Chores done and my neighbour and I drove off to see puffins!

My annual pilgrimage to Sumburgh Head. I like to see them every year.

The flowers are wonderful now.

Sea birds on a rock.

We wandered around not seeing very much in the way of puffins, but taking photos none the less.  I had my new camera with me as well as the big one (for any potential close ups of puffinery).

We made the obligatory trip up to Sumburgh lighthouse complete with foghorn – built by Robert Stevenson in 1821 and is the oldest lighthouse in Shetland.

And a good wander about.

And then I found a singular puffin. Huzzah!

We walked a long a bit and found more.  Apparently a group is known as a colony, a puffinry….

a circus….

a burrow, a gathering, or an improbability!  You can sort of see why.

I desperately wanted to take some photos of puffins coming into land or taking off.  While their flying skills are dubious at best, it is their landing and take off that is even worse.  They land as if they never expected the cliff ahead, and take off just by falling and looking hopeful!

These shots were all I could manage.  Blink and you miss them.

But I do love a puffin.  They always make me laugh when I see them.

And then to town for lunch (this is our lunchtime view)…. and messages.

They were filming “Shetland” in Lerwick.

A fake shop front.

Film kit everywhere.

Home now. It was a superb day. I am exhausted.  Definitely worth it for the puffins, though.

Floss and I spent the morning brushing every Minion’s mane and tail.

There was no point doing bodies – ok, we couldn’t be arsed. I admit it but we worked hard on our designated areas of brushing.  Afterwards, we sat down on the grass for a rest and I took photos (with new camera).

Tiddles went ker-poof!

Vitamin looked regal.

(such a dear sweet old lady)

And Fivla was a fairy pony powder-puff.

They scrub up well.

Newt remained Newt and wanted a hug afterwards to get over the trauma of being brushed.

Waffle, of course, was lovely.

It was hard work, but someone has to do it!

Yesterday, when we were “doing feet”, I noticed some of the Minions with white bits were looking a bit sunburnt and frazzled.

So, today, when I was checking the Minions, I brought the sunscreen with me.

“Filtabac – a protective barrier antibacterial cream.  A complete protective antibacterial, sunblock cream that acts as a totally natural second skin”

I caught the two (Tiddles and Storm) who suffer terribly in the sun and duly smeared it on their noseys.

I should’ve done it sooner but it was a case of “does anyone know where the sunscreen is?” and then it was always in the wrong car.

The minute Storm saw me massaging sunscreen on Tiddles’ nose, he was off. Oh yes. So I lured him with a carrot, put on his headcollar and then smeared the gloop onto his nosey too.  Everyone looked much better afterwards.

Albie, of course, was deperate to have some too.

He has a teensy-tinesy little white spot on his nosey which he swears will burn to a crisp. I duly applied and he was happy.

No one else needed sunscreen. They never do but they liked the idea of the carrots I had brought with me.

And then I thought I would sit with them for a while for hugs and perhaps I could take photos with my new camera (these are my ancient iPhone).  But no – my hands were covered in sunscreen and it is very persistent!

Afterwards, I sat with them for a while and Storm rubbed his nose covering off on my coat!  Why I bother.

Daisy and I were “doing feet” all morning.  There were four ponies outstanding on our list and we decided we only really had the strength to do three – Waffle, Storm and Silver.

Newt could wait for another day. Mañana, Newt, mañana.

But Newt didn’t want to wait for another day.

So we told him that, if he really was still around “helping” when we had finished Silver, that we would trim and rasp his little toe-toes too.

This time Silver stayed and watched.

The others had long gone, though Fivla was back at the first snap of a carrot. She may be old but she has the hearing of a bat!

After lunch, me and my new camera went for a little drive – the scenic route after popping into the nearby village.

My camera is known as a “street” camera but I am struggling to find a street!

However, I found in the car a large box delivered some time today.  In it was a Horslyx Smallholder mineral block for the sheeple.

Harry and ‘Ster had first dibs.

And then Edna got stuck in.

She likes a lick, does Edna!

We were all going out for lunch with friends so I spent the morning in the garden with Her Maj, who we had to leave behind.

She wasn’t thrilled but together we walked The Estate (ok, our wee garden). I found a couple of potatoes had sprouted.

The flowers, with my you-will-not-use-this-as-your-lavatory netting, are going along well, ie still alive.  Hopefully, now it is warmer they will got the plot a bit better about growing.

I was just round the back of the garden when I heard a giant emission of gas!

The horses were all asleep in their paddock!   My money was on Iacs.  He is a great farter, even asleep.

We had a lovely long luxurious Sunday lunch (a homemade Thai feast – we all cooked) with friends – it’s been far too long – and then home late this afternoon with that full feeling of never eating ever again.  Not never.  Don’t even ask.

Once home, the girls and I went into the field to sit with Harry – now known as Harrel the Barrel for obvious reasons.

He has a new trick – if I spread my arms and shout “Come on, ‘en” then he leaves his Mum and gallops full pelt towards us.

Maggie shouts for him endlessly to come back to her.

He ignores her now he’s discovered us!

I think Harrol is growing horns. Hopefully not huge ones, like ‘Ster, but little nubbins none the less.

So please don’t offer any of us food. We can’t move. Not ever again.