This morning was good.  We opened the door to find to three pairs of little eyes staring back.  Hurrah, they were all alive, standing up and stuffing their faces with hay.

While my OH sorted out the door hinge so that we could fasten the door back on itself, I gave them breakfast and mucked out the small dry bumbles of poo plus any wet bedding.  OH also constructed a grate so fresh air would be going in while the ponies were not going out.

The bebbies are eating well.  We bought a bag of mare and foal mix for them, which I will add some dried mares milk to.  They are all looking for their mothers for comfort to suck from – it breaks my heart.

Their coats are getting drier but are matted and damp.  I do not know if they will ever fluff up as they are brittle and hard.  Horrid.

A friend kindly paid for the vet to visit the bebbies and so Jo organised this for midday.   We wanted to know his opinion as well as agreeing on a care plan.

I explained to the vet that they were drinking well (very well, empty water bucket this morning), their pee is like cloudy apple juice and he could see their hard poo, which is now getting softer.  The bebbies were wormed yesterday and I hadn’t found any evidence of worms when I mucked out –  (yes, I was a nurse and yes, I am obsessed).

They each had a thorough check-up and were given the official condition score of 0, like we thought.  The vet said they would not have lasted much longer in this weather.

BeAnne helped.

We are beginning to get to know the foals too.  They are all still very wobbly, especially on their back legs.  I introduced myself to them and they sniffed me back.  When I stroked them I could feel only bones under their skin.  No flesh or muscle anywhere.

We did look for “Rabbit’s friends and relations” (mange/lice) but could see nothing.  They are just scurfy.  If they start itching or we see things move, then we will nuke the crawlies but the bebbies are probably too weak for that at the moment.  It is a fine balance of treatment, reaction or result.

All three are little darlings.  Very subdued and suspicious of us unless we are bearing food.  It will take time, food and lots of tlc.

Care plan – keep them in while the weather is vile with good ventilation, one large yoghurt pot sized cup of food each three times a day with unlimited hay and water.  They can go out and graze in the little paddock if it is a nice day.

The SSPCA contacted my neighbour, Bjørn, a few days ago, to ask if he could rescue some Shetland ponies that were in desperate need of help.  Along with two other folk from other Shetland studs, we took our trailer, some head collars and food to go to the rescue.  The ponies were situated in three fields in the north-end of the mainland (main island).

The first were four colts who were in a shocking state of neglect and starvation.  They had eaten everything in the field and were down to mud.  We could see there were at least a few bales of hay but the ponies needed to be moved quickly or they would be dead soon.

One of the ponies was immediately rehomed and we decided to return to the remainder after looking at and moving the mares, fillies and some more colts first.  So off we went in a convoy to Hillswick.

With the help of a bucket of rattly pony nuts, we successfully caught the ponies and loaded them into various trailers.  It was remarkably easy and we collectively breathed a huge sigh of relief.

These were not fields to go chasing errant Shetland ponies round that didn’t want to be caught. We would’ve been head first in the mud. The colts had nothing in their field to eat but the mares were not too bad.  They didn’t look as bad as the previous ponies.

Everyone loaded mostly cooperatively.

So the mares and fillies went one way and the colts (plus a gelding) went another.  We dropped them off to live in a 37 acre field that looked perfect for Shetland ponies.

(the view opposite).

We had to rush as daylight was at a premium and so we returned for the three remaining starved colts.  They looked awful.  We were all visibly shaken.

They were caught and loaded like little troopers.  Sadly very wobbly on their legs and not in a good way at all.  We took some of the hay to cushion their journey.  It broke my  heart to see just how subdued they were.

Jo drove slowly home hoping they had enough strength for the trip.  We decided to take them back to my croft.  My goat shed is empty and just the right size.  It has a small paddock attached and then a bigger one leading off it.  Before we unloaded the ponies, we set up the shed with rubber mats, hay, water and a bowl of foal mix.

