The King of the Cocos Islands came from Shetland!

John Clunies-Ross (1786 – 1854) was a merchant.  In 1813, while he was in Timor (slight left off the top of Darwin and opposite Papua New Guinea), he was offered the chance to captain another ship.  Apparently he cruised around the uninhabited Cocos Islands, surveyed them, nailed up a Union Jack, went back to Shetland for his family and moved in two years later (7,220 miles as the crow flies from island to island. 

There are different versions of this story.  Still, whatever it is, it is fascinating and since then, I have wanted to see the Clunies-Ross home in Shetland for myself.

Today, we had had enough of horses and ponies, so once all chores were done, Daisy and I set off to find the house.

It was a wonderful site with some superb trees all bending the same way – the predominant wind direction.  Shetland trees do that.

A small settlement with many old buildings around a small bay – a fishing station (böds) for landing, drying and curing fish.

The Clunies-Ross were an eminent merchant family who lived at The Haa of Sound – a large two-storey house – just behind the bay.

Some of the buildings attached to the house included a laundry, barn and even a public house.

Next door was an old chapel and graveyard (more on that tomorrow).

We wandered about taking photos. We were the only ones there and the atmosphere was very special.

Apologies if there are any duplicated photos. I have got in a muddle and I am using both Daisy and my photos and I don’t know whose took what!

Anywho, that was a lovely afternoon doing something completely different.  More tomorrow.

And apparently the Clunies-Ross family are still on their islands in the sun – I wonder if they ever come back to Shetland to visit their ancestral home?

Clunies-Ross Family – Wikipedia article

A certain somebody is having his birthday today.

Six year’s old – who’d of thunk it?

Obviously we made a great fuss.

And he knew it  (and yes, we all sang Happy Birthday because that’s what we do in this family!)

Lambie’s come along way since those early worrying days.

Always gorgeous and very much loved.

Happy Birthday Lambie xxx

Muzzah loves you! ❤️

After Minioning (yes, it is now a verb as in to Minion), Daisy and I took Efstur and Dreki for a walk.

I think what surprised me most was that Efstur was deemed to be the “grown-up” in this!  Pahahahahaha!

Sing:
♬”We’re all going to die, we’re all going to die,
(altogether now), we’re all going to die!”♬

Seeing the “Outside World” is an essential part of training.  Daisy led Dreki!

While I drew the short straw, Efstur.

Daisy and Dreki forged forwards.

Efstur and I mooched around at the back.  Efstur was resentful that his Daisy was now with Dreki.  He watched.

Onto the road and Daisy allowed Dreki to look, get his head around and think about everything.

Dreki has never left his field or his herd so this was all new.

Who knew?

Efstur knew and managed a bijoux spook at a land drain that is going to get him, apparently.  We laugh in the face of danger, I told him.

They were both very good boys and, when we met the post van, they behaved beautifully.

On the homeward stretch now.

A quick stop-off to look at the fishing net that goes over the bin-bags on a Thursday. It has muchos potential for worry, Haakon will tell you.  It probably eats Icelandic horses too.

But Dreki was more interested in our signpost.

Efstur and I walk faster than Dreki who was busy enjoying his freedom.

Another quick stop-off to examine our mail.

And then buckets to say well done.

So that was that.  The big bad world has been done – tick!

Who would’ve thunk Efstur would be the grown-up?  I am still laughing about that!

The view from my bedroom window this morning.  So much daylight and so much potential.

Minions fed and checked – ✔️
Dreki ridden – ✔️

Pendleton shirt collection (my Spring and Summer wardrobe) washed and ready to wear – ✔️
Icelandic/Norwegian sweaters washed and ready to go back into storage away from moths – ✔️

Maggie – ✔️ often.

The others (running when I called them) – ✔️

Awww…. Lambie, all bunchy!

And now sulky.  A sheep of many moods.

Edna and Madge looking very good considering this time last year…..

After taking BeAnne for the World’s slowest afternoon stroll, I went back to sit with the sheep. ‘Bert was my best friend. Such a dude.

Taktur bored of being beautiful.

And, again, Maggie – all by herself. She mostly is at the moment. I wonder if that will change.  I am not pushing anything. This is all on her terms.

But she doesn’t seem to mind so I let her do what she wants and she comes when she’s called.

And yes, there is food involved.  She loves her grub. Like Edna, she is on two meals a day. Edna is not prepared to give this up (ever) and Maggie thinks it’s great too.

Sheep can count.

I sat down and Maggie sat down.  I wonder what colour her lamb will be – my money is on a black ram lamb…. I am beginning to get excited.

From not much, now so much is going on.

Everyone fed.

Everyone checked.

Every nose kissed.

No one was left out (Waffle is around the corner!)

And then I went to town to get my last jag – Covid vaccination…..

My hair cut (it needed doing and I am very happy now).  A short sharp bob.

I also managed some lovely “window” shopping looking at gas cookers (down to two working rings now, grrr) and cameras (mine has a grinding noise while spitting out unhelpful error messages).

Some luxurious but unmentionable fish and chips – tell no one as the family is always jealous.  They were utterly delicious!

But, best of all, time to myself.  It was heaven.

And then back to my life with shorter hair and feeling much more ready to take on the world!  Bring it on.

Edited to add:  Daisy and Monster took BeAnne for a lovely walk xx