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.

There’s a bright, golden haze on the meadow

There’s a bright, golden haze on the meadow

The corn (read mud)  is as high as an elephant’s eye

And it looks like it’s climbing clear up to the sky

Oh, what a beautiful mornin’

Oh, what a beautiful day

I’ve got a beautiful feelin’

Everything’s goin’ my way…..

Everyone else was out in the field but Lambie ran back as I was shutting the gate and spent the morning following me around asking for treats as he was all on his own and he was lonely Lambie!

Well played, Lambie, well played.

Another beautiful sunrise this morning. I am a bit obsessed. You can possibly tell.

First glimpse.

Meanwhile, while I was watching this beautiful sight, Storm and Silver were arguing about what was left in Storm’s breakfast bucket. Storm had eaten most of it before Silver waded in.

They lightheartedly bickered over the bucket, taking turns to get some.

Storm would bite Silver’s ear, Silver would lift his head out and Storm would go back in.

And then they both just shared together.

Tiddles was keeping well out of it. Albie and Waffle were staring at their neighbours – cows.  They’ve only always lived in the next door field but the cows’ field is made up of many fields so it is rare to see them come down.

All the boys, except Tiddles, rushed over to stare.  They looked like a boy band fan club who had spied their hearthrobs.

Tiddles galloped off to join the fan club.

And then a cow, who had been ignoring all the ponies, moo’ed and with that every Shetland pony turned and galloped off to the other end of the field! I laughed and laughed.  The old ladies were not impressed by cows but the Minions were hypnotised and turned around to just stand and watch them, possibly with their mouths open.  It was very funny.

And behind me, the sunrise kept going.