The weather is turning, the forecast is very bad, so panicking, we packed our bags, loaded the van and are leaving Shetland on tonight’s boat rather than tomorrow’s as there was no guarantee the captain would take livestock based on tomorrow’s forecast.

Northlink have been brilliant. Having first said there was no room, they managed to find us a cabin and space for the van so huge relief all round.

We are taking Kappi and Waffle and are off to West Linton, just outside Edinburgh for the Icelandic Horse of Great Britain Championships.  Daisy is riding while Floss and I are probably getting in the way!

Wish us luck.

(in the bar!)

Wherever I go in the Minion field, I have a determined follower who wants Sudocrem on his nosey just in case it gets slightly sunburned.

I usually put a dab on as Albie is very insistent. 

The rest (Storm and Tiddles) have to wear a headcollar and put in a half-Nelson before I can get near them with the cream.

Two fields down live Brá and Hetja, my Icelandic horse mares.

Last week Hetja’s nosey got sunburned and I am dressing it daily with the cream so it is healing up nicely.

She hates it but I insist and, with the help of a carrot, I can plaster her nose.

The mares are both looking good now and Brá has put her weight back on.  I am relieved.  It was my fault she got so skinny – Dreki needed to be weaned sooner.

The orchids are appearing in the fields.   They are very special and I love seeing them in all their different colour varieties.

And on the way home….. a “swimming” hill sheep gorging on the bogbean growing in the loch.

Most days, I see Foula.   We have been having some superb weather recently.  It is due to rain this week.  To be honest, we could do with a downpour – the ground is very dry and I need the grass to grow.

I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I did wrong. I would turn back time and learn from my mistakes if I could.

This morning I found Puzzah dead in his field.

The other three appear all fine.  Lambie seems a bit subdued but that could be me watching everyone like a hawk.

I have spoken to a Shetland sheep expert and talked through a few theories.  We are none the wiser.

I checked them all last thing last night and they were all 100% fine, eating and happy.

It is a huge shock to us all.

I pray it was a one-off.

Rest in Peace Puzzah.   You were an awesome dude. You will be missed.  Again, I feel robbed.

We brought them all in bright and early with the promise of food in their winter bowls.  I hate to use the phrase “like lambs to the slaughter” but they were very trusting.

Our shearer arrived and set up – I had already cleared the little stable for him.

First up, only because he ran in, was Lambie.

He was a good boy.

He was drenched, mouth and feet checked, and then told he could go.  Lambie’s fleece was a Grade IV.

Next up was Puzzah.

The same drill.

I think he was very pleased to get rid of his fleece.

It was was ungraded but our shearer said it had some nice bits.

‘Ster was third in the queue.

His fleece was huge.

and

‘Ster is a Grade I – Shetland Katmoget.

I have plans for this fleece so it was sheared with even greater care and attention.

Meanwhile, a fight had broken out in the stable between the shorn and unshorn sheep – they didn’t recognise each other.  Lambie fled as he hates a stramash and stood by Daisy for security, who was filming for the Blog.

He watched with huge interest, though.

And last up was ‘Bert.

‘Bert has a Grade II Shetland moorit fleece. Daisy commented there was more grey this year.

As well as being drenched, etc, ‘Bert also had his horns cut off as they will grow straight into his head – a terrible design fault.

Afterwards, I put them all back into their field.

Lambie went into a decline.

‘Ster seemed happy enough and probably glad to be cooler.

Everyone was very tired but looking a bit gorgeous.

I let Lambie out of the field and Daisy gave him a long scratch which cheered him up hugely.  They are all now around the house (outside) where there is a shed and lots of dockens (docks) that need eating.

So that’s that done then.

I am feeling a bit bad – the sheeple didn’t have their spa day.  The shearers had a prior, and possibly more important, engagement so we have postponed until tomorrow.

So Daisy and I went to Lerwick to get supplies for the trip south next week.  Flossie stayed at home and went riding as well as checking/feeding the horses.

Flossie also had to keep Monster amused and accompanied too.  He hates being on his own.

BeAnne just sat and waited for us to come home because that’s what she always does.  She waits longingly.

To make up for the lack of sheeple pampering, I bought them a packet of ginger biccies which I duly distributed.

Yes, BeAnne got one too!  So tomorrow is The Day.  Sorry to disappoint.