1.  Car wouldn’t start this morning.

2. I went to my weekly flute lesson without my flute or music (a plus side, though, I got to play my teacher’s Rudall Carte which was very very nice).

3.  I forgot my debit card and so was very unpopular paying for petrol by cheque (I always thought cheques were legal tender).

4.  And last, but by no means least, I spent the day worrying about Lambert who went to the vet for a laparotomy and exploration for his non-descended testicle.

Sheep are not the best animals to anaesthetise but this procedure had to be done.  It was a two-vet job and after a good bit of searching, they found the errant testicle attached to a kidney.  It was fully formed so would’ve been fully working, ie producing testosterone.

Lambert is home now with his very own Nurse Lambie in attendance.  I sat in the back of the car with his head on my neck, holding him up while we went round the corners.

The next stage is to get him eating and drinking.  He is still pretty heavily sedated but standing and walking slowly.  I have been told to keep him quiet for the next few days and he can live in his little garden behind the house.

You may think I was stupid to a) put Lambert through this and b) pay for it but he is one of the family and, more importantly, he is Lambie’s best friend so there was no question really in my mind.

So please can I have huge healing vibes, a good appetite and willingness to eat wending their way to Lambert.  I shall go out later and offer him a bottle when he is a bit more awake.

He is an important little dude in our lives at Thordale (even if my OH does not see it!)

I went to Scalloway this morning to help out a friend.

While I was there, I was given the opportunity to photograph some miniature Shetland pony stallions from the famous Berry Stud.

I helped move them into this new field that had lots of long grass for them.

At one stage, all you could see was the tips of their ear as they tried to bounce through it.

Being stallions (3 brothers and a new one), there was a huge amount of squealing and investigation too.

I managed to take some lovely photos and I hope you like them too.

My socks, boots and jeans are now in front of the Rayburn getting dry but it was definitely worth it for these photos.

My little boy is growing up fast.

I haven’t seen Hjalti for a while (the one car situation) but he remains utterly gorgeous.

His Mummy, Hetja, still won’t let him talk to the other mare and her colt foal – not yet, though apparently they came close this morning.  You can’t force these things and who can blame Hetja for wanting to keep Hjalti around her at all times.

Anyway, he doesn’t want to stray too far from the bar!

Hjalti is an inquisitive chap, mostly about people and their terrier and I was given a perfunctory snuffle, while BeAnne quickly retreated to safety…..

….. before he went back to the serious task of eating (I may be in love with his very hairy little chin now).

But then again, he has to-die-for eyes.

And a lovely smile!

I think we could say that Hetja is doing very well and has not lost even a smidgeon of her pregnancy weight.

She looks more pregnant now than before she gave birth!

It was a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon sitting in the field watching Hetja and Hjalti together.

This is the luscious Alex – a 7 year old mushroom coloured miniature Shetland pony stallion who is gorgeous as well as a gentleman.  He is 32″ or 81cm.

I spent yesterday afternoon gazing in awe at him.

Alex has the most amazing long mane which he likes to throw about all day.

But what a mane.  Wow.

Best of all, Alex is a dude. He likes everyone.

If only all Shetland ponies were this ridiculously good-looking!

(and this year, he has been running with the “fairy tale” mares.  I can’t wait to meet the bebbies next year!)

Sometimes it is good to hear “Are you doing anything today?” and off I set off with my camera happy to go new places and meet Shetland ponies

As it is now late in the evening, I won’t waffle on forever but let you enjoy the photos from today of some lovely Shetland ponies.

These first two are of the “fairy tale” mares.  Beautiful girls to work with and be around.

Then off to the Stallion/Colt field where a herd of jokers lived all jockeying for the top job.  This is Waffle’s Sire and all I can hope is that The Waff is a late maturer because, at the moment, he bears absolutely no resemblance at all to his Dad!

A bit of a San Francisco moment for a miniature stallion.

Grand National anyone?

The very essence of beauty.

I love stallions. They are so comical and very expressive.

They never stop talking to each other.  Glass half full type of chaps.  Every one of them.

Endless hours of endless entertainment being endlessly annoying!

Night, night x