No photos, for obvious reasons.

I woke up to hear the wind blowing outside.  Nothing huge but I knew what was to come.  I shot out of bed, got dressed and OH kindly came outside with me.  The horses were already inside from last night and we had an hour before the hurricane really took its hold so time was important.

I went to the feed shed and managed to get a bucket of sheep food which I put in a safe unwindy place for later.

Then I met OH in the big school shed.  We filled up buckets and, while OH did a bit of a poo-pick, I went into the stable and pushed each Minion through to join the big boys.  They need the space and had probably irritated the girls all night.

I then swept the muck on the floor to one side, spread out the remainder of a bale of sawdust, topped up everyone’s water and opened a bale of silage, splitting it between the girls.

Meanwhile, OH fetched a bale for the boys and we took it in, opened it and split it up for everyone.

I threw a bucket of food at the sheeps and we ended up by locking them in their shed as their roof began to lift off.  There was nothing we could do, just watch and pray it didn’t go and if it did, that it didn’t take anything else with it.

The wind has been over 100mph and this was no weather to go outside (Red Alert weather warning).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35443514

Snow is now forecast (sarcastic yay) and the gale continues for another 24 hours (another sarcastic yay).

Just before dark, the wind had died down slightly so OH and I went out and repeated the feeding and watering process for the horses.  We made the executive decision to let Lambie and Ster out of their shed as they would be safer finding their own place to hunker down in.  They were overjoyed and bounced all over the place with happiness!  Daft sheeps.

I think this will be the last of the sun we see for the foreseeable future.

The 24 hours are about to be horrendous.

I am not looking forward to the storm but I spent today going to the feed merchants, stocking up and preparing for the onslaught.

I called the girl/gelding herd up from their field and let them eat the tail-end of the bail.

While they were doing this, I was getting the stable and the big indoor school ready for its’ residents.  Of course, there were endless offers of help and then much fending off of the helpers.

And then I found Lambie and howled with laughter! (I think he is looking very sheepish!)

He was happily wearing the saddle rack and was trying to wander about in his new fashion outfit.  Sadly, the front legs kept catching on things.

Lambie, of course, was completely unperturbed.  Is this a form of cross-dressing or should we just call him Lady BaBa!?

Once the girl/gelding herd were safely in their stable, I went over the hill to bring Kappi and Taktur home.

When I reached their gate, I realised I hadn’t brought a headcollar with me, so I opened the gate and hoped for the best.  They wandered out (I was a tad nervous now).

But they didn’t need telling twice and made a beeline for home. (Phew).

Even waiting patiently by the gate, while I walked back home at a slightly slower speed.

They are very good boys and I know I am stupid to trust a stallion but really it would only be Kappi that buggered off into the hill, never Taktur.

Wish us luck (I am dreading this).

After breakfast, everyone ran off to be outside.  No more standing in sheds waiting for the rain to stop – until the next storm which is lurking on the horizon.

Even Les Grandes Dames wanted out, which is unheard of by them.

I always think after a long night of being stuck indoors, everyone needs space.

Anyway, this leads me nicely to showing you Iacs and BeAnne eating all the cauliflower and broccoli stalks.

I am feeling very sorry for Iacs. His foot his not doing anything much, though his lameness is not as bad, but he doesn’t want to go out into the field. I am not going to force him because the fields are muddy and if there is an abscess brewing, then it will do it no good standing 24/7 in knee-deep gutter and shitery.

Iacs has one unique talent.  He is most famous for his ability to pass wind at any given situation, including while recording a legendary Norwegian tv sitcom where he farted every time the director said “Silence, please” to start to record and film the dialogue.  It was so bad that they gave up and said “we’ll dub over it”.

I dread to think what BeAnne will be like tonight.

Surprisingly, Lambie and Ster were not interested in the shrubbery lying on the ground.

Ster is a changed sheep. He has grown and filled out beautifully.

Iacs is determined to fill out with his own personal silage bale.  If that keeps him happy, then he is welcome to it.

I am so fed up.

Fed up of the weather – it never stops raining.  Everything, both inside and outside, is wet, damp or muddy.

Everywhere is waterlogged.

The horses are fed up.  Lambie and Ster are fed up. Even Loki is fed up and doesn’t want to go out much.

So I thought I would cheer myself up with the most magical of noseys.

Dear little Hjalti who never says he is fed up, never complains and always smiles offering magical nose kisseys.

Little Mr Optimism who takes it all in his stride, diligently following his mother and Tante Esja everywhere they go.

I adore this little chap.  He looks like his mum and has his father’s character.  The best of every world, then.

I think his nosey has magical restorative powers.  When Hjalti comes to talk to me it means he is genuinely interested and wants to tell me what he thinks.

Hurricane Thingy is on its way so it is getting windy.  I forget which as, to be perfectly honest, they all start to blend into one in a normal Shetland winter.

I had done all my chores and, as it was still daylight, I went outside with my camera.

I have given up trying to regulate the silage input.  It is just easier to let the horses and ponies stand around a bale and eat as much as they want.  If it is a nice day (ha-bloody-ha), I shoe the herd out into the hill field as that is the least muddy but there is not much grass, so it is only for the fresh air and exercise.

Hetja is still nursing Hjalti (I think, though I haven’t seen him recently helping himself) so she gets anything she wants. Hetja is a natural born mother.  She is very good at her job.

Hjalti spends much of his time now following his Tante Esja so, when we finally wean him, he will have her and the Minions still in his life unless his hormones kick in and then he will only have The Minions.

Anywho, while Hjalti is still Mummy’s precious soldier, he is learning that no good will come from following Waffle as it only leads to trouble!

The wind is blowing constantly and there are some wonderful hairdos.

(Or not!)

Iacs is staying in the stable.  He can get out but he prefers to listen to Radio 2 and munch his pile of hay.

He has regular visitors of the small vulture variety.

Les Grandes Dames sometimes come in to give everyone filthy looks.

and Haakon pops by for moral support.