Today is a day for celebration.

I can fit into my jodphurs again.  I bought them in Iceland in 2012 and I have managed to wear them all day, even riding Klængur today.

You have no idea what a big deal this is.

Those jodphurs have sat in a drawer for the last four years taunting me with their non-forgiving waistband.

Since my “little episode”, my diet has changed and I have lost some weight though no one, to date, has said anything so it could well be my imagination.  My leather belt has gone in 2 notches but, again, leather can stretch.

So, in honour of this momentous day, I have trawled through the photos I took during my visit to Iceland all those years ago.

Efstur’s Sire – Álfur frá Selfossi

The very definition of Awesome.

Strokkur geyser ready to blow!

And it blows.

Gullfoss 

And this was our first meeting with Taktur – he was a 2 year old.

And Esja – she was a yearling.

Daisy and I loved Iceland.  We need to return.

I may spend this evening searching for flights.

After all the vegetable packing and labeling over the last few days for The Food Fair, I thought I would have a quiet day.  So I paid bills and sorted out my in-tray (transferred it to the bin).

B⚡️O💊R💻I💰N💉G

It is also blowing a cold west-northwesterly gale so not a day for me to be outside.  This kind of cold wind makes my bones ache horribly.

Anyway, here a few photos from a few day’s back when the Boyzenberries were getting to know their field neighbours.

The Boyzens are always keen to chat to anyone.  They are curious far more than scared – even ‘Bert who has quickly fallen into our routine.

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Efstur is now addicted to carrot slices. Ever the optimist, he hangs around, just in case because you never know.

However, this day Efstur put his teeth to other uses, like seeing if he could chew on the electric pole.  Gah!  No!

I shouted at him so he found different entertainment.  Not brilliant, but safer.

When the Boyzens came up to chat, Efstur was intrigued.  A woolly nose rest!  Who invented this?

While Efstur was creating a diversion, Hjalti was busy working on the escape route.

He had a little helper too.  Why?  Just why?

Sometimes I find this gate open and now I think I know how it happens.

It doesn’t matter.

We just then return thems that go walkabout.

That includes everyone.

Bert is getting better, putting on weight and very tame.

He plays shove with Lambie and follows me everywhere as he too is very partial to a sliced carrots.

He has two papilloma-type growths on one of his front legs.  I am spraying them with terramycin and am hoping they will go away on their own.

I am so pleased he is home.  I still tell him.

Yesterday, Lambie left the others (‘Ster and ‘Bert) to supervise Daisy’s training on Taktur.

As you can see, he watches everything and is very critical

Like most trainers, he is very good-looking too.

When Taktur flew into trot, Lambie was not that sure about the sand being thrown up in his face.

So he came to stand in the middle of the indoor school with me.

And his second Muzzah, BeAnne. She, also, takes a huge interest in Daisy and Taktur’s training.

For the wool experts among you, Lambie’s fleece is split into two types – carpet and Caligula curls.

This summer he sat on the dying embers of a bonfire so he is sporting a slight singed look now.

At the time, he didn’t seem to mind at all.

Darling Lambie.  He really is.  Folk don’t seem to understand that he has no panic button, the normal sheep adrenalin doesn’t exist in him.  If he was to run away, it would be to me so I could sort out the problem and I would.

Now, when Lambie was very little (this is a photo from Week 1 of his life), he lived under the stairs at night with Jack(et Potato’s) old bed if he wanted.  He was too small for it and couldn’t climb in.

Yesterday, he sat in a similar sized dog bed that lives in the school for BeAnne’s comfort.

It fits BeAnne nicely.

However, it does not fit Lambie at all!

If I fits, I sits!

Tuesday morning is, and always should be, Flute Lesson Day.

I have been playing the flute since I was 13 and my weekly flute lesson is the highlight of my week.  I get to exercise my little grey cells.

Since Daisy is home, she comes with me and we torture, sorry play, as a trio.

Afterwards, we go to Lerwick for our messages.

Despite being almost winter, Lerwick strives to be colourful.

This is probably the world’s smallest Boots, the Chemist – a UK pharmacy chain, with outlets in most high streets, shopping centres and airport terminals. Did you know it is owned by Walgreens?  Now I never knew that!

We don’t have the big name shops names up here.

I like that.

Individuality.

And some of the best (or interesting) window-displays too!

Vitamin and Fivla are still featuring in the shops.

They certainly made a lasting impact.

Taktur is even there too (so proud, sniff).

Commercial Street is the main shopping street in Lerwick.  These days, it is not busy.  I haven’t been during the weekend for a while, so I can only hope that more folk use it or we will lose our high street, which will be a bad day.  I try as hard as I can to support The Street.

From Commercial Street, there are lanes that run at right angles from it leading to houses and join other streets.

There is also a tree growing in a wall!

Daisy asked me to take this photo.  It is grows on Fort Charlotte.

Anywho, here are a few happy snaps from today.  Wool (leftover from Wool Week) and Hallowe’en are the theme.

The vet visited this afternoon to microchip Efstur.

We have not done anything with him.  He has worn a headcollar twice – it was rather a fight each time to get it on.

So I was a tad nervous today.

I tied up Brá and approached Efstur with his headcollar, waiting for the usual fight. Efstur stood nicely while I put on his headcollar!

A carrot slice was given for good manners and I was amazed.

The vet did all he wanted to do – microchip – more carrot slices given, headcollar off.

And then he remembered he wanted to record his whirls, swirls and markings so back on with the headcollar.  Again, no fight = more carrot.

Done.  So off came the headcollar when the DNA sample was mentioned.  I knew my luck was not going to hold but I went in with the headcollar and, again, on it went.

This resulted in endless carrots!

I am so proud of Efstur.  He was a good boy.

Brá is doing a very good job with her baby boy (and yes she is pregnant and not fat!)

(btw, his nose has a perfect golden hue)

After Efstur, it was Tiddles’ turn.  I had taken on board all your comments and thought, as the vet was here, it would be good if he could give Tids a check-up.

All was deemed fine and that was good to know.  So we will now concentrate on Operation Make Tiddles Smile Again.

We’ve done it before, when he arrived as a very depressed little foal, and we can do it again.  Toys.  I will get the toys out.  Tiddles loves toys.

Hjalti was a good boy as well. He led beautifully through the fields without pulling.

I love it when everyone is nice.  Makes it all worthwhile.