“Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning“.

We have ahead of us three days solid of gales, ranging from moderate to fresh (understatement of the ruddy year – it’s going to be bloody awful out there).

So I went into action and moved the Minions to a much more sheltered field. I led Waffle and Vitamin as I knew the others would follow.

They were very pleased with the move.

Next up were the Old Folk.  They weren’t particularly thrilled with yesterday’s move so I tied back the gate and shouted for them to come up.

They now have the choice of either field and can find their own shelter.  OH also made the big shed safe (ie van, trailer and henhouses in for mending now have hurdles around them) so if anyone is shivering, they can come in for a bit.  The temperature is due to dive and even snow is forecast.  Add the wind-chill factor and we may need the big shed so good to have it all ready.

For the sheep, I added more grotty bedding hay and put up some haynets too so it is nice if they have to spend the whole day(s) inside.  The door is always open so they can come and go.

I think everyone is hopefully sorted now and I pray we can get out to give them food.  Sometimes it all gets a bit much outside, ie seriously unsafe, and you just have to give up and pray that everyone will be ok.

I spent my day waiting for my little car to be collected – the far-side back wheel brake had jammed on.   I only found this out when I put all my Minion breakfast buckets in the back, and tried to set off, only we didn’t.

Yes, we did try going backwards and forwards in short quick bursts.

Yes, we did try pulling the handbrake up and down a few times – though, it felt very stiff and odd.

Yes, we did try hitting the brakes with a hammer.

And while I was waiting with my faithful ‘panion, I took some selfies in my shed for fun.

I also managed to make a little sheeple too, while waiting and the sun was beginning to go down.

Maybe if the sheeple don’t sell, I could try car photography!

Little Pepper was always with me, waiting.  Forever waiting.  She is very patient.

Anyway, thoughts and prayers for my car.  It is going to the right place (Shetland’s best garage) where everything will be coaxed back into life again.

Meanwhile the car away, I shall look online at small 4×4’s. I quite like the look of a Jimny van.

“Come on, everyone. Into a more sheltered field, please” – I shouted, while leading Iacs and Kolka trotted happily along behind.  The weather forecast is for gales all week and even snow!

Meanwhile Haakon stood there like a stunned mullet and eventually realised he was on his own.  “Don’t hurry” I said sarcastically, standing in the pissing rain with a freezing driving wind. So he didn’t.

I had a lovely film of the Minions all cantering towards me over the hill for their breakfast but when I came to look at it, I had two whole seconds of the contents of my pocket.  So, sorry. Them’s the breaks.

Meanwhile, the sheep took refuge in their spacious shed.

All except Lambie, who had to stand outside on his own because he is an idiot.

The sheep eventually decided that if they didn’t go outside to eat, they would probably starve to death. It might just take some time as they are all very fat.

I was in my shed for the afternoon (which are getting shorter and shorter by the day) and Ted curled up….

…. while Pepper totally hogged the small fire.

The ducks and hens went to bed an hour early – their choice – and when I went inside the house I found Pepper trying to bite the cursor on OH’s computer, which was very funny.

So we will hunker down, get through this vile winter weather and pray the electricity doesn’t go off.

The sun didn’t put in an appearance today, not even slightly and the wind is beginning to get up.  We are in for a week of gales now.  Yuk.

And, if you’ve ever wondered where I live, you can just make out my house and big shed that sits in the middle of the hill, ie the middle of nowhere.  Our nearest neighbour is 1/4 mile away, approximately which is perfect.  I came from London, so this is my heaven.

And this morning I found the emergency bucket of water for the ponies had a centimetre of ice of in it. This is the only bucket of water for the ponies because they have a whole loch the other side of the hill to drink, splash about in and possibly even tip over (if Waffle could, he would!)

I managed to pull the ice out of the water bucket all in a oner.  It was like a giant frozen penny.

Tiddles was intrigued.

So he broke it.  Little boys and their toys.  If it hadn’t been Tiddles, it would’ve been someone else.

A few photos from today – sunrise to sunset.

08:18

08:38 (so apparently it took me 20 minutes to feed the sheep, get the buckets ready and drive over the road to the Minions’ field.

It was blimmin’ cold.  Ice on the water bucket and everything.  My nose, toes and fingers were froze.

11:08 – Later on in the morning, I took the dogs to Leradale.  Even the loch had ice.

Such a still day.  Not a breath of wind.  It’s usually never like this so we are all making the most of it.

Even though the sun was out, and I was beginning to divest myself of hat and gloves as I warmed up from walking, there was still frost on the ground in patches where the sun hadn’t reached it yet.

After lunch, I went into my shed to make another sheeple and then out at 15:21 to see the sun has already gone and the duckies all wanted to be fed.

(my constant companon)

16:06 and a waxing crescent moon in the south was appearing.

Tomorrow there is a quick “moderate” gale, with rain but the temperature is going up (double) so swings and roundabouts I suppose.