The Minions are not happy but they are just going to have to get on with it. I have to be strong.

They have 40 acres of nothing and my aim is weight loss and no laminitis, not now, not ever again.

Last winter was hell for us all.

A few days’ back, Daisy and I moved their buckets across the wee burn (stream) so that the ponies would stop hanging around the fence and go off exploring to find food.

Today’s food had a new supplement, specifically and expensively to get them through the bad potential laminitis periods (spring and autumn).  So of course they hated it and walked away, looking in all their buckets for something better.

Tomorrow I will make their food similar to what they are used to and slowly change it with the new supplement.

Meanwhile, the old ladies live in the adjacent field.

The one with all the green grass and they are very happy, possibly gloating about their new found calories.

Yesterday afternoon, we found Lambie on his own sitting by Klængur’s grave which totally cut me up and I could barely go there.  But we had to see why Lambie was there on his own, which is normally very unusual.  Lambie ran across the field, passed me, to tell Daisy how much he missed her.

I felt very ignored and a bit bleak (I’m not going to lie).

Oh, fer cryin’ out loud, Lambie.

So Daisy led Lambie away and now he follows Daisy everywhere like a devoted woolly slave.

Can I get Lambie to even acknowledge my presence? – only on my birthday!

Devoted woolly slave.  Meh!

The words “chopped liver” spring to mind.

And then, of course, ‘Bert saw Daisy.

So all the boys wanted a hug.  The girls were the otherside of the burn eating (better things to do than be hugged).

I am not jealous. I am not jealous…… (repeat ad nauseam).  Yes, I am jealous.

Daisy can enjoy her title of “Queen of Sheep”.

Aww, ‘Bert – he does adore her.

And Harrel-the-Barrel tried to eat the toggles on her coat.  *** sigh, oh Harrel ***.  Happy to let the side down.

This morning, as the digger-man arrived to bury Klængur, I drove away to feed the Old Ladies plus the Minions and then on to town for provisions.

I needed a diversion.

I certainly didn’t want to be at home.

And here is my diversion. Daisy has come home for the annual weekend celebrations of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Bibble was thrilled to see her.

And she to see him.

We are all feeling a bit lost at the moment – horses, people, everyone.

Rest in peace, Klængur.  You were loved.  No more pain.

He had a suspected torsion, or blockage or something along with endotoxaemia.  We threw everything at him (vet and I) all day. We tried, we really did but nothing helped and we made the decision not to keep going while his body was shutting down.  He is at peace now.

Please don’t message me on Facebook or elsewhere. I really don’t want to talk about it. We are all in shock.

We spent this morning in the drizzle emptying the shed and stable of all Kolka’s previous owner’s horsey stuff, and she had a lot of stuff.  Everything.

Anyway, we brought it all home and I drove the van into the indoor school so I could empty everything in relative dryness and peace.  A place for everything and everything in its place, I heard echoing in my brain as I looked at the massive pile of stuff.

And obviously I had help, though Ted went swiftly indoors when he saw the bed I was offering.

He was unimpressed, though Monster happily made it his home.

Pepper and Monster entertained each other while I lugged everything out of the van.

And there was the inevitable “playing”. Pepper was mean but Monster was meaner. He got her hard when her back was turned and he meant it. I left them to it.  It is their war. Not mine.

And dear little Pepper was totally unphased by the cat beating her up.

She makes me smile with her enthusiasm and optimism.

It was a grudge match.

I could tell Pepper and Monster were bored keeping me company while I worked, so I left the van door open and that was a whole new world.

Amongst all the stuff I unpacked is a large pile of pony agility equipment which, in theory, would be fun to play with for the Minions but then the thought of Storm and a space hopper made me feel a little sick!  I will sell it to raise funds for Kolka’s medical needs.

And no one needs a pirate flag!  Not even Newt.