The sun was shining and I was on my own today so I took the dogs (minus Jack) to Sandness beach for a walk.

And who should we see? – Jo and Fiona riding their horses sedately along the beach.

BeAnne instantly recognised them and started shouting.

While they rode home with the promise of a cup of tea waiting for me, I walked my dogs along the beach.

I love the beach in any weather or season.  It is always different and with its own special magic.

The dogs were good and we worked on our listening skills!

Loki hates getting his feet wet while BeAnne loves her swimming and needs no excuse.

Afterwards, I popped by The Odd Couple, aka Hammy and Indy.  Both were looking very good and are still good friends despite having spent the summer apart.

I don’t like stallions ever being kept on their own especially during winter.

I know Indy would hate it.  He has always had a friend but it is very obvious that Hammy is his best friend.  They understand each other very well.  It is a lovely relationship.

And then, after all my hard work, I went and had my cup of tea and watched Snati annoy BeAnne!

I got back from a lovely relaxed plod on Haakon with BeAnne walking alongside and there was Waffle waiting by the gate, asking to do something different.

Once Haakon was untacked, I left him eating his cod liver oil cunningly disguised in some hopefully not too-fattening food.  Waffle would have put on his own head-collar if he could and off we caught up with OH who was doing the world’s slowest geriatric walk with Jack.

Jack loathes ponies.  This failing relationship started when his head was down a rabbit hole, leaving his staffy-like bottom up in the air.  Hammy asked his bottom what it was doing and Jack turned round and swore like a navvy at him.  This immediately resulted in Hammy firmly escorting Jack off the premises with his nose up his arse pushing him out.  Jack has never got over this indignity and from thence forth, loathed anything equine.

Once Jack had spotted Waffle through his cataracts, he went on strike for OH.  So we quickly went passed him leaving them to it.  So much for my romantic idea that we could’ve all gone on this dog walk together.

It was very obvious that Waffle was very happy to be in The Big Outdoors.  Here was a whole new world for him.

I wonder if Waffle will tell Silver that he saw his house on his travels (Silver was bred on Foula – the island in the distance).

As were going so successfully, we went onto the road.  Waffle’s eyes were on stalks and when the neighbour’s horses started shouting at him, he imagined that he was still a stallion again.

After some bouncing and a lovely trot, we grudgingly home.  He loved his walk very much and it was something different for him.  All good training anyway.

Me:  Was there a person who followed a king and told him he was mortal and not a God?

Answer: (courtesy of M Pilcher): It was a slave who rode with Roman generals if they were awarded a ‘Triumph’ (rode through the streets to the frenzied acclamation of the crowd). The slave’s job was to whisper “you’re only a man” into his ear.

I think Taktur has a volunteer for this job.

Silver.

This darling shy little boy spent his day gently biting Taktur’s legs.

This is the total extent of Taktur’s resentment or trying to say no.  His leg never lifted any higher and never kicked out.

Others would perhaps not be as nice as this to a small Shetland midge.  Taktur’s generosity and tolerance are legendary.  He has to be one of the kindest horses I know.  As a 3yo wild colt, Taktur would calmly let me lead him in the pitch dark through welly-deep mud during a vicious Shetland winter pathetically clinging onto his mane in case I fell over.

Poor Taktur.  Today, Silver made it his life mission to follow and annoy.

I fear Taktur has the look of one who accepts his fate.

Taktur also doubles as a babysitter.  I love the way The Waff is trying to imitate his God.  And why not?  He is the best role model after all.

Everyone was allowed out this afternoon.

The Minions and Taktur made a bee-line for the school.  Taktur thought he was going to work but the Minions had other ideas.

“You are so great, we love you….”

“We love you very much and shall tell/annoy you constantly”

“Where you go, we shall follow, whether you want us or not”.

“Mum says we have to leave you alone.”

“Mum has told us to leave.   Hello, Iacs!”

“So now we will annoy each other”.

“This is what we do best.  Mum calls us The Irritations.”

“Ok, now we will lull you into a false sense of security while planning our next attack.”

“We need a cunning plan!”

“Let us think, plot and scheme.”

“Anyway, we love you very very much.”

And so it continues……..

Lots of rain last night and then this morning no wind, nothing at all.

So I went out with the camera to play.

Its amazing what you see when you upload the photos.  I never knew about this little chap (loving the hairy legs!)

The Bumble Bees were also making an effort on the last of the blue flowers (I think it is Aconitum napellus – holy cow, I’ve just found out it is the most poisonous plant in the garden).  The flowers had suffered in the recent storm but were still trying.  This poor Bumble Bee is, I think again, the Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum.  Horrid mites on them all.

I used the Shetland Amenity Trust Shetland Bumble Bee Survey for identification.  If I am wrong, please tell me.  I hate having wrong information on t’net – my pet peeve.

And talking of pet peeves, here is one I prepared earlier.  I am forgiven, of course, for Loki biting her yesterday.  This is BeAnne’s birdwatching stance.  She understands sign language!

We were watching this little chap who was on very good form for weird and wonderful postures.  Someone ate all the pies!

Bless him, this is a favourite!

It was a good morning. I didn’t know that a blue bottle fly could look so beautiful.  What impressive colours.

Just in case you think my day was a complete waste, I did ride, lunge, school, work with and clean all the horses in the afternoon.