I decided to mix things up today.

Given any opportunity, the Icelandic horses bully the Shetland ponies off their food. It’s not nice. So today I parked Vitamin in a small crö (sheep-pen) that is off the side of the paddock so no one could see her eating.

Cunning, eh?

Fivla said she didn’t want to move from her very visible spot, but I picked up her bucket and grabbed a piece of her mane and towed her in too.

She stayed there for a bit happily eating.  Both of them hidden, I thought to myself.

But Fivla must’ve had a fit of pique and moved out of the crö leaving some of her food behind.  I gave Vitamin her bucket  and she quickly polished it off.  Fivla didn’t like being in a confined space.

Meanwhile the big ones were oblivious of all this and finished their breakfast, forgetting to look for the Shetland ponies.  Out of sight, out of mind.

You can tell by the tail swishing that Fivla was not in a good mood.

And of course Iacs spied the buckets…..

He pretended he didn’t really want them. I wasn’t fooled.

I know Iacs too well.  Of course he did.

After I had rinsed out Vitamin’s mouth with water to stop food accumulating (I do this daily), I was just putting everything back, when I noticed Fivla had returned and was now mooching around the empty buckets looking for her full ration.

I felt bad for her. I had given it to Vitamin to finish off thinking she didn’t want it anymore.

Apparently I was wrong and now I feel awful for Fivla.  Not awful enough to go and get her some more food because WW3 would break out, but enough to not let it happen again.

Horses, ponies, ducks, hens, dogs and cat fed and off I went to town again.

This time it was for the car – a pre-service check so the garage could sensibly get in any big parts needed for the actual service.  The car has a squeak on one of the wheels and a clunk when I turn left.  However, it is 15 years old so stuff happens.

I also had my shopping list, all of which I managed as well as a few of extras!

However, I felt bad leaving Pepper but she had to stay home to a) give her poorly paw a rest (she is still slightly lame), and keep Ted company too.  He has anxiety without company.

Anyway, they were all very happy to see me by the time I got home mid-morning.

And it was nice that they joined me in my shed too.

Monster and I were avidly watching another US medical drama while I felted a sheep.

Obviously I had bought chewy treats for the dogs on my travels.  Ted left his.  He never knows what to do with a treat.

But Pepper knows and she stole it from him before I could stop her.  I give up.  She’s incorrigble.  So that’s me. No more trips to town for a while, I think. It’s been far too much excitement for one week.

Today has not been my best.

It started well. I fed all the animals and OH kindly poo-picked the track which was a huge help and knocked a large to-do off my daily list.

After lunch, I drove into town for a hospital appointment at GBH – (the Gilbert Bain Hospital not Grievous Bodily Harm,  though that would be the best  name for a hospital ever!)

At last, I was being seen in the Eye Clinic.

They did lots of tests, with owie or numbing drops and stuff.  My diagnosis is liveable with (microcysts on the cornea in one eye) and I will be seen again in six months to see if this has changed.

Feeling a little fragile about everything (I am not good with hospitals – very triggering for me), I quickly nipped to the Street to put more sheep into my shop-field and noted a large cruise ship was visiting – the Costa Favolosa with 3,800 folk onboard.  Let’s hope they bought sheep.

Home = gin and an oven pizza as I can’t be arsed to cook supper and back into my shed to make another sheep.

(I’m sorry this is so boring but that really was my day and I don’t live a very exciting life).

I am beginning to feel sorry for anyone who has to look after Pepper whenever I leave the house.  She has not been behaving recently – running off at every opportunity looking for me.

So, as I was going to take Daisy to the airport, I decided wee dug could come too but she would have to sit in the backseat as all the fronts were occupied by us hoomans.

Pepper had her two cushion set-up and, although occasionally squeaky trying to get herself tangled up in her car harness, we managed.

Dog are allowed in the airport and my aim is to take Pepper to greet anyone who would appreciate it, like we used to with BeAnne (who met me after some god-awful spinal hospital appointment once and I sat on the floor and cried with happiness).

And Pepper’s little tail never stopped wagging while she watched everyone and everything.

Once Daisy’s flight had been called, we left via the grassy verges on the way back to the car.

Now Pepper had been promoted to travel in the front seat and was much happier.

We waited for a plane to take off and drove across the runway afterwards.

Pepper was fascinated.

And then onto Lerwick to drop off some sheep.  They’ve been selling fast, which is good.

And finally home.

Pepper was spark out after her exciting morning. I like having a little companion, if little companion is well behaved, and Pepper was very good.  Ted would’ve hated it – he was happy enough at home with OH.

Well, last night went very well, though we gave up early due to feeling very full after the traditional nachos/gin combo and falling asleep during the voting!  We are such light-weights, these days.

This morning was no different from any other. Animals to feed. As it was a Sunday, Daisy and I made the Shetland ponies’ track slightly bigger.  It’s been lovely having help on the poo-picking and feeding front.

The ponies were all waiting impatiently but they didn’t test the fence, which had been switched off while we moved it.

When I opened the fence up, they rushed in and haven’t moved since.  I doubt I will see them again until about Tuesday.  That’s what usually happens but I keep an eye on them from the upstairs windows and when I do the daily poo-pick.

Meanwhile, at home Flossie was busy packing up some of her stuff to go south.  Obviously she was helped.

And, for obvious reasons, she had to give up on the box idea. That was never going to work.