It has been raining all last night and all today.  Everyone is very wet but it is warm so I am not worried.

I popped into Clothie where the girls live to have a little chat.  Yesterday from a distance I noticed Hetja is letting Lilja talk to Moonpie for the first time.

There are strict Rules which Lilja knows she has to follow – you can almost hear Hetja telling Lilja in this photo!

Little Moonpie, although soggy from the constant rain, is absolutely fine.

She is also utterly delicious.

She was desperate to talk to me but……

In the end her curiousity got the better of her and she came over as long as I promised to stay very still.

Lilja is intrigued and enchanted by her sister too.

They are very alike in character.

Lilja wants to tell Moonpie her Rules, Moonpie pretends to listen and then completely ignores them.

One rule is that only Lilja can talk to me.

Moonpie agreed and then marched up leaving Lilja behind.

I am totally in smitten and adore Lilja even more for wanting to get to know her little sister.

I think these two are going to be inseparable.

Meanwhile Buzzy Bee is trying hard to commit suicide.  We found Bee upside down this morning and have transferred him/her to a clear Perspex lidded box (also known as the cheese grater) and he lives near the cooker trying to warm up.  He is still very dopey but drying out a bit now having been drenched from his night-time acrobatics.

The daily Minion check with a friend found me a Shetland bumblebee – well really a non-buzzy more comatose, bee.  So I picked it up off the ledge, emptied out the Minion donation cash float tin kept in the car and placed “Buzzy” in and we drove carefully home.  Sort of like a Bee Ambulance.

Poor little thing was barely moving, let alone buzzing.  Daisy did a quick internet search and found we needed first aid in the form of sugar and water.  I felt more like dunking Buzzy into a sticky mess. There were few signs of life.  The odd leg twitch.

But slowly Buzzy became more animated whilst we read all there is to know about Bumblebee first aid.  We transferred Buzzy, with the aid of various kitchen utensils (I mean what kind of spoon do you use for bumblebee movement – what is the acceptable etiquette here?), to a flowery type sauce for better dippage and drinkage.

Today I learned a lot about rescuing bumblebees and I hope we have done right by our little invalid who now is having a quiet moment in a box in the kitchen while I write this.

This film shows little Buzzy drinking the sugar water and then the second part shows it after transfer to the saucer – the breathing is normal (I checked).

So we shall see if Buzzy survives. I do hope so. I love bumblebees and this one obviously needed saving.

We are home safe and sound.  Phew.  All done and hopefully not to be repeated.  It was exhausting but I had my Painpod zapping quietly away in the background and that made a huge difference.

This time yesterday – Floss and I stopped our mammoth shop for a much-needed cup of tea.

Today, I spent my afternoon in the Minion field trimming feet and spending a little time with Fivla.  The rest had galloped off.

I am trying to master the art of hoof rasping.

I was very kindly given an axle stand that acts as an excellent hoof stand.  It made a huge difference and I rasped Albie (who happened to be in the area and very willing to “help”), Vitamin (who is an old pro) and Fivla because everyone else had suddenly run away.

I was really trying to catch Storm who decided that was never going to happen, giggled, farted and departed taking everyone with him.  I couldn’t be arsed to run after him so caught the only one left – Fivla – and did her feet instead.

As a reward I fed Fivla all the carrots originally designated for everyone.  Their loss.  They were rude.

She was more than happy to eat their carrots.

My back was aching a bit, so I finished up and sat down with my old lady. We had a lovely natter.

A little while later, Fivla politely said good bye and left me to join her friends.

Meanwhile, on my way home, I saw that Lilja was being allowed to sleep next to her sister.

Most interesting. It won’t be long now.

It has been a long day.  Firstly, all is fine. I must say that quickly as I don’t want to worry anyone. The lovely wonderful efficient NHS was working at its very best for me and I feel very lucky and blessed.

So this was my day….

09:00 Off the boat and into a prebooked taxi to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Breast Scanning Department.  An appointment which included three different types of scans, a lovely doctor,  kind helpful nurses and amazing radiographers.  Everyone checked and double checked, examined and looked at my left bewb which and shown a wee blip previously.

Two hours later, feeling a little squished but nothing awful, Floss and I left with me having been given the all clear and been discharged.  Next visit in three years when the mobile unit comes up.

So thank you God.

We took another taxi to an Asian supermarket I have always wanted to visit.  This time I had Flossie with me – my excellent Sichuan Chinese cook.

After perusing and buying the entire contents therein, Floss and I went to the next door restaurant for dim sum.  We deserved it.  Delicious.

To make up for our decadence, we walked miles into town.  Apparently my middle class super power is that I can find a branch of John Lewis in any provincial town!

The excitement never stopped. We shopped, Floss tried on, I parted with cash, we dropped but all was worth it.

We also sprayed every known fragrance searching for The One.  Aberdeen is now empty.  And so back on the boat going home.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts.  It is appreciated and, like you, I am wholly relieved.

Flossie and I are on the boat going south tonight to Aberdeen.

At the beginning of the week, I received in the post an appointment for a “second assessment” from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Breast Screening Department.  The original scan was unclear or inconclusive – I forget which.

Patient Travel booked me a cabin there and back so I decided to take Flossie with me for moral support (and a shopping trip, if there is time). I have paid separately for her to accompany me.  We have a list from OH and Daisy too.

Anyway, I refuse to be worried. I probably coughed or something during the original scan and things are a blur. Better safe than sorry.  I shall go to the hospital appointment and then we shop til we drop (that, or make base camp at a local Aberdonian Asian supermarket with adjacent restaurant).

We come home on tomorrow night’s boat.  Think of me and think of Flossie carrying the shopping. I am determined all is well. It is out of my hands.

We should’ve brought one of these!