I happened to be in Sandness this afternoon, so I thought I would pop by The Minions and spend some time with them.

Always a pleasure, never a chore.

Storm and Waffle were first up and Silver took his time.  He is investigating and getting braver every day.  Today he wanted me to kiss him on the nose.  A first for him.

After a good 20 minutes of being very much loved and appreciated, the boys went off to play.

Waffle was still feeling a bit sore and not very enthusiastic. He stayed with me while Silver and Storm were racing round giggling and biting each other happily.

They would run at me and swerve at the last minute.  I was sitting on the ground with Waffle who just wanted to be hugged (of course, I duly obliged – it would’ve been rude not to).

Watching the other two was very refreshing.  They made me smile with their enthusiasm for life and sense of humour.

Remember – six months ago The Minions barely  had the strength to walk.  All their energy was being used in staying alive.

Today’s photos speak volumes to me.  I never intended to keep any of The Minions.  It just happened and I am glad of it.  They have changed my life for the better and I hope I have done likewise for them too.

I can see that Waffle’s castration has taken it out of him but he is getting better every day.

When I get my Land Rover home (having a service and MOT), then I will go and collect my boys  from Sandness and bring them home.

We all miss them and they need their Mum.

Some visitors to Shetland asked to meet our Shetland ponies.  I am never one to say no as I believe in promoting Shetland ponies from Shetland.

Firstly we took them to meet the girls – the mares and the fillies.

Obviously the thought of new victims, sorry, visitors, made everyone rush over.

As ever, I don’t believe in wasting an empty pair of arms so I gave our visitors a brush and put them to work!

The girls loved it and so did our guests.

We chatted, brushed, chatted, brushed and chatted while a variety of Shetland pony mares and fillies introduced themselves to be groomed.

Next it was The Minions’ turn.  They  had already become acquainted to them from this blog but wanted to meet them in person.

They had the sense to bring bribery, as in carrots.

I was proud of the lads.  They are not very good with strangers but they were gentle, happy and relaxed around these people.

Silver even made a huge effort to be “one of the boys”.  He is beginning to come out now and I am pleased about that.

Storm even went to sleep beside us, which made me realise that they are totally relaxed.  He could’ve remained standing up.

(Tears to Eyes Moment, I will admit – no horse has ever lain down next to me to zzzzzzz……)

I was lying on the rug outside the house just enjoying the lunchtime peace and quiet all around.

Taktur was waiting to be ridden and we had brought Klængur out to keep him company. They have always been good friends since travelling together from Iceland nearly 2 years ago.

They were both wandering about munching grass and then I looked up!

Klængur is my darling boy.

I am riding him daily having gone right back to the beginning with him.  I have taught him to stand by the bucket while I clamber on and he has learned that if he stands completely still, I will bend forward, once onboard, give him a well-earned carrot and praise.  Then we walk round and round the school just bending, keeping calm and working in a relaxed outline.  Nothing strenuous, nothing scary, just walk and bend.  We will continue to do that for a while.

Taktur is continuing his training for the time being.  He will get six weeks off in summer but until then, he is ridden most days – exercised by Daisy or trained by Bjørn.

He is still a Handsome Prince and very easy to have about.  He loves people and their company but is never pushy, just casually there.  

I am not sure I would do this with Indy, for all his generosity, but then there is always Hammy being an irritating midge not far away so perhaps I am being unfair.

(AND YOU ARE TO SAY NOTHING TO NOBODY ABOUT THIS. I MEAN IT.  MY OH DOES NOT KNOW.)

“Simmer Dim” means Summer twilight and last night was the longest day.

This is Sandness at 22.15.

We tacked up Hetja (Jo’s), Hreyfing (Fi’s), Iacs (Daisy’s) and Haakon (me) to ride to the beach, for a picnic.

We made Daisy carry the picnic.

And off we set.

It was the perfect evening.  The sunset was incredible, getting better and better.

The beach was almost entirely ours.

And so we rode along the sand, listening to the waves and thinking it doesn’t get any better than this.

Then we found a good picnic spot at the other end of the beach and got out our picnic.

We had sausage sarnies, Pringles, chocolate and and bottle of pre-mixed Mojito (half white rum, half lime soda) which was passed round for swigs.

There was a certain amount of scrounging.

Actually, there was a huge amount of scrounging for everything, including the Mojito.

Our horses behaved appallingly at the sight of our food and drink.  I think they tried everything too and pretty much liked it.  Iacs was very fond of the Mojitos.  Now why am I not surprised?

(a quick reminder of our view – utter bliss).

The last bits were eaten or swigged or shared.

We packed up and rode round the village before going home.  If you heard hoofbeats last night in Sandness it was not the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Back to the field by 11.30 and we left the boys there for another adventure on today (teas at the hall).

So this is how light it is at midnight once we got home.

Simmer Dim is magical.  It makes Shetland very special.

(all photos taken on an iPhone without a flash – sorry for the wobble)

Saturday morning is meant for hitting the High Street and blasting the credit card.  So which would you rather do – walk along this deserted beach, listening to the waves lap gently and the terns arguing above you or go shopping, listening to the sales pitch of the girl behind the make-up counter and the arguing of mother and teenage children?

I know where I am.

We walked the dogs on Norby beach, Sandness, before we went to check up on the Minions.  I had been to the vet first to get some nuclear wormer (wiggley worms were seen yesterday in Waffle’s poo) and the dogs had been patient and well-behaved in the car.

Loki attempted to paddle.  He has never done this before and always stayed away from water.

BeAnne was on terrific form.

I wandered about, as per usual, with the enormous camera.

Daisy got stuck in quick-sand.  I laughed and left her to sink.

BeAnne did some paddling.

And then we went to see The Minions who were standing in the far corner of their field.  Some were letting it all hang out.

Waffle was feeling and looking much better.  We caught everyone and nuked them with the wormer.

Waffle had his daily jags – painkillers/anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

Silver did his best to avoid us but he let me catch him to worm.

And then everyone wandered through the giant dockens to escape any more torture we could think of.

Except for Storm who came back for a quick kissey.

Darling boys. Now to arrange our midnight “Simmer Dim” (summer twilight) ride – tis the longest day today.