It has been utterly revolting all day – non-stop rain of varying degrees of ferocity, the burn is high, the bottom field is flooded and everyone is very fed up. We are welcoming the Autumn Equinox in true Shetland style.

However, it is not cold. Still double digits outside so rugs are not going on.  I heard Daisy mutter something about “everyone being fat”.

The sheeple can go in or out.  I have not restricted them to their field as there is little shelter there.  ‘Ster took himself back to bed (I don’t blame him).

Floss and I have been packing – we leave on tomorrow night’s boat.  The house is festooned with drying coats, trousers and washing.  I have even ironed (*** faint ***). It seems very odd to suddenly have to be respectable, or at the very least clean!

Lambie popped by this afternoon.

He didn’t stay long which is probably as well as I would’ve probably washed, ironed and packed him too!

With the meticulous planning worth of Hannibal crossing the Alps, I rallied my troops and each taking one horse or two ponies (there was no choice – I allocated), we moved eight Minions and two Icelandic horses from their Summer field to their Autumn one.

I took the front with Storm and Silver.  Storm was pretending to be a racehorse in the Collecting Ring, trotting prettily instead of walking nicely.  Silver was a gentleman.  Storm and I had words.

Next up was Peter with Lilja, Daisy with Sóley, Mandy with Waffle and Tiddles (Waffle apparently a bit bouncy *** sigh ***)…..

Flossie with Albie and Newt (who was desperately trying to get his headcollar off, but Floss would have none of it and was on his case!), with Monika bring up the rear with Fivla and Vitamin.

We walked along the road, and then turned up a track and into the hill track to my field, which has been left ungrazed for over a year now.

The horses and ponies were all released, some being more helpful than others about it, and off they rushed to explore.  I don’t think anyone has been in this field before.

Lilja and Sóley galloped off into the distance.

I doubt we will see any of them again.

Hopefully!  A huge thank you to my troops.

A sad state of affairs.

We all needed to go to town for a haircut today.  So I herded my sheeple together and they came too.  A previous phone call this week had told me the shop had one left.

Lerwick looked pretty bleak on a Saturday afternoon, which was sad to see.

But we saw Tommy the cat – he has his own Facebook page.

Tommy wasn’t feeling very sociable and was more interested in playing with the cigarette-butts in the drain pipe.  Nice!

The Street was busier as we walked along.

I popped into Jamieson’s shop and filled up my little field.  The sheeple seemed happy enough with their new accomodation.

Let’s hope they sell quickly while I make some more.  I have no stock now.

I think we can safely say Autumn has arrived – this is Jamieson’s front window. The usual feast of glorious colours and inspiration.

We also admired the beautiful flowers that hang outside all the shops.  Just gorgeous.

The Street done, the hair cut, Tesco’s emptied and now home. I have a headache. I’m not used to having to find clean clothes, mud-free shoes and seeing people.  Far too much like hard work for me. I would much rather stay at home.

A few photos from today.  It was a nice morning, so I called the Old Men up and went for a ride – Klængur and Taktur.

You would think from the look of Klængur afterwards that I thrashed him for hours. I didn’t.  He got himself into his usual witter, raced Taktur and tölted like a demon out and home.  I am a mere passenger. Klængur dictates his speed. I just sit there and shut up! That’s my job.

Iacs stayed at home.

He had the sheeple for companions.  They look like an album cover here.

Meanwhile, BeAnne, sporting her “Dorothy” from the Wizard of Oz bandana, was trying to get us to feed her early.  She has lunchtime liver support pills in wafer thin ham, which she adores.

Monster was on her case and told her to wait and he wanted ham too.

This is Monster’s idea of camouflage.

These days, dear little BeAnne is very keen on food – she has chunked on over a kilo in the past few months.  Steroids and laxatives are clearly the way forward.

My latest plan is to keep Haakon more active. I don’t want him to seize up so Daisy kindly gave me a riding lesson – all in walk with me concentrating on my position and Haakon concentrating on everything else.

It was a superb lesson and it is always good to have someone to tell you what you can improve on and think about. We both really enjoyed it and, even though I am leaving on Wednesday, Daisy has promised to keep riding Haakon for me.

I just need him to go on forever.  Is that too much to ask?