Haakon has got over his meeting with Taktur, our stallion, and is looking much better again. Being 28, he gets food, as in real calories.

If you don’t know, Haakon is my first and best Icelandic horse.

We go way back – over 25 years and are a bit like an old married couple. We know each other very well.

And today, far, far away, shut in another pen are everyone else (that would be Klængur and Iacs) who would bully Haakon.  In this life, le mot jour is “Carpe diem” (sieze the day for you non-Latin speakers) or seize the gate and shut it so Haakon could eat his breakfast in peace.

They all get along very well, but when food is involved all bets are off.

If there can be stealing, intimidating and even bullying, then no one is without sin.

Iacs is the worst culprit.

He doesn’t care.  We have constant words about his killer instinct (he can also pat down a human with all the expertise of a security guard at a large international airport looking for explosives).

Anywho, today Haakon got to eat his breakfast without an armed guard.  He was happy.

No one is talking to Storm.  He was awful this morning.  I am very cross – no, disappointed, that’s worse – with him.

While Vitamin was eating her daily bucket, he nipped in and shovelled as much as he could.  I was putting barrier cream on Tiddles’ nose and Storm took advantage of my absence.  I quickly rushed back to Vitamin.

Newt was a gentleman (I’m not going to lie to you, but that makes a change. We’ve had quite the winter with him).

Tiddles was his usual angelic self.

“Yes, you were.”

Such a handsome chap!

And meanwhile….. Storm.  **** sigh ****.

He had been told once and he was not giving in…..

Storm has no boundaries.  The lowest of the low.  Annoying for the sake of annoying.  He went away with a flea in his ear.  Poor Vitamin. She doesn’t need the hassle. No one does.  He is a wee turd.

I have had this “new” camera now, I think, probably over a year and I struggle with it.  I have asked a user group for help and have decided that the problem is most definitely me.  I need to just get out more and use the ruddy thing so I can work out how best to get on with it.  Or sell it.

Last night, after transcribing my month (I am up to November 1929 now) of my Great-Great Aunt Kate’s diaries, I went outside with said camera to see who I could practice on.  ‘Ster was my willing volunteer.

He is such a dude.

I need more depth of field in this one.

Monster in his basket.

And this is from today on my travels to our village after feeding Vitamin – who is doing so much better now (picture with my phone camera, which I adore and get on very well with).

I had the road to myself so could stop and take photos as I went.

I am still not sure. My jury is out.  I will go back to the users forum and see what they suggest.  Looking at these photos, I may just cut my losses and sell.

Ok, well not quite on my own and this was a few days ago. Floss came too as my support, walking along, but Klængur and I felt confident to leave her behind, which is encouraging.

We had some good tölts together and it was fun. Klængur is desperately unfit so it will be a slow process for him.

Today, as I was on my own, I caught and tacked up Dreki.  This was our first “solo flight”. I had just mounted when Floss came in.  I asked her to stay but not to be in the school itself and Dreki and I went around by ourselves.  We have never done this before. Usually someone walks alongside.

I did not realise Floss was taking photos.

What can I say?  Dreki was hoof-perfect. He listened. He tried his hardest. He was calm. He walked, turned, stopped, started….. everything, all in walk.

We even did the cones!

(Cones were rather an issue when long-reining and we usually give up calling it bad job).

But no, cones are now our thing.

I loved riding Dreki. He is just like his Dad but more solid and bigger.  I dismounted with a huge grin on my face.  Dreki is teaching me just as much as I am teaching him.