It’s been ten whole years.  All day I have been going back in my head seeing what happened, what we did and why.

The Rescuers

I love the boys to bits but it’s not been easy. It never is. I made enemies and confrontation, which I hate. I also achieved first name terms with my Bank Manager!  The ponies taught me so much. I am grateful to them for that.

So Happy Gotcha Day – Storm, Waffle and Silver.  You still make me laugh and worry in equal parts.

Photo – in thinner, younger days

I hope they are glad they are here. I tell myself they are.

This morning’s feeding time at the zoo.  I have moved the Oldies to the smaller but more sheltered field – it is in a small valley with a stream running through it.

OH walked the dogs down there later this morning and said there was no wind by the stream, so I know this lot have good shelter to get through tonight – a merry little Force 11 for 6 hours solid.

Being Icelandic horses, they are all experts at finding the best place to stand.

They all have good winter coats too and no one is soaking, shivering or dithering.

I am nicely surprised at just how well Kolka is managing without a rug.

At the moment, they get breakfast and Kolka has another bucket for tea, while the others have soaked fibre block.

This system seems to be working fairly well with little arguing about Kolka having nicer things than they do.  Maybe they don’t know….. yet.

So we’re getting prepared for tonight’s onslaught but I know the horses, ponies and sheep are safe and have all they need.

The little boys are totally scunnered (exhausted, weary, down-trodden) with the weather and, to be perfectly honest, I cannot blame them. It’s been relentless and there’s more to come.

So, this morning, I opened up the shed and let them in.  Tiddles ate his bucket of nothing and went straight to sleep, as did Storm a bit later on.  Albie kept on eating.

I felt very sorry for them.  They looked knackered.

They get to see daylight if the wind is in the right direction and I like to keep the door open during the day.

Tiddles perked up a little after his rest.

As did Storm.

And Albie was the brightest of them all.  I was surprised at that as he an emotional little chap – he wears his heart on his hoof.

I think Pepper helped.

I have made the decision to keep these ponies in for a while. The forecast is revolting so they can rest and have some peace and quiet from it all.  It won’t do their feet any harm either.

I am currently writing this blog while a constant and tiring Force 10 rages outside – today has been tough and I have run out of waterproofs and patience.

Anywho, this is the sunrise from yesterday, before the storm started.

Feeding the Old Men and Lady is a 2-man job.  OH helps – we take two buckets each and pick our designated horses to feed.

I was with Haakon a little away from the horde so, using his back as a rather useful tripod, I took more photos of the sunrise.

I commented that the Gods or aliens were just high-lighting to themselves which electricity poles they were going to blow down this time.  We have had a few flickers since and candles, torches, headlamps, etc are at the ready.  I think the only thing I haven’t charged up is my brain.

Iacs was on good form for me because I was the one with the carrots.

While Klængur did his daily party trick for us.

It’s going to be a long week.  I think there is a lull in the wind/rain/sleet next Tuesday.

We have some serious weather about to arrive but it is going to be warm while very windy, with a bit of rain and I can’t make my mind up what to do for the best.

So I did nothing, but showed Kolka the shed instead.

She is very taken with it.

And I am teaching Kolka to remember where this shelter is, if she needs it during the bad weather.

Every afternoon, Kolka leaves the Old Men to come and stand by the fence to remind me that she gets an afternoon bucket so today I left it in the shed, along with a pile of hay for herself.

And I have told her to not invite the Old Men in because they are all fat and don’t need to live in the shed.  Kolka agreed, though I know she will rejoin them when she’s finished everything and I bet she doesn’t mention the hay!

So, bring on the weather.  I wonder if Kolka will use this shelter in the bad weather or stay with the others.  Her choice.