The minute the ferry docked at Lerwick Harbour first thing on Sunday morning, we drove home, had a quick breakfast and then went out in the horsevan to move the Minions.

While I was away south, a friend had been looking to my little herd and I had been receiving regular updates,  It was becoming increasingly evident that, though rather fat, the little guys needed to be quickly relocated.  Their field consisted mostly of trodden down grass and poo.

So we moved them over to Lyradale – a large croft I bought last year.

It was two month’s early than last year (i only bought it in December).

We moved Silver, Storm, Tiddles, Fivla and Delia over to Lyradale whilst taking Lyra, Vitamin (her mother) and Waffle to another park.

The ponies may look fat but soon winter will get the weight off them.

Don’t worry about Waffle, Lyra and Vitamin – they all be reunited shortly.

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Lambie has lost a horn and so is now covered in a delightful turquoise antibiotic spray.  Before, he looked like someone had stabbed him in the head – blood everywhere.

Hopefully the spray will prevent any infection from his bloody little stump.  I am sad. I was rather hoping Lambie could manage a bit more than 1/2 inch of horn but it is not to be.

Now I have finished my Oxford graduation photos, I decided I could enjoy some freedom and so I spent this afternoon showing a visitor the beauty of my Shetland.

I drove her around Shetland and while we nattered, we stopped occasionally to take photos.

I actually think Autumn is the most beautiful season in Shetland.

We all decided the best way to spend our post-graduation afternoon was to wander around The Ashmolean Museum.

I will try to describe who is who – but I may fail.  I was just mesmerised by the whole thing and didn’t really look at the details.

The marble statue of Athena.

We all went at our own speed and where we wanted, catching occasional glimpses of each other.

A beautiful garden sculpture that I could just see outside my house.

Halls and halls of beautiful antiquities.

Into the Egyptian bit now….

A pottery lion, dated to 2,325 – 2,175 BC – polished red ware.

Loving the paws.

The Shrine of Taharqa – 680 BC

Model boat – they were keen on their little boats.

Shabti – Faience shabti (glazed earthenware funerary figures) from the 21st dynasty (about 1000BC)

Canopic jars for your viscera (or sweeties, if you are my daughters who made them in Primary School!) and a sarcophagus.

Statue of the ram of Amun (and it was at this point that I headed off a sheep/animal theme).

Sobek, the crocodile god, from the pyramid temple of Amenemhat III – he was gorgeous and had a lovely smile.

Now this was fascinating.  I was totally mesmerised.

In 2011 a CT scan was made of the body of a male mummy child.  Then, on 111 glass plates, British artist, Angela Palmer, created ink drawings to represent a moving 3-D image of the boy.

Apparently the boy died of pneumonia and was aged 2 years old around 80AD.

You can read more about this project on the artist’s website.

After ancient Egypt, I headed off towards ancient Britain.

I could be wrong, very possibly, but these are the sort of artifacts of the same age, perhaps, as Lyradale.

 

I remain hopeful that we will find a few of these torcs lying casually around!

Oh, there was masses of wonderful pieces.  I wanted them all!

A carved ivory dragon seal – Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644)

Greek bronze statue of Zeus throwing an imaginery javelin.

Now someone has a sense of humour….

The sniffing bull!

Ivory sewing box.

Nandi, the bull of Shiva – he has a nice look about him.  Sort of Lambie-esque.

A muzzle for a horse.  Now who could we use that on?

The Queen’s College Boar.

Diskobolos- discus thrower – of Myron

Beautiful paintings.

Lion mane unicorns – Huh?

Now this was a favourite painting.

Lambie is the one sitting down.

‘Bert and ‘Ster on the other side (‘Ster at the front, obviously).

A small sheep definitely loved by his Muzzah! Uncanny likeness all round.

Larger sheep (probably goat) making his feelings known about being chased by dogs.

Dog walks we have known.

Horses we have also known!

