On our après tea dog/cat walk, I found the seven sheep all sitting like an audience in a theatre. It made me instantly think about what John Lennon said at the Royal Variety Performance “Would the people in the cheapest seats clap your hands,” he said. “And the rest of you, if you’d just rattle your jewelry.”

I reckon Lambie, ‘Bert and ‘Ster would be rattling their jewelry like mad!

Especially Lambie.

Kolka came up to investigate, quickly followed by her field-friends and I dished out my three carrots to check everyone is still eating properly and I can give up my worrying through the night.

Kolka really is very pretty and is now turning a completely different colour since she has almost lost all her winter coat.

Bibble was investigative too.

And Haakon was ever himself.

While I sat on the ground, Lambie mushled about around me, coming close occasionally for a hug or a scratch.

‘Bert was sitting behind me, nudging me if I forgot to acknowledge his presence.

He has filmstar good looks.

And yes, of course, Monster appeared.

We all just pretended there was absolutely nothing odd about this scene.

So I walked back up the hill, looking behind me to watch my version of heaven…..

…. followed closely by Monster whingeing about the steep climb, long way to go, and WAIT FOR ME!

To the Minions’ field this morning with my little helper, Pepper. It has become our thing.  Ted is no good because he has anxiety and runs away.  I swear if he could find the M25 he would be under the first lorry he could find.

Anyway, I will just leave all these photos here so you can see just how much the Minions adore Pepper and how it is reciprocated.

(Storm rolls with his head in his bucket, just because he can)

This photo gives me goosebumps.   Newt and Pepper have a genuine friendship. Maybe Newt is pleased to find someone as small as him, for once.

And the thing is, Pepper specifically goes and finds the ponies to talk to. They don’t sneak up on her to do horrible things (it has been known).  Pepper genuinely likes the interaction, the sniffing and she will even lick noses in return.  I almost trust everyone together, although I have eyes in the back of my head at all times because a) the Minions are Shetland ponies and b) Pepper is a Patterdale and I am not as stupid as I look!

This morning started off wet and windy. The Old Folk were standing around after their breakfast looking miserable so I caught and led Haakon leaving the gate open behind me.  I put him in a more sheltered field that now has had time to recover and is growing well.

Kolka and Iacs happily followed along.

And by this afternoon, the weather had cleared up slightly, although the wind was still blowing.

I went down to the horses with three carrots – one each.

For obvious reasons, I try to check on them at least twice a day.  I may be ever so slightly obsessed.

All fine.

All ate their carrot.

And all are looking good.

The wild flowers are beginning to make an appearance, which is lovely.

Marsh marigolds and the wild primroses

Spring Squill

Lousewort (?)

What’s this one, please?

The last of the wild primroses.

I always love the new colour.  We deserve this after such a harsh winter.

We have many dog/cat beds around the house and also in my shed.  No one is left with nothing to sleep comfortably in.

The ones in the house even have lovely real sheepskin rugs on top for extra snugginess.

The chaise longue in my shed has a polar fleece canvas backed blanket.  Pepper, Ted and Monster could not be more comfortable if they tried.

But this is Monster’s special bed that lives by my desk in the sitting room in the house.  It is for Monster’s use and Monster’s alone.

Well, it was…..

Oh, she knew.

And Monster was not happy.

It was possibly the slurpy licking of her “Lady Garden” that especially upset him and I can quite see why.

So Monster put in an Offishul Complaint.

And I did listen.

I really tried but the Other Parties were having none of it.  Here to stay, apparently.

Monster went off in a huff and Pepper enjoyed annoying him and watching him sulk.  Suffice it to say, Monster has not sat in his Speshul Bed again and neither has Pepper because it isn’t any fun now.

**** sigh ****

From Wikipedia, because I told you I am lazy…..

A nuggle, njuggle, or neugle, is a mythical water horse of primarily Shetland folklore where it is also referred to as a shoepultie or shoopiltee on some parts of the islands. A nocturnal creature that is always of a male gender, there are occasional fleeting mentions of him connected with the Orkney islands but he is more frequently associated with the rivers, streams and lochs of Shetland. He is easily recognised by his distinctive wheel-like tail and, unlike his evil counterparts the each-uisge or the nuckelavee, has a fairly gentle disposition being more prone to playing pranks and making mischief rather than having malicious intents.

So that would be Waffle then.

He would never do “malicious intents” because that would involve effort.

And he most definitely has “a fairly gentle disposition”.

And I’ve just read “during 1918 the anthropologist James Teit hypothesises that, as is common with most supernatural creatures, nuggles were thought to be fallen angels”.  Now that I can believe!

So now you know what a Njuggle actually looks like.  It is Waffle in disguise and his home is in the watery bog at Leradale.