Today, there were two more additions to the Fat Fighters Field.

Haakon and Kappi.

Yes, I know, but they had to go as they are fatty, fat, fat.

Having said that, seeing Iacs with Kappi and Haakon, I feel that actually these two boys weren’t looking too bad!  Iacs is still fatter than his cousin, Haakon! (just sayin’, Daisy)

Of course, Klængur looks fabulous.  This is thin for him!

Meanwhile, the two Minions are doing very well in The Fat Fighters Field.

Silver, especially, has a waistline that many should be envious of (Iacs *** cough ***)

But Waffle is still a square little table that could sit 4 round for dinner, including the family silver!

I don’t know what I can do to slim Waffle down, short of putting him on concrete and feeding him nothing, which I would never do unless he had laminitis.

Maybe he is like me – he only has to look at an éclair and he puts on weight!

Most odd.

This morning I was pottering about outside when I saw Hetja leave Brá and Efstur, canter under the fence (rather than go through an open gate), and start shouting at Taktur.  He was in a field across the hill with Haakon and Kappi.

Recently, I had been thinking of putting Taktur out with his mares soon but had seen/smelled no evidence.

Armed with a lunge line, headcollar and dressage whip (insurance in case of bad behaviour, which of course I didn’t need), I went over to Taktur’s field to catch him.

Taktur put his headcollar on (well, he would’ve if he could’ve) and I led him over to the mares’ field. He, of course, behaved perfectly while I lectured him on the way over that “no” means “NO!”

Hetja was surprisingly very happy to see her Handsome Prince.  Two years ago she barely tolerated his existence.

Handsome Prince was very happy to see Hetja.

Brá and Efstur came up to see who the newbie was and Brá quickly made her feelings very clear to Taktur’s suggestions.

And so they quickly cantered off again.

There was one mis-fire (those poor sheep in the background are now busy bleaching their eyeballs from what they have witnessed today).

Then Taktur quickly remembered which bit went where.  He was far better behaved (ie less annoying) than last time.

It has been a day of pornographic squealing.  Hetja is clever. She always puts herself between Brá, Efstur and Taktur and both mares protect Efstur no matter what.

Again, this is nature at its’ purest.  The mares have it all under control.

Good call, Hetja.

This morning, lying in bed, about to enjoy my first cup of tea, Bjørn, my family’s Icelandic horse trainer and the owner of Bergli Stud, asked me to give him a hand with his ponies.

So, do I lie in bed, say no and just do nothing much all day?  Nope. I leapt out of bed (as apparently you can’t help in pyjamas) and kicked my arse into gear.

Taking my van, because I love driving it, we chatted all morning, with Bjørn telling me when to turn right or left – I would’ve just automatically taken him to Tesco’s or the airport!

First, we had to deliver a stallion back to The Boys Field.  This beautiful little silver dapple stallion, Tactic, is all mouth and trousers – small but bossy – and wow, can he move.

I stood with some of the stallions, making friends and taking photos.  I find the boys much easier than girls.  Black and white – that is how they think.

Afterwards, it was off to Burra (an island connected to Shetland “mainland” by bridges).)

Here, we were putting more water out as all the regular streams have run dry.  We have had no real rainfall for a month and everywhere is rapidly drying up.

All the mares are out with their stallions and watching their communication is very interesting.  I could sit and look at them all day.

This is Cantilena.  She is my replacement Fivla (who is leased out to a family.)  I miss Fivla. She has always been very special and, even better, a good friend but Cantilena is a darling.

So, basically, today has been spent taking photos of someone else’s ponies.  Bergli ponies are very nice to work with.

Always a pleasure – never a chore.

Today was my afternoon for packing vegetables for Transition Turriefield.

En route, I visited my out-lying horses and ponies.  All seemed well.  I even managed to lead Iacs, Klaengur, Waffle and Silver to drink through the newly opened gate to the loch.

Of course that old saying “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink” was very precise so I have no idea where the boys were finding their water before in Fat Camp as absolutely no one was thirsty.

Ungrateful lot. Why I bother and whoever is leaving the gate open to the next-door park must stop.  Suddenly this has happened.  Funny that.

BeAnne came with me, as per usual. I have had to start her training again as she refuses to listen to a word I say.  This is not deafness, this is purposeful terrier belligerence and she is driving me mad.

Anyway, I had very nice afternoon packing vegetables. I was working the sealing machine, which makes me feel I am playing shops (my best childhood game).  A dream come true for me.

Afterwards, I went round the croft with my camera looking into its numerous polytunnels.

On my way home, I saw this sheep doing what it always does every year – wading into the loch to eat the flowering Bogbean (menyanthes trifoliata).  That is the sort of thing Lambie would do!  I have never seen this anywhere but this loch.  Most strange but then sheep are, I have discovered.

Tweet, the carrion crow, who I left with my mother to look after, has a confirmed broken wing.  I am not sure what his future is but will try and find out.  I am very sad about this.  We tried so hard.

Gee but it’s great to be back home
Home is where I want to be.

So, after a day-late flute lesson, where I duly murdered Mozart, plus an NHS appointment, I went to see everyone.

Delia is fine – I do need to brush her.

Storm is less fine – he has a pale-and-interesting cough.  Just one cough, nothing exotic but a cough, nonetheless. I am considering taking him to the vet or waiting a few more days and putting it down to “a viral infection” (said with an Australian accent).

But Storm looks fine, and is 100% in every other way so I don’t know.

Tiddles seems to have got fatter and he needs a good brush too.

Lyra was very pleased to see me and followed me everywhere.  She has changed so much these past few months.

Darling Hjalti has grown (yes, in four days).  He is a wonderful boy.  So like his mother to look at with his father’s wonderful temperament.

It was a hot afternoon and the dogs had a paddle while I was checking on everyone.

BeAnne is furious with me and has become The World’s Worst Dog.  We are both sulking at each other.

I visited Fat Camp and, I have to say, everyone is looking so much better.

It is good to see.

I will stop worrying about these four guys now.

At home, Brá is a happy mother.

Hetja is a very good god-mother too.

Efstur is still wonderful.  All legs and a darling boy.

This is where I belong.  Not south, not with people, but in Shetland, with my animals.  This is home.  I hope it always will be.