It’s that time of year – when Ted has his three-monthly hair cut.

He would tell you he doesn’t really enjoy it very much because he hates cars and gets very anxious.  We took Pepper too, though she doesn’t get clipped.  Ted accepted his fate because I told him he must (and everyone will love him more when he loses the greasy Muppet look).

I was deposited at the garage to collect my car (service, new tyres and I sold a kidney) along with Pepper who was very happy tying me up in knots with her lead.  She walks one way, I have to turn around so the lead is not wrapped around me!  It is our dance.

We drove to the Street and I dropped off more sheep, and rearranged the field a bit.

Pepper and I agreed that she could lose the Halti (anti-drag device which she hates) if she promised not to pull like a small train.  She was slightly better on her extendable lead and we tied up passers-by instead.

Pepper loves Lerwick. She loves meeting people, going in the shops and most of all, new dogs.  We went into a few shops – ones I know don’t mind dogs and she was made a fuss of because she charmed the socks off everyone.

A shop immediately goes up in my estimation if it allows dogs (or cats).

We got home to be met by Ted who was now sporting a more handsome look, thankfully.

We have one Mr Duckie who lives by himself. He’s always been a loner and now his missus has lost interest in him.  The other males are fighting with him and it never ends well – these days he is looking very beaten up.

A few nights back, I decided Mr D should sleep in the shed behind the house, which is close to where he spends his lonely days.

Of course he decided he wasn’t going to help and after a good chase, and rugby tackle (Muscovy ducks are very strong), I succeeded in picking him up, spraying his fight wounds and putting him my chosen shed for the night.

The next day, I built a tunnel of hurdles into the chosen shed and in the evening, Mr D walked in without the battle.

Today, he was waiting to go into his shed, which I felt was a huge improvement in attitude.

This is a result of the ratio of boys to girls is not being ideal.  I don’t like the idea of Mr D sleeping outside, which he was beginning to do because soon the polecats will appear and that will be it.

So, for as long as he partipates, Mr D will live in his own bedroom at night.  For me, it is just another shed to occasionally muck out.  I will have to work out a ramp system for the door in winter and then we will be all set.

According to this lot, Shetland ponies will melt in the summer rain.  I did not know this but now I do.  Every day’s a learning day and today I learned this.

Or, as I told them, “utterly wet and a weed”(s) – iykyk.

Albie was not sure if he would melt or not.  I rather hoped he would, at least his backside as he seems to have put on weight eating very little and he needs to slim down quickly.

I told Albie this while I was looking for Silver to put some cream on his sarcoids.

I don’t think Albie (Potatoes) was very impressed with what I said.  I am now immune and hardened to any attempts at providing more food based on the latest weight data.

Silver was very good while I put on his cream and then Newt immediately licked it off.  *** sigh *** – thank you Newt. Only he would do this because he is a weird strange little being.

Yes, Newt is very weird and most definitely very strange.   Anyway, it finally stopped raining and everyone went out to be weirder and stranger on the track instead.

This is so you know who everyone is.  Like a quick guide to my sheep.  Always useful.  Maybe just keep it about your person in case someone asks.  You never know.

(and the reason this blog is short is because it took me over an hour to work out how to put the pictures into a grid thingy and type their names underneath.  Photoshop is not my thing. I may need a little lie down now.)

My dream is to put down everyone’s bucket and leave, happy in the knowledge everyone will eat their own breakfast and then wander off feeling full and happy, collecting the empty buckets later.

But this is never going to happen. Today was not the exception and I had to stand guard realising that everyone was eating far too close together.  My fault.

All except Haakon who was a little away from the rest.

Kolka is my worst offender.  She scoffs her food as fast as she can and then looks around and goes for someone else.

Iacs is first to be picked on. Iacs in turn then picks on Fivla and Vitamin.  It is a case of big fish eat little fish who eat even smaller ones…..

But today I stood guard between Kolka and Iacs, Fivla and Vitamin and she quickly realised she would be on a hiding to nothing if she tried.

I was pleased Kolka didn’t try her usual bullying antics.

The old ladies finished quickly and everyone was safe for another day.  Phew!