Every other day, I try to do some kind of training with Dreki the Dragon.   As our ultimate destination is the Big Bad World outside, then that is where we must go.

We go out usually in the evening, when it is much quieter and we can escape the hubbub – that would be our single track road with the very occasional car!

Dreki is the best of companions.

Last night, I let him explore everything in his own time.

He stopped, looked, thought (you can hear the actual cogs whirring)….

Sniffed….

And looked beautifully majestic.

And, of course, we chatted as we walked.

Some scary sheep things were considered to be the spawn of Satan but after some detailed reasoning that Dreki actually lived with sheep, he saw sense.

I even trusted him with his own rope, just not for very long. I am as stupid as I look.

Cars are a bit of a thing, so we spent some time while I dug around in mine looking for a tissue.

So that’s what we are doing at the moment. All experiences are good experiences and Dreki and I are working on our relationship, teamwork and being the best of friends.  Just me and him.

Oh yes, and when Dreki is unsure he snorts like a fire-breathing dragon.  How incredible is that?  I laugh and laugh.

The lovely Shetland flowers are coming out now.

I am particularly a fan of the wild orchids that are everywhere.

And then there are these two flowers!  The family resemblence is uncanny – father and son.

Dear boys.

Every day I drive past this croft on my way to see the Minions.  It is not a busy road, but still there are cars every so often.

It is also home to the croft’s make-shift crö.

(a sheep pen in Shetland dialect)

And sitting on that post is an oystercatcher (shalder).

When there were sheep in the pen, the oystercatcher had flown away so I asked if I could have a look.

Yup, three beautiful eggs in a ridiculous “nest”.

The oystercatcher was close by watching the sheep shearing goings-on.

She was immediately back sitting when everyone had gone.

Apparently this bird does this every year.  I have no idea what her hatching success rate is because that is a horrid drop out of the nest for anyone trying to leave who can’t fly.  It can’t end well, I think.

Yesterday, when I was visiting the Minions, I noticed Tiddles was kicking his belly all the time.  He wasn’t in any discomfort (ie colic) but obviously something was annoying him.

So, today, I went to the field armed with kit….. to clean Tiddles’ sheath.  I had everything ready – towels, hot water (thermos), ky jelly, gloves ….

I also had Floss with me to hold Tiddles in his head-collar as I could see he would be less than co-operative with this procedure.

We decided to “act normal” and feed Vitamin first.

After that, we would catch Tiddles and take him to the stream (cold running water) and tackle this potentially rather gross problem.  If you want to know how to clean a horse’s sheath, go look it up on Youtube.  Suffice to say, this is not my favourite sport.

These days Tiddles is having a bit of a thing about being caught and I put it down to the fact that he hates being brushed.  It’s the time of year.

I even have to bribe him to put cream on his nose.  Another necessity.

The others were perfectly normal…. ie taking an interest and trying to help.

And we watched Tiddles and he didn’t kick his belly once. So we left him alone and went home with our all our buckets of stuff unused.  I am rather relieved.  I hate that job.

Today, an old friend, Andrew, came to visit the Minions.  He has been our stalwart this winter, bringing and lugging water, feeding carrots, brushing endlessly, helping with clearing and burning the crofthouse roof at Leradale – the list is endless and none of the tasks were easy or much fun.

Under there is an Andrew!

He was very pleased to see his little friends again and amazed at how they had lost most of their long hairy winter coats.  We gave them all a bit of a brush and tomorrow I will put on some a long lasting insecticide and fly repellent which should help with the endless itching on my poor fences.

And I know the ponies were glad to see Andrew again.

He agreed with me that Vitamin, although looking old, had put on weight (phew!)

Everyone was pretty well behaved.

Even Newt!

(Tiddles was keeping well away in case I brushed him!)