Red sky in the morning, shepherd damn well hopping up and down saying bad things are to come and how right that shepherd is.  This is this morning’s sunrise.  It couldn’t be more obvious, short of writing “Storm Warning” in neon letters six foot high.

So it has been a bit of a fraught worrisome day because of the weather ahead and for those that have to get back to their day job after the Christmas festivities.  In the end we opted for the 12 hour ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen (guaranteed to go tonight rather than the 1 hour plane flight that is not guaranteed to fly tomorrow) – and then add to the mix various airline connections.  My theory is that once on the mainland, there are more options.

All the horses and ponies have been checked and those that live here are in fields that can easily reach the stable tomorrow.  After that, we shall reassess and probably keep everyone in and just throw endless hay at them for 24 hours.

Meanwhile, to lighten the moment, I put a hat on the cat (Monster’s wonderful Christmas present).  His expression says it all.

BeAnne has gone into a decline as we had a brief power-cut this evening.  She hates them and the cat-flap(s) have to be blocked as she likes to leave home, hide and sit and howl to herself about her misery.

I may have hit the gin!

Here are a few photos from yesterday’s Minion release that didn’t quite make the grade for yesterday’s blog, so I tarted them up in black and white in the hope they would look more arty-farty and a bit better, which I think, in retrospect, they do!

Anywho enjoy.

Newt standing still and looking ever-so handsome as well as a bit perky!

And then there is the “Wild Newt”.

And the “Motorbiking” Newt.

Everyone is galloping off together to explore their domain.  Vitamin is the one with the wonderful mane.

“Rockstar” Storm doing his stuff for anyone watching.

Is there anyone more gorgeous?  I think not.

Silver photobombing Storm.  That won’t go down well.

Storm has some lovely moves.

Silver doesn’t but still looks very handsome.

Waffle can’t be bothered with all this posing and posturing and so does what he does best….. stuff his fat little face.  That leg-in-each-corner look is not going to maintain itself. It needs constant work and attention.

And lastly darling Vitamin who looks like a show pony, even aged 25+.  She is superb.

It all went like clockwork for us this morning.  We swooped, we caught, we loaded (darling, darling Albie went up the ramp on his knees because I had parked in a terrible place and the ramp was far too steep – but up he went because I asked him – what a trier ❤️).

The big ones were all safe in their little haypark with their eyes out on stalks.  Lilja was saying to Sóley “look, look, I told you there were little ponies. You didn’t believe me!”

The first load was Vitamin and Fivla in one van with Albie and Newt in the other.  We had help. It was wonderful.

There was much showing off and prancing.

The second load was Storm and Tiddles in one van and Silver and Waffle in the other.

They rushed up and down their respective fields in happiness.

Hetja was appalled that the little ponies had come back and determinedly tried to keep Sóley away.

But Lilja was thrilled to see them all back.  She adores the Minions and is a fully paid up member of their little gang.

Newt was like a baked bean shot out of a cannon.

and then he was all handsome.

More running up and down – Lilja showed she can really move.  She has a beautiful trot and a natural tölt too.

And this is the face of someone who has absolutely no intention of listening to her mother.  Good luck Hetja keeping Sóley and Lilja away from the Minions.

So, there we are.  It was easy because we had helpers and I can’t thank them enough.  It is nice to have the little ones home.

Tomorrow, the weather forecast promises, is going to be slightly better – less windy – which will be perfect for moving everyone around. I hate driving my horsevan in high winds. It is scary.

As I went on my horse-checking rounds, I told everyone involved.

So basically, this lot will stay here.

And the Minions are arriving!

Brá is staying where she is, for the time being.  She is fine.

The next few days will be “interesting”.

With the Minions in the next door field, it should keep Sóley entertained!

While we move the Minions across their field into their new habitat, I shall also put these guys into the little fenced”hay-park” for ease of access.

So that’s the plan and it will be executed tomorrow with military precision and prayers!

It will also be good to have the Minions “home”, or at least slightly nearer.

Today was not a day for going out in unless you absolutely had to. So, armed with the gallant and helpful Floss, we got all the horses inside for the morning, fed and Haakon’s rug changed. They were pleased to come in and didn’t need asking twice.  It was also good to get them onto hard standing for a few hours and to let them have a break from the filthy day.

After a quick flit around the others – whole carrots given as a neighbour kindly bought me some bags of carrots for me as an equine Christmas present!  The Minions had two bags between them, Brá and her two friends shared another bag and Les Icelandic Girls had a bag as well.  Today’s training for little Sóley-the-Foalie was to eat small bits of carefully bitten off foal-mouth-sized carrot from the ground before her mother and sister snaffled them and all in a howling gale too!

There are no photos.  Only an idiot would take a camera out in this weather.

This afternoon I have spent with Aunt Kate’s diaries and am now transcribing 1897 – so going along well. I am getting used to Kate’s style of writing and choice of words.  She is 18 now and with the arrival of the bicycle, she has more freedom.  She is not attending lessons as much but continues to draw and is now taking an interest in the household day-to-day accounts.

Of course, I need help! I always need help.  Please do your best. Any suggestion gratefully received. I am stumped.

“Doz and all of us to Dr Neales. I had my nose burnt and Doz had her cheek burnt. The other to ? ; Ex in evening.”

Ok, so what is having your cheek burnt (nose might be sinuses cauterised – they have three appointments for this in as many days). And the next line? The others to ? : Ex (3h?) in evening.  I don’t know.  The others to Second: Exhibition in evening.

Ok, next problem…..

Alys and Paul sang “Mutter**** after supper. Anyone recognise this song?

And lastly, “Played croquet in afternoon. I octy came up again. I rested.”  What is I octy or Locty or Jocty……

Anywho, if you like that sort of thing, go and read the diaries. She goes to London and watches a cricket match and to Cambridge to watch the university rowing.

“Then I went with Doz to St John’s Wood and to Lord’s Cricket Ground. Saw part of match. M. C. C. and Ground v. Australians. First got 219, second all out for 18 runs. Saw W.G.G. and Stoddart and Rankit Singhi (Ranjitsinhji), etc. Had front seats.”