I brought the Ancient Icelandics home today, just before breakfast which gave them the focus to go home and not head off into the hills. I led Haakon and Iacs while Kolka dutifully followed.

We are due some weather – a long storm – so it makes sense to have them close by and if they want to go inside, it is easy enough (in a F10 – pah!) to tell them to come up the hill to the shed.

(the wind is in mph and, if you can’t read it, gusting up to 64 mph)

I cant tell you just how many times I’ve looked at the website to see if the storm will change it’s mind or it’s course and be slightly less fierce.  I am not looking forwards to this.

So my morning was spent closing gates properly and shutting up sheds so we get away, hopefully, damage free.

I will try and get everyone outside as normal, even if only for a few hours, while Tiddles and Storm will remain inside.

Anyway, the Icelandics have a big valley and lots of high walls which makes for good shelter.

I popped down to check they were settling in.

They are.

If they ask to come home, then obviously I will let them up but I think this lot may be better off just weathering it out.

It’s not like anyone is thin, is it?

My morning muck-heap/sunrise view at 08.00 this morning.

Possibly an omen or a message from the Heavens…..

I decided that Albie could go out and join the others on the scrappy grass pasture they are allowed for daylight hours (8 – 3).

He’s moving much better now and back to his “normal” self.

And was very happy to be out of his prison.

Sadly, Tiddles and Storm were less lucky.  Storm is not well at all.  He struggles to walk on the hard-standing surrounding the containers, so I led him and Tiddles back into the school, whereupon they walked almost normally and showed no signs of difficulty.

The blood results came back, though, and he has confirmed EMS – Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  To be honest, I think they all have it.  The treatment from the vet was for Storm to “LOSE WEIGHT!“. Soaked hay and not much else then.

But I am glad one more is back to normal, well as normal as Albie will ever get.

Oh yes, and Newt got separated from the herd when they went out and had a bijoux panic attack trying to find them.  He reminded me of a baked bean being shot out of a cannon as he galloped off to find them.

My Covid and flu vaccinations passed me by. I stupidly missed my appointment and so had to grovel and make another, which this time was in town and much further away than the original.

So after morning chores, I had a quick breakfast and told Monster we would not have our usual morning conversation over the breakfast table – he was not impressed – and I rushed off to town.

I drove off knowing everyone was where they should be and they all had everything they wanted (well, mostly).

I am not a huge fan of injections but I know it is important that I have it done. Covid is rife and I really do not ever want flu again.  I had it once and it wiped me out.  The test of flu, by the way, is if there is a £50 note in the garden, would you be able to go and get it.  If you couldn’t, then you definitely have flu.  If you could, then it’s a cold so get over yourself!

After, I bought every bag of horse food I could find and a round bale of hay because apparently there is snow and a storm is looming at the end of the week.  I am not looking forward to that but want to be prepared.

Home and someone was resentful I hadn’t taken her!  I have a stonking headache now, which I was warned might happen. Meh.

The sunrise this morning.  It was very strange and a bit eerie.

Breakfast (porridge, thank you for asking) with the usual Monster.

Later, out with the dogs to check on the Ancients – I threw them carrots and tried to feel for ribs.  Nope. Fail.  No such thing as ribs here.

Then over the fields to find Gussie and Dahlia, who came running up, which is always gratifying.  I sat on a rock and chatted to Gus telling him his first fleece will be beautiful. Those little curls are divine. I could’ve stayed there all day just hugging him while he wagged his tail.

Dahlia chewed her cud in the sunshine.

Pepper plopped herself down too.  I have no idea what she was watching for.  Possibly postie.

Then into the container paddock to muck out….. with help from Tiddles.

He was having a quiet time with Storm in the container.

I was also “helped” by Albie all the way around the small paddock.   Every time I picked up poo, I had to kiss his nose.  I think it is the Law.

I gave the ponies their after-lunch haynet and left them munching.

And then into my shed to make a sheep.  It was not very warm, so I switched on the fire and felt absolutely no benefit from it. Not even slight hint of warmth.

Not a very exciting day because I don’t want any excitement in my life, ever.  Just routine.  I can cope with that.

(These photos are from a few days’ back.)

Every morning Gussie and Dahlia magically appear at breakfast time.  They are rewarded for their commitment with two big bowls of food and TurmerAid which they have to eat in the big shed.  This has recently been deemed scary since there can be Shetland ponies in there.  But appetite overcomes fear every time and they go inside.  I want them in a routine.

Then I put Gussie and Dahlia back out into their big field with the help of rattling some supermarket-own-brand-low-sugar Cheerios, which they love.  They willingly follow me and the box of cereal back to their field.

Later, I go out to feed Turriefield mishape carrots to the Ancient Icelandics and I try to keep some back for Gussie, who is very partial.

Gussie is a huge character.  Inquisitive about everything with a big sense of humour. He has a good bounce on him.

Dahlia is always around to just keep a careful eye but she mostly lets Gussie make his own mistakes now.  He is old enough to learn.

I know I keep saying it, but for wild hill sheep, Dahlia and Gussie really are very tame.  Possibly tamer than the others we know of who now refuse to come up for breakfast and are treating this place like a hotel with a very biddable doorman – (that would be me!)  They sometimes appear at night and would like supper – “jog on” was my last message to them.

(and Gussie and Dahlia have lovely smiles too)

Everyone should have a Dahlia and a Gussie if only to know that some rescue animals are incredibly grateful, which warms my heart because I could not feel less loved by the others.