New Found Freedom

3 Replies

The little boys are enjoying their new found freedom – all 25 acres of it.

They come down to the house in the morning for their breakfast – the smallest handful of sugar beet mixed with their forage balancer – and then that’s it. I don’t usually see them again for the rest of the day, which is how we all like it.

However, at lunchtime I looked out of the bathroom window (upstairs) and saw that the ponies had all come back home, probably to suss out their wee shed.

I had some old carrots, so broke them into bite-size chunks and went visiting.

I even felt for ribs on the off-chance they might have some.

They didn’t, which is fine – as long as no one gets laminits now (dear God, please no), they can live perfectly well without ribs.

The carrots were appreciated.

And I had two keen followers while I went to find Waffle.

He was having some alone time.

Like I said, no ribs but definitely a leg in each corner.

I’m glad they are off the track and in a field.  They are so happy and that is lovely to see.

Back to Reality

5 Replies

I left London first thing on Thursday morning.  Door to door on the way back it took me over 14 hours – because Loganair’s Edinburgh to Sumburgh “went technical” and I had to fly home via Orkney.  A stressful day because the cancellation wasn’t mentioned on any airport flight departure board until the gate (that was never called) was closing…. and I had to make a run for it.

So I am rather thankful to be home again away from everyone and everything.  It was a good holiday but one week is enough.

And I also have a very large order of sheep to fulfill.

So it is back to the grindstone with my usual help.

The Shetland ponies are now officially off their summer track and on their winter grazing.  It is the field that has been eaten all spring and summer by the others so perfect for them.

They are currently sharing with the sheep who are not impressed but coping….. so far (remember, Lambie hates the Shetland ponies – they chased him (hereinafter known as “The Incident”) many years back when he was a little lamb).

As for the old horses and ponies, Flossie and I spent the morning lugging 20 litre containers of water over in the Eggbox and filling all their troughs.  Plus we left full ones by the gate for later. It took 3 trips.

Then we led the Icelandic horses (Haakon, Kolka and Iacs) while the Shetland ponies (Fivla and Vitamin) followed along nicely – they trotted enthusiastically in through the gate.

I doubt anyone has lifted their heads yet.  There is grass enough for all, at the moment.

Meanwhile, Lambie would like it to be known that he is not that happy with this new plan.  He has not forgotten The Incident.

My Week Away – Part 2

2 Replies

On one of my many travels around London, I visited James Smith & Sons, a beautiful old-fashioned shop in New Oxford Street – a stone’s throw from Tottenham Court Road tube station.

James Smith & Sons, New Oxford Street

James Smith & Sons, New Oxford Street

I needed a new walking stick. One I could love.

James Smith & Sons, New Oxford Street

James Smith & Sons, New Oxford Street

I tried a few and was beginning to think I would never find “my stick”, when I was handed an elegant derby handled town stick made with a stained birch handle mounted on a lacquered maple wood stick and finished with a gilt spacer. Perfect – this was mine and it felt just right.

And so to The British Museum to see the famous Bayeux Tapestry that is in London on loan.  My sister and I went early as we knew if we went anywhere else we would be exhausted before we’d got there.

The British Museum, London

The British Museum, London

I said I wanted to see the treasure from Sutton Hoo and we went up to the first floor to wander through the rooms.

The British Museum, London

The British Museum, London

I’ve been to The British Museum many times over the years but I can’t remember finding my mother’s favourite piece – The Dunstable Swan (a late-medieval gold and white-and-black enamel brooch).  Of course it was the first thing my sister found and suddenly the room felt very spooky, like Mum was there too!  Most odd.  There was definitely a vibe.

The Dunstable Swan, The British Museum, London

The Dunstable Swan, The British Museum, London

More wandering and I went to look for a bust of Marcus Aurelius who is a hero of mine.

Marcus Aurelius, The British Museum

Marcus Aurelius, The British Museum

I could spend many days just pottering and looking.

But soon it was our turn to go and see the Bayeux Tapestry.  Luckily all the queueing problems had mostly been resolved.  There was a slight problem with the audio description being out of sync with the tapestry itself so the description rarely matched what we were looking at and I found that frustrating.  But overall, the tapesty was beautifully presented and we enjoyed the whole experience very much.

My Week Away – Part 1

10 Replies

As you may have noticed, I’ve been away from my blog and life in Shetland for a whole week but now I’m back, all rested and ready to tackle a Shetland winter with verve and vigour (or at least feeling slightly less knackered and jaded).

The trip down was very easy – basically I sat on the plane from Shetland to Heathrow, with a quick not-getting-out stop at Dundee.  Loganair have now discontinued this travel route forever as it was considered far too easy and helpful to their passengers.

I had organised my trip south to London with some careful thought – one lovely thing to do each day. I get tired easily so I only walked the 10,000 steps a day!

My sister’s cat

On Sunday my cousin and I went to look at all the places in London we could easily walk to that our family had lived in many years ago.

The family home in Cambridge Gate (just wow!) during the 1920’s.

Cambridge Gate

Cambridge Gate

Bickenhall Mansions, just off Baker Street, where my Great Great Aunt Kate lived in the 1950’s.

Bickenhall Mansions

Bickenhall Mansions

Our well deserved break was spent in Hertford House, Manchester Square looking at The Wallace Collection (as well as a lovely lunch there).  Think The Frick Collection but in London. Same vibe.

Hertford House was an oasis in the heart of London that I never ever knew about.  Considering I lived and worked only a few minutes away in Mortimer Street, I cannot see how I was so ignorant.  I would’ve spent hours there if I had known.  I need to go back there again.

The Wallace Collection, Hertford House

The Wallace Collection, Hertford House

Then back on our travels to 10 Harley Street where my great grandfather’s Laboratory and Consulting Rooms were.  It was fascinating to think our relatives had walked along all these streets every day.

10 Harley Street

10 Harley Street

There was so much to see. My poor legs. I now need a holiday to get over my holiday!

A Perfect Day

9 Replies

It’s been a glorious day.  Total calm and the sun has shone.

I am trying to be organised because I leave for London tomorrow.  If I see something I should take, I grab it as I go past and quickly put it by my bags before I forget again.  Carpe diem because in the next second I will have forgotten.

Pepper has assured me she will behave and not go visiting or looking for me.  I believe her not.

And because it was so nice, Floss and I fed the ponies a little early giving them all their hay in a big heap to munch through.

Please can everyone pray for no dramas during my absence as Floss is (very capably) holding the fort.

So I shall pack my bags with vaguely clean clothes but not ironed because I can’t find the ironing board and fly off south.  I’m not sure if I will write the blog or not. I’ll see how I go.  This is my holiday, after all.  A break from everything.

Back soon!