Kappi and Efstur have gone. They loaded, unloaded fine and set off happily to their new destination. It is a fine calm night for sailing and they will be met the other end and taken to Daisy’s livery yard.  I must admit Floss and I are really going to miss them but it was good to see the boys excited about their new adventure and lives together with Daisy.

Meanwhile, we were feeling a little bleak.

So Floss and I visited the Minions, sat down and were very soon hugged.

We felt a whole lot happier.

There is possibly nothing better.

A kiss given.

And a kiss returned!

Hugging Minions is good for the soul.

I think they like it too.

Efstur and Kappi are leaving us tomorrow to join Daisy in Scotland.  We will miss them and spent the afternoon packing their red spotted hankies.

A little nervous about Efstur’s loading (he hasn’t been anywhere for ages), Floss and I brought him and Kappi in to practice.

A bucket of food in the corner and Floss asked Efstur to walk in.  He was a tentative but inquisitive rather than scared.

Slight encouragement was needed half way.

And in Efstur went.  What a hero.

Kappi of course marched in.

Buckets were eaten and out the boys came.  I hope tomorrow is as simple.

These two went back out into their field and I thought I would do a little something with Dreki.  As the horsevan was still open, I brought him into the school and asked him to load.  Now Dreki hasn’t loaded for a few years (the last time was when he was weaned) so I didn’t know how he would react.

He was nervous and a bit apprehensive.  I had a box of barley rings ready. He loves them.

I let him think about things and suss out what was wanted.

We mananged hoof by hoof but then he just said “nope” and we both stood there.

Dreki was staring at me all the time so we had a little chat about stuff and then, good as gold, he walked in.

Big reward – free access to the barley rings!

Dreki stood there munching and thinking and then I led him out…..

…. letting Dreki investigate on the way out as well.

More reward and I think loading regularly will go onto Dreki’s to-do list.

So a big change tomorrow for everyone.  Exciting for Daisy, though.

When you are this cute, you think you can get away with murder…… well, Pepper does anyway.

Her quest for World Domination is endless.

However, Monster has other ideas.  For what it’s worth, my money is on Monster.

Meanwhile in Ted World, mostly he and Pepper remain good friends though they had a fight at suppertime.  Ted stood his ground and it was totally Pepper’s fault. She tried to get his food while he was just leisurely finishing up cleaning his bowl.  He was incensed with her and told her so in no uncertain terms.  So being Pepper she fought back and claimed innocence of this huge crime.  To split up the fighting, I shouted at them both and then quickly reassured Ted that he was not in trouble and could finish his supper in peace.  To be fair, though, it is the first time there has been a spat in ages.

And Ted is very good at making Pepper jealous.

So life in the house is relatively peaceful apart from the two wars that perpetually simmer along in the background!

Gosh, wasn’t Lambie the sweetest?  That ship has long since sailed!

Monster is one weird cat.  Saturday afternoon is always set aside for flute duets with my friend, Mandy (or trios, if Daisy is around).

Usually Lambie and his friends make up our audience but, as Spring is slowly creeping towards us, he and his friends have decamped to the field to eat the new grass.  So today Monster came a-calling.

I put a lovely wool blanket on the chair and Mandy made a fuss of him.  She likes a cat (she has three of her own) so that was a good start.

And then we started to play, well Mandy did. I was laughing too much.

And then so was Mandy.

I can vouch that it is not easy to play the flute either well or at all with a large white cat looming.

And pawing.

And this is possibly the best photo.  I sent it to Daisy who said Monster looked like a creepy gargoyle.

Every performance needs an audience and we will play to whoever we have.

….. if we can stop laughing, that is.