Yesterday was lovely so, while I was waiting for my flute duet partner to arrive for our regular Saturday afternoon practice/play/recital, I sat down on the ground to see who wanted to talk.  First up was of course ‘Ster who just wanted me to hug him forever, then Lambie mooched around while ‘Bert sat down next to me. Edna quietly snuck up last.  Maggie and Harrel were stuck in another field being stupid about the gate. Madge was watching from safe distance.  We were having “A Moment”.

When my flute friend arrived, she took this photo.

After the traditional lunch of soup, bread and cheese, we went to my shed to play.

And Lambie turned up to listen.

As did the rest of the audience.  Edna and Madge were round the corner. Harrel and Maggie had finally worked out the troublesome gate problem.

I wedged the door with a kilner jar as it kept bashing against Lambie and then he would stand up to complain.

But Lambie wouldn’t, under any circumstances, let Harrel inside.  Oh no.  Hell would freeze over first.  Lambie went to sleep while we flutled away and the odd thing is that neither of us thought is was weird playing Haydn/Mozart/Berbiguier et al (good old Baroque flute duets) to seven sheep who were actually listening!  This is what we do on a Saturday afternoon.  Move along please, nothing to see here.

After a couple of hours with the door open and freezing while we played, having exhausted our embouchure, we decided to go back to the house.  Lambie was also booted out too before he pee’ed.  A Muzzah knows the signs.

Anyway, this is my idea of a perfect afternoon.

Lovely blue sky and barely any wind (by our standards) so after the morning chores, I tacked up Klængur and we went for a walk.

I want to start riding Klængur again but, as he has had nearly 9 months off work due to injury, I want to take it slowly.

Klængur is a spooky horse at the best of times. He needed to see that nothing much had changed and it was just him and me.

We have both had a long time away from each other, riding-wise and we don’t have Daisy around – any riding we manage will mostly be on our own.

Re-establishing our relationship is therefore very important.

Today was the perfect day to start.

I deliberately didn’t take my riding hat as I didn’t want to be tempted to “hop on”.

Klængur behaved perfectly.

He listened to my endless ramble about stuff and we walked together a couple of miles along the road.

I let him look at anything new and we chatted about it.

So, hopefully, when I finally clamber on board, Klængur will just take everything in his stride.

We had a lovely time together.  I am not going to do much before I travel south as I don’t want any surprise dismounts.  Still, all training is good training.

Yesterday, when we were rushing around getting the girls ready to travel south, I found Lambie sitting by himself. He gave me a beautiful smile.

So I stopped to quickly take a “Garbo” photo of his noble profile.

“I want to be alone”

Today, with everything mostly done, I went into my shed to make a sheeple and generally have some time to myself.  Lambie popped by.

So I opened to the door and asked him if he wanted to come in. I was listening to a sci-fi play on the radio while stabbing away.  Monster had joined me earlier and was asleep on the rug next to my chair.

It was all very civilised and peaceful as well as a faint waft of pee…. but who cares.

Lambie was on good form. Lovely smiles for me.

I was, of course, enchanted.

He is such a dear boy.

So I continued my needle-felting while Lambie disgraced himself trying to eat the tassels on the table-cloth.  He just can’t help himself!  We had words.

He did stay for my flute practice, though.  I did enjoy my me-time.  It was special, especially with Lambie and Monster.

At some unearthly hour this morning, I received a phone call from the ferry company saying they were taking livestock. Huzzah!  At last.

So, after lunch, we brought Lilja and Sóley into the stable for the last time.  While Floss distracted everyone else with early haynets, I gave the girls a brush.  Manes and tails mostly.

I spent my time telling them I loved them very much and to be there for each other on their long journey south and to be good and kind to their new owners but most of all, make me proud.

They listened.

Then we loaded them using our usual bucket-of-feed method to which I had attached string so Floss could haul the buckets up once finished and we could set off knowing they didn’t have them rolling around their legs during the journey.

This method worked extraordinarily well.  I was pleased with my invention.

So loaded up, we set off. I took it very slowly giving us lots of time to get to the ferry port at Lerwick.

Once there, the gates were open and the girls were handed over. It was all very quick. The men were waiting for us, so I only managed a quick kiss good bye on their noseys (Lilja and Sóley, not the men!)

The boat will sail later this evening.

And the girls were loaded straight into their livestock container which had been prepared for their arrival with hay and water.

Travel safe, ladies.  Make me proud (*** sniff ***)

Monster is missing his family – Daisy and OH are not here for various reasons.  Floss and I do are best but in our hearts we know it is not enough.

I hope OH is reading the blog so he can see this awful photo…..

And this!

Monster is never allowed on the kitchen table.  This is his (and mine) look of “we don’t care!”  The sauce bottles are always suspiciously clean – just sayin’ – and today I had to buy bread.   OH always makes bread.  Oh, the shame.

Ted was also shocked.

And Pepper was looking for anything edible or inedible that might hit the floor.

Meanwhile the playing never stops.  It is actually lovely, if exhausting, to watch.  Pepper needed Ted in her life and he is very happy with this role.

This film has sound…. enjoy!