I had a few minutes before The Homecoming (Floss from Europe) so I hopped into the horses’ field to take some pics of my absolute most favouritist flower ever, apart from Orchids – the blue one whose name is even more wonderful – Devil’s Bit Scabious.  It looks like a splendid hat your mother’s friend, who you always referred to as Mrs So-and-so (never her first name), would wear for a wedding in the 1960’s.

I was just enjoying my time sitting on a rock, while the horses were asleep further away, when Klængur decided he wanted to be my photography companion and sauntered over.

Now, I don’t mind Klæengur standing beside me.  He is easy and very gentle.  Basically, I trust him 100% to look after me first and himself second.  So, I went on taking photographs, including him as well in the theme.

The next thing I knew, Klæengur took a step forward to stand over me.  I was initially worried until I realised Tit-For-Brains, aka Hammy, had appeared.  Klæengur was protecting me from Hammy and prepared to take all the flack.  I wrapped my arms around Klæengur’s neck and used him to slowly haul myself up.  He never flinched while Hammy’s teeth were surgically attached to him.  All bets are off when Hammy is around and it is every man for him or herself.

Hammy has this thing of resting his teeth on you because they just happen to be in the area. He does it to everyone with a smile on his face and a song in his fart.

I will admit that he does do cute though, very well.

Poor Klæengur had to absorb all Hammy’s teenage behaviour and act as a wall for me.  I cannot thank him enough for this.  We had a secret conversation about it.

I suppose it gave the other horses a rest from Hammy and his unique sense of humour.

Am I the only one who thinks Hammy resembles a rather bizarre member of the Moomins?

I received this envelope in the post today.  I felt rather affronted. I hadn’t realised I needed cheering up.

Especially when I have my boy waiting for me and life is good.  Have I been a miserable cow in my blog recently? (purely rhetorical, please do not reply)

So, we let Haakon and Iacs eat the grass around the house, while we shovelled in a quick lunch.  Stupidly, I left the front door open and there was a rattle on the nib of the handle.  Haakon has always done this as he believes the biscuit tin or a carrot will magically “apparate” in front of him.

Then Iacs arrived and had a hopeful thought too.  Bless him, you can almost see that lightbulb light up!

I was about to say go away, when I looked down and there was his owner encouraging him.

They are as bad as each other.

So I am not sure why I should cheer up when I have happiness on my doorstep.

And my youngest has just got in to her chosen university.  Yay!

Now do you go up to Oxford from Shetland or would that be down?  

I haven’t had a riding lesson in ages.  Since I am trying to learn (and failing) an interweb dressage test, I have found there are a few technical hitches, like stopping at X so I asked Bjørn, our friendly local FEIF Level 3 trainer, for some help.

He said I had to practice walking, which I can do.  Often.  Also, I need to do things slowly, which we can’t do because Haakon has never done anything slowly.  Slow is not a speed he knows.  Horse riding is the only time in the day (and night) when my back doesn’t hurt and I can forget about my ankle.  I only have 5 weeks and then all this is gone again.

Bum.

Then Daisy had a lesson on Klængur.  He has changed so much this year.  There was no instant-fix, just time and listening to him.  The journey was a very big deal in his head.  Less so for everyone else.

Now he is relaxed and chilled in his environment, apart from when there is lightning but that is legit as we are all afraid of lightning.

Daisy seems to have a very good relationship with him.  Another horse I have lost to her.

For the first time we saw his sense of humour.  After his tack had been taken off, Klængur played “picking up the cone and putting it down”.  I’ve never seen him do this before and it is lovely to see him have a giggle with himself.

Meanwhile, we have been working on Loki’s not-running-away skills.  It is hot so I like to leave the doors open but not at the detriment of losing dogs to the hill.  That is not happening.  Loki has worked this out and stays around the house happily, though I don’t quite trust him yet so I often have to go outside to check he is still with us.

BeAnne of course is always here but this is her job, forever.  Perfect treasure.

Today we were celebrating Fair Isle Festival as guests of Living Lerwick in the town centre with Fivla and Vitamin in their cardigans (courtesy of Visit Scotland). We arrived at 12.30, unloaded and dressed the girls ready for their 13.00 start.

Lots of meet and greet.  The girls were in their element.

I had to nip to The Spiders Web to borrow a Fair Isle jersey for Daisy to wear as Fair Isle knitwear was the theme of the day.  We wanted to team with the theme and they kindly lent us a lovely jersey for Daisy.   A huge thank you.

So, once dressed, we went up and down Commercial Street for photographs and it was lovely to see how many folk wanted to meet the ponies, give them a stroke or stop for a chat.

There were four of us.  Jo and Daisy did the leading while Robert scooped the poop – I just took photos and chatted.  The crowds were great and the ponies took it all in their stride.

For many years, we have traipsed up and down Commercial Street doing our shopping.  It seemed very strange to do this with two Shetland ponies but sort of right as well.  This should be encouraged.

The ponies did not bat an eyelid at anything.  Dogs around their back legs, bits of paper flying, folk singing, anything actually.  They behaved without exception immaculately.  I was so proud of them.  There were a number of photo opportunities and we stood outside most shops for their owners to have their photos taken.

A brilliant day and one, I hope, that will be repeated.  The girls certainly drew a crowd and I hope we brightened up the day for those who were working on a Sunday.

We even did some chugging for MacMillan Charity.  The staff of Boots were being sponsored to sit in a tub of cold water – weird plastic balls full of water and goo. I’ve never seen them before.

We offered to add an organic bath “supplement” but they all screamed so much we had to back off!

A long day but one that was good fun – folk wanting to meet Fivla and Vitamin and they loved all the attention (and the Turkish Delight).

We are all exhausted.  The girls’ behaviour was exemplary.  We couldn’t have wished for better.  Not a flicker at anything.  Just happy to see everyone and to have their photos taken.

We went home at 15.00.  It was a long drive, and a very long day.

We stopped at their field and let them out where everyone rushed up to hear their news.

I suppose it is not every day you get to meet a famous pony in a sweater!

It was a lovely morning so Daisy kindly caught the lads and we decided to go out for a plod.  I told them all it would be a slow ride only it wasn’t because Haakon started by spooking at a sheep that looked at him in a funny way.  From then on, we went along at full pelt, giggling.

But it was wonderful to be out and about and they were very pesky them sheeps.

Things were not improved by Daisy and Iacs racing us to the top of the hill.  But we laughed all the way and the moths were blown out along with the cobwebs of the last few months.  Butter wouldn’t melt but Haakon and I know better!  Evil pair.

Revenge – this is Daisy showing me just how big Iacs and her brains are combined.

My saddlecloth seemed to be leaving us so I dismounted elegantly and readjusted everything while Iacs licked my saddle.  Out of control horse.

We clattered our way home with Haakon thinking his name was “Get a Grip” as he ooohed and aaahed at every sheep.  I took a vague interest.  (Apparently Jo had the same thing 4 miles away where she was riding Fakur who tried to sit in a ditch – something in the air perhaps?)

Once home, I hopped off and BeAnne hopped on.  She was cross we hadn’t taken her (having refused to go in the house, we shut her in the shed and left her howling to herself).

She kindly rode Haakon back to his field.

She only dismounted because Hammy was taking an unhealthy interest.

So then he went off to annoy Daisy instead.