We are struggling here.

Poor Bardy is completely off his legs and I feel totally responsible (The Ghastly Fall).  I am running blind here.  I feel I am letting Bardy down due to my total ignorance and am 100% responsible.  Not really a fit parent.

So, I remembered a friend telling me about Manx Wild Bird Aid and I phoned them, desperate for some help for Bardy.  They have been nothing but brilliant – all day, giving me advice.

Firstly, to prop Bardy up.

Bardy’s diet is all wrong too.  Beef mince plus vitamin drops have little, if any, calcium.  Bardy needs calcium to grow properly.  How could I have missed this?  I have a brain and I feel rotten thinking Bardy has not had all he needs to develop.

(there were also maggots/larvae and more woodlice in this pot – he wolfed them down)

Based on film sent via t’net, a diagnosis was tentatively made that Bardy may have salmonella (white diarrhoea) and/or spinal damage due to The Fall.

Bardy is now on daily 0.2ml Baytril. His weight has also fallen hugely.  Again, something I didn’t notice until it was pointed out to me – I hang my head in shame.

After Baytril, Bardy perked.  His diet has been changed to contain calcium and he is in his little bag shouting at YouTube videos now.

Meanwhile, apparently I have some ponies!

I have neglected them.

This afternoon, I did manage to ride Haakon to find his tölt.  It was nice to go outside and to also find some perspective.

Yes, Bardy is only a starling, but he is my starling and I have done bad by him.  All wrong. Please send healing vibes. He needs use of his legs, even one leg, otherwise he has no future and it is all my fault.

Up here, in Shetland, we have not had a horrid weather day for a while.  In fact, Shetland has had a “sunnier July than Cornwall“, according to the BBC so it must be true.

Today is an indoor day and I really don’t mind.  There is always lots to do.

On these kind of days, BeAnne adopts a supportive role.  It is what she does best.

Loki just went with disinterested – he had a walk this afternoon with OH in the rain.

There was stuff to do – creating different things.

Even Wu, in his own special way!

Bardy just shouted at me – all day, every day.  I must admit I have times when I feel a bit frazzled.

Anywho, this afternoon, as it is a Thursday, I was working for Transition Turriefield packing vegetables for the veg boxes and shops.  It is an much-needed interlude.

Work Benefit:  I had a kitten break!  Every work environment should have Kitten Break!

I came home late this afternoon to be shouted at again by Bardy. Yes, now he is sitting in a bag around my neck, while I post beef mince avec vitamin drops down him!

Sometimes I think I have no life.

Our visitors’ last request, before they went on the ferry back to Scotland tonight, was to meet the Shetland-Ponies-in-Sweaters who, a few years back, were an viral internet sensation.

So, in a convoy, we drove over to Sandness to see Les Girls.

Formal introductions were made.

And friendships were forged.

We pointed out the famous ones.

And, of course, they worked their superstar magic.

Lyra, being Lyra, even though she is not one of the Shetland-ponies-in-sweaters combo, made sure she was part of the whole meet and greet experience.

Bless, her, even Delia got in on the act.

I think we can truthfully say our visitors enjoyed meeting our little superstars.

Funnily enough, I was told about folk who had met our Shetland-ponies-in-sweaters down the south end of the island.  Allegedly some random Shetland ponies are pointed out as my two girls.

My two live on the Westside and, to my knowledge, they are not on the tourist route.  So the black Shetland pony and white Shetland pony, who had their photos taken and feature in holiday snaps, are not actually the originals but just lookey-likeys!

Sorry!

Bardy had a terrible fall a few days back.  All my fault and I continue to feel totally to blame.

The upshot is that Bardy’s development has been delayed and we have spent the last few days just getting back to where we once were.

Obviously, we went to the vet who said she thought no bones were broken and Bardy had bruising.  He needed tlc and rest and hopefully, fingers crossed, he would get back to normal.

So, Bardy lives in his cage on the windowsill sitting in the sun listening to classical music.

Today, I went for my weekly flute lesson and Bardy came too.  Interestingly, when we played our duets, Bardy stopped chirping and listened.  When we stopped to talk and discuss the music, Bardy started to chat away.  He recognises music and enjoys it.

Anywho, it is just an observation and we are promoting Bardy’s independence. A few days back, Floss and I put him and his cage outside.  I went back 30 minutes later to find Bardy hysterical with fury, shouting his head off, apoplectic with rage demanding to go back indoors.  He hated it.  This outside scenario would never catch on and I was never to do that again.

So, here are some films from yesterday of the puffins at Sumburgh Head.

Well, our visitors arrived hot off the ferry this morning.

A full English breakfast and then off to meet the ponios.

Yes, The Minions are trained to do selfies!

Then, off a-sight-seeing.

First off, down to Jarlshof – a prehistoric archaeological site described as “one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles”.

Everyone was suitable impressed and used words like “awesome”!

Afterwards, we went up to Sumburgh Head and, guess what, the puffins were still in residence, which was good as I thought they may have gone back out to sea by now.

I may have slightly gone over-board on the puffin photography.

I think we blew our visitors’ minds with the airport and the driving-over-the-runway scenario!

It is wonderful (and incredible) to meet folk who read the blog and came to Shetland because of it!