Introducing Taylor Tours – tailormade for you!
(see what I did there?  Geddit?)

This is the last clear day before Shetland is battered by endless wind and rain. It seemed, therefore, sense to take my visitors up to the North end of the island and show them the beautiful scenery.

This is Mavis Grind – where the distance between the North Sea (right side, 1st photo) and the Atlantic Ocean (left side, 2nd photo) is 33 metres wide.  This used to be a regular crossing point for boats – men would drag them over the road and onto the other bank rather than sail all the way round.

Although blustery, the light was spectacular and I drove my friends around showing them all the  special places.

This is Ronas Hill – Shetland’s highest hill (450 metres) and is made of pink granite.

On we drove northwards past the sea stacks.

The rock arch Dore Holm or “drinking horse” behind a field of Shetland ponies.  It is a small islet with an excellent natural arch.

Eshaness Lighthouse is situated on Northmavine peninsula.

Looking south back towards Sandness hill in the far distance.  Funny to think I live the other side of that hill on the horizon.

So we covered many miles and I took them on the scenic route a few times!  At one stage we missed Eshaness lighthouse completely because we were talking so much.

A perfect day with excellent company.  Home now and the hatches are well and truly battened down ready for the oncoming gale.

Our last day of calm for a while.

My friends came over to spend some time with me at Thordale and to hug the Minions. They are keen Minion huggers.

After lunch, I said that the dogs needed walking and so they joined me. We went the usual route and I took Waffle along for the ride, so to speak, as it is good for every little Minion to be independent and to see The Big Outdoors occasionally.

He was fine on the way out but a bit of a berk when we turned for home as he saw a pretty Welsh mare he fancied.

Afterwards, although not a sunny Sunday afternoon, we sat down outside and drank Crabbie’s ginger beer watching the Minions and sheep peacefully eating around us.

Lambie immediately plonked himself down beside me and chewed his cud in a noisy way directly into my right ear.

He still has the most beautiful and fascinating eyes of any sheep so I forgive him the smelly burps.

Taktur wanted to join us so I let him out of his field.  He came over to gently loom.

Waffle was intrigued by the ginger beer and had a few swigs.

And then he went to sleep!

Storm, on the other hand, was looking for things he could annoy with.  He managed to eat the corner of the tissue box, smiling sweetly!

A perfect Sunday afternoon.

I took my friends sightseeing today down the South end of the island.

My idea of sightseeing is to drive along happily chatting and then suddenly swerve off the road so my friends can get out and take a photo (or recover on solid ground, visibly shaken!)

This is the view of Bressay, another island opposite Lerwick, looking across Fladdabister.

Having terrified everyone, we then drove down to Sumburgh to look at the scenery.  We went up to the Lighthouse and then had a wander around.

There weren’t very many nesting seabirds left but there were lots of twitchers and we played a good game of camera-envy.

(I may be drinking gin while I am typing this!)

Fair Isle was on view, which was lovely to see.

A good lunch and then on to the Jarslhof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement – “one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles”, so they say.

We trundled round it in the rain.  Pity they didn’t have roofs.

Onwards, everyone to one of my favourite museums – The Quendale Watermill – a beautifully restored 19th century overshot watermill.  It is stunning, interesting and in a beautiful setting.

On the way back, we had a Hitchcock moment.  All starlings.  All facing the same way.  All very creepy.

This is Spiggie beach.  A lovely sandy beach that I once galloped Haakon across.  It was brilliant and I will never forget that ride.  I wish I could repeat it.

Flossie is returning to university this weekend.  She is leaving us today on the evening flight out.

She wanted a last ride on Haakon so I sent her out into the field (it was dark, wet and miserable) to get him.

As the gate is knee-deep mud, the routine is to throw the rope over the horse’s head, shove him hopefully through, climb over the fence, and catch him on the other, slightly drier, side.

In theory this works. In practice the horse usually stands in the middle and refuses to budge until you wade in to grab him.

Today, Haakon was surprisingly helpful.

There must be a full moon or something.

Flossie tacked Haakon up and got on.

The Olympic Selection Committee were busy.

They sent in substitutes to make decisions on their behalf.

(as well as the usual sulky back-up!)

Flossie did very well on Haakon.

After his out-of-character helpfulness, Haakon resorted to his old and well-used dirty tricks but Floss was determined and effective in her riding.

I am very proud of her progress. She has done brilliantly.

I shall miss having my Floss around.  I have spent a wonderful last two months with her but Oxford calls and she is going back to exams in Chinese, poor love.  Suddenly riding Haakon will seem easy by comparison.

We were very kindly gifted two swedes (rutabaga, yellow turnip, Swedish turnip, neep, call them what you will.).

(or Brassica napobrassica, or Brassica napus var. napobrassica, or Brassica napus subsp. rapifera depending on your preference).

I decided not to cut the swedes up but to put them out into the horse and ponies’ field whole so they could have some fun trying to eat them.

Kappi squished his nose flat against it.

Tiddles was utterly bemused.  He just stood and stared with his nose touching this mysterious vegetable.

Iacs tried to eat it whole.

Despite everyone crowding round and wanting a turn, most managed to share nicely. and without a fight.

Haakon would only share with Iacs.

Afterwards, Haakon wandered round looking like a dinosaur for a while but soon got bored and went off to eat grass.

Apart from Haakon letting the side down, there were no arguments and lots of standing back to let another have a turn.  I like that – the big boys are very tolerant of the little noses pressing in trying to get food.

Tiddles remained hypnotised.

He did manage to roll it over, but that was about the extent of the investigation.

Iacs tried grabbing it and running off like a rugby player!  We just laughed at his efforts.

The swedes were a huge success.  Everyone was very happy to eat and play with them.