Today I stared death in the face.

I was attempting to take photos of our Christmas tree.

And it was a very dangerous activity. I am wearing the scars.

Dodging death, I managed to take a few photos of some of the special decorations.

Of course there is a bit of a sheep theme going on.

(‘Bert)

‘Lambie

‘Ster.

I have named this winged white sheep “Missy”.  Now I need to find a Madge and Edna to live on the tree.

Taking photos was not easy. Monster was in a dangerous mood.  At one stage we thought he was going to climb up the tree.

He did, however, pounce on a tomte and take her down with a quick one paw swipe! I rescued her.

Every year we add one more tree ornament. It must be special and this year is no exception. Meet “Meowie Bowie” complete with Ziggy Stardust makeup! Given to OH who is a keen Bowie fan.

Someone, and I am not sure who, has made our angel, Suzanne, cover her eyes!

We have a lovely Christmas tree. No tinsel this year, but full of all our special family decorations including ones the children have made.

Her Maj – so special.

And Monster – herumph!

It’s been “one of those days”.  You know the type.  When things go wrong because they can.

With the equine dentist, Stuart Huggan, arriving first thing this afternoon, we wanted to have all the horses who were seeing him, ready.  Also on his list were Fivla and Vitamin – they live a few miles down the road.  So I lept into the horsevan, started the ignition and nothing happened.  Absolutely zero, zilch, nada.  This was one dead van.

Dammit.

We called in the experts, resorted to rtfm’ed (read the f—-ing manual) and still ….. nothing.

Knowing our valuable window for fetching Vitamin and Fivla was closing in, we asked our neighbours for help and used their horsevan to fetch the old ladies.  Phew.  They made it home.

First up to see Stuart was Haakon. As usual, it was a family affair!

Over the past few months, Haakon’s teeth have been giving him gyp.  He won’t wear a bit, flings his head about and grabs the reins so I have been riding him bitless in the school.  After Stuart’s efforts, I quickly saddled up (Haakon not Stuart!) and rode a few times around the school. The difference was huge so hopefully Stuart has helped Haakon. He was much, much happier about everything.

Next up were Iacs and Klængur.

Then Fivla and Vitamin.

While our van’s battery was now charging, our neighbours kindly drove Vitamin and FIvla back to their field.  We wanted to get them back before it was dark.

And we returned home to find Stuart working on his last patient, Taktur. He had already done Kappi and Efstur.

So that’s our horses all with happy teeth now.  No horrible surprises – just routine rasping the sharp bits down and everyone behaved beautifully.  Phew!  I am very relieved about Haakon.

The winter sun was low in the Shetland sky with an ominous large dark cloud threatening, so I decided to go for a little walk with BeAnne and Flossie, who both needed some fresh air.

So off we marched into the hill.

It duly started to spit a bit while the sun made a valiant effort to keep going.  There was even a faint little rainbow.

These drystone structures are traditional Shetland planticrubs and were built for sheltering  young kale plants.

I find them fascinating.  They were obviously built by someone very skilled.

BeAnne melted into the hill, like she always does.

The only way to find her is to watch carefully for something to move and that’s probably her.  As she is a Patterdale terrier, she is absolutely silent about everything (except the postman)!

As, ever Her Maj was an intrepid, if slightly damp, wee dog and, although it wasn’t a very long walk, I think she enjoyed it.

Feeling very virtuous, I went into my little shed to make a sheeple.

I am quite pleased with these two.  They are for sale…… just saying! SOLD

With Flossie now safely home, it was decided that the Christmas tree should be put up and duly decorated.

Where the tree traditionally lives is where BeAnne’s bed is now situated – next to my desk.  So Daisy put her bed (as In BeAnne’s bed) under the tree and we decided presents will go somewhere else.  BeAnne is our best present this Christmas.

Monster, living up to his name, quickly made the bed his.  BeAnne decided she wanted her bed too so he grudgly gave her a corner and she clambered on.  They were both was deliberately making their point.

We carefully decorated the tree around these two well aware that Her Maj was not very happy with her small corner.

This is her not-very-happy face.  You can feel her misery.

But we just had to get on with our decorating jobs.

After a while, Monster left the bed for his tea so I shut him in the kitchen…..

…. and quickly told BeAnne that her bed was now available.

This went down badly. Monster went into his “Fortress of Solitude” to sulk.

This is his not-very-happy face.  You can feel his sulking.

N

Feeling kind, Daisy decorated the Fortress to cheer Monster up a bit.

BeAnne quickly spread out and there were no small corners offered to passing white cats.

Still, the tree looks nice. The girls decorated it beautifully.

I fear this is a war that is not over.

My faithful little Painpod died last week, never to go again and believe me, we tried.  I don’t grudge its’ demise since it was a good and faithful little workhorse for many years.

So I told myself nothing lasts forever, and promptly got another.  The thought of being without a Painpod was not a situation I would ever consider.

So this is my Sunday “Show and Tell”.

I ordered a Painpod 3, a bio-belt with extra pads and leads.

The belt is a vital piece of kit for me. I wear mine all day, taking it off only for bed (but have been known to go to sleep with it on).

To charge up the Painpod (which only takes a couple of hours), there is a USB cable with plug.

Reusable pads of all shapes and sizes, plus leads which fit onto both pads or belt.

A useful instruction book which guides you through all the 12 different treatments.

So, I laid out my belt and attached it to the pad.

I ran my hand under the tap and just lightly wetted the surface for better conduction.

Then I attached the leads – they clip on very easily.

I attached the other end of the leads to the Painpod. There are two ports – A and B – which means you can run two different therapies simultaneously. I tried this when I once woke up with a frozen shoulder. I had my back belt on as per usual and added a couple of pads onto my shoulder, and had the machine pinging out two different treatments.  It was amazing. My frozen shoulder was better in a few hours!  The machine is conveniently set with ten minute sessions up to 60 minutes maximum.

So this is my belt on my fat back.  And yes, that is one of many spinal surgery scars running all the way down.  The pad covers the right area where my chronic pain lives but is easily moved if necessary.

I pull up my trousers, pop the Painpod in my pocket and get on with my day.

Here is my “happy face” now I am quietly zapping away with my new Painpod.