A new bed arrived yesterday.  OH and I needed to move it as well as rearrange the entire room (Flossie’s).

We had help.

Whether we wanted it or not.

Always there.

Always helping.

Because that is what a small inquisitive Patterdale terrier does, as well as get in the way….. a lot.

Lambie is a mysogynist.

There, I’ve said it.

He’s not being very nice to Maggie, deliberately targetting her – head butting and running at her – not letting her into the flock.  I’ve had words about this.

Everyone else is fine and not displaying this bullying behaviour.

Yes, bullying, Lambie. Never a nice trait in anyone.

Edna is being her usual sweet self.

Harrel is oblivious to anything except where his next meal could possibly come from.

When I put the sheep out in their two fields this morning, everyone went down to the second field except for Madge and Maggie, who was also unsure and hanging around.

I went and got Maggie a large bowl of food with a good dose of TurmerAid, in case anything is going on.  She ate it up happily and I kept Madge diverted with some cereal, hoping it wasn’t too fattening.

And then I remembered……. Maggie is in estrus (seeking a ram – which Lambie is most definitely not!)

He had been “interested” in Maggie a few days back.

‘Bert confirmed that Maggie is wonderful.

That is one creepy smile.  Hopefully, though, ‘Bert will look after Maggie.

I wonder why Lambie is being nasty.  So unlike him but he has always been a bit strange.

It was cold last night but outside it was very still and very clear.

After supper, whilst lying on the sofa putting a month (September, 1931) of Aunt Kate’s diaries onto the website, I received a message from a friend saying “Aurora good here now!” I struggled to my feet – it is so comfortable on lying on the sofa – and peered outside my back door.

Oh yes, there was definitely something going on.

The “Merrie Dancers” came and went a bit, nothing much and then they started revving up.

I was not wearing any shoes and so I was standing on cold concrete taking photos (and I think I learned my lesson!)

It was truly beautiful.  I called OH out to come and have a look too.  All these photos were taken with my iPhone. There are no filters used and I had to stand very still for the 3 second exposure.

When it started to cloud over, I left and went to have a warm bath to thaw my feet.

This morning’s sunrise.

And tonight’s sunset. Now I have set up my big camera ready for action if the aurora makes an appearance tonight and OH has also put two nails on the back of the house which I can use as a fixed stand for my iPhone.

I am pleased with the results even if I have chilblains for the rest of winter.

My typical afternoon consists of me going into my shed with the dogs and sometimes the cat.  It is not the warmest place so I usually have the fire going and my oil lamp gives out heat too.  I love the oil lamp and warm my hands on the shade.

I stab away at the latest sheep while watching something too – I’ve just finished the entire Benidorm series and now have started Motherland, which is hysterical and reminds me of the London life I left behind over 20 years ago to live in Shetland.

The dogs are quickly bored in my shed so we reached a deal and I let them out.

The deal is as long as I can see them every so often, then that’s fine.

I could see Pepper – she was trying to get under the shed.

Someone lives under there and she wants to meet them.

Obviously having the door open in late November means I get cold but I recently invested in a stoneware bed “pig” which I fill with boiling water, Problem solved. Happy feet.

I love this little pig.

After I have created a sheepie creation, I go out with Pepper to check everyone. I was given a huge pile of odd carrots so I take a good pile with me and distribute.

And then, as the sun has set (15.11), I go into the house to write this blog!

“I used to be indecisive but now I am not quite sure” – Tommy Cooper

This morning I brought Albie back to this stable because his gait is slightly pottery.  Newt came too as a companion but once he was indoors, he then persecuted Albie, getting him a corner and kicking the shit out of him. I was furious and quickly split them up.

Newt went back to the field. While I left Albie with food and painkillers to eat, I went and got Waffle instead.

Waffle said he would be kind.  Newt obviously had the devil in him.

I could see that no one was really eating anything – soaked hay and soaked fibre block.

So I spent time brushing and chatting to them.

It was easy to see they weren’t happy inside.

This afternoon, I spoke to Daisy and we decided to go for the middle ground – put them both back out in the field but Albie should have daily painkillers. Obviously, I am obsessed with colic and not eating is the quickest route to this.  The field is not rich in grass – more old fibrous stuff – so we will see how Albie gets on. He desperately needs his hooves trimming and I am hoping his bad gait is due to this more than anything else.  I noticed when I led him over that he was not slow or refusing to walk, which makes me think that a trim will sort him out.

So that’s what I did as the sun was setting.  Led them back to the field.

Instantly Waffle and Albie cheered up and started eating.

And I am still not talking to Newt.