Veterinary (said in a “James Herriot” Yorkshire accent, please) came to Thordale for Esja’s vet inspection as she is sold.

While he was here, I asked him to look at Delia because, you know me, I worry.

Apart from being a bit stiff in her legs (old laminitis many years back before her time at Thordale), he said she was doing well.  I was very relieved as I had asked Floss yesterday whether now was the time and she emphatically shouted at me “no”.

Lambie and Ster showed off by bouncing around the shed – Veterinary (NB: the Herriot voice, please), said they were very funny and good entertainment.  He then said the media would love to hear about an odd woman who kept tame sheep like dogs.

Ahem!  (who is he calling odd?)

I think it is perfectly normal.  More people should have tame dog-like sheep.  Best fun ever.

Btw, this is a true all-four-feet off the ground bounce by Ster.  He can boing along like this with sheer happiness for yards!

As today was a beautiful calm Shetland winter day,  I mooched around the croft taking photos of everyone up round the house.

These days are rare but it was nice to see everyone chillaxing (did I seriously just write that cringeworthy word?)

(look at Hjalti’s little k-nobbly k-nees – he is such a darling).

We tend to wear our food here.

I am still in shock at being called “odd”.  Me?  Who knew?!

The weather has greatly improved today.  The sun is waterily shining and the air is still.  A complete contrast from yesterday’s vileness.  So everyone is outside and happy.

It is also Floss’ last day here as she leaves early tomorrow to go back to her university.

To not celebrate this, we decided to take Klængur and Haakon out for a ride (Flossie riding Klængur) for the first time this holiday.

Last summer, Flossie had a rather unsuccessful ride on Klængur when he took off with her the first time she got on him.  We were outside and he was rude. This time, however, I was not nervous because Flossie has had riding lessons, ridden many horses and has practiced on Klaengur indoors.  She is a competent rider.

Floss was fine.  They went tölting off together while I battled with Haakon and one of his bad moods.   They looked a picture while I had an indignant chicken to argue with.  At one stage, I turned Haakon back and asked him to go back down the track in walk.  Klængur was hoof-perfect and totally unstressed (he didn’t even do one nervous poo – with me, he can be a slurry spreader!)

Flossie was in charge, not Klængur.  A good partnership.

When we got home, I could see, and I must say it has been fairly obvious for a while now,……

that Klaengur really likes Flossie.

They have a connection.  Always have.

Yup, you can guess the next bit.

Klængur frá Lynghaga
IS2003184970  BLUP 107

Sire: Aron frá Strandarhöfði
Dam: Sandra frá Stafholtsveggjum

Owner:  Flossie Taylor

This is me going out to feed the animals.

I am wearing my Fladon two-piece flotation suit – almost national costume here in Shetland. Nearly everyone has one (or something similar) and you would not look out of place shopping in Lerwick Tesco’s wearing one.  I don’t particularly want to flotate, you understand, but I do like the fact that it is waterproof, windproof and insulated.

Today, it was necessity rather than a luxury.  Outside it was vile.  About -5 degrees celsius below when you take into consideration the windchill factor. I hate the windchill factor.

So, dressed for the weather, I went outside optimistically believing that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

I opened the gate and called Hetja and her herd up – they rushed straight into the shed where I threw some silage at them and quickly shut the door.

Next it was the turn of Taktur and Kappi who are over the hill in Clothie.  I opened the big Thordale gate and their field gate across the hill and shouted.  They cantered straight home without a headcollar or a second thought.

So now the boys are in the big shed and the girls are in the stables with Les Grandes Dames in a separate bit as they hate all the female hassle and politics.  Lambie and Ster spent the day happy in the big shed too munching on silage but are now back in their bedroom field.

This is definitely not a day to be out.  Animals die in this kind of the weather – wet, very cold and very windy.  The snow is not settling but landing in a great sludgy mushy lumps.  Lovely.

This short video does not, in any way, show just how vile it is outside.  I suggest you watch this while throwing lumps of ice and water at yourself with a cold fan on full blast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSaCEfYDn98&feature=youtu.be

Despite the smattering of snow, it is all fun and games here.

(apologies for the fence wire marks but the mud is deep and I would come home wellyless in a filthy mood)

I was wondering why all the Minions have huge chunks of mane missing and I think The Finger points.   Monsieur Hjalti may be the cause.  I am not saying he definitely is but I am saying he definitely may be.

Silver adores these games.  At no time did he ask Hjalti to stop and gave as good as he got.  It is so good for Hjalti to have a lovely little pile of Minions to play with.  This is what a Minion is for. Hetja was leaving them well alone.  In my mind’s eye, I could see her looking benevolently on thinking thank God he was being amused – she has forgiven the Minions for their past indiscretions and all is well.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, two other little Minions were having fun.

They looks so lovely with the snowy background.

And I love their little bunched up legs as they beetle across the field at full speed.  You can almost hear the giggling.

Then suddenly, it is all stop for a quick snack.  Tiddles is well aware what Storm is doing and probably set him up.

And off they go again just as fast in the other direction.

Awww, bunchy legs again and tails in the air.

Storm and Tiddles meet up with Silver, who has either broken or  exhausted Hjalti, and off they all go again.

I could watch them play forever. It does my heart good and is the best therapy for any ailment you may have.

I think this is what Miniature Shetland ponies are for – entertaining Icelandic horse foals!

Mud – mud is all around us, it’s everywhere we go.  I am very bored of it now and yet, compared to south, we have got off lightly.  At least we are not underwater.

Despite this, we are all still managing to ride but mostly in the indoor school.  I have started to ride Haakon again and Flossie is getting along magnificently with Klaengur.

Everyone is bearing up well, if stickily because they tend to wear their daily soaked sugarbeet feed rather than eat it nicely.  Waffle and Storm are positively crunchy and despite being regularly brushed, they look like guttersnipes (that is what my mother would call them).

Meanwhile Silver is making plans…..

You can almost see the light bulb that lives in his brain light up and the cogs start to whirr….

He wants to see if he can fit a whole Tiddles in his mouth.

And Tiddles, being Tiddles, thinks it is a fun sport because he knows Silver is not doing out of malice but more out of fun and experimentation.  They are very good friends.  In fact all The Minions are.

I put out hay for everyone but only Hetja and Hjalti were keen on it – more out of politeness than anything else.  I think Hetja was teaching her son that it is rude not to always make a clean plate even if you don’t like it (ie me and brussel sprouts)

He is a well brought up little boy and anyway there are always plenty of “vultures” around to help tidy up.