With all this wind (and rain/sleet/snow/shitery), I decided to go for a leisurely drive this afternoon around the west side of Shetland looking for waves to photograph.

This winter has got to me. I am feeling totally scunnered with it.  I don’t have any actual riding time for my horses and yes, I have an indoor school but it is too noisy and Klængur is a great tripper in there. When he trips, he jars my back and makes me scared.  Excuses, excuses, I know but there you are.  That’s me at the moment.

So, feeling the effects of cabin fever, I had some me-time and went out.

Feeling rather curmudgeonly, I instantly cheered when I saw the oystercatchers (shalders – Shetland dialect) in the Minions’ summer field.  This is a direct sign that somewhere in the dim distance Spring is finally on its way.  Come on Spring.  Keep going. Don’t give up!

Poor little buggers. They are probably regretting their holiday choice already.  Tis a day of shite.

Sorry for miserable blog – rather going thru’ it today and had enough. Someone please tell it to stop.  We’ve all had enough.

There is no other words for today other than utter Hell.

It has been beyond vile.  We know this because Floss and I got caught in a vicious hail-storm and were thrown against the car by the full blast of the Force 11 wind with added frozen peas-sized hail being sand-blasted at us.  It was one step too far for me.

Anyway, this morning we ducked and dived around this weather onslaught, grabbing the calmer times when we could.

The boys spied us and ran into the stable.  We split a bale of hay between them and left them to it for 7 hours.  They are now back out feeling full.

The girls were fed behind the derelict house.  It was more sheltered there.

They were at that stage when they couldn’t think straight.  I hate that so I pushed Hetja through the gap and Lilja followed.

Sóley ate in the gap. It offered a bit of shelter.

Meanwhile, the clouds gathered and we have another 24 hours plus of this so I spent the afternoon putting stuff on Ebay – My Ebay stuff link – please spread the word if you know anyone who would like any of it.

Well, you are all probably well aware of my unhealthy if tenacious obsession with the weather and today has been absolutely no exception.

One second, it is tolerably nice and then the next it is shitting down quantities of hail or sleet or snow with a good icey gale as well. That wind-chill factor is vicious.

Anyway, we managed to feed everyone without bringing them in (our aim in life at the moment) but this afternoon, it was like the Apocalypse outside.

I felt awful for my chaps as we have so little grass about and so Floss and I donned our waterproofs, rushed outside, filled all the haynets again and tied them to the gates.

No one needed asking twice.

They all visibly brightened, which cheered me up too.

And so I can sleep in my bed tonight knowing the horses have had double rations today.

Meanwhile, inside, BeAnne was wandering around in a dither (until I put on her shirt of thunder) with the word “Princess” written on a very fetching pink bandana!

She was looking miserable because I had also brushed her!

First thing this morning, I stood outside in the old men’s field – all was calm (between weathers, as it is known) and thought this is nice. I can do this.

There was a beautiful blue sky.  It was starting to warm up a little too.  You can certainly feel every degree difference both ways.

The boys munched their buckets around me.  It was a good happy sound.

Some don’t even lift their heads to breathe (** cough, Iacs **).  Every calorie matters to him and his silly-frilly.

Haakon does come up for air, though, because he knows I will stand guard and stop anyone else getting his bucket.

When the sun came out, I could feel everyone breathe out and relax. This afternoon, there was a huge pile of horses all asleep in the sun. They were enjoying themselves.

I am glad we all had a breather because Storm Ellen (which apparently is a polar vortex (eh?)) is crashing down on us next.

Extra rations tonight and please think of us all these next few days.  February feels like the longest month this year.  As I type, I can already hear the wind outside starting to rev up.

I keep looking at as many different weather forecasting websites in the hopes that one of them says the rest are wrong.  Ever the optimist!  Failing that, I am going into hibernation.

Well, I am busy thinking about Dreki, my little black dragon.

Here he is standing, as ever, with his father, Taktur and he is developing into rather a nice horse. I like him. I like him a lot.

Every morning the field gate is opened and every morning the four boys (Taktur, Kappi, Efstur and Dreki) come up to be led, if it is blowy, into the stable, to have their hay and hard feed. Every morning Dreki won’t go past the gate person until he’s had a little chat and possibly a nose-kissey.  It can be a Force 11, I can barely stand up but he wants that acknowledgement of his existence and our relationship.  Other horses just gallop past barely saying thank you but not Dreki.

And I genuinely like the type of Icelandic horse he is growing up to be.  He is solid with a good strong back.  He is also very conscientious (he minds desperately) and is not difficult if you explain what you want.  An uncomplicated chap – never mean, vindictive or wicked (some I have known – ugh!)

And he has a lovely little sense of humour – he likes to wind up his Dad sometimes.

Dreki Dragon may not be as beautiful as his sister – Lilja is a truly gorgeous lady.

I think it might be the raggedy mane but I also think that might be the fault of living with youngsters and a bouncy stallion.  It will grow.

So that’s my little dragon.  He is turning into a very nice Icelandic horse.