Yesterday was Simone’s last day with us – boo!

She has done some lovely work this past week with Haakon and Klængur and told me what to work on, when I am riding again in August (and, yes, I am counting the days, Mr Surgeon-Man)

Simone kindly gave Arwen a riding lesson on Meester Bimble, aka Iacs.

And then Fiona a lunge lesson with Hreyfing, her new Icelandic mare who came up on the boat last week ….

Jo had brought Hreyfing and Fakur over to be shod.  Hreyfing seems much happier in herself now.  Calmer and settled well into the herd.  She is a lovely mare.

While Fi was also having a riding lesson from Simone (where they were both learning to relax and breathe)  ….

Arwen was taking bloke, aka Fakur, for a stroll outside.

There was also some secret hugging too.  Fakur is quite partial to a hug.

So, it is goodbye to Simone.  She is on today’s flight south.  We had a small party for her last night.  Some booze might’ve been consumed and chocolate – please note, it was shared!

And Beeble does not fit in Jack’s little bed no matter how hard he tries.  

(I just love Snati’s face of perfect bliss while Beeble looks miserable and rather stuck)

Some things are just not meant to be.

Loki is learning how to live a Thordale life.  He likes to come around with me or to loaf outside. Today we tried without the lead to see if he wandered, which he didn’t.  He looks behind him waiting for me wherever I go and knows his name.

He hadn’t yet met the horses but barked in the garden when they galloped up to the fence yesterday.  I was a bit worried but thought we had to bite the bullet and see how he reacted.

He didn’t do a thing.  Just took it all in his stride and was 100% better for not being on a lead.  He pulls and stops listening.  Typical lurcher.

He went on a quick walk with everyone to the egg-stall at the end of the road and, for the last bit, OH let him off the lead.

So slowly but surely we are getting to know Loki and he is doing very well.  There have been a few spats between him, Jack and BeAnne, but they will sort it out.  It is mostly about food.  He has a natural affinity to Jo’s van.  This speaks volumes.  White van-man!

Luckily he had a friend to share his space.  They make a nice couple.

Loki knows about children. He liked Arwen, Fiona’s youngest daughter who was visiting and was very gentle with her.

All the dogs have to know that when someone is riding in the school, then they must wait quietly in their beds.  Loki has been given his bed.

There was a hint of thinking about playing but he finds Snati and Beeble fairly rumbustious.

Luckily BeAnne is there to take up the slack!

I hope Loki learns to play with the others.  He is now running around the fields accompanied and I keep telling myself it is only Day 3.  I feel like he has been with us forever.

Well, today Loki learned how to deal with his second speshul skill – the sofa.  He tackled this potential hurdle with absolutely no problem or assistance from any of us and settled quickly.

His first speshul skill was to ignore the chickens, which he now dutifully does.  I am impressed.  He does not give them a second glance now.

We spent some time in the shed and BeAnne showed him the benefit of behaving.  Daisy was equipped with Dreamies (a cat treat that Wuss loathes as they don’t come in Human or Dog Flavour).

Then outdoors to see if Loki would like to wander around the field.  I asked Daisy to walk with him on the long lead as I am too scared of tripping, which is becoming more and more inevitable at the moment.

BeAnne stayed with me and sat down to smell the flowers.  They are beautiful now and the fields smell wonderful. She is very precious.

I decided that Loki needed to run.  He knows about coming home and waits by the front door to be let in so we let him off the lead in the field.  I expected him to gallop about madly but he just explored and came with us so that was encouraging.

Daisy and Simone are riding the horses.  Klængur looks *** cough *** pregnant!

I am ashamed but the grass is growing and he is happy.  He is much more settled now with himself and his environment, which is good.

So that is us.  Loki is learning how to be one of us.  I de-wormed and de-flea-ed him today. He is sociable with other dogs and Wuss is still sulking having been chased yesterday.  That will have to be Loki’s next speshul skill to learn. I have not introduced him to the horses yet either but he met Mootie today and liked her (what is not to like ❤).

Last night Loki slept in the kitchen in front of the Rayburn with Jack.  Not a murmer. I thought he would whine but he was silent.  No accidents in the morning either.  I think he has found his home – the sofa!

So we left Lerwick on the boat on Monday afternoon in the Landrover.  We had a nice cabin and were situated by the lift.

I took Daisy, my eldest daughter with me and we quickly hit the bar and then the restaurant.  It was a calm crossing, thankfully as neither of us are particularly good sailors.

And so we arrived in Aberdeen at 07.00 and started our drive to Elgin equipped with an element of bravery and the sat-nav.  Aberdeen traffic was vile. The drivers were all nasty and I was beeped for not moving off fast enough at roundabouts.  I can only go as fast as I can and beeping at me won’t make me go faster and, at the end of the day, if you want war, bring it on because I am in a Landrover and you are not – was what I thought!

Anywho, we arrived at the Kennel/Cattery safely, if a tad frazzled.

We introduced ourselves and the dog-with-no-name was brought out to meet us.

First impressions was that he was smaller than we thought, was in good nick (not too thin) and he was fairly calm about meeting us.  Quite detached, though.  We were asked if we wanted to take him for a walk and they had set aside a small paddock with a mown pathway around the edge for this.  So off we trotted.

He met the local chickens and did not look at them, but was quite excited about the cats in their outside cages.  We started to be a bit nervous for Wussums but Daisy and I decided that we liked the dog and we would go ahead with the adoption.

The paperwork signed, we piled him into the back of the Landrover and drove off.  It was hot but the Landrover remained nicely cool.  We stopped off at Tesco for provisions and Daisy walked Woody (that was his name then) while I shopped.

As we had a long trip home, we made for Aberdeen Fun Beach.  Fun, fun, fun.

Woody met other dogs and didn’t react.  He just got on with everything.  That was a huge relief.

He liked the sea which is good – we have lots of sea!

A long walk and back into the Landrover and off on the boat home.  There were no available kennels and Woody seemed fairly relaxed about his bedroom in the back of the Landrover, so he stayed there.  We went down at 19.00 and 22.00 to let him out for a pee, and he kept his space clean all night (good boy).

So we got home at 09.00 and we let him into the garden to meet everyone.

BeAnne likes him, which is good.

Jack’s happy little wagger is very happy.

Wussums is not impressed.  He may be traumatised.

There have been slight games in the school.

Woody has been renamed Loki by everyone.  It suits him and we are focussing him on teaching him his name.  He is also a potential thief.  Typical lurcher.  The eyes are watching…..

Chickens are friends not food.  But this is another work-in-progress.  I have given him a sheepskin rug as his bed as he likes to spread out.

So here is Loki.  I hope he is happy with us.  I think we love him.

My happy little Scratch Pack!

It is foggy here.

Simone is happy playing horses.  We brought them all down and she can help herself.

She rode Haakon in the school and understands him and his little ways!

She said he had changed a great deal.  I like to think it is all the hard work I put in but it is probably everyone else keeping him fit while I am off-games (August, only until August, Mr Surgeon-Man said).

I am so pleased she noticed a change in him.  I did put many hours in all those months ago.

I have asked her to concentrate on his tölt, which seems to have gone a bit pacey but is certainly there with enough half-halts and concentration.

So I am off south for 2 nights …….

….to see a man about a dog!

Please keep everything crossed.  Daisy is coming with me.  We return on Tuesday night’s boat.  Richard, Simone and Floss are holding the fort.  I hope BeAnne and Jack like him.