Things are not good. I can barely walk now.

I am climbing the walls with pain when I lie down, my left leg feels like it has been encased in mud and when I walk, then suddenly it all threatens to give way and I can’t move which is very scary.

I have a Doctor’s appointment on Friday to discuss this. I don’t know what to do.  Worsened spinal stenosis, I think.

Anywho, enough of me.  I am beginning to bore myself.

Meanwhile, Miss BeAnne is happy.

She is playing a lot which is lovely to see.

I found a secret stash of her squeaky bally balls which have all her attention.  She is back to eating properly and lying through her teeth so everyone feeds her something.  Seven gravy bones today and counting!

Sorry, crap blog.

The vet phoned this morning to ask if they could change the day for Efstur’s planned castration to today as they had a visiting student who could help.

So, thinking of preserving my back, we quickly changed our plans and agreed.

The girls caught the three boys who always “travel together”.

Obviously Efstur is a lovely boy but he is not destined to be a stallion.  He will make a much better gelding.

The pre-med went in.  Efstur went wobbly.

And then down, with a sheet over his head to protect his eyes.

Daisy was multi-tasking – kneeling on Efstur’s neck while holding the rope on his leg too.  From the sidelines, Hjalti was offered encouragement.

Castration is obviously a spectator sport.

The operation was quick and after the important bit done, the vet left us to it.

Eventually Efstur woke up and was a sensible gelding.

Instead of thrashing about, he sat for ages gathering his thoughts.

Dreki and Hjalti looked on in a supportive way.

Hjalti even nodded off with his nose on the gate!

Eventually, with a huge sigh, Efstur stood up.

We put down shavings, a little haylage and a bucket of water and we left Efstur to recover.  Hjalti and Dreki were in the bigger stable with food and water too.

A few hours later, the three boys are all in the small paddock where there’s loads of uneaten grass.

I think it all went very smoothly.  So a different day to what we expected but I am glad it is done.

The good news is that since I publicly declared I would probably sell “Wee Nook”, Monster has taken to his man cave.

I secretly knew he would.

Meanwhile outside, the rain it keeps raining for a few more hours and you can feel the ground breathing a huge sigh of happiness and relief.

Hopefully the grass will grow properly now.

The garden is trying again after the thrashing it got from a devastating storm (we were south at the British Championships) a few weeks ago.

That cheers up my OH who loves his garden, even if the sheep and I are evicted.

I crept round it this afternoon in the rain with my camera taking these photos getting wet.

Today, I have been prescribed, and started, buprenorphine transdermal patches for my spinal pain.  This is a whole new ball game and I hope, at last, I have found something that works with my body and therefore my endless miserable pain.  I will admit I have been struggling these past few weeks and it is all getting a bit much.

So everything crossed, meanwhile onwards and upwards.  Once the rain has stopped I will go for a walk.  I must keep as mobile as possible.  That is really the only way forwards for me.

I will go back to riding in a few weeks if at all possible.

Flossie and I made our way over to see the Minions.  En route I saw, and therefore had to stop and photograph, a tiny sailing boat just passing Foula.

We were duly meeted and greeted by all the Minions.

So, here is the Minion Roll Call.

We’ll go by size, I think.

Smallest first, obviously!

Newt

Albie

Tiddles

Storm

Waffle

Silver

Plus the old ladies

Fivla

And, lastly, Vitamin

Lilja was around but she is just a temporary “Minion”.

We spent a peaceful morning with Silver picking on Flossie’s coat – all zips must be destroyed.

Here at Thordale we have certain standards and we think it is important to colour co-ordinate ponies grazing.  An absolute fashion must-have.

Little Newt and Flossie were having Peace Talks after the great Hoof-Trimming War of last week.

Storm and Silver had a little play or annoy.  Storm seems to have chunked out.  He is a solid little gentleman.

I can see a diet coming up in his future.

Lots of diets going on at the moment.

Sorry chaps!

I went on my usual walk this morning.

The clouds were gathering and there was definitely a rainy smell in the air.

I passed the day with some crofting neighbours and we all sucked our teeth and nodded our heads in agreement that we desperately needed this rain.

While I walked some big drops started falling and, for once, I didn’t mind.

This is the view from my window as I type.  We have three days of rain ahead and I couldn’t be more pleased to see it.

Meanwhile, I bought on Fleabay at a very cheap price (slightly used) a “wee nook” for Monster.

We sprinkled some catnip in his new abode to entice him in but he refuses point blank to use it.  I shall probably sell the bed on again.  Monster is a bit cross with me as I have just put him on a slimming diet – supper consisted of BeAnne’s cabbage and chicken.  I now have one unimpressed fat cat but Monster is beginning to wheeze and I think his immense weight might have something to do with it.  When it stops raining, I plan to dig out Her Maj’s car harness, put it around His Vastness and attempt to take him on my walks.

Attempt, mind.

Please send all flowers and gifts to our local hospital where I may be residing.

      n