So off we set en famille, having first counted Minions, ponies and horses, ridden a few (Daisy did), fed sheep and hens, to Lerwick to the Clickimin Leisure Complex, home of the 2018 Craft Fair organised by Shetland Arts & Crafts Association.

There were many varied stalls set out in two huge halls.

The official Shetland Craft’s blurb describes this annual event as “Inspired by Shetland’s dramatic scenery, heritage and culture, Shetland Arts and Crafts producers offer a unique range of woodcraft, knitwear and textiles, fancy goods, fashion and home accessories, gifts, and fine art, The diverse collection ranges from the islands’ traditional designs of knitwear and woodcrafts, which have been handed down through generations, to the more modern and highly original designs and craft items.”

Yup, that sums it up fairly well for me.

We all split up, just because we shop at different speeds and like looking at different things.

As well as having lots to look at, the Craft Fair is a great social event as well.

I saw old friends, met new ones and chatted with folk jealously admiring their creativity and ingenuity.

The makers of these wonderful crofthouse planters were in the news last year having been “ripped off” by the international fashion house, Alexander McQueen –

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2017/08/17/greencroft-couple-furious-at-alexander-mcqueen-s-unethical-use-of-their-distinctive-product/

http://www.thefashionlaw.com/home/alexander-mcqueen-comes-under-fire-for-alleged-copying-in-recent-collections

Anywho, I love the planters and I am saving up for one for my studio-she-shed.

The Craft Fair was very busy and I whizzed around both halls not doing half of the stalls justice so I have decided to go back tomorrow, with my Christmas sleigh, minus the family so I can buy local and support local crafts.  I have decided not to do my Christmas shopping with the non-tax paying big internet giants.

I saw this on Facebook and it’s message struck home.

I am looking forward to tomorrow. I get to look at this all over again.

Awww, Puzzah.

(I want and I bet it has gone by tomorrow).

It was a lovely morning going for a ride and then a great afternoon driving around Shetland.  I needed to go down to the south-end of the island and it was truly beautiful.  As I was early, I drove to Sumburgh Head for the spectacular scenery.

Sumburgh Head in the Shetland afternoon sun

It was one of those days where everyone you met made a comment on just how good the weather was and how they wished it would stay.

From Bigton looking west over Brow Loch

We all realise that weather like this is unusual this time of year but we should all make the most of it.

While I was out and about, I saw cars parked up and folk getting out to take a photos of the amazing sunset.

Looking down at Scalloway

Of course we would exchange the time of day and it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one finding a place to park and leaping out with a camera.

Scalloway in the sunset

Sights like this are not to be missed.

Scalloway Castle

When I meet folk south and they ask why I live in Shetland like I am mad, I should show them these photos and maybe they would understand.

Whiteness Voe

Shetland is a very beautiful place.  I am very lucky.

Whiteness Voe

Thursdays are always difficult.  If we want to ride out, we have to wait for the essie-kert (rubbish collection lorry) to go past otherwise things can get hairy but there is no set time for its arrival so sometimes we wait and wait and wait…..

So while we did this, I went down to collect Haakon.

I lead my old boy up the hill, out of his field and fed him his Turmeraid pellets along with a few conditioning cubes.  BeAnne and the hens lurked about hopefully but I doubt anything was dropped.  Haakon does not waste his food on others.

The essie-kert noisily came and went and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

It was a lovely day – perfect for going out.

Unusually BeAnne decided to come along too.

My two best friends and a glorious day.  What more could I ask for.

We even cantered up the track so Haakon must be feeling well.  The Turmeraid is making a positive difference for now Haakon as well as Lambie.

I am very pleased. I have got my old boy back.

BeAnne was going very well too.  She kept up beautifully and even had a good splash in a pool but the battery went on my phone so I didn’t capture her happiness.

I love days like these, like it was in the old days when we were all a bit younger.

A quick trip to Lerwick to drop off a horse for a friend.  There and back and I forgot to do One Important Thing, which I am now kicking myself about.  I will send a grovelly apology.  Today, and most days, I have the brain of a hen.  I am surprised I didn’t drive the horse to Tesco’s.  My excuse?  I was in automatic pilot.

Meh!  Then an afternoon spent arguing with Vodafone.  That’s a few hours of my life that I will never get back.

Flossie kindly drove over to check The Minion Herd and the preggie laydees for me.

I briefly glimpsed some horses that apparently I look after and even own – I love this photo of Dreki standing guard over his dad, Taktur.  I saw them this morning from my bedroom window.

And so the sun has now set and I feel very short-changed today about not spending important time with my animals.

So, as you may remember from yesterday, Floss and I fed the Shetland pony herd our carrots when doing our daily check.  The whole herd had decided they were going to live forever on their miserable little homemade “island” but, as we were leaving they thought they would follow us through a muddy path and then the open gate into another field which had been available all the time.  I don’t understand why every pony had a thing about the mud. They know about it and they used to go into the other field frequently.  But suddenly they had told themselves they couldn’t move and they were stuck, possibly forever.

Who knows what goes through the minds of these ponies. It wasn’t exactly rocket science.

My suspicion is that Vitamin, who has always been suspicious of mud ever since Tiddles fell in the sink-hole, refused to move the herd into the other field.  She is their leader.  Just not a very good one.

But once they saw us walking through, they all happily followed and then went bouncing off into the distance.

(Her Maj was also on hand to “help” any tail-end Charlie’s)

Everyone was obviously very relieved they weren’t going to spend the rest of their lives on their homemade island.

There was lots of jumping over the ditches.

And then the playing began.

It was lovely to watch particularly when I remember how they originally were.

It was pretty obvious that Storm was in a particularly good mood.

It does my heart good to see them play and be happy.