Firstly, here is the annual photo of our traditional Yule Log only this year it is a new and improved version.  Mostly because I had nothing to do with it!

Not the usual shop-bought, Flossie, my younger daughter, made the actual logs – a large one for the main trunk and a small one cut up to make the branches.  Impressive, eh?

Daisy created the icing and did beautiful thatching with decoration.  All perfect and delicious.

Anywho, it is now cold, really very cold and none of us feel like going outside for any longer than we have to.

So, while OH was walking the dog, Daisy and I snuck Efstur and Taktur into the garden to feed them their buckets.

The others had to watch from a distance but I did go out afterwards with parsnips to make amends.  They had eaten huge piles of silage all morning.

Efstur is fed because he is growing and a colt.

Taktur is fed because he is a stallion and back in full-time training.

BeAnne is not fed because she is square.

Darling Efstur is very easy now he knows the drill.  It took one day to get him into this routine of coming in to be fed.

So, apart from eating Yule Log and drinking the occasional gin or hot chocolate, depending on the time of day or night, we are all very into doing jigsaw puzzles.

We have just completed this one.  I love it because it is one I found in a charity shop in Lerwick and I had similar as a child.

Sadly, there is a small problem….

Yup, it did have the full complement of 500 pieces, only one of them was rogue.

I won’t lie – it was a disappointment.

This was Christmas Eve morning.

We were at Leradale looking for the ponies so we could feed Delia and move everyone afterwards up the hill to find better grazing.

Only they were already at the top of the hill.  Well, someone was.

So, first things first – we went and said hello to Dreki and his sister, Lilja.

A quick chat.

And then goodbye.  Dreki would have come too while Lilja stayed back.

To reach the Shetland ponies, we had to drive round to another gate.  It was a nice drive.  The view from the car window was nice.

Fat seals and their young were lying on the rocks enjoying the rare winter sun .

We went the long way round and turned off the road to drive up an access track to the field gate at the top.

We found our ponies.

They had been waiting for us.  On the other side of the car in the sheep field opposite someone had put out a silage bale.

I think this is what attracted the ponies up to the top of the hill.

While Daisy was guarding Delia’s food for her, I took some photos of the wonderful view.  It was like being at the top of the world (but without all the effort of getting there).

There was a good view of the prehistoric building sites on the croft.  Note the round house on the left.

Once finished, carrots were dished out, noseys were kissed and we said our goodbyes.

I am glad the ponies are going up to the top on their own.

And no, they can’t come home with us despite those pathetic begging eyes (Tiddles).

I hope you all had a wonderful day.

Up early, stockings opened, then horses and sheeple to feed, lunch to cook and eat.  We are now all relaxing.

That old adage “Never work with animals or children” has never been truer than today.

I espied three orange Icelandic horses of various age and sizes standing looking rather pretty, if hopeful, by the gate.  I had just put Efstur back out after his daily bucket of food.  His reappearance had attracted a couple of hopeful hangers-on.

So I thought, as they looked so nice together, I would take a “family photo”.

I clambered over the fence and tried to capture that special moment when they all look happy and smiley.

So Kappi put his head down.

Kappi raised his head and Hjalti stuck his tongue out.

Ok, we’re getting there, I thought when Efstur ducked his head.

Hjalt stuck out his tongue again while Efstur perfected his utterly dejected face.

I told them both off so then they had a go at each other!

Nearly there!

This was looking hopeful – Kappi looked nobel, Hjalti looked, well like Hjalti and Efstur had by now put himself up for adoption.

So, I gave up on Efstur and achieved this picture.  *** Sigh *** It was the best I could do.

And with that, I clambered back over the fence to go and find a more handsome and cooperative subject!

So, this afternoon, the Walls Community Choir (of which I am a member) played their last two concerts of the year.

The first one was at Wastview, our local Care Centre – a residential and nursing home.

I arrived half an hour early.  I have no idea why, so I drove back down to our local shop to buy some vodka, potatoes (for roasting) and toothpaste – all the major food groups covered really.

Then back I went and, when other singers started to appear, I went in, set up my flute, stand and music next to the pianist.

Our remit was to wear something festive, so I managed a Father Christmas hat and some Christmassy earrings.  My family’s parting shot as I left the house this afternoon was that I looked like a grumpy elf!

With a local population of 700 (ish), there was a very good turnout and I think we sounded strong and festive.

We played our set, had a cup of tea and a natter with the residents and then set off to the next concert.

The venue – outside the local shop.

This time it was just me accompanying the choir and no place for an electric piano.  It was lightly raining (the tail-end of the gale that day).

Armed with my headtorch, music in plastic sleeves (thus waterproof), bulldog clips to keep said music in place, someone to stand in front of the music stand to keep it upright plus a nice chap to add more light and turn the pages, I played while the choir sang to any passing shopper who happened by.

My extremities are now defrosting nicely and I am told that I should get the feeling back in my hands by Christmas Day!

Most importantly, I really enjoyed myself!

(great photos by Barry Broadbent)