A stunning Japanese vase

Oh, the treasures were endless. An ivory and metal crosier head,

The Alfred Jewel

Stunning nautilus shells.

So much stuff!  Suddenly one afternoon didn’t seem enough.

I think, of all the photos I took, this has to be my favourite picture (that, and the Lambie one in my arms, of course!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the graduation ceremony, we went back to the hotel to change – I am not spending the rest of the day in a posh frock and heels for anyone.

Then, we drove slightly outwith Oxford to The Trout Inn in Wolvercote for a lovely lunch.

This 17th century pub featured frequently in BBC’s TV sereis Morse and is famous for its’ riverside terraces and resident peacocks.

This is quintessentially Oxford.

After a well-deserved and hard-earned lunch, we drove back to Oxford central, parked up and walked to the Ashmolean Museum.

Oxford is a beautiful city.  A very special place.

The Martyr’s Memorial in St Giles commemorates the 16th-century Oxford Martyrs.

There are the obligatory bicycles belonging to the students.

St John’s College, founded in 1555, is the wealthiest college in Oxford – apparently one of the biggest land owners in the country.

The architecture is wonderful.

It is like walking in a film set.

And then we came across the entrance to the Institutio Tayloriana – part of the Bodleian Library – as Taylors, we loved the Latin inscription.  This is so us!

More tomorrow – it was a great week away.

We arrived nice and early to stand outside The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.

Built from 1664 to 1669 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford.

It was raining and of course, being from Shetland, we didn’t have umbrellas because we are tough and hard, as well as forgetting!

There were a few different queues around the building.

And we all happily stood in the rain admiring the architecture.

Once inside, we found a place to sit….

And wait….

And look around to admire the scenery…..

Which was pretty goddamn spectacular.  The ceiling was painted by Robert Streater (Charles II’s court painter.  It represents “Truth descending on the Arts and Sciences to expel Ignorance from the University”.

Like you do.

The graduands then arrived and sat in their allocated seats (Floss was looking around for us).

The ceremony started with the entrance of the Vice-Chancellor, preceded by the Bedels and followed by the Proctors.

I know this because I have read the programme.

The whole ceremony is in Latin apart from the Vice-Chancellor’s first welcome speech.

I loved the Proctors’ chairs which made them look like small children as they could rest their feet on the cross-pieces.

Everyone waited until their name was called by the Junior Proctor.

Then they clambered in a dignified fashion out of their seats.

The candidates are then presented by their Dean of Degrees for their college.  The Junior Proctor recited an Oath in which they replied “Do fidem” (I swear) and they were admitted to the degree by the Vice-Chancellor.

They left the theatre.

The Bedels walk, one at a time, to the front door and admit each group of graduates who are now wearing their full academic dress.

Different colours and types according to their degree.

Floss was wearing white – a BA graduate.

They returned to the room and bowed to the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors.

And then left (to stand outside in the rain, which had just about stopped by now).

So, there we are.  One very happy, and relieved, BA (Oxon) Oriential Studies graduate.

I am loving the robes!

I am struggling with Floss’ ‘puter.  It is not my friend.

Photos are either huge or tiny, but I have given up fighting with them now.  Life is too short for this battle.

Mum’s garden is still looking wonderful.  Autumn is always a beautiful season, for me.

Teddy continues to entertain.

He has settled in very quickly.

While I was a-pottering around outside (this is the last rose of summer, apparently).

I was left to look after Teddy.

And he minded very much that Mum had gone inside.

There was porcelain that needed to moved to the kiln and no one wanted to be tripped up by Tedward.

Anyway, all was quickly done and normality resumed.

Teddy remains enchanting.

He knows exactly how to work the room.

Or the garden.

And of course, we all love him.

Still loving the ears – they are huge.

I would really like to know who they belong to, apart from Teddy.

Anywho, all is good.  Tomorrow is Oxford, the next day is the graduation and then home, via just about every method of transport.