When Shetland is hit by fog, Shetland is hit by fog.  Serious fog.  None of yer “it may clear soon” fog, but a real pea-souper.

I went down to the south end – Sumburgh – to collect a friend from the airport who is coming to stay for a week.  In my defence, on the westside, where I live, there was no fog – that arrived later.

As I was early, I decided to pop up to Sumburgh lighthouse to see if I could see a puffin or two.

So, you know, and I won’t keep you in suspense…..

…. I briefly saw a puffin land and then scuttle into his nest. I didn’t have time to take a photo.

But, hey ho, the sea pinks were pretty.

I also saw a bird fly – back view!

It was very spooky up at Sumburgh.  The wind whistled and it sounded like the scary part of a computer game – you know, the bit where you creep about outside and something is hiding waiting to pounce on you!

There were birds.

Yay.

But no puffins.

Un-yay.

After my friend’s flight circled for 30 minutes overhead, it returned from whence it came – Edinburgh – so I drove back up to Sumburgh Head to see if the puffins had put in an appearance.  They tend to appear in the late afternoon.

Visibility was even worse.

And yup, I saw absolutely nuffin.

No puffin.

The wind circled around making low whistling noises.

It was even more spooky. I didn’t like it at all.

I went home.

(Tonight is Eurovision.  Tomorrow, OH goes to Sumburgh airport to collect friend.  Tomorrow, I may be nursing my annual Eurovision hangover!)

Little Precious and her mother have been returned to their breeder.  We have achieved what we set out to do – mother/daughter bonded, antibiotics given to mum while bebbie has mastered nursing and is growing well.  She has filled out and they love each other.  Perfect.

So there is no need for them to stay here.  I am sad to see them go but they both need equine company, not the canine version.

And please note, OH’s garden is still intact.  They never touched his tulips!

Meanwhile, the boy-herd is doing very well.  I had private reservations about putting them all together, but I was determined to make my life, this spring/summer, easier.  They can’t all just live in separate fields.  That is not right.

So, Taktur is living with 3 colts and 5 geldings and he is absolutely fine with them all.

Little Albie and, even littler, Newt are in their element.

Albie is probably the weakest link but he is doing well and plays the “I am a foal, don’t eat me” card, while Newt goes in for the kill!  They work as a team.

Newt is depute with his eyes on the prize and will soon be ruling The World.

He is Haakon’s No 2.

He enjoys telling everyone and sadly, they believe him!  So sweet.  Apparently he is 16h.  Who knew?

Taktur is ever hopeful the gate will open again.

So he can visit his beloved lady-girls.  Fat chance and over my dead body.

He likes to lean on the fence and I am liking to put an electric fence along it shortly if he continues with this thought.

That will learn him!

He has plenty of little admirers.  He doesn’t need the pregnant ladies.

Bewb Watch Update – both mares’ bewbs are now facing downwards and starting to fill up.

Exciting times ahead…….

Here at Thordale, some days are weirder than others.

Daisy called me over to say we were now the official Shetland branch of KFC!  Here in Shetland, we don’t have any of the fast food chain franchises.  It is wonderful.

A Chicken-on-the-bone bucket!

Or, in our world, Elvis nesting on baler twine and straw.

(I dread to think what the “sides” are or the special recipe is – don’t go there. Just don’t.)

Officially odd.

Next up, I made the executive decision to move the pregnant ladies.

They need more grass and Clothie (the croft where they are) needs a break because, once they have foaled, the girls will come into their foal-heat within 20 days of foaling.

Our predominant wind is a south-westerly (through the front door!) so foal-heat girl smell will be blown straight to the boys’ field where three colts and one stallion live.  Perhaps not the best idea.

While the girls are pregnant, they are not giving off any come-hither hormones so it makes sense to keep them in this new field letting Clothie have a break and grow some more.  Clothie lies northerly of where the boys are.

Ok, in my head this all makes sense and I could draw you a map.  Once we took them over, they galloped and bucked happily around the field (noooooo, don’t do that, just walk).

This afternoon, however, one stallion managed to find an open gate (fer crying out loud – and all my fault) and stood by their fence shouting.  The ladies ignored him and Daisy caught him easily and led him away. The gate is now shut properly.

The two fatty ladies are very upset. In their minds, they are the much needed midwives.

Daisy brought Klængur into the indoor school to train.  He nodded off while she tacked up!  Bless him – I loved the bottom lip of snooziness.

And that’s how we roll in this Shire!

It is very cold.  Bl***y freezing but the Shetland Spring flowers are finally trying to come out now.

Walls of wild yellow primroses (Primula vulgaris) are lining the banks of my burn.  They are called “Mayflooers” in Shetland dialect.

If it were a bit warmer, I would go and sit down there, keeping Lambie and friends company while they grazed.  Too ruddy cold for me.

I love the primroses but they are very difficult to photograph.  They don’t show up well.

The “blugga” or marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) are now also putting in an appearance.  These look like overgrown Walt-Disneyesque buttercups but like damp boggy fertilised ground and are a pain as once they take hold, they spread and spread.

In the hill, there are common dog violets (Viola riviniana) who were flourishing, though they are not ejoying the sudden harsh cold wind.

I have had an industrious morning gardening.  Me?  Gardening!  (I am not a gardener at all but this year I have sudden desire to grow some vegetables).

So, OH lugged two empty aluminium feed troughs, filled them with the contents of the muckheap.  I topped them off with compost and sowed peas, rocket, lettuce (I think, I have forgotten now!) and then watched pesky birds feast on my efforts.  So I have added my anti-bird protection and ordered some net tunnels off Amazon!

Daisy and I also tidied up Lambie’s best bedroom so that , once Precious and her mother leave, we can shut the gate and let the patch grow better without random poo and twigs.

The Icelandic ladies are on bewb-watch – nope, not due yet, I think.

And the Shetland ladies have joined Fat Fighters!

Daisy and Kappi fra Frøberg are working very hard in preparation for the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain British Championships and Summer Festival that takes place on 23-25 June in England.  This will be our big trip south and I am making lists and plans worthy of Hannibal crossing the Alps.

I enjoy watching them work together.

Kappi and Daisy are both putting in a great deal of training.  Most days they are doing something – either training outside, training on our oval track, free lungeing or lessons indoors.

Daisy has at least two – three lessons a week from Bjørn Roar Larsen, our local Level 3 FEIF trainer and riding instructor (International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations, representing Icelandic Horse associations in 21 countries).

We couldn’t do this without him and his extensive knowledge.

And Kappi, who we love.  Kappi is a wonderful horse.  He tries so hard for Daisy and his reward is the promise of a Krispy Kreme donut after the British Championships.

Some may think that Kappi lives for food.

They would be right.  His stomach has a clock in it.  He actually knows when it is 17:00 on the dot!

Taktur is working hard too.

He is not currently training for any specific event but still works hard for both Bjørn and Daisy.  I am not riding him now.

Anywho, that is where we are at.  Riding every minute somewhere!  I usually accompany Daisy when she is training outdoors on Haakon or Klængur.

Krispy Kreme donuts – hmmmmm ( we can’t get them here in Shetland).  I think they are an incentive for all of us, actually.