again next week (resting insulin) and then the vet can decide on the drug treatment required knowing their accurate weights.

It’s been a funny old day. I’m not really sure why.

To start with, Haakon now has me well trained.  He said he could never walk up another hill for his breakfast so if I could just bring him his bucket and so I do.

Don’t ask.  I am a mug, I know, but shouting for him takes too much time and it is a battle of wills. I will admit, he has won.

Also, Monster is not his usual self.  He is not eating very much or very enthusiastically, which is not like him. So he is off to the vet on Wednesday with OH.  His job now.  I have delegated, though I will probably end up going just because.

And my morning was spent going through everything in our porch, chucking away gloves with holes, old hats no one wears and various rubbish that we have accrued throughout the year, stuffed in a drawer and not looked at since.

I also fired off a few emails about two photographs that have been in my family’s possession for a very long time – both of Michael Faraday (my 5 x great uncle – his brother, Robert is my 5 x great grandfather).

The one on the left is 5.8cm x 8.7cm – a photo stuck on a card mount.  It says it was from John Watkins Photo, Parliament.  On the reverse is John Watkins’ printed information and faint pencil writing “Professor Faraday”.

The second one on the right is 5.7cm x 9.1cm mounted on card.  Written on the reverse in pencil is “Copied from daguerreotype by J.H. Roller (? – indecipherable) And in pen in possibly my grandmother’s handwriting – “Michael Faraday”.

Anyway I want to find out more as they are part of my family history.

It will be interesting to see if anyone has historical information.