I wrote out the whole blog and then the broadband went down and lost it all. **sigh **.

So here I go again…….

It was about how we had a visitor who was up in Shetland for Wool Week, and how I put her to work helping me finish building the electric fence track for winter for the Shetland ponies.

And then I said, as a reward for all her work, we went into the big field so she could reacquaint herself with the residents.

I also added that my visitor has sheep herself so obviously knew the ways of sheep very well.

She was, of course, a very good sheep magnet. Even Gussie got over his “stranger danger” routine which was encouraging.

And, ooh look, Lambie had a thought.

I feel I should place a light bulb up there somehow.  Anyway, it was brief.  He didn’t dwell on it.

After lunch and after more helping (building a wall of ice in the freezer so that if we have a power cut, it would hopefully protect the contents and take a much longer time to defrost), we went out to see the other ponies, while I quickly poo-picked the track.

So that was my day. I wrote about it all and then it was lost so now I am sort of writing it all out again but with less enthusiasm.  I am enjoying my visitors very much.  They are very useful.

“Breakfast!”, I shouted and the Icelandic horses all came thundering over the hill.

Well, Kolka had a good thunder while the old men, Haakon and Iacs, walked slightly faster than usual.  Breakfast was being served, after all.

Instantly heads in buckets and that breakfast swiftly vanished.

Then there was a queue – possibly for the Ladies’ loo!

(this reminds me of John Lewis on a Saturday morning!  We’ve all been in this queue at some time.)

I went out later with the dogs and found Kolka and Iacs having a nap.

Walking with the dogs further into the field and up the hill, I also found all the sheep snoozing.  We are all making the most of this glorious sunshine because we are about to have some god-awful weather shortly – Hurricane Humberto is on its way and I am dreading it for everyone.  I keep checking all my weather apps to see if it will miss us or not be as bad as the forecast.

Meanwhile Pepper mingled.

I love this photo!

But on with the dog walk.  A little known fact this is the best place for a mobile phone signal in my area!  In our house we have barely nothing so this is where I was busy checking all my weather apps for the latest forecast.

A good friend from Wool Week came over to see everyone.  I had a lovely time re-introducing her to all the horses and ponies.

And then, after a strenuous climb up the hill in their enormous field, we finally found all the sheep enjoying the sun.

I found two empty rocks so we sat down and waited.  I wondered if anyone would come up and talk.

Lambie was sitting a little away but he did his usual film star routine for our guest.

(so very handsome)

Gussie was intrigued and actually quite brave considering he doesn’t do strangers.

And then OH joined us, having finished the dog walk, and sat down too.

And with that Lambie sauntered up.

He actually went and talked to OH (if you know Lambie or OH, this is unheard of from both sides).  OH has never been a fan of Lambie, even when he lived in the house – I think it was Lambie’s love of Apple computer cables that might’ve been the deal breaker….. or the constant faint smell of wee.

I sent this photo to the girls and Floss replied with “has Hell frozen over?”  It must’ve done.

Lambie, on a roll, then worked the field.

Still, even if Hell has frozen or otherwise, it was a lovely sunny morning and we sat on our rocks or ground surrounded by the sheep enjoying the amazing view.

It’s not been my day today.

I took a pile of photos to show how ‘Ster has worked out how to get into the field, when everyone else has gone under the fence and left him.

But my camera ate the photos (or I deleted them as I don’t really understand my phone’s filing system).

Anyway, I have half of them.  And after making my sheep, I found ‘Ster outside by himself, waiting patiently for me.

I went inside and got a packet of biccies.

I rattled the packet and Ster quickly realised what I wanted him to do.

He knows the routine. We devised it together.  I rattle biccies, I open the gate into the garden, he walks through and down to another gate that leads into the field.

And then I open the garden/field gate and he walks through and gets a biscuit as a reward for not eating OH’s garden plants.

But my camera ate the photos and you will never know this because you can’t see it so therefore it probably never happened.

(but I have written about this before – https://myshetland.co.uk/helping-ster/).  The photos were better today, though.  They really showed the good behaviour and the non plant eating. I will try again another day.  This routine happens pretty regularly.

I got the shock of my life today.  I know one day it will happen and I must be prepared. I mean I have five horses and ponies over the age of 30, I have to be a realist.

But this was a step too far.  I felt sick.  Was it something they had eaten?  What had I done wrong?

I crept closer, worrying, my heart racing.  Miserable thoughts going through my head.

No one was moving.  A Shetland pony yin and yang, I told myself.

Dear God, please let them be ok …..

By now, I was preparing to do a deal with any God listening.

And then Vitamin gave a giant harrumph and got up.  She probably farted too.

Apparently she didn’t appreciate being woken up when she and her friend were having a delightful snooze in the autumn sunshine.

Fivla just stretched herself out sideways.

She thought about getting up.  Only thought, though. She’s probably still sitting there. I was long gone feeling more than slightly relieved, I can tell you.  My poor heart.