Daisy and I loaded up the horsevan with all our relevant accoutrement, including Iacs and Haakon.  En route, we picked up a friend and I handed her my camera, briefly explained how it worked and put her in charge of photography.

We unloaded at Sand beach – mind, I said I was planning a trip last week.  Unloaded and tacked up.

We decided to lead the boys down to the beach as it is steep and they don’t know the terrain.

On we got and I had one worrying moment when I lost the reins while clipping my air-jacket to the saddle!

Panic over, and off we set – me now with the reins (always useful).

We were going along fairly nicely……

…. when Haakon decided he was no longer the brave bunny he thought he was.  On the way down the beach he swerved or planted at just about everything, which was frustrating.

There were a few folk and families on the beach.

Once we had reached the far end, we turned on a sixpence and Iacs cantered back while Haakon determinedly piggy-paced.

I knew Haakon used to love the sea so I turned him round and let him investigate it a bit more.

It all came flooding back to him – quite literally!

And then we did lots of sploshing up and down the beach.

And Daisy did her cantering thing (so jealous).

And I had my mouth open and feet stuck out while we piggy-paced along.

Though, interestingly, Haakon would tölt in the sea.

It really was beyond fantastic.

Just like old times. I never thought I would have this again.

We definitely need to do this again.

The old men loved it.

And then we loaded them up and went back home.

Never have I ever….

……. (I sat and waited)….

And my little sparrow prodded and preened a bit…..

…. stretched his wings…..

… and proceeded to take a good bath just a yard away from me.

He didn’t seem to mind me taking photos with my large noisy camera. I am pretty sure he is a little boy sparrow based on his colour and markings.

I think he enjoyed himself very much and felt much refreshed after his bath.

So I can cross that off my Bucket List of things I have never ever’ed.  I must’ve stood watching a sparrow having a bath for as long as he wanted – he did fly off once finished.  For me it is the little things in nature that I find fascinating.  I have also had a day of ragworting so I am exhausted and can barely move now.

(sorry if you are now bored to tears).

I have a little flock of sheeple who are all finally sort of getting along together.

And ‘Ster.

There are the occiasional “us and them” moments, though but that is when I am with them.  They argue about me and who talks to me.

Lambie is the very worst for it.  He looks out for Missy coming to talk so he can go and chase her off.  There is only little lamb in his book and that’s him!

‘Bert is obviously a saint.

And ‘Ster is also green with envy.  He has always been needy.

And Missy is an enchantment.  A total delight.

I could sit and hug her all day.

She would rather nibble while she chats rather than be cuddled.

Her Mum, Edna, is very cuddly.  Madge remains aloof.  They both look pretty good, though.  I am pleased.

So my little flock are sort of gelling as a group.  The boys don’t feel the call of the hill (common grazing) half as much these days. They rarely go there and don’t ask to either, which is good and something I was trying to discourage anyway.

And as I walked back to the house, I looked behind me and saw Lambie crossing the stream too. He was trying hard not to get his feet wet.

It made me think of this photo that I took 5 years before when he refused to get his hooves wet and Daisy had to carry him over. He was so sweet when he was little.  Ooof!

On my way home from the shops, I went for a little exploration to a place I haven’t been for possibly 20 years.

I visited Sand beach tucked out of the way in Sand Voe.

Sand beach is well named – it stretched out invitingly and I also clocked that the track to the beach had been made much better.  The last time I was here, all those years back, it was rather a climb to get down to the beach. This time a horse could easily walk down…… you get what I am thinking now, don’t you!  It’s not that far, an easy drive and I think two old men would love it and possibly two ginger ninjas if they can stop long enough to stop spooking!

So that’s my plan anyway.

After I had had a good inspection of the beach and its access, I wandered a little way along to a small chapel ruins.  This was St Mary’s Chapel and it’s churchyard.

From Canmore – “All that remains is the semi-circular chancel arch which finishes in a gable and may be of late 16th century date. It is of rubble and mortar and is about 2′ 10″ thick. The lengths of the nave and chancel are unobtainable, but the nave has been 12′ wide. According to Hibbert (S Hibbert 1822) the chapel was built by Spaniards shipwrecked in Shetland (? from the Armada) but Muir (T S Muir 1885) believed it to be some hundreds of years older than the late 16th century.”

I had a little wander around.

This grave particularly grabbed my attention.  I’m not sure I want to be there at night.

So I know what I want to do.  I’ve just got to tell Haakon my latest plan of action. I am sure he would love it.

Yesterday we looked like this.

Today we look like this.

Anyway, I am at war with the hooded crows (or hoodies or “craa”) who are raiding the sheds for eggs.  There are four of them and they are working as a gang.

I am finding empty shells outside and nests raided which is infuriating.  So far, they have stripped out three nests and are now, on a daily basis, taking a duck egg from a nesting duck. They even take plastic eggs for crying out loud!

So it is war. OH put up this as a deterrant but to be honest, I am not hopeful.

It is a tough one for me. I love corvids (remember the carrion crow I rescued when south) and I do think we should live peacefully with nature but I draw the line at feeding cheeky crows our precious eggs. I am not sure where the line is drawn.  Everyone shares sheds with everyone else.  This is the Boyzenberry shed so they must be able to go in and out.

A few years back I was wandering around and found this crow nest in a gable end of an old building in my field, Clothie.

I thought “how lovely” until I walked closer and saw what they had built their nest out of…..

Gruesome little buggers!

So the war has begun and, in the kindest possibly way, I want to give my poultry their usual freedom while curtailing the crows’ egg diet.

It’s not easy.