Thank you for all your kind words yesterday. They, plus some dry clothes, really helped my mood and I also had a word with myself about Tiddles.

Yesterday, I tried to keep him inside but he was agitated and miserable so I caved and let him out with his friends.

However, “tomorrow is another day”, and this morning I brought Waffle in to keep Tiddles company and decided they were both back on the laminitis treatment regime.

They weren’t very impressed but I tell myself that I want them 100% right, not hobbling around getting by.

From now on, all hay is soaked, which is a killer for my back but I am determined to make it work.

I know Tiddles is miserable inside but he now has a friend and I gave them both a good brush and a nice frilly forelock.

So handsome.

Tiddles is not pleased with me. I hope he will start eating the soaked hay. He did tuck enthusiastically into his afternoon teensy tinsy bucket (literally a spoonful of soaked fibre-beet) and I noticed the haynet, which I gave them this morning, was almost finished so someone’s eaten it.

On Monday, the vet is coming to take blood to test both of them for PPID (Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing’s disease)) and EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome).

That is my plan.  I feel better for having a plan.

I’m feeling a bit bleak at the moment.

It could be the winter weather, which is unrelenting.

Or, I still think of Storm, a lot.

Or, I am sitting here in wet clothes because I got everyone in early because of the Shetland weather and was soaked in the process. I can’t be arsed to change because I will have to go out later on in the evening to feed everyone and will get soaked again.

Whatever the reason, I am feeling very empty and sad and damp.

Even Gussie’s lovely smiley face doesn’t cheer me up (ok, maybe a little).

The sheep are a good distraction, however, mostly because I spend many of my daylight hours looking for them.

Yesterday, I found everyone in the furthest part of the huge field.  Luckily I could incorporate a dog-walk in this search too.

Lambie was sitting on a heathery tussock.

I think he understands my mood.

I dunno, I am just not feeling Happy Christmassy, despite watching every Christmas film on tv.  I think it a combination of my three aforementioned reasons.  I am not great around Christmas time anyway.  I know I always struggle then.

And I might have to go and find some dry clothes.

(sorry!)

I met Lambie last night when I was finishing off with the ponies for the night.  As Daisy said, when I sent her the photo, “he had an idea!”

Poor Lambie. His idea was to come and see if there was anything going spare for a poor wee lost lamb.

Anything at all?  Nope, just a kiss, I said. Meh, he replied and swiftly left!

Some nights Lambie waits for me by the front door with his best forlorn face.

But then so does Monster so I am pretty immune to this blatant begging.

And this made me chuckle.

Pepper:  Mum, Monster won’t let me go to bed (up the stairs).
Monster:  Nope!

Pepper:  Please, Monster, can I go to bed?
Monster: Nope!

Pepper:  Pretty Please?
Monster:  Nope!
Me:  Monster, move. Pepper wants to go to bed!

I don’t know if you remember but back in 2021 (July 24th to be precise), I photographed the most beautiful otter and posted the photos on my blog – Otter!

I didn’t write any information as, at the time, I was asked not to – privacy, etc – but I can now say that this is Molly from the documentary “Billy & Molly – An Otter Love Story”. How wonderful is that?

At the time, I was completely beyond words with excitement. I had never seen an otter so close and Molly was (and is still) truly lovely.  She is perfect.

Anyway, you too can meet Molly – “Billy & Molly – An Otter Love Story” is available to stream on Disney+ (UK and Canada)/Hulu, and on the Nat Geo YouTube channel in US. 

It was all filmed 15 minutes from where I live and it is a beautiful film showing the Shetland landscape perfectly.

I have just spent a few worrying minutes trying to find these photos (I nearly thought I’d lost them but, phew, they were stored somewhere in the depths of a hard drive somewhere) but seeing Molly again gave me a little reminder of that evening when I went to photograph her for myself.

Today was Ted’s day.  He was at the Greasy Muppet stage of his ever-growing coat. Being half Yorkshire Terrier and half Miniature Schnauzer, we think, his fur is not the best.  I think he got a lot of the Yorkie genes.  His fur is mostly cheap nylon.

Not great.  In fact, disgusting as Ted also had a recent conversation with a polecat in the wall two night’s before so there may have been that revolting eye-watering musky odour involved too, although we did give him (and Pepper who was worse) a late-night bath.  They were both beyond gross.

Anyway, I was glad Ted had an appointment with Sharon at the Foxy Dog, Scalloway and I was beginning to wish I had brought Pepper too but she didn’t have an appointment.

And now Ted looks like a film-star.

Albeit Dobby the House Elf!

But at least he smells beautiful.