So flute lesson today and then on to town as per usual.

We needed to buy horse, sheep, cat, dog and people food (in that order, too).

We walked up and down Commercial Street to see the superb shop window Up Helly Aa (the Lerwick Viking annual fire festival) displays.

Almost every shop makes a huge effort and it is fascinating.

There is much diversity. Yes, there is the obvious Viking theme but it is amazing what you can put in a galley!

The outfits are incredible.  Many of the displays feature costumes from previous Jarl Squads.

And the accessories!  The beautiful shields, buckles, axes, etc….. Such workmanship.

Outfits from the Junior Jarl Squads.

And yes, we still feature.  Amongst the Up Helly Aa kit was us on a teatowel!

There are obviously different approaches to Up Helly Aa…..

You can even knit your own galley if you want.

This is the Red Cross shop window.

Home of the knitted Viking helmet.

Even a Fair Isle knitted bottle cover for your beer

Or your gin.  You choose!

At every Up Helly Aa, there is The Bill. It contains mostly local in jokes.

This made me smile!

And The Hand in the Galley? – well apparently legend has it that two Viking Jarls both saw Shetland at the same time from their galleys, whilst searching for land.  The winner would be the first one to lay his hand on the soil.  So, one fearing he was losing the race, cut off his hand and hurled it onto the beach, thus winning the race and ownership of Shetland.

Up Helly Aa started in the 1880’s.  Cancelled for a couple of wars and the death of Queen Victoria, but it is always held on the last Tuesday of January.

If you want to know more about Up Helly Aa, I recommend this website – http://www.uphellyaa.org/

Delia stays well out of the foal politics.  She is not interested.  Why should she be?  They are small and young while she is old and disinterested.  She is not attached to them in any way.

So, every morning, we let her out of the field to free access of whatever she wants and I think she is looking very well on it.

Meanwhile Albie and Newt are sorting themselves out.

They are both fed every morning – Albie gets two buckets – one with milk and one with hard feed while Newt gets a his own bucket of hard feed.

To start with, this system worked fine.  They would eat standing side by side.  They didn’t share their buckets and knew whose were whose.

Then suddenly Newt decided that he was the boss of Albie and he wanted his breakfast too.  He now tells him where to stand, which bucket he can have, what to think and do.

And, worst of all, Albie agrees and lets him.

Tor, sensibly, does not get involved.

So now Newt’s bucket of food is placed far away from Albie and I sometimes even stand over them both to stop Newt thinking he wants Albie’s bucket as well.

When Newt is on the his breakfast rampage, Albie comes to stand by me and looks pathetic. “Mum, Mum, Newt’s got my food…. Mum, Mum, what do I do?”

Meanwhile, Newt’s fur is still falling out in clumps.

Albie is doing very well, though.  At least he is good at something – holding onto his fur (Albie’s one talent!)

Poor little Albie. We never expected this.  Newt needs to go out with the Minions soon – they will tell him where he stands in the great order of life.

I try to keep my life as unexciting as possible.  I like it that way.   Nice and simple.

And when I feel up for it, I go for a ride.

While Flossie is away at University, I have handed over Klængur’s reins to Daisy.  She is responsible for him at the moment.  What with this cold that is lingering for the duration, I just don’t have the strength.

It is enough that I can tack up and ride Haakon.

Anywho, at the start of the ride we have long reins for stretching out.

And then off we go.  Daisy and Klængur are much faster, and younger, than Haakon and me.

Gone are the days when Haakon had to be in the front.  He is almost content to be second, though he does sometimes speed up.  Old age is horrid for someone like Haakon.  He has always led the ride and he minds very much that he can’t.

We let the youngsters canter up the track first.

Stop and look at the nice view – a Thordale riding tradition.

And then onwards.

Haakon gave up trying to keep up. These days it is just him and me at the back together.  We chat.

Daisy kindly waited for us and then the proper training bit started. We have learned that Klængur takes a while to warm up but once he is relaxed, he is very happy to work very nicely.  However, if you ask too early, it all turns into a horrid argument.

After work, long reins at buckle end home.

It was a good ride.  Just right for me and the old man.

I am determined to move the ponies to better pasture at Leradale.  They are determined to stay in the same place.  Their field is huge and they just remain in the same place all the time.  There is lots of grass on the other side of the valley.

Armed with a bag of apples, Daisy asked them to follow her.

Pied-Piper-esque!

Except for Silver and Vitamin.  They wouldn’t jump the stream.

However, the others were very keen – it could’ve been Daisy or it could’ve been the apples.

Eventually, after much neighing, Vitamin and Silver decided they would go round rather than across.  I love the way these Shetland ponies work out a problem rather than give up.

Silver eventually arrived, so Daisy bit her remaining apple in half.

Silver had his fair share.

Lyra was very pleased to see Daisy.

They had a special moment together.

This is a wonderful park.  It is perfect for photos.  Lots and lots of photos (sorry – be prepared, maybe make sandwiches, something for the duration).

Meanwhile, Vitamin decided to stay put and shout at everyone.

Fivla did answer and tried to get her to join the herd.

In the end Vitamin realised that if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

She was not happy but she arrived.

The preggie ladies in the next door field are very happy.

They are both looking very pregnant, espcially Brá.  She is vast!  Very wide.

Lots of photos next – you were warned.

So very proud of my little boys today.

Daisy and I went to catch them for their in-hand training and we managed to bring the wrong headcollar.  A small one.

So, I walked up to Efstur and put it on him.
First time ever!

Yes, we practiced a lot this summer with Mr Headcollar but we never actually achieved.  The only time Efstur has let me put a headcollar on him has been in the stable or once in the school, the other day.

What a little dude.

(Daisy went back for Hjalti’s headcollar and we led them through the garden (the shortest route, but don’t tell my OH) and into the school.

We tied them both up.

Efstur worked out that he is required to just stand there and not prat about.

Today’s main lesson was about feet.  Efstur has had his feet trimmed before but it is a necessity that he gets used to having his hooves handled.

Efstur was fairly good.  He didn’t have to lift it so high (his choice) but he has to learn he can never snatch it back or kick out.

After a bit of gentle persuasion, Efstur understood what we wanted and we will now incorporate this into his training.

After feet, next a walk.

Praise the good and ignore the bad.

Efstur was a good boy.  He tried very hard.  He wanted to understand and concentrated on this.

The dressage whip is not used as a whip – it is more for guidance.

And then hardfeed in his new bucket.  I think purple suits him.

We are starting to get to know Efstur now.

This is the bit I like the best.  I will probably never ride him, but I will help teach him his manners.