Yesterday was the Winter Solstice – our shortest day and longest night.  Now it all turns back for the better.  Spring will be here one day.

Sunrise – 09.10
Sunset – 14.59

Daisy has come home for Christmas. She “did the hay” with me today for those that get hay – the old men and the girls.  They are the only ones so far.

Iacs was pleased to see Daisy (we all are, especially Efstur).

And Daisy said everyone was looking very well.  She even thought Klængur had lost weight! Imagine that.

I am always glad of a second knowledgeable (based on science) opinion. Daisy is studying for her PhD in Vet Science.

Yup, science, Haakon. She will be Dr Daisy!

Iacs frisked Daisy just in case, you know, she was carrying chocolate cake about her person.

This lot get daily hay as there isn’t much grass in their field.

No one is complaining.  We will move them around again soon.

It has been remarked on possibly more than one occasion by those that know and understand that two terriers together is not an easy combination.  I won’t lie, we are struggling.  Pepper is wilful and difficult while Ted has the recall of someone who absolutely not recall at all and then Pepper follows and runs off if she can.  In the house, they are both of course perfect (ish) but outside is a different matter.

Today I bought cocktail frankfurters at our local shop to see if I can use them as temptation and as a way into two badly-behaved terriers’ brains via their tummies.  I am at my wits’ end.  I think it is because I have been away and I am trying to claw back my position as top dog and leader.

After I wanted to strangle the pair of them, I took myself out of the situation and drove over to see the Minions who were far away. I shouted and they all came over.

Of course Albie came running up first – so sweet and lovely to have someone run to me when I call!

I needed the healing powers of a kiss from Tiddles.

The peace of Leradale is healing.

Maybe I should live there – just me and my Minions. At least they come when they’re called.

Daisy has just reminded me that a certain BeAnne Duvet was no angel. Obviously I had forgotten this. She was always perfect apart from the times when she wasn’t.

Thank you for all your messages of support.  Appreciated and they helped hugely.

Anyway, today I did lots of walking. I had to walk to find the Minions. They were far away up the top of a hill, hiding.

Obviously, I had to go to the top to count them all and check everyone was ok – four legs, a head, tail, that sort of thing.

And of course it was worth it the effort.

Fivla and Vitamin were having an “Abba” moment.

“What do you mean you only brought me two small pieces of carrot?”

When home, I walked Ted and we worked on his listening skills.  Definitely work-in-progress and probably will be for the rest of his life and mine.

And then I lugged some hay over for the hungry, neigh starving.

I love Bibble’s silly-frilly.

And I want to get back to working with Klaengur again.

I’m not sure if you saw this, but it was yesterday’s debacle.

Today has been an awful day.

Two terriers behaving about as badly as two terriers can behave + with me in a foul temper = a very bad day.

I can’t write much. I don’t feel like it and it wouldn’t be pretty.

Anywho, this is Taktur (from my bedroom window this morning) waiting for his breakfast. A dear boy.

On the other side, the moon was setting. I have never seen that before.

Sunrise.

Vitamin as 12.30 – the sun was about to leave.

Minions eating cauliflower stalks.

Dearest Darling Lambie.

Luckily he had his Winning Smile and instantly I feel better now

Suffice it to say someone has been renamed “Muriel” because she is Terrible.

And my back hurts.

I need my normal.

So I drove over to Leradale with Floss and found it.

And huzzah, my luggage has appeared and was brought by taxi to me, which made me much happier and relieved.  Now I get my own hairbrush – I had looked at Teddy’s and even I thought I couldn’t.

Having spent the night worrying, rather than sleeping properly, it was good to be reunited with my clothes and essentials. I will rethink packing in future.

Last night I lay awake and wondered about every tweak and twinge which made me think I have probably brought Covid back with me to my family.

But I am testing daily and so far, so good.  All negative. My imagination is too vivid, especially at 3 a.m.  I need to calm down and find my normal.

So I went about my day feeling very glad to be home.

This is my normal. I need it all around me.

I spent the afternoon wrapping presents, watching David Lean’s Great Expectations thinking life is good and didn’t they know how to make proper films in those days. No CGI and blue screen.  Just excellent films.  I now sound like my mother!