There is much work to be done but Taktur is going very well.

Daisy and Taktur are having regular training sessions with our trainer, Bjørn Roar Larsen.

Tölt

Laugh and relax (probably one of the most important gaits)

Trot (I love Taktur’s trot)

Walk

Relax – long reins, nose on the floor

And collapse in a heap……

…… because everyone did some very hard work today.

Lambie was, as usual, very helpful. He knows everything about horseriding (he’s watched enough).

As was BeAnne who spends equal amounts of time in the saddle or on asleep!

Having taken the serious training photos, I went a bit artyesque-fartyesque.

Lambie has still got his baa factor (those eyes, so understanding and so very beautiful).

And Taktur’s swooshy mane that moves like a wave down his neck.

It is always good to be surrounded by The Beautiful People!

This is the Lambie that Daisy put in my handbag yesterday.

Last year, I had some made, with Lambie’s unique markings, for Daisy and Flossie (along with two very special friends).

As you can see, the similarity is scary!

This year, I may get a version of ‘Ster created, after all he is part of The Family.

So, this morning was spent taking things easy with my boys.

Floss kindly fed little Albie his breakfast (1 litre of multimilk and a scoop of Foal Creep/Mare & Foal mix).

Albie that can take over an hour to eat his breakfast.  Some might consider it a chore but Flossie is very patient.

Because it was raining, Tor and Camus retreated into the shed for shelter.  We let them “wash-up” Albie’s feed bowls when he is bored of them.

Meanwhile, there was a block of dried alfalfa to keep them entertained while it rained.  They like this and a little goes a long way.

This afternoon, after taking the morning fairly easy, I went to work at Turriefield.

My job is to weigh the produce, bag, seal and label it for the various boxes and shops.

I love this job.  It keeps my brain going.  I suffer from appalling short term memory loss (analgesia drugs, life, etc) and for one afternoon a week (plus my flute lesson) I am made to think.   If you know about Dory, then I am the same as her and it scares me.

I end up checking everything many times over in case I have forgotten.  I cannot trust myself to remember so I become obsessive in case I am getting it wrong.  For the shops, it must be right.

This is my box of vegetables, at the end of the day – so proud!

I have been feeling a bit nervous about today.  I don’t know why. I have had this procedure (steroid/anaesthetic injections into my spine) a few times but every time is a different occasion.

When it comes to my spine, I get a bit precious.

So, last night, I wrote on Facebook….

Accompanied with my favourite photo….

Daisy and I drove to GBH this morning (yes, it is the best name for a hospital ever!) nice and early.  We did the usual department dance.  You know, go to Day Surgery, ring the doorbell, be asked to go back to reception and let the Day Surgery reception lady know you have arrived,   Sit down in Out-Patients reception and wait for Day Surgery reception nurse arrive to collect to you to take you to the original Day Surgery, where you started out!

While we sat in Out-Patients Reception, Daisy and I discussed where BeAnne would sit (on my knee was the conclusion) and also Lambie, had we brought them  And, with that, Daisy took out of her handbag, her Lambie to put in mine so he was with me all day.

I could’ve cried.  What a lovely gesture.

Meanwhile, Flossie was at home holding the fort.

My two daughters are wonderful and I cannot thank them enough.

Today was not brilliant.  The injections hurt.  Seriously hurt.  I don’t remember that part where they ask use a needle, poke around and ask you where it hurts, before – usually I am unconscious and remember nothing.  Anywho, it has all been done and tomorrow it is business as usual.

Lambie is always with me!

The electricity went off just as I was about to write the blog.  A few hours later, having cooked supper by candlelight, here it is anyway.

Basically, my message of today is to be very careful what you wish for.

There was a time when I wished that Tiddles would learn how to laugh and have a sense of humour.

When he arrived, in November, two years ago, he was depressed and miserable. He was a little nobody who had nothing.

Now he is a slightly bigger somebody.

Storm was allocated to look after Tiddles as we reckoned Storm needed a friend too and Tiddles needed someone to look up to.

And he did – yes, Tiddles found his sense of humour.

He made his wish come true.

Big time.

Taking no prisoners.

while laughing at his friends.

There was a teensy weensy moment when I felt sorry for Storm.

But that moment passed when I realised he had it coming.

They deserve each other.

It is not just Storm who gets eaten alive….

Tiddles has other friends, sorry victims!

I am off to bed.  Tomorrow is hospital for steroid injections into my spine under a light general anaesthetic.  Perhaps do not expect a very coherent blog, if any, tomorrow.  I will see how I feel.

Guess who arrived this morning?

For a little look around.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, my OH was not about – he was working outwith this island.

Lambie was thrilled and happily invited himself inside the house.

We could tell he recognised his surroundings, even if it has been a while since he was last here.

‘Ster, on the other hoof, was appalled at this intrusion.  Never, in his life, had he seen such behaviour and took to standing sentry-like outside the front door, looking totally bemused.  He refused to come inside (OH would’ve loved him).  Darling ‘Ster – you can tell he had a different upbringing.

Even if the rest of the household was not pleased to see Lambie inside the house, I really don’t care.  We have always been the best of friends.

Lambie  is my special little boy and I love him.  There is nothing in this world that can’t be cleaned up, thrown away or replaced and you can’ t do that with someone who loves you.  Some things are just more important than belongings.

Lambie quickly made himself at home.

He nodded off listening to Debussy’s Clair de Lune on Classic FM.  An upbringing of listening to classical music has stayed with him and he finds it very soothing.

So that is how I spent my morning.  It was worth every second.  I love spending time with my boy.  He is family to me.

And he knows I am family to him.