I was just going around testing the electric fence for efficacy when I found this lot asleep.  At first I could only see the ones standing up and was a bit alarmed until I saw the others fast asleep.

I had a little sit and chat to kiss noseys and assure everyone I was not going to ever feed them again.  Tough love – stay strong, Frances, stay strong, I tell myself.

So I spent my morning wondering how I could make the electric fence zap that bit stronger as the growing grass behind it was now touching and earthing the current.  Not good.  The ponies would break through soon unless I did something fast.  I was being watched all the time, mostly by Waffle. I could almost hear him planning.

And while I was busy disconnecting this bit and attaching that bit, I noticed I was being followed by a herd of heffalumps.  Lots of galloping, bucking and farting, which made me smile.  There is no lack of energy around here – burn off the calories, boys, I told them and don’t touch that fence, ever.

Absolutely nothing happened today – except for rescuing a baby bunny from Pepper and hoping it lived – but apart from that absolutely nothing happened.

I made these two in the afternoon.  The start of a new flock.  All the rest went to the shop yesterday.

After the dogs/cat tea, me, my trusty bucket and Marigolds (rubber gloves) went to poo-pick the track.  I met this lot at the end, looking for non-existent grass in the dying-back marsh marigolds.  Usually by now they have a new bit of track to eat down but…..

…. I looked at Albie and my heart hardened.  On fresh air, he has gained 20kg, as have the rest of them so nope, absolute nope, not until Albie’s crest has gone and there is a rib under all that fat.

Silver tried to tell me he had ribs.

They were all very argumentative.

When I asked Newt if he had ribs, he ran round me.  I couldn’t get near him so gave up trying. He was in one of those moods.

He wanted to annoy everyone.

And, if the ponies try the fence, I will strim down everything on the other side until it zaps them all good and proper.

I told you my heart has hardened. These days I am one tough Muzzah.

It’s that time of year – when Ted has his three-monthly hair cut.

He would tell you he doesn’t really enjoy it very much because he hates cars and gets very anxious.  We took Pepper too, though she doesn’t get clipped.  Ted accepted his fate because I told him he must (and everyone will love him more when he loses the greasy Muppet look).

I was deposited at the garage to collect my car (service, new tyres and I sold a kidney) along with Pepper who was very happy tying me up in knots with her lead.  She walks one way, I have to turn around so the lead is not wrapped around me!  It is our dance.

We drove to the Street and I dropped off more sheep, and rearranged the field a bit.

Pepper and I agreed that she could lose the Halti (anti-drag device which she hates) if she promised not to pull like a small train.  She was slightly better on her extendable lead and we tied up passers-by instead.

Pepper loves Lerwick. She loves meeting people, going in the shops and most of all, new dogs.  We went into a few shops – ones I know don’t mind dogs and she was made a fuss of because she charmed the socks off everyone.

A shop immediately goes up in my estimation if it allows dogs (or cats).

We got home to be met by Ted who was now sporting a more handsome look, thankfully.

We have one Mr Duckie who lives by himself. He’s always been a loner and now his missus has lost interest in him.  The other males are fighting with him and it never ends well – these days he is looking very beaten up.

A few nights back, I decided Mr D should sleep in the shed behind the house, which is close to where he spends his lonely days.

Of course he decided he wasn’t going to help and after a good chase, and rugby tackle (Muscovy ducks are very strong), I succeeded in picking him up, spraying his fight wounds and putting him my chosen shed for the night.

The next day, I built a tunnel of hurdles into the chosen shed and in the evening, Mr D walked in without the battle.

Today, he was waiting to go into his shed, which I felt was a huge improvement in attitude.

This is a result of the ratio of boys to girls is not being ideal.  I don’t like the idea of Mr D sleeping outside, which he was beginning to do because soon the polecats will appear and that will be it.

So, for as long as he partipates, Mr D will live in his own bedroom at night.  For me, it is just another shed to occasionally muck out.  I will have to work out a ramp system for the door in winter and then we will be all set.

According to this lot, Shetland ponies will melt in the summer rain.  I did not know this but now I do.  Every day’s a learning day and today I learned this.

Or, as I told them, “utterly wet and a weed”(s) – iykyk.

Albie was not sure if he would melt or not.  I rather hoped he would, at least his backside as he seems to have put on weight eating very little and he needs to slim down quickly.

I told Albie this while I was looking for Silver to put some cream on his sarcoids.

I don’t think Albie (Potatoes) was very impressed with what I said.  I am now immune and hardened to any attempts at providing more food based on the latest weight data.

Silver was very good while I put on his cream and then Newt immediately licked it off.  *** sigh *** – thank you Newt. Only he would do this because he is a weird strange little being.

Yes, Newt is very weird and most definitely very strange.   Anyway, it finally stopped raining and everyone went out to be weirder and stranger on the track instead.