This is the world’s most boringest blog post and I am sorry. There is no excuse except I have been busy doing the mundane stuff that made up my life today.

My morning was spent trying to work out the logistics of going south at the end of this month.  Youngest daughter has been accepted by Bristol University to do a Masters degree in Chinese-English translation.  I have decided to drive her down south, settle her into wherever (halls or a flat) and then drive on to see my mother for a week.  I haven’t seen her in just under a year. I was meant to go south in the middle of March for her 80th birthday celebrations but it was all postponed.

BeAnne is doing well now. Her health issues seem to be well controlled by a twice daily cocktail of drugs. Although she is a bit of a doitin’ old lady, and a fat one at that, I am hoping Her Maj will be fine without me for just under two week.  Obviously I will worry like mad and, if BeAnne is not coping, then I will drive as fast as I can home. She will have Daisy and OH who will look after her and see to her every need. It is the best I can do.

These days, it is not easy leaving Shetland but hopefully today’s efforts have not been wasted in organising our trip south.

So that’s the plan.

As it was Thursday afternoon, Daisy and I went over to Transition Turrifield to pack vegetables for their delivery box-scheme.

(the view from the shed)

I have a wee flock of sheep.  Sometimes they almost like each other.  The arguments have stopped.

(I also like having my ducks in a row too, so you know)

Anyway back to the sheep.  I was feeling kind today and I let them out of their field early as there is a storm on its way.  Lots of wind. Lots of rain.  The sheep are free spirits and hate the confinements of a terrible field (green grass, fresh water – how they suffer) and this is the one field they can’t escape from.  Around the house are their two sheds – one for girls, one for boys. They arrange themselves.

Lambie waited by the gate trying to catch my eye every time I went past.  I was tidying up the croft, putting stuff away so it wouldn’t be caught in the wind.

Once I had finished my chores, I shouted and they all, to a sheep, came out.

(so very handsome)

A little known fact, sheep yawn!

Missy is a big girl now and her sister, Madge, is huge too.  She has also done some growing and is larger than her mum, Edna.  I might almost say fat.

From the front – Edna, Missy and Madge (chunking along).

Missy is still very tame and if I shout “Lambie”, she replies and Lambie gives her the evils.

Missy is still nursing from Edna which looks a bit uncomfortable.

And this is the face of a sheep who wishes her daughter was weaned.  Poor Edna.  She looks very bored of this but she’s keeping the weight on and Missy will hopefully wean herself.  One day.

So that’s my happy wee flock.  Let’s hope the storm isn’t a bad one.

We like to rotate our fields all year round and so recently the Icelandic boys have all been moved.  They are still (and probably always will be) split up as Taktur refuses to play nicely with Haakon.  So now we have the youngsters on one side (left) and the Old Men on the other.

Kappi lives with the youngsters too.  Taktur doesn’t seem to bother him.  He gives him “The Look” and Taktur takes his urges elsewhere.

Kappi also doesn’t mind the young ones and their idiot pranks.

Klængur, although not very aged, is with the Old Men. He was never a huge one for playing and appreciates the peace and quiet that comes with age.

Haakon is very, very old.  He has seen it all and is not very impressed these days.

And Iacs thinks he as young lad, but is actually only year younger than Haakon – they are cousins.   You can probably tell.

I fed Haakon his daily TurmerAid (you have no idea the difference in him) and did a spot of ragworting – I just can’t walk past the wretched vile plant and do nothing.  I use the old boxes for everything including a single dose for Haakon. It is just the right size for one horse.  Having thrown the now-empty box down in the field and, while I was pulling weeds, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Iacs was playing.  He was very pleased with himself especially when he managed to pick the box up!  Silly-frilly-Billy.

If you do want to buy TurmerAid, please use the code “Lambie10” and it will get you 10% off.

‘Ster says hello by the way!

The Old Men are on a well-earned rest now.

They are in a new field and I saw them briefly on the horizon this morning.

This afternoon, Daisy and I went to “do”, ie trim and rasp, feet.  Today was Lilja and Albie’s turn.  Newt supervised.

Everyone was very chatty.

As a reward for our efforts, we spent some time in the field with everyone.

Sóley was very keen to talk, which is odd as she has always been an aloof young lady.  It is like a switch has been turned on in her brain and now she thinks people are wonderful.

Before she wouldn’t give me the time of day.

Today it was “me, me, love me”.

As I said, most odd.

Tiddles of course would give me the world. I only have to ask.

Big Sis was there.

In that pile of ponies I am sure I left Daisy.

She appears to have been swallowed whole.

I eventually dug her out and we went home feeling much loved and appreciated.

We were invited to celebrate “Day of the Icelandic Horse” by joining other Icelandic horses and their riders on Bannamin Beach in Burra – about an hour’s drive away.

We umm’ed and ahh’ed about it and decided that we would love to go and we would take the Old Men – they love the beach most.  We also decided not to do the whole ride as the horses are not really up for that and we would meet them at the beach instead.

Bannamin Beach is a beautiful sandy beach situated on a tombolo leading out to Kettla Ness peninsula.

There were ten of us in total.

We rode down the track and down some steps (which terrified me – I got off).  The other horses didn’t need asking twice.

I stood on the sidelines quivering.

We lined up for the essential always-taken photo.

“Tactics” were discussed for maximum safety – basically walk down, controlled tölt back, canter down again and then whatever back.

I let Haakon just do his own thing.  He stayed at the back and was happy enough there.

After the too-ing and fro-ing, those of us that wanted to had a little paddle.

Haakon enjoys drinking the entire sea.  It’s his thing.

It is not Iacs’ thing, though. He just stands at the edge and considers.

And then we rode up the steps, which I did manage but with my eyes shut. To me, the thought of horses and staircases does not mix. I would be hopeless at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – they have to ride up a staircase.

And here is a little film of us all – note Haakon piggy-pacing at his top speed.  For 26 years old, he is the total best! ❤️