The midges were bad today. Very bad.  No one wanted to be outside.  The horses and sheep were fractious and we were all suffering.

But Lambie suffered the most.  I don’t know why but he does so I asked him if he wanted to come inside.

(OH was at work so please say nothing!)

The girls were eating breakfast when Lambie walked in.  Daisy gave him ginger biccies and Flossie parted with a piece of crumpet spread with Marmite.  Lambie was very happy.  He likes everyone else’s breakfast.

I was in the kitchen so he popped his head round the door!  “Hi, Lambie”, I said.

Monster was not impressed (possibly working for OH, who would not approve either).

Lambie did a spot of investigating everything and wandering around.  Meanwhile, I limited access.

To get Lambie to settle, I sat down on the floor with him and put on the radio. Lambie is a keen aficionado of classical music so I found Classic FM (we can only get this through the tv).

And he quickly found his spot and sat down.

I could see he was tired. Those midges are exhausting and unforgiving.

Although Lambie is sort of house-trained, I had a couple of puppy pee-pads ready just in case. I can usually read the signs, though, and he does ask to go out if he wants to go out.  A Muzzah knows.

And then Lambie got a mention on Classic FM – ok, so it wasn’t actually five minutes of fame – more like 1 minute 8 seconds of fame but we take what we can get!  So proud *** sniff ***.

This morning, I managed to drive Flossie to an appointment in Lerwick.  My car is automatic so I don’t use my left leg at all. This means I can drive safely.

Lerwick was busy and that was good to see.  While Floss was busy, I wandered up and down the main street – Commercial Street.

There have been some changes recently – including various art installations and these two murals painted by Gavin Renshaw.

There was also a splendid lighthouse sculpture at Victoria Pier which, according to the blurb, is “based on Fair Isle knitting patterns (and) has been installed as part of an art trail raising funds to fight cancer.” It is also takes inspiration from the colours of the Shetland flag.

A quick nip into Jamieson’s to see how the sheeple were doing.  All selling well.  I must keep making more.

More wandering around.

And then I saw my favourite boat – The Swan – moored in the harbour so I went over to admire her.

She is flying the Shetland flag – so now you can see where the colours of the lighthouse sculpture are taken from.

Once all our messages were done, Floss and I reunited, I drove swiftly home, dumped the shopping, collected Daisy and checked the Minions. We decided to open the gate into the next field and they were all, to a pony, very happy with our decision.

Waffle strolled along at the back.

Phew! That was a long day.  I’m glad I can drive now, though.

I am trying to work every afternoon in my shed making little sheeple to sell in Lerwick.  Harrel has discovered that this is where I can be found.

So he comes in and then I boot him out as he always aims straight for the graptopetulum plants.  He loves them and I am not sure if they are poisonous to small black Shetland sheep.

Edited to say they are not – I’ve looked them up but even so, Harrel does not need to eat my plants.

He pretends to be interested and just happening to be in the area. I am not fooled.

“Harrel, out means out!”

This morning I found a not-so-small black woolly bottom sticking out from under the horsevan.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered its identity.

Harrel, although wide, can even stand up under there.  It is lucky he is black.  He would look filthy otherwise.

And guess who is back looking like a pathetic and little lost lamb.

“No, Harrel. Go away.  Go find the others.”

And this is Harrel’s look of pure determination.  I told him his mother was looking for him so he quickly turned tail and left.  Even Harrel doesn’t mess with Maggie. He’s not that stupid.

My plants are safe for another day.

This morning I managed to get to see the Minions and Newt decided that he was my bestest friend, which was lovely.

He definitely has curative powers – they are in his nosey

And Newt takes his vocation (to be my bestest friend) very seriously.

It’s a full time job (note the wee teefs – they are glorious).

Obviously I took full advantage of his little smiley face and constant appearance by my side.

And I feel a whole lot better.

I wouldn’t dare not.

Albie did his best too.  Where Newt goes, Albie follows, ever hopeful.

Meanwhile, Floss was preoccupied with Silver.

I was nearly followed home.  Newt (today) was such a darling though he does have his moments.  I am a realist and have seen his back-end in action!

I said to myself over the weekend that if my back didn’t show signs of improving, I would go to see my doctor.

So this morning, Daisy kindly drove me to see my GP, after an initial telephone consultation.  She gave me a thorough examination and sent me to the Accident and Emergency Department at our local hospital – a 45 minute drive away – in Lerwick. And Daisy again kindly drove me straight there.

A bit of waiting, not much really and I was seen, examined again thoroughly including pins stuck in me, etc.

Five hours later and home now. I am waiting for the details of my blood analysis, a physio appointment, and when I will go south for an MRI scan.

Things are not looking (or feeling) particularly good at present.