Floss and I drove over to Sandness to feed Vitamin and Fivla their daily bucket of grub, while checking everyone else (or they checked us – it’s always difficult to tell and depends on your perspective.)

We spent some time with the ponies, which was entertaining.

Although the younger ones get no real food, they were given carrots and Newt decided to show me just how hungry he was feeling by eating strands of fence wire at me!  He looks very stocky!

Fivla gets less to eat than Vitamin (yes, I caved) and she finished up early so then it was time for the opportunistic vultures who had been circling.

A friend, who was walking his dog, stopped for a chat.  Albie was intrigued.  The dog was very good with them.

Newt was interested too.  We kept a strict eye on the ponies just in case there was random nibbling.

I had stupidly left a large pot of Sudocrem (for sunburnt noseys) on the ground and, while we were chatting and not looking, small ponies managed to open it and dip in!

Fairy-tale Fivla.

So, if nothing else they made us smile.

And then Floss clarted the sunburnt noseys with Sudocrem and we ran away very quickly before they could spread it back onto us, which is what usually happens.

Thank you for your kind words of love, support and sympathy.  They are appreciated.

There’s not much to say really, but our usual day. The weather is unhelpful (cold, with occasional vicious rain showers) and certainly not ideal for riding in.  I didn’t feel like it much, either so I turned the central heating back on instead.

The Minions were bickering so afterwards, I went to talk to my oldest and dearest friend – Haakon.  We know each other very well.

While I sat on the ground with him, taking photos, Klængur loomed over me too.

Monster is missing his friend more than words and has taken to sleeping on her blanket(s). He is very subdued.

I just feel empty, lonely and tired.

You were the best, BeAnne Duvet Soufflé Princess Chantelle Shaznay du Mezzanine, aka Her Maj.

Sleep forever and stay in my heart.

2006 – 2021

She collapsed this morning, vet came.  It was time. We were with her to the end.

Harry and his Mum, Maggie, spend most of their time by the fence looking into the hill.  I don’t think they actually want to live there but that’s their spot during the daytime. At night, Harry takes himself firmly off to bed, despite his mother’s protestations.  He loves his bedroom.  The other night, Maggie had lost him and I found him fast asleep in bed. She hadn’t thought to look there!

Both are very good about coming when they are called.

Maggie is still nursing Harry although he eats everything else in sight.  He has a voracious appetite and is, well, rotund.

I am always followed.

…. with or without Maggie. She has to run to keep up with her little lad.

Harry is growing fast now.  He has reached the no-longer-a-cute-little-lamb or thuglet stage.

You only have to look into his eyes to see The Determination.

Nothing gets in the way of Harry.

It wouldn’t dare!

No, is not a word he likes very much.

Remember this photo? – I took it on January 30th 2020.  It is from the first day I met (and fed) Edna and Madge.

I found it when I was sorting through all my photos while deciding what to keep and not keep.

I had forgotten how awful they looked, particularly Madge.

She was so young.  In fact, now I think, she must have been much younger than we all thought.

These photos were taken a month on from when they first arrived. Still that bleak look in her eyes.

And this is Madge today.  Eighteen months on.  What a massive difference.

As you can see, she is quite the heft!

And she has a thick deep fleece.  It is massive and must weigh a lot.

I took these photos today because hopefully everyone will be sheared shortly and I wanted a record of how they are.

Even Edna, who is old and losing her teeth, looks very good.

She is a nice weight now and has filled out properly. It has taken until this Spring to really get the weight on.

Her fleece, for an old lady, is also very good.

The sheep are desperate to be sheared.  The sooner the better, I say, except for Maggie who will be done later in case Harry doesn’t recognise her!

(Lambie was busy ignoring me – hence no photo).