This dreich Shetland afternoon saw me taking Efstur and Kappi to the vet for their injections.

Well, that was the theory.

A certain small orange thing, yes thing, decided he had never seen the horse-van before and certainly wasn’t going in it for anything.

Luckily, I had some assistance, in the form of my neighbour, Peter, and if it had been just left to me, I would’ve given up.  After one failed attempt with me on Efstur’s lead-rope cajoling and offering tiny bits of carrot plus a lovely bucket of grub, we swapped places and Peter took over.  He had the front end while I grabbed a dressage whip and together we convinced Efstur that the tapping on his bottom would stop if he walked up the ramp.  So he did. Huzzah!

Kappi, of course, loaded like the professional he is and I asked our vet to give them their injections without anyone having to unload from the horsevan.

So that’s Kappi up-to-date (he had a booster) and Efstur now starts his lifetime course.  We have to go return in a month so from henceforth Efstur will be fed his daily smidgen of hard feed in, (guess where?), the van!  We are not playing that game again.  No way.

The annoying thing is that this time a few years back Efstur was happily hopping in and out of the van without a care.  He has obviously forgotten.  Brain of a pea!

Today has been a quiet day. My back was struggling last night and I was stiff as a board when I woke up this morning so I haven’t done much energetic. Just pootled about doing the necessary winter chores. The horses at home are now all being fed hay in the morning and hard food for those that need it for various reasons.  The gutter (Shetland mud) is getting deeper – possibly even welly-boot losing.  An inevitable part of winter life.

I still make my sheeple most evenings.

And the diaries of my Great Great Aunt Kate are going along well.  They have a dog called Conis.

And I have a dog called BeAnne. They could be twins though I discovered Conis is a boy which was not what I expected. For all these years, I thought Conis was a girl.  And now I know, thanks to the diaries.

Anyway, I need help.  The writing is so small, in pencil and sometimes very blurred.  So here goes.  Please give it your best shot.  All suggestions welcome.  Think in Victorian English about the Victorian way of life in Bournemouth.

 “German and French. Stummed/stunned/Shunned?”

“Miss Morison ?***? our music lessons. Netted.”

“Mother read “Let xc”. Ida did her blue dress.” (though could be “Set xc”) and what is it?

Last two lines – give it your best shot. I haven’t a clue!

“they came back for a m**?”

“Nice Mother and I to ?S****?. We all sang songs.” (I checked there is no such place as Simhole unless it is someone’s house)

“Read “Roman ?**?” – is that Ides?

“Then they took us and ?***? to Christchurch for a drive.”

“?B****? croquet. To supper at Dodd’s”

“Mother signed agreement let this house. Hedgehog. Lejeune”. What on earth is Hedgehog. Lejeune? Anyone? Please?

“I read to Alys “Nothing ?to dress?” – Is that it? Can anyone find this book. I can’t.

Last line -Mother and I to Vernon’s to tea. Miss Boodle. An ?***? night.”

“After supper we walked to Con’Cum to seek Con”. What is Con’Cum? Somewhere in Bournemouth.

“Saw conjurors ? ? ? ?” – is this etc, etc, etc or x x x x?

“Saw Box (family cat) ? ?. Slept at….” What is the symbol? Does it stand for etc, etc, etc or x x x x?

So there you are.  Any help, like I say, greatly needed and appreciated.  I am skunnered with this writing, at times.

The weather is deteriorating again but ,before it did, I went for a great ride this morning on Klængur.  “Most efficacious in every way.”  All my city cobwebs have gone!

After lunch, I did my afternoon round of checks.  First up was to see the ladies at Leradale.

I fed them a handful of food (apparently it is not enough) and then Lilja suddenly decided she saw something.

And off she went to have a good look.

Hetja followed while little Herself danced around me refusing to let me take her photo (*** sigh ***)

I have no idea what Lilja was looking at but she gave it her full attention.

The girls live in a glaciated valley with a view that goes for miles so it could’ve been anything.  Probably a sheep moved or had an original thought.  Who knows.

Whatever it was everyone had a lovely time galloping about snorting.

At one stage, I called them over to me and Lilja cantered up to tell me all about whatever she saw.

And doesn’t she look like her Daddy?  (I love how Hetja, having expended a whole calorie of effort, can now no longer be arsed to move!)

Dear not-so-little-anymore Sóley-the-Foalie was easily led and bounced happily around too with absolutely no idea why.

Lilja was last seen heading round to the other side of the field.

With Sóley in hot pursuit!

Fourteen hours of Hell on the boat (ok, it got slightly better after the Orkney stop) and now we are home, safe and well. I mostly slept which might have something to do with the triple brandy and ginger ale/promethazine cocktail.

Once home, we all changed into our work clothes (ie back into the thermals) and I went outside to see what needed doing.

Little Her Maj was thrilled to see us and has followed me everywhere ever since claiming starvation and neglect.

Ditto Lambie, though he was on the scattald (open hill) when I came home along with his friends, ‘Bert and ‘Ster.  I shouted while I shut the gate and they galloped home to breakfast.

I have missed everyone very much and it is funny to think “this time yesterday” all through the day remembering all the things we did and saw.  City life is an entirely different life and one I would not like to go back to, ever again. I lived in London for many years so I know what it is all about.

The boys are looking well.  I am not sure if Haakon actually ever let Iacs into ‘his’ shed but I lured them out with hay and a carrot.

I did the rounds, kissing the noseys, feeding those that needed food (apparently everyone!) and am at home thinking I don’t want to leave home again for a very long time. I’ve promised BeAnne that I won’t.

Addendum: It is funny, but I have really missed reading and transcribing the diaries so now I am back, I will keep going. I am trying to do a month a day, and I am now up to May 1895.  I need help as there are parts I can’t read so any assistance and/or ideas are gratefully received.

1895 Bournemouth, London, Southwold, Bournemouth

We’re now on the boat having had a difficult train journey back to Aberdeen.

A broken ankle at Waverley with over an hour wait for the ambulance. Luckily not for us.

No time , therefore for shopping and browsing, a quick lunch, a speedy gallop around M&S and then onto the boat.

Apparently we are in for a very rough 14 hour crossing so I am preparing with a brandy and ginger or two….