I needed to go to town to get some more hay. We are getting through it very quickly this time of year.  One day when the grass grows, we can stop but until then everyone just eats and eats and eats……

It was a lovely day in town and the place was empty – could be the threat of Coronavirus (6 people so far with it) or the norm.  Floss and I went in our usual animal-mucking-out clothes looking fairly filthy with the theory that no one would come near us as we probably smelled of horses!  We were given a wide berth which was good.  Mission achieved.

We did, however, pop into Jamieson’s of Shetland to see if my field of sheeple needed refreshing.  There is a cruise ship in tomorrow.

Their lovely wall of colour. I could almost knit.  Almost – actually let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen.

Beautiful Fair Isle sweaters and cardigans.

Their rugs are lovely too.

Then off to “the chocolate shop” (Mirrie Dancers) – where displayed was an amazing chocolate Viking longship in the window left over from Up Helly Aa.

We had lunch in our usual spot looking at a pretty good view.

Lerwick in winter is very atmospheric – it was just about to pour with rain.

And lastly on our list, we went to Tesco to be greeted with empty shelves though the staff were absolutely trying their very best and stocking up the loo roll as fast as it left the shelves.  We stocked up on gin, tonic, lemon – really the essentials!

Here is the latest duckie-wuckie update.

Well, we still have the original 7 so that’s good – we are prone to polecat and otter attacks here despite our best efforts and deterrents.

So that’s the six girls (hens) and one boy (drake).   No names yet – they are still just known as the duckie-wuckies and no, I have no intention of growing up any time soon!

They are all fairly similar in colour and markings….

All except one.  She is very special and very pretty and a little bit different.

They still don’t tend to explore or move around much.  But they do judge; oh how they judge.  Six ways to Hell and back.  I am convinced of this.

All of them have had their wings clipped so there is no flying.  They are mostly silent – Muscovies are not known for quacking.  They tend to hiss a little but it is not out of aggression like geese.  It is how they communicate.

Flossie kindly cleaned out their “pond” and so they refused to go near it for a week out of ingratitude!

Of course they were judging her cleaning skills and the resulting gleaming beautiful clean pond!

Anyway, I adore my ducks.  They are a constant source of amusement to me as they waddle not very far in one direction, sit there (judging obviously) and waddle back again.  No eggs yet but our they-might-as-well-be-ornaments hens are only just starting up again so we might find an egg one day! Exciting times ahead.

And they are now very proficient at using their hurdle pen to get their food.  It is the best deterrent against certain (nah, all) sheep!  Clever duckies.  I hope they’re judging the sheep too and not just me.

I took these photos a few days ago.  A happy little herd of Shetland ponies and Icelandic horses, I think….. and hope.

Lilja and Sóley are learning a few more new skills.  Lilja has learned she is not going to be Boss-Queen-Baggage/Ruler-of-the-World – that job is Vitamin’s and she ain’t abdicating soon.   Lilja had high hopes for this position once her mother had left the field.

Sóley has learned that Lilja does not produce milk.  She is rather surprised by this fact but there is nothing she can do that will change this and Lilja, I think, has told her in no uncertain terms to give it up!  However, she still dips under Lilja more out of habit than anything else and Lilja quietly side-steps away.

As I walked away, happy they are now content, I noticed a small brown yak following me.

Of course Newt would’ve come home with me. I only had to say and he would’ve popped himself into the car.  No one would ever notice.

As I type, the weather is descending into Hell again.  I have no concentration, limited attention span, a very short fuse and have totally lost my riding mojo. I am running on empty (or gin). I feed and kiss noses and that is about my equine limit these days.

Guess who has begun his training?

Little Efstur – and he is all enthusiastic (I love the way he looks to Daisy, slightly touching her hand as he leads – Haakon has always done this too – it’s a silent conversation).

Daisy is in charge.  This is Efstur’s fifth time in the school. First there was some brushing.

So Efstur pressed his nose up against the wall and tried not to think too much about it.

He asked Daisy what on earth she was doing?

Next up, some leading practice.

His brain had a little wander……

And Daisy got him straight back to the job in question.

Then some lungeing – nothing strenuous, just the basic commands.  We teach the youngsters to turn inwards when they are asked to halt.

Both reins.

Efstur loves being told he is a good boy.

This was the first time he had trotted on a lunge.

Then it was a formal introduction to Mr Saddle-Cloth.

And again, he looked to Daisy for reassurance.

So smart, so very very smart (this is Efstur’s Princess Di look).

And then the saddle.

He took it all in his stride and Daisy reassured and rewarded all the time.

There was a very brief moment when Efstur said that possibly no one could walk with a girth around their belly until then he realised he could.

The Support Team took an interest.

Well, some of them.

Noisy flapping about resulted in no reaction.

Efstur had his Daisy.

So, in his book, all was right with the world.

A little lean just to see if he would mind. He didn’t.

And that was that!  Job done for the day. Short and sweet.  How we like it. As ever, we will take things slowly.  Little boy is all growed up!

The two rescue girls are coming along very well now.  They come when they are called or only have to see me and arrive shouting for food and/or company.

Even Madge, who was initially very shy, is coming out of her shell.  You can see her eyes are much softer and far less scared.

Rather alarmingly her wool is falling out but, according to my sheep expert (the postie), this shows that her diet is good and her general health is improving.  Her body is getting used to the improvements.

Edna (the alleged mother of Madge) is learning her manners – it is work-in-progress and she knows I will explode if she sets foot in the feed shed or walk on my heels to get her bucket of breakfast.

I will admit to having a very short fuse these days (BeAnne worry) so everyone is wary of my explosions and  the upshot is that the Girlzens are quickly learning respect for the picket fence around me. I hate being nagged by bad-mannered animals.

Anywho, I am pleased that they are looking so much better. A regular good diet (breakfast and lunch of sheep mix plus a lick bucket and unlimited hay) is doing its job.

The mud is inevitable sadly this time of year but Madge and Edna arrive regularly at my front door for ginger biccies.  The boys are tolerating them admirably too.  No more bullying and butting – well, not if they want free access to the lick bucket.