I am not a boat person.  Anyone in my family will tell you that I don’t do boats.

But I do love The Swan.

When she is in harbour, I always go and have a little look.

It is always nice to see a beautiful boat.

A bit of The Swan’s history – she was built in Lerwick, launched in 1900 and was considered to be “one of the finest fishing boats afloat in the North of Scotland”.

She is a Fifie and was originally used for white fish (longline fishing) in the spring and herring (driftnet fishing) from May to September.

She was retired as a fishing boat in 1950, had several different owners and ended up sinking in Hartlepool.

She was then refloated and sold back to Shetland to be fully restored and turned into a sail training ship.

Both my daughters have sailed on The Swan when they were at Primary School.

While I was looking at my photos, I asked them about their experiences.

Daisy said she was seasick (so like her Mum) but it was “a very pretty boat”.

Flossie said, in typical Floss fashion, “We got a thing of juice and a biscuit.  I wasn’t at all seasick but Teacher was” and then sniggered to herself at the memory!

Every child in Shetland has probably been out on The Swan.

And where else would you see a loan Viking walking past the bus stop?

For more information about The Swan – and I will confess that I had to look it up as I knew nothing really – The Swan Trust and National Historic Ships UK.

And now, I think, I would quite like to go out as long as there were no waves, no rocking and no moving of the horizon!

I am not good on boats.  I just don’t do them.

Here are a few more pictures from the other day.  More foals and some mares – how I suffer.

I sat down outside, while Bjørn, the owner of Bergli Stud, was getting the other Shetland ponies ready for their photos and I didn’t have to wait very long.

The little “peoples” came up to talk to me almost immediately.

Being me, of course I had to take some photos even though they were not needed.

Yes, there were a few nose-kisseys.  This is an important part of foal education and the least I can do!

I think this was mother and she watched her baby make a new friend out of me.

This little spud was divine. Enchantment.

I loved the beard.

And so, while I waited, I took a few snaps of the other ladies who were around, peacefully munching on the Shetland Autumn grass.

It was all very peaceful.  For actual therapy, I don’t think there is any better sound than listening to ponies eat grass while you sit hugging foals.  It has got to be at the top somewhere for me.

I do suffer for my photos, you know.

Life is tough.

Really tough. I was asked to photograph little ponies running around.

Oof, I think it is the eyelashes or is it the silly frilly or the little flared nostrils?

Who knows, but this miniature Shetland pony foal is beyond scrumptious.

And she ran about for us.

Did a little dressage.

Had a quick prance.

Got her flashy moves on.

She is truly scrummy.

The very definition.

She has a little swishy tail.

And she has a friend too.

Another little miniature Shetland pony, a colt this time.

Another pocket rocket.

They ran around together, happily making faces, getting in each other’s way.

And trying to out do each other.

I think I am in love.

The palomino is Bergli Alexis (Out of Alex V D Voshoek (071136533) by Blackstonefolly Jessie (AQ2047/M07-454)

(she is for sale – Lerwick Shetland Pony Sales 2017)

No, I will not be going.

The little chestnut chap is Bergli Lucky – and yes, he is for sale, hence the photos for the Lerwick Shetland Pony Sales.

Ok, I probably will attend but I will not take my wallet, my horse van or my hands.  I will not register to buy and I will not come home with anyone!

Promise.

I went into the big field this morning in need of some hugging.

I found a rock (drier than the ground at the moment), sat down on it and waited.

Not for very long, mind.

The babies approached.

I was fair game and I was asking for company.

There is nothing better than a Sunday morning chat.

No one actually bites – they just like to reciprocate grooming if you are stroking or scratching them.  It is called mutual grooming.

I am so proud of my two littlest boys.

They are both dudes who are very affectionate and well-mannered.  They have come a long way and are very much part of their herd and family.

Lots of tickling.

Obviously lots of nose-kisseys.  That goes without saying.

Efstur and Hjalti happily joined in.

They are all growing up so fast – sniff.

My little boys.

Over the past few days, I have been trying to teach the foals to eat carrots.

First up was Dreki.

He wanted to like carrots.  He really did.  But his answer was yuck, no thank you.

He was not a fan of carrots.

Now Lilja totally gets it.  She loves her carrot slices (her mother’s daughter).  It didn’t take long to teach her.  She had the best role model.

Dreki came back to try again.

Ten out of ten for effort.

Zero for the actual eating, though.

Meanwhile, Lilja was happily eating all my supplies.

The foals are doing very well – developing and growing nicely.

They wanted to “play with” (read chase) BeAnne who knows how to stay out of their way as their intentions are not always honourable.  The foals don’t chase the sheep who wander in and out of their field, though, which is good.  I hate horses that kill sheep just for fun.  It has been known.

Dreki is still very much a Mummy’s Boy.

Obviously, both foals are still nursing.  They won’t be weaned until next year.

Lilja is much more independent than Dreki.  She followed me around the field as I was the one with those nice little edible orange pieces.

They are both very gorgeous, carrots or no carrots.

Bribery is always a useful tool to have in one’s arsenal and one I full intend to use and exploit!