The wind has eased. It is still cold but Fivla and Vitamin are not really settled with me so this morning I loaded them into the horse-van and drove them back to their herd.

Instantly there was a change in them all.

Eyes were brighter, everyone has a purpose and they just become the little close herd that they all want to be.

Some of the boys started to play (Silver and Waffle)

And then there was the rolling too.

Albie made a bee-line for Fivla, his surrogate Mum.

The two cousins, Storm and Newt, attacked a salt lick together.

I can’t put my finger on it but the whole herd vibe just changed into instantly “normal” – well, as normal as this lot can ever be.

Albie missed Fivla the most.  He can’t really function without her.  She took on the roll of looking after him when no one else would.  He lost his mother at a very early age and never recovered until he met Fivla.  She has showed him how to be like the others.

Anyway, I will see how we go. That’s all I can do – watch the weather, and try to find ways to keep the weight on Vitamin.  This is not going to be easy.  I might try a rug again……

I am not popular.  The ladies are still complaining so, as the wind is dropping now, I will drive them back to their herd tomorrow. Just don’t say I didn’t try.

Anywho, this morning, armed with six large carrots I went to check on the Minions.

I took my big camera as I wanted to take some nice wind-in-their-manes photos.

If they weren’t sticking their tongues out or making weird faces, the Minions looked like hairy hippos.

I got a few nice photos but nothing special. Just eating and more eating.

Thank you, Tiddles.

Oh, Albie.

Yup, hippos.

And then there was this so I gave up and went home…..

…happy in the knowledge that everyone is very fatty, fat, fat!

I refuse to lie awake at night listening to the pouring rain and howling wind thinking they are all melting or even suffering.  Shiver off that fat, lads!  You are all hippos.

The wind is getting up now and a northerly gale is forecast over the next few days so OH and I went over to the Minions’ field to bring home Fivla and Vitamin.

At least at home they have free access to a nice south facing shed and far more shelter.  The boys were not happy to be left behind but they are fatty, fat, fat and built to withstand this.  If I had left the ladies behind, I would only worry about them so they had to come home.  When the weather calms down, they can go back and rejoin their herd.

Later, I saw Fivla and Vitamin standing in the shed together, with their heads poking out of the door, which was good. I know they are happy to share and no one will be a dragon to the other but all they do now is shout for their absent friends!

I have told them they are ungrateful.

I also popped over to see Klængur and fed him a secret carrot.  He was pleased to see me and we had a hug.

As he is looking so much better, ie less fat, I think he can come home soon.  I feel I am always juggling – too fat, too thin, too something.  No one is just normal!

This time last year Daisy and I went to Aberdeen to collect Pepper and her sister to bring them home to Shetland.  Pepper’s sister then went off to her new home.

I’m not going to lie to you but it has been hard work at times.

I had forgotten just how hard work and much love and patience are needed for a very determined Patterdale puppy.

Possibly worse than babies, in my book.

Monster has got to grips with Pepper, many times, but mostly he has her under his paw.  She disagrees with this and makes his life a living hell, if she can.  Ted has been a godsend too.

But at last Pepper is a brilliant croft-dog.  She loves a job to do.

Sheep are fine and Pepper will caa (herd) a flock of hill sheep out of my field very efficiently, coming straight back to me once its done.

Definitely part egg-hund, Pepper will find any egg but will drop it, hopefully uncracked, at my feet.  She understands the word “dead” and puts whatever down too – (this is her “gundog” training).  She has a huge amount of wanting to please and do good.

And most days she sits with Monster in the sunshine. Awwww.