It was a beautiful Shetland nearly-Autumn day.  The Icelandic boys were mooching about in their field so I decided to try a new filming technique – using a tripod.

I hate tripods – they are the camera equivalent of wire coat-hangers.  I hate them too and can get so very tangled up.

But I must say a tripod has its uses. My film is steadier, if silly.

Of course, BeAnne came with and she had a lovely time standing in the stream looking for tiny fish.

Once on the bank, she rolled and rolled in all the Greylag goose poo.  A dear little dog.

While I went to film the boys she sat safely on the other side of the fence by the burn enjoying the wonderful sunshine.

Anywho, enjoy the film. The music is jolly.  It was played by our friends a few years back and recorded in our house.

About the film – of the noseys, it was Klængur who was the worst.  Once he had seen the camera, he followed me around the field never letting me out of his sight.   Klængur is having a holiday while Floss is away – shoes off and not being ridden.

I could get into this film making racket!

This is my world, here in Shetland.

And this is Flossie’s world in Chengdu, China where she is living and working for a while.

As you can see it is somewhat different to what she is used to.

And yes of course we told her to bring a panda-baby home.  The one in the middle upside down is my favourite.  Dammit, they are all my favourites.

Last week Flossie went to visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

She said it was amazing.

Jealous, moi?  Of course.

The red panda was not cooperating on that day.

Anyway, Flossie is learning to play Mahjong.  She promised to teach me when she comes home.

The internet is a marvellous thing.  Apparently, according to Google, Lerwick (our nearest town) and Chengdu are 4,889 miles away.

Flossie is having weird things to eat – pig’s brains served in a jam tart foil dish!

Or suckery legs!

Our lives seem very different at the moment.

Flossie is sending back some wonderful photos.  Pandas make a change from ponies.

I had a disastrous afternoon in Lerwick (don’t ask) so I bailed out and went for a walk instead.

Being a Sunday, there were few folk about and almost all the shops were shut but it was good to wander around while I tried to regain my composure and perspective on life, the universe and everything.

Here are my photos.

Forgive me, but I am not really in the mood to talk – still upset but hey-ho, the world spins onwards.

Anti-mimesis is a philosophical position that holds the direct opposite of Aristotelian mimesis. Its most notable proponent is Oscar Wilde, who opined in his 1889 essay The Decay of Lying that, “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life”

….. as I often say to myself (not).

This is one of my favourite pictures that hangs in our house.

Not-so-little Monster has everyone organised into doing what he wants except for being fed every time he shouts.  We are now immune to his nagging.

Monster almost appears thinner.  I would even go so far as to say the incredible weight seems less.  If he is really starving he goes and finds himself a couple of rabbits, a small bird and some mice for dessert.

Monster still likes a cardboard box.

He finds them, well, restful.

Dear Monster – I feel he has been with us forever.

And Lambie has decided he has forgiven me and returned to his house for some of his speshul carrots, that he was given by Transition Turriefield to cheer him up.

When visitors come to see the Minions, they don’t usually come back.   We are a brief encounter on the off the beaten track unofficial things-to-do in Shetland circuit.

But today we were re-visited, which made it a special day (as well as being given two types of delicious cake and some beautiful plants).

The re-visitor knew the drill and what to expect.

The Minions gave it their all.

And I think it was appreciated, if not enjoyed, even.

Our visitor brought her daughter so that she too could enjoy the hands-on Minion experience.

I asked each visitor which Minion they wanted to take home, if it were possible.  Newt was chosen to “go south” as was Lilja.

These days Lilja makes a very good honorary Minion.  So that’s the biggest and the smallest packing their imaginery red spotty hankies.

I think these visitors will be back, somehow.  They hear the call of the Minions.