The storm clouds are gathering – three days of ghastliness forecast – so I made the executive decision to move everyone first thing into better fields.

The sunrise was pretty and, feeling purposeful, Floss and I devised a safe plan.  It’s always good to have a plan with these sorts of manoeuvres. So it started to pour with rain and we were at that stage when we couldn’t be arsed to go back into the house to get our waterproof trousers on while hoping it was just a brief shower.

It wasn’t. We got wet.  Such is life.

First we moved Taktur and his mates into the stable. There is nothing worse than a shouty stallion and his friends running up and down the fence not helping.

Then we caught Sóley and Lilja and led them over the hill to Clothie – a five acre winter field I’ve been resting for two months.  It has good shelter from all sides.

Next up were the old men and Klængur, who were patiently waiting for us to come and get them.

I led Iacs and Haakon, while Floss had Klængur and was on gates.  Everyone was happy moving to a new field.

Then I led Taktur, Efstur and Dreki to their new field (the one next door) while Floss went and found Kappi who appeared to be incapable of following his field-mates having developed an independent thought, which we do not encourage.  Honestly, never trust anyone ever.  Horses lie.  Anyway, they were all reunited and galloped about for a bit, and then settled down to the business of eating.

We went inside with a job well done and had breakfast feeling slightly soggy.

Another day “between weathers” so I told Floss that I was going to sit with the Minions and she was very welcome to come too if she wanted.   It was that kind of day – the sort of day when you need to have a Shetland pony chat.

So, of course, no one wanted to talk!

Could they be any further away?

We chose a dry rock each and waited.

Dearest Storm. He had found a victim – sorry, my bad, a friend!

I got Silver looking enigmatic.

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Albie managed to raise his head to show me just how gorgeous he is.  Look, look, a waistline. I am so impressed.

The others loafed around.

And Newt loafed even further.

Eventually, I left my dry rock and went to talk to Newt.

And Waffle.

He was having a boggy-plant moment.

What’s that saying? You can take a horse to water…. yada yada yada.

Still, it was nice to be ignored by ungrateful Shetland ponies who hate you because you didn’t bring carrots as they are all very fat and don’t need them.  Just sayin’.

The family (hooman) are being very careful here at Thordale.  I feel bad because I have just cancelled all our plans to go anywhere (a much looked-forward to book launch tomorrow and a friend’s birthday later). Mum’s funeral is at the end of next week and I am flying south to attend.  Although we are all vaccinated up to the hilt, I just can’t take any risks.  We won’t have visitors either and I am doing a lateral flow test daily.

That doesn’t mean we don’t go out.

We just don’t see anyone.

However, the family are not too concerned.

We have our own social life on the croft (view from the kitchen window this morning!)

And some rarely move anyway! That would take effort and we don’t do effort in this house.

My afternoons are now back on track making sheeple. I take Pepper and Ted with me to my shed, mostly to give everyone else a break for a few hours.

The dogs enjoyed my shed today. I was feeling benevolent (and possibly cold) so I put the heating on. Pepper quickly claimed her throne.

And Ted claimed his – the more comfortable bed!

So hopefully I will get south unless Nicola Sturgeon bans travel next week. I am trying not to panic. If I can fly, I will. If I can’t, Mum would be the first to understand.  And the weather is looking beyond shitty – gusting Force 10, seriously? Give me a break, please.

so I am praying that it won’t be as bad as it is threatening.

We are having a bit of a break now from all that vile weather.  If you look clearly, you can just see Haakon lying down in his field surrounded by the rest of the herd. They were resting.

The Minions are all very happy (read disgruntled and probably starving) in their huge field of nothing.

Floss and I take the very bare minimum of carrot.

But I remain firm (Floss tells me to!)

There is fibre.  Eat it.  Enjoy it.  That is all there is.

Tiddles is pleased to be out of “prison”.

And Storm is enjoying having his second-best-friend back too.

I asked Floss why she is keeps bale string in her pocket and she replied “doesn’t everyone?” There is no answer to that.

So she was frisked by field security!

A Winning Smile if I ever I saw one.

These two – Waffle (the smaller version) and Storm – were on good form.

I love this photo the mostest.

So everyone is filthy.  No one cares.  One day, who knows, I might even brush them but probably not.

Tiddles, all alone in the world, apart from his 7 friends!

It is good to see them all back together again.

Today was a filthy day. The weather was unceasing and so it was a case of dressing for the weather, heads down and getting on with it.  The animals still needed to be fed and checked.

The sheep got a nice new bale of straw and a “floor hay” (gleannings off the floor) haynet in their bedroom, so they all to a sheep went outside and ignored my largesse.

I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  Having seen how few sheep are in my “field” in Lerwick, I spent the afternoon making a new little chap to add.

I am also trying to get back into the routine of transcribing my Great-Great-Aunt’s diaries. I do this for two hours every evening after supper.  I always wanted to reach the end before Mum died but sadly I didn’t manage it.  I have reached 1926 with only another 35 years to go! I will finish this project – it is just taking longer than I anticipated.  I hope someone does read it after all this effort.

My great uncle Philip with his dog, Brent, on Hampstead Heath – 1926