A big storm is approaching – Thursday and Friday are looking particularly grotty and I am not looking forwards to this.

(I also had no idea that we live at “Newton, Walls”. eh?)

So, being me, I had to make some plans.  I opened up the wee shed and showed it to Haakon so he knows he has shelter, if he wants it.  I am loathe to rug him up as he then goes on strike and never moves again, standing there like a wet weekend looking miserably at me.  So no rugs.  Haakon has a shed.

I called his field-mates over (I see you Klængur rubbing your arse on my fence.)

Klængur came through to the paddock and Haakon told him that possession was nine tenths of the law.

I am not that concerned. Even the side of the shed offers effective shelter.

And this left Iacs standing there.  Going around a gate is obviously a tricky manoever so I went over with my headcollar to walk him round.

And Haakon patiently explained The Rules. His Rules.

“Entry by invitation only”, I heard being said. I left them to sort it out between themselves.

Then I went and evicted Lambie from the stable. Nom, nom, nom.

Next up was to move the Minions to Clothie – a 5 acre ungrazed-all-summer field with a stream that runs through the middle and many old (roofless) outbuildings/crofthouse, so plenty of high walls of shelter with old high-fibre food.

OH and I took three ponies each and led them over the scattald (open hill) to their new field.  And with that, they vanished, possibly never to be seen again!

Bring on the flying buckets. We will do our best.

I happened upon these two yesterday. I thought it was very sweet.  Both totally at peace with each other.

Walking the dogs through the horses’ field, I decided everyone has excellent camouflage.

It is the autumnal colours.

Horses, what horses?

Iacs is now sporting a fabulous beard and you can see a hint of a prehistoric zebra stripe on his withers.  He is such a dinosaur.

Haakon wanted food.  Sorry, nope, nuffink.

And in this field, you can see Pepper.

That is, if you squint.  She is the exact same colour which makes dog walks quite irksome.

Ted is easily lost too.  Nowadays, I just shout and hope.

So I hoped Pepper was following, or at least close by, and I stopped for a chat with Iacs instead.

Seriously bad weather is looming now.  I have to make some moving decisions soonish.  I keep looking at the forecast and saying to myself “it might miss us”. I fear not.

These past few days, he’s not been himself.

By “not himself”, I mean that Monster has not been nagging for food, annoying everyone by asking for food and generally demanding food. And what food he has, he doesn’t finish his bowl!  Something is not right.

I phoned the vet surgery who said he should be seen today, so OH and I took Himself in.

Monster was less than impressed by our decision.

And all semblance of dignity went out of the window at this stage!

He weighed in at 6.4kg.

Yes, you heard that correct.  But poor love had a very slight temperature.

One injection (long-lasting antibiotic) and a bottle of painkiller to take home (vet wisely gave the first dose), we are now in the “see how he gets on” scenario.

Possibly it was somebody that Monster ate who dared to disagree with him, or he is coming down with cat ‘flu as per usual.  I made him walk home from the car, parked outwith – exercise is good for you, isn’t it?

The dogs were pleased to see their old “friend” back.

I was ignored, and not thanked for my chauffeur services.

Anywho I got on with worming all the horses and ponies.

And called it a dog walk, hoping no one noticed that we didn’t actually go very far.  Monster came whingeing along too, which I took as a good sign.

So, we’ll see how we get on and take it from there.  Poor Monster. The indignity of it all.

We’ve had some quantity of rain in the past 24 hours.

I have run out of coats and waterproof trousers now. Everything is hanging up in the kitchen, dripping.

‘Ster is back to his usual self – still limping slightly, though.

Lambie is extra smiley because he hopes I have horse-treats in my pocketses. He loves them and, yes, of course I did!

I made sure yesterday, before the torrential rain (1/2″ in an hour!) started, that everyone (sheep, that is) was the right side of the burn which duly over-flowed and flooded the field.

The sheep came up the hill and swiftly went to bed.

The dogs were walked at Leradale in the morning as they do love it there and it makes a change.  These photos are the last of the autumn colour before winter hits us.  It was nice to see a hint of colour.

I have fairies at the bottom of my garden.

Well, that actually might be a typo.  I have furries at the bottom of my garden!

Today I moved everyone.

Old Men into the hill park (field – we call them parks).

Yes, we do!

And Shetlands into the Old Men’s field, that is already eaten down but much bigger with more shelter.

The ponies were thrilled.

Masses of galloping around, which I missed to film, but, believe me, they did move.

Until they discovered the grass factor was possibly less!

But, as Daisy keeps texting me, they are fat, they don’t need lots of grass.

Repeat after me “they are fat, they do not need lots of grass”. So they have shelter and pickings while I try not to feel guilty. I never saw the Old Men again!