We went for a ride this morning.

Daisy rode Klængur to get him ready for Floss’ return (early December, I am so excited).  I rode Haakon.  We tölted along (black-and-decker black-and-decker) up to the canter track and beyond.  All was good.

Before lunch, Daisy and I restacked the winter hay bales (I desperately don’t want them to go fusty – pronounce foo-stee) onto pallets and made them Iacs-proof.  He tends to nibble if he happens to be in the area.

After lunch (yes, homemade soup – I am truly awesome), I took BeAnne and Loki with me to check on the Sandness herd.

Foula was looking mysterious, as ever.  I love looking at this island.

Rain and sleet were in sporadic patches.  We successfully dodged.

And then onto the beach.  BeAnne took to the water – in winter.  She is one tough cookie!

Yes, I took my camera.

Loki was pleased to be there.

I brought entertainment for BeAnne – an American bally-ball.  Her favourite toy.

I love taking the dogs to to the beach.

I did not cross this stream as I did not want to fall in with an expensive camera and I could feel the sand give way.

My darling precious heaven.

I luffs her.  She is my constant companion.

We met a jellyfish.  I put him back into the sea feeling guilty for how we used to throw them for fun at each other as children.

Perhaps not A Good Thing.

And then we went home, via the Shetland ponies – I gave them carrots.

A good Shetland winter’s day.  Riding, walking the dogs on a deserated beach and then giving carrots to Shetland ponies.  What more could anyone really want?

Not-so-little Fivla came home on 24th Sepember.  She was very very fat.

She looked like she had been put steroids.

I will admit, what with BeAnne’s awful paralysis and then my Little Episode (anaphylaxis), we did not keep up Fivla’s intense fitness regimen.  This was mostly because it soon became very apparent that Fivla didn’t actually have laminitis and was not speeding towards Cushings or Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  She was just plain fatty-fat-fat.

Daisy and I talked about the situation and we decided that we would rather Fivla lost weight in her natural environment so that it came off slowly and as her body intended during the bad weather rather than restricting her life.  Basically, she would burn off more calories living outside than standing indoors being starved.

Actually this is what I want for all of them except Albie and Delia – they get rugs.

Anywho, this is Fivla today.

Ok, not microscopically thin but certainly thinner.

She is losing her revolting fat neck crest.  It has almost gone and in a few more weeks it will have gone totally.

Yes, Fivla is still rotund but she lives outside 24/7 and it is a wet cold Shetland winter this year.

She is also getting her lovely smile back.  She was the original nose that was kissed all those years ago.

To me, and I may just be biased, Fivla now looks like an average Shetland pony who is a good-dooer.  She will lose more weight as winter progresses, which is how it should be.

Please tell me you think she looks thinner too.  She does, doesn’t she?

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and messages.  When it is suddenly cold, my bones ache – hence the bad mood yesterday.  My spine is a barometer.

Today we have a gale with huge rain showers that are made of ice needles.  I have stayed indoors keeping warm.

However, this afternoon everyone had a job to do –

• OH walked Loki but BeAnne refused to go; she always stays with me.
• Daisy checked the ponies in Sandness.  Lyra will be pleased. Last time I turned up on my own, Lyra ran past me shouting for Daisy.  Ungrateful mare.
• Me? I fed Albie his tea.

Before the light went, I quickly took my camera outside to see who was close by the house.

The mothers were sheltering round the back of OH’s shed.  They are clever and always show their sons where is best to stand.  I took carrots.

Little Efstur was desperate to come and talk to me and when I said “stay”, he put on his disapproving face.  This little horse thinks far too much.  He is very expressive.

I only wanted him to stay where he was because I always end up with blurred noseys on my lens.

Such a pretty boy.

Hjalti was happy to eat his carrots and stand wherever I wanted him to.

He was also keen to show Efstur how to follow me back home and perhaps get into the garden.

I know one day we will find them all in the garden so I wound an elastic bungee strap round the rickety gate in the hope that this might deter them.  They are not Minions who would have that down in seconds.

I have asked OH to mend the gate. Maybe if he sees the bungee strap, he might feel inspired!

It is either that or four horses at the back door! I wouldn’t mind at all.

My back hurts today.

I can’t think of much to write.

I took these photos of a raven that was flying about on Sunday over the marts (Shetland auction site) where the show was being held.

Ravens are not much loved here because of the sheep and their lambs.  Folk want them dead.

This one was rolling and flying about upside down just because it could.  Clever bird.

Anywho, today Daisy and I had our flute lesson. It went well – there were even good moments – and then we went on into town.

It was one of those afternoons where everyone just said no when we walked into their shop.

Is my camera lens mended and back from south? – no.
Are the pictures ready for collection, ie framed? – no.
Have Daisy’s lenses arrived yet – no and what lenses!  (Fer crying out loud, Specsavers, it’s been two weeks.)

I hate days like these.

It was so disheartening.

To add insult to injury, we tried to dodge the rain, failed dismally and trudged about getting wet as well.

So, feeling thoroughly disheartened, we left Lerwick having achieved nothing.  Absolutely ruddy nothing.

On the way home, we checked the Sandness ponies and threw carrots at them. OH had very kindly fed Albie for us as it gets dark early now.  Apparently he wolfed it down in seconds.  He can drink a litre of milk in 5 seconds!

Now I have taken painkillers, which I don’t do lightly just in case I have a “little episode” and no, I probably will never get over having anaphylactic shock called that!

Don’t talk to me.  Don’t even come near me.  Sorry, just not feeling the love today.

The little ones, the Shetland ponies, mostly group together leaving the bigger boys, the Icelandic horses, to themselves.

Albie is looked after by everyone, but mostly all the older mares in the herd mother him.  They stand over him when he sleeps.

Tor has been wonderful since Camus left.  We adore her.  She can stay for as long as she wants.

Secretly, and when no one is watching, Daisy gives her a handful of Albie’s hard feed.  She loves that and positions herself in a “I just happen to be by the fence” sort of way!  A wise little mare who knows the score. I wish she could stay forever, just for Albie.

Whenever Albie sees me, or anyone actually, he comes over.  Sometimes bouncing, sometimes walking but he appears, with enthusiasm and his rug a-flapping like a smiley navy blue Batman.

Albie has filled our lives.  We adore him.

He is resourceful, determined and an altogether very nice little chap with beautiful manners.  He leads perfectly, never bites or kicks and loves a nose kissey.  My kinda guy.

I was told that orphan Shetland pony foals are a pain in the arse to keep, but bringing up Albie has been nothing but love and fun.

He has adapted totally to his situation and lacks for nothing.

Well adjusted and definitely one of the herd and not “Mummy’s boy”.

The herd collectively look after him and I love them for that (I may have had gin, *** sniff ***).

I was determined Albie would not rely on us and things, for once, worked out fine.

At the moment, winter is upon us and when needed, Albie’s little rug goes on because he is not as waterproof as I would like.

He also has some very dodgy friends.

*** ahem *** cough *** very dodgy!