We left the horses snoozing and drove to town, via the Minions whose water we had to fill up twice as Waffle insisted on putting his hooves in the buckets to splash around in.  I was not impressed and told him so.

Lerwick was its usual jolly, if empty, self.  Don’t worry, the place is heaving when the cruise ships come in.

En route shopping, I took a few photos.  These are “The Lanes” which run east and west from Hillhead to Commercial Street in the heart of Lerwick.  They are narrow little alleys that go up the hill to various houses hidden behind the Street.

I sorted out selling my wool-felted sheep in one shop and possibly my puffins in another and then, feeling cheerful and rather pleased with myself, Flossie and I went to Harry’s Department Store looking for a toy fence for my sheep field.  I want to create a point of sale shop display.

Harry’s Department Store is one of the stalwarts of Lerwick.  Set on three levels, it is crammed full of everything.  Their Toy Department is legendary in Shetland.  We have spent many happy hours (and pounds) in there so it was wonderful to return to what used to be the girls’ idea of heaven.  I would use Harry’s as the ultimate bribe for awful ordeals like the dentist and injections. In fact, we still say “I’ll take you to Harry’s” if I am looking for a bribe and twenty-odd years on, eyes still light up.  So wandering the aisles today, reminiscing over the toys that used to be wanted and yearned for was an excellent form of sport.  Nothing had changed – still the same set-up and type of toys.  It was perfect.

And this was our lunch view.  Not bad, eh?

A beautiful, if windy, day so Floss and I set out after lunch to Leradale to check the Minions and fill up their water buckets as they are all quite incapable of walking back to their old field where there is a ruddy huge lake situated.  So daily we lug containers of water and fill up buckets which they wash their heads in.  We have evidence.  And jolly hard work it is too.  Floss came to save my back and I hugely appreciated it.  Daisy was lugging horse stuff at home. Dearest daughters.

After we had done the chores, we found a less windy spot and sat down for a chat.

We were instantly surrounded and each pony in turn, except for Vitamin who has never been the huggy type, came up for a conversation.  She just stood nearby and watched.

It was wonderful being duly mauled.

Floss and I decided that if I died in the field, no one would ever find me or any evidence of my existence as the ponies would’ve eaten everything – they were endlessly chewing on my coat that I was sitting on.  I have no fillings ergo there would be no trace of me.

Perhaps not the best conversation to have while being nose to nose with a pony but it made us laugh at the thought.

Anyway, let’s hope we never have to find out.

While Floss was being extra adored, I played around with my camera settings to see if it made for better pictures.

Waffle was looking particularly wistful with the antique-esque filter.

I can’t decide which I like better.

I also made a short film – turn the sound up.

It was a perfect spring afternoon.

We had our first official Minion visitors yesterday and I must say everyone behaved beautifully.  They introduced themselves, remained calm, interested and were very chatty – the Minions, that is.

One of the perks of my job at Turriefield is being given old veg that is past its best and so in my car boot I had two huge crates of old carrots. As a reward for the good behaviour, I tipped out a good pile for the Minions to say well done and thank you.

This is Silver sniffing his lovely carrot.  Odd.

Everyone else piled in.

Today, with the last of the carrots – they needed finishing up fast and I have been distributing them around the croft for the past few days – Floss and I went to check on the Minions.

Mostly the herd were near the gate and I threw the last of the carrots down.

All except Silver and Albie who said they were stuck.  So Flossie kindly went to show them how to go round the fence, and follow her back.

Once they saw Flossie, they worked it out for themselves, cantering past her to get to the carrot pile.

Silver cantered past me but Albie suddenly stopped and waited.

He was waiting for Floss to come too.  Albie walked back with her.  Floss is Albie’s “Mum” having spent many hours his first summer taking buckets of milk to him and spending much time with him.  He adores her.  He hasn’t forgotten.  I don’t think he ever will.  I hadn’t expected him to wait for her. It was very sweet.

Don’t worry there were plenty of carrots and Albie had his fair share.

And again, Silver was being different.

So that’s the last of the carrots.  Everyone equine adored them which is just as well as there were plenty.

Daisy rode Hjalti out today on a proper hack.

I accompanied them on Iacs, or Mr Bimble as he is oft known or “the short straw” (sorry Daisy) as I call him.  This would’ve been a job for Haakon but, as has no shoes and is still recuperating or possibly retired, Daisy offered me Bimble who did his job admirably – to accompany Hjalti in a non-worrying and pottering way.  We positively oozed calm.  That, and a silly-frilly hairstyle.

This time, with me on my noble steed as well, we went further.  Daisy was asking Hjalti to listen to her aids and not go blindly along with his hooves in his ears.  He was very excited at the prospect of The Great Outdoors and looked at everything with boggley-eyes, curiousity and enthusiasm, including when I got on Iacs.  He couldn’t believe it.  What on earth was I doing on Bimble’s back?

We didn’t meet anything, which was probably just as well, but we went a good way and I am sure once Hjalti climbs down from his happy high, he will sleep well tonight.  On the way home, his sister (Lilja) and mother (Hetja) spied him from their field and called to him.  He called back.  I wonder if they know they are all closely related?

So that was us.  Another good training session for Hjalti.  Daisy did brilliantly and if Hjalti ends up half as nice as Bimble, then he will be one very well-trained horse.  For a short straw, Iacs is not a bad one.  There, I’ve said it!

We started out this morning with a plan, which unusually came together beautifully.

It was the usual goose, fox and bag of beans scenario but surprisingly everyone was easily caught, loaded nicely and led beautifully.  That is not like us.

The plan started by catching Fivla and then Lilja.  Lilja loaded like royalty, (if royalty go in and out of vans) and we drove them home.  Fivla’s role was company for Lilja who would be very distressed to be by herself.  We put them in next door stables so they could see but not upset each other.

Then we went back, caught and loaded Brá and Hetja.  We brought them over to Thordale and walked them to their pre-birthing field, Clothie.

Then we led Lilja to Clothie to go back in with the pregnant ladies, loaded Fivla into the van and drove her back to Leradale to rejoin the Minions.  We also opened the gates of Leradale and let the Minions have access to the rest of the field – the Icelandic ladies’ part.  There is more green grass and they can just finish it off and make a clean plate.  They didn’t need asking twice and cantered happily around the new-to-them bit of the field.

Phew!  So that’s done then.

I went to see them later with a pile of carrots that need eating quickly.

Mum and daughter together.

Now we start Bewb-Watch.