Today was huge in every way – lots of riding, Icelandic horses everywhere, wonderful tuition, super company……

I am exhausted so i will keep this brief as I need my bed.

Surprise – this is my birthday cake made specially for me – like the Queen, I can never have too many birthdays!

Yes, Lambie is made out of rice crispies!  Ingenious.

Taktur is pure handsomeness.

Wonderful, just wonderful and so realistic!

And so we all partied.

Talked lots

Admired our surroundings (so very different from Shetland).

And ate delicious food.

We are all exhausted now.

Plus kittens.  We met kittens.

Or it might’ve been a meerkat.

And an enchanting friend/litter mate.

My day couldn’t get any better than that.

Well, we arrived safely at our destination, Aberdeenshire.

It was a smooth crossing and the horses did very well.

I have arranged for Taktur and Kappi to have a field at night and a stable during the day, while they are in training.

Having met the locals, we left the boys alone to rest.

Shona, the organiser of this training weekend, very kindly let Flossie borrow a horse for the next few days.  It was agreed that Floss should get to know her noble steed before everything starts tomorrow.

Meet Ásaþór.

Does he remind you of anyone?

A small clue?

While Flossie got to know Ásaþór, Taktur watched intently.

He could see A Laydeee alongside Ásaþór.

The Laydee was not remotely interested with Taktur.

So he tried running up and down the fence squealing.

Nothing, not a flicker of interest, so out came the big guns – his bouffant.

How could she resist him?  I have no idea, but she did.

Daisy found a friend too.

After the lesson (walk, trot, tölt, canter), Shona and Flossie went out for a short ride.

Next, untacking and gratitude.

Can you see the equine family resemblance between Ásaþór and his half brother yet?

Yup.  Iacs.

Our very own Bimble.  They share the same Sire, Indæll from Rickarton.

Peas in a pod.

Lists, packing, shouting out things to remember,

Everything is coming together now.  This is the pile to get into the horsebox.

Note, the big purple box is a very large pile of chocolate.  Yummy chocolate.  Essential.

Anywho, Daisy is in charge of sorting out the horsebox and its contents.

She has been planning and sorting now for a few days.

Nothing has been forgotten (she types hopefully) and thought of everything (she types even more hopefully).

Obviously, she has help.  Perhaps just not the type she wanted.

Lambie has appointed himself Feed Monitor.

He takes his job very seriously.  None shall pass and he is doing his winning smile so that we will take him with us. I so wish.

He has a little helper too and, together, they spent most of their morning hopping in and out of the van when Daisy wasn’t looking.

They rearranged and tested as much as possible.

(BeAnne is obviously Quality Control Monitor).

Daisy tried to explain that they were more hindering than helping.

So they moved their venue and started to “help” in a new spot.

Helping is exhausting, as we all know, so they had a little rest.

I love the way these two are such good friends.

Ok, so now we are packed.  I am sure we are missing something.

Ah, that’s it.  Kappi and Taktur.

Note, Taktur’s haynet is for someone who doesn’t bolt their food while Kappi’s is the complete. I wonder why.

The van is now on the boat, the horses have been fed and watered.  We are in the bar and we are on our way!

Yay (I am drinking water – un-yay!)

Little Albie is becoming Sturdy Albie.

This odd family remain a tight unit.

Camus and Tor job share.  They are the washer-upperers.

Camus is not really a putter-awayer.  He does try, though.

We are all thrilled with Albie’s progress and development.  He such a darling little boy and the whole family are involved in feeding him three times a day – hard feed for brekkie plus 2500 ml of Multimilk split.

Albie’s little worried face makes me scoop him up and hug him while telling what a good little boy he is and how proud his mum would be.  He needs us.

There is also a cheeky side to Albie too.  I am glad he wants to play rather than always be jumped on by Camus.  This makes me smile.  There are moments he just wants to lie down next to me while Camus bounces up and down around him.  When Camus is in this mood, Albie usually gives up trying to be with me.

Meanwhile, in another field the other side of the hill, this little mother-son herd are doing very well too.

Hjalti popped over to say hello.

He is growing up into a sensible chap. When they swap fields with Taktur and Kappi later on this autumn, I can then reintroduce some of his skills, such as leading nicely, picking up a hoof and even managing to stand on three legs without falling over!

Little Efstur is very orange.  More orange than anyone else.

He has lost his white socks and is going through his wobbly leg phase.

Maybe he is part moose.

When he comes over, we are going to master the art of wearing a headcollar without a silly fuss. Apparently this is rocket science.

A busy day today.

Flute lesson and then on into Lerwick to empty the van at the Recycling Centre of all the bruck (Shetland dialect for rubbish) that didn’t burn when we cleared the indoor school the other week.

Once empty, we then spent the rest of the day filling it up again with essential supplies as we are off south on Thursday to attend The NorthEast  of Scotland and Shetland HestFest!  Daisy and Flossie are riding while I am on photography duty.

When we returned home, having achieved a satisfyingly large dent in my wallet, I sent Daisy off with my little camera to “check on the boys”.

Although they live 7 miles away, we try to visit the herd every day.  I hate them being so far away from home but we have no choice.

If I had my way, they would all live in the house!

But everyone has grass, water and each other.

We try to cater for all their needs – something for everyone!

Alone time (what seems to have happened to Silver’s forelock?)

Cross country

A social life

Gentle exercise

No exercise

Lyra is doing well.  Perhaps a bit too well.   Winter is coming.  Everyone will be slimmer.

Daisy took lovely photos and I am thankful she has a good eye.

And then just as I was about to put up the blog, I noticed a stunning sunset going on outside. It took my breath away.

So tomorrow we will be busy – cleaning tack, cleaning horses, cleaning van, cleaning clothes as well as getting organised.

Lists, I must make lists.  Little piles of essentials are sprouting up all over the house – midge spray, sunscreen, babywipes, string, scissors, gaffer tape ……..

I can use the wee small hours to make lists because there is bugger-all sleeping going on in my life.