You can’t really see the ponies’ condition from the pictures but their hip bones, ribs and spine were protruding prominently.  I would give them a condition score of 0 and that is being generous.  To bring them back from the brink is a big job.  I am not sure whether we will be successful.  They are all foals from last year and in a terrible state.

They need to firstly warm up, dry off and fluff up.  Hard food will be given to them little and often with as much as hay as they want.  That will keep their guts going and stop things shutting down.  We mustn’t shock load their system.  They are absolutely enchanting, though.  I will keep you all posted but don’t hold your breath.

I must find out their names next.

Since the 1880’s, every year, Lerwick comes alive with Up Helly Aa – Europe’s largest fire festival.

(these photos are from a previous year)

This annual winter celebration takes place in the streets of Shetland’s capital, Lerwick, on the last Tuesday of January (i.e., tonight!)

Planned over the years, a torch procession of almost 1,000 men march with a traditional Norse galley to the burning site.

The men are in Squads with the main one being called the Jarl Squad, headed by their Guizer Jarl (leader).

The crowds gather to watch the singing and cheers of the Squads, the torches are thrown into the galley and everyone stands back to watch it burns. The Lerwick Brass Band play The Up-Helly-Aa song and the Galley song.

After the burning of the galley, there is a night of performing acts and dancing in the halls throughout Lerwick that finish in the  small hours of the next morning.

The next day is a Bank Holiday!

You can watch it live – the fire procession starts at 19.00 – on this link – http://uphellyaa.com

I made a film a few years ago of the fire procession.  It was my first attempt so there is room for improvement.

Tonight, again, there is a gale forecast but Up Helly Aa is not weather dependant and will go ahead, no matter what.

Today I’ll be mostly wearing ……. my Survival Suit.

The Advert

The Reality (houseplants extra!)

Survival suits are one of Shetland’s national costumes (the other is the boiler suit and yellow wellies).  They are standard issue for the Council ferry crew and a good piece of kit to own even if the likelihood of going to sea is negligible.  Windproof, waterproof and you can still function in the bitter cold as they are very warm.

Last night, we had a storm of phenomenal proportions with a 4 hour power cut during supper.  My hat goes off to the Hydro men who were out in that vile night trying to me mend cables, power lines, etc. That was not weather to be outside in.

Today is slightly calmer, still feisty but by comparison nothing like the last few days.  So less wind but now we have intermittent sleet and hail.  Hence my ultimate outerwear topped off with a balaclava and a fur hat.

I brought Taktur over for his grub and he galloped over enthusiastically from his field to his waiting bowl.  He knows it is just for him and looks for me to appear.

OH took the car to Lerwick for its MOT so I have had all the chores to do.  Dogs walked (some more reluctantly than others) and the house was vaguely cleaned (I might’ve sprayed polish about a bit).

Tomorrow I will try and get out and about to go and see how the others are getting on.  Jo has obviously been checking them regularly and giving out bales.  She said Klaengur was going outside now.  Huge piles of gunk have come out of his hoof and he is sound and much better.

I have been watching the weather forecast avidly as today’s is a humdinger – another storm.  This morning has been devoted to getting all my outside chores done as quickly as possible before the weather disintegrates.

As I am now without any help from my girls (all now safely back at their respective universities), everything falls down to me again.  It was nice to have help while it lasted.

So I brought Taktur down from his hill field to be fed his food.

While he ate, I listened to Sherlock Holmes on my iPod sheltering in the lee of the container/shed.  I took a few grotty photos as well.

BeAnne, as ever, was around offering help and support.  She likes to help herself to the bits that Taktur drops.  Anyway, she never leaves my side no matter what the weather does.

Once Taktur had made a clean bowl, I returned him to his field.  Next I took Jack out for his little walk to the end of the track and back.  He grumbled about getting out of bed but is still enjoyed it once outside (OH walked Loki as he goes further and BeAnne refuses to go with him).

Then I went into the house, shut the door and bolted it behind me.  With that the storm gathered pace.

I might have had a little snooze on the sofa this afternoon.