I met Lambie last night when I was finishing off with the ponies for the night.  As Daisy said, when I sent her the photo, “he had an idea!”

Poor Lambie. His idea was to come and see if there was anything going spare for a poor wee lost lamb.

Anything at all?  Nope, just a kiss, I said. Meh, he replied and swiftly left!

Some nights Lambie waits for me by the front door with his best forlorn face.

But then so does Monster so I am pretty immune to this blatant begging.

And this made me chuckle.

Pepper:  Mum, Monster won’t let me go to bed (up the stairs).
Monster:  Nope!

Pepper:  Please, Monster, can I go to bed?
Monster: Nope!

Pepper:  Pretty Please?
Monster:  Nope!
Me:  Monster, move. Pepper wants to go to bed!

I don’t know if you remember but back in 2021 (July 24th to be precise), I photographed the most beautiful otter and posted the photos on my blog – Otter!

I didn’t write any information as, at the time, I was asked not to – privacy, etc – but I can now say that this is Molly from the documentary “Billy & Molly – An Otter Love Story”. How wonderful is that?

At the time, I was completely beyond words with excitement. I had never seen an otter so close and Molly was (and is still) truly lovely.  She is perfect.

Anyway, you too can meet Molly – “Billy & Molly – An Otter Love Story” is available to stream on Disney+ (UK and Canada)/Hulu, and on the Nat Geo YouTube channel in US. 

It was all filmed 15 minutes from where I live and it is a beautiful film showing the Shetland landscape perfectly.

I have just spent a few worrying minutes trying to find these photos (I nearly thought I’d lost them but, phew, they were stored somewhere in the depths of a hard drive somewhere) but seeing Molly again gave me a little reminder of that evening when I went to photograph her for myself.

Today was Ted’s day.  He was at the Greasy Muppet stage of his ever-growing coat. Being half Yorkshire Terrier and half Miniature Schnauzer, we think, his fur is not the best.  I think he got a lot of the Yorkie genes.  His fur is mostly cheap nylon.

Not great.  In fact, disgusting as Ted also had a recent conversation with a polecat in the wall two night’s before so there may have been that revolting eye-watering musky odour involved too, although we did give him (and Pepper who was worse) a late-night bath.  They were both beyond gross.

Anyway, I was glad Ted had an appointment with Sharon at the Foxy Dog, Scalloway and I was beginning to wish I had brought Pepper too but she didn’t have an appointment.

And now Ted looks like a film-star.

Albeit Dobby the House Elf!

But at least he smells beautiful.

It was nice to see the winter sun make a brief appearance.

Breakfast and everyone went out for their eating time on the ever-expanding track.  I am trying to be strict, but you know me, I struggle with this.

I decided to extend the track a bit more, around the corner to get away from a rather boggy end of the field to get them out of the mud. The ponies knew what I was doing and came to watch.  They didn’t quite dare to touch the fence as I was taking the posts out to use on my extension.  I did wonder if they would as they must’ve known it was switched off.

I created my new fence while they looked on and had given them a nice amount to eat down.  The grass is pretty rough but it is there if they look.

To be fair, they were very good about waiting, which surprised me.

And then I opened up the new bit for them and whoosh, the ponies were in eating it down!  That should keep them quiet for a bit now.

It’s been a grey old day but the wind has died down and everything is a bit easier especially when I’m not fighting the elephants, sorry, elements.

The “elephants” happily ate their breakfast buckets while I stood guard in case anyone finished first and went off marauding.  Kolka and Iacs have that badge.  They have no morals and Haakon hates being hassled.

I had Pepper faithfully by my side too.

Luckily everyone pretty much finished at the same time so there was no marauding.

A quick cup of coffee with Monster while I wrapped a few Christmas presents (I am trying to do a few every day so it is not a huge mountain left to do on the day before)…..

… and then back out to poo-pick.  Silver gets The World’s Filthiest Pony Award.  He is meant to be white, though horsey people always call it “grey” and I can sort of see why now.

Vitamin enjoys being outside but equally likes her bed-time which can get earlier and earlier if she catches my eye.

Tiddles is on painkillers and doing so much better.  He also goes in at night and he is happier in himself. Luckily, he likes his drugs (which I syringe in), and he would put on his own headcollar if he could.

Everyone is revoltingly dirty but I don’t care.  I think it is better to be outside during the day-time than being stuck indoors all the time.  The ponies get a bit more pasture every day. I just move the posts back a few feet and that seems to be enough.  They are also respecting that zappy two-strand electric fence too!