I woke early because I knew I had to go to the airport to collect daughter #2 – Flossie. She was coming home for our annual Eurovision family gathering.

Before I left, and as it was already light, and as everyone was already waiting, I popped round with the food buckets for them.

I also put the sheep where I wanted, but half of them doubled back and I put them into another field and now I was running late – ruddy sheep.  I had to drive to the airport (1 hr 15 minutes away).  I was early too and possibly the one there.

Floss and I came home via town, stopping for essential rations for Saturday night.  Meanwhile, Daisy had been doing good work, brushing everyone in the big field.

I think Daisy had brushed a whole pony’s worth of fur from Fivla who was so much happier and looked wonderful.

It was lovely to see all the winter fur go at last.  There are only 6 more ponies left to do – Vitamin refused to be caught.  Her loss.

Then Floss and I walked down to the track so I could put sun-screen on Tiddles’ little pink nosey.

Flossie fed the ponies celery – their treat as we are having lots of treats too.

It’s only fair.  T’is Eurovision week after all.   This is our family tradition.

It has been lovely today.  Daisy and I shared all the chores in brilliant sunshine and then I had to go to pack vegetables at my volunteer job leaving her and Monster outside.

A nice happy bonding time for the two of them, I thought.

Meanwhile, the dogs were inside because when I go out, Pepper can forget herself and will leave home, which is not ideal.  Daisy noticed then Ted on the windowsill looking out very jealously.

And then I saw his side-kick, Pepper, who came into better view too.  But no is no and Pepper has form for this running off lark.  It is disgraceful and embarrassing.

When I reached Turriefield, I got a phone call from Daisy saying the minute she had opened the door Pepper had gone flying out and left home!  *** sigh ***.  Luckily she found her at our neighbours and brought her home. I am not talking to Pepper now and she doesn’t honestly care.

It’s that time of year – Eurovision week and Daisy has come home for this.

Everyone is very pleased to see her, especially Monster.

He is absolutely thrilled.

In the afternoon we went on a dog/cat walk as they had spent their morning in the house, while I went to the airport to collect Daisy.

Of course Lambie came running over to Daisy.

And there was lots of this.

I looked on feeling more than a bit ignored.

I am used to it, though. These days, Lambie always ignores me unless there is something scary going and then he stands behind me.

But I had Pepper on my knee and Edna close by.

And then Lambie left Daisy and came running over to me and I nearly fell off my rock in surprise. I can’t remember the last time he gave me more than a cursory glance in my direction.

And then Daisy and I went to see the Icelandic horses and Daisy instantly started to pull out their old winter fur.

I told her there was lots to do.  I am so pleased Daisy’s home.  The first semi-finals are tonight and she has ten horses/ponies to brush!

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” is one of the oldest proverbs in the English language (apparently it was first recorded in Old English Homilies, written sometime around 1175.)

Anyway, I hadn’t seen the Shetland ponies all day as they were happily munching the grass at the furthest part of the track, which I had opened up yesterday (t’was Sunday when they get a bit more to eat).

And, although the ponies can see water, they can’t get to it because there is an electric fence in situ. I wondered if they had drunk anything all day as there was no evidence that they had even left this spot since finding it yesterday.

So I filled the bucket in the stream, clambered over the fence and offered it to them.

It was deemed acceptable.

And I went round each pony offering him the bucket, refilling it when necessary.

I have no idea why Albie was doing the flehmen response. Perhaps he got water up his nosey.

It was good to see the ponies all drink and I was glad I had bothered or else I doubt they would’ve gone to get water which is a good walk away – they are a lazy bunch at best.

I also had Pepperpot with me and she mingled.

God alone knows what Albie Potatoes was on!

I really can’t think of much to say except that since everyone left to go south at Christmas time, Monster has become my best friend.

For many years, he has kept me at paw’s length favouring OH and Daisy over everyone else including me.  Apparently paying his bills is not enough.

Luckily this left a gap in the market which was happily filled by Pepper.  She has never left my side, except for when she goes a-visiting our neighbours.  I know she luffs me.  She never stops telling me.

So, it is lovely to have Monster deciding that I must be annoyed at every available moment of the day.  It is not because I have the ability to open cat food tins/sachets.  He would not be that obvious.

Usually our special time together is at my breakfast when I have my bowl of porridge.

He does a lot of draping.  Today, apparently I sent a message to some random person on Facebook which I had to grovingly apologise for.  Of course, I blamed the cat!

I am toying with using this photo as wallpaper on my phone.