I don’t know why, but I have got into a total state.

I have my first post-op six week appointment with my Consultant Surgeon tomorrow in Aberdeen.  On the boat tonight and I haven’t a clue what to pack.  I am full of the “what-ifs”, like what if I am admitted to hospital because I had that fall?  What do I need to pack?  I seem to have lost all my kaftan nighties which are brilliant for hospital/ferry.  Bugger.  They are in a blue rucksack that has vanished from the Hobbit Hole that is my house (according to Daisy!)

I am panicking and I need help.

Her Maj is trying to be supportive, but sulky, as she knows I am going away.  She is keeping my bed warm.

I have huge anxiety about this trip. I am not like this normally.  This is not me but I don’t want to go and I am scared I won’t cope on my own.  I am suffering also from regular hot flushes (yes, the obvious).  It is all adding up.

I can’t decide what to take.  Daisy kindly ironed a shirt so I don’t look like a country mouse (and yes, that is Wussums on the kitchen work surfaces which is shameful but you try telling him).  She has been my fashion consultant too.

I have made a list of things to say like how do I reduce my painkillers, admit my fall last week, ask what the future is…..

Do you think anyone would mind or notice if I took some moral support to keep me grounded?  BeAnne could be my Thinking Dog for the Stupid, have a little coat and look after me on the boat and in Aberdeen, though I would be barred from every shop after the appointment and/or taxi.

OH asked if I had any Rescue Remedy and then said “you don’t need a dropper of it, you need a St Bernard with a barrel following you!”

I am now getting a headache with the worry.  Oh FFS Frances, you have done this a million times.  How difficult is it to get on a boat and get on with it?  This is only something like the tenth time I’ve done it.  I am shaking.

(Can I take Whiffy with me?)

The girls and I set off to see the bebbies at Sandness, 4 miles down the road. We found the mothers and aunt were settled but there were no bebbies to be seen.  No one seemed all that concerned.

So, we climbed over their fence in search of their little ones who were not very far away but had gone off for a spot of exploring.

Zoot and Dingo were having a lovely time racing through the marsh marigolds, as far away as they dared from their mummies.

It was very obviously Zoot’s brilliant idea.

She was having a great time but Dingo (aka Arg Lucky Charm) immediately raced back to her mum.

She knew exactly how to negotiate the fence which makes me think she has done this before.

Then Zoot suddenly realised that she was on her own and beetled back too, fairly smartly.

And, yes, she ducked easily under the fence. Caught!

They looked like butter woudn’t melt.  A happy family once again.

Zoot soon redeemed herself, however, by spending time with Anna and Daisy.  Dingo just stayed back to watch.

There was much foal-snogging while Dingo watched from a distances. I wonder when and if she will ever come up to talk to us.  She is taking it all in, though.

So, we left them on a beautiful sunny, dare I say it, Shetland Spring afternoon to eat and have fun but preferably not to escape again.

There be dragons…….  beyond that fence.

Today we evicted Anna.

To be fair, I did clean her new abode first.  OH did the outside and I wafted about with some Flash and Febreze inside.

Now I am very proud of my little caravan. It is my home-from-home and I think Anna will be very happy there.

Now it is her home-from-home.

She brought friends.

(All this is because Flossie is coming home with 2 of her friends next week and we have run out of floor space in the bedrooms in what Daisy calls our Hobbit Hole and what I call Our Home)

This is Anna’s immediate view. I don’t think she will complain.

BeAnne has taken up residence too.

To make up for this eviction and to also blag some mattresses, Bessie came over with the necessary supplies and her gorgeous 5 month old Yorkshire terrier puppy, Mootie.

We all duly fell in love!

Some were a tad jealous, it has to be said ,and went into a bit of a film star decline.

Surprisingly, Jack was very happy, though, to see a new dog in his house which makes me wonder whether we should get another lurcher.

This is a very sensitive subject with OH who is adamant that we don’t at present, if at all.  He says I am in no fit state to look after another dog, let alone the two we have, yer, yer, yer.

I am upstairs sulking (plotting) with the cat now.

Sing to the Tune of Summer Holiday
(the Cliff Richard version, please)

Taktur’s going on his summer holiday
no more working for a month or three
Fun and laughter on his summer holiday,
no more worries for him and me,
for a month or three

He’s going where the sun shines brightly
He’s going where the grass is green
we’ve all seen it in my photos
now let’s see if we mean…..

Taktur has his summer holiday
doin’ things he always wanted to
So he’s going on his summer holiday,
to make his dreams come true

not animal glue
not animal glue!

(lyrics slightly changed by me!)

Yes, the my Icelandic stallion has earned his summer holiday.  He has worked hard for his trainer, Bjørn Roar Larsen, since December and now he can show a half decent slow tölt, he can have a rest.

Daisy had the last ride/lesson on Taktur to give Bjørn the opportunity to watch his gaits, movement and conformation.

When they had finished, he was allowed to walk around and stretch.

They make a lovely couple.

While Daisy groomed him, ready for his conformation photo..

….. Anna had a lesson from Bjørn on Haakon.  She has ridden my horse a few times but this was her first time without stirrups.

She did very well and Haakon did the best tölt I have seen for a long time.  I hope we have converted her!

Next, time for Taktur´s conformation photo.  I am not sure which one I like best but I am impressed and very happy with his development.

Shoes off for the summer.

So that’s it for the Taktur now.  He gets the summer off to eat, grow stronger and have fun with his friends.  A huge thank you to Bjørn for his commitment to training my stallion.  Without him, none of this would’ve been possible.  They make a good team.

Hello, Anna and Daisy here, giving Frances a well earned break.

Today we decided to do the foal rounds again to check on the two little ones to see how they were getting along.  Dingo, aka Lucky Charm, is still being heavily guarded by Nanook.

Zoot was more than happy to come up and socialise. 

Next stop, to see Indy and some of his ladies.  He enjoys being on the school route as he gets many hugs and sweeties. Yes, he does look like a bit of a weirdo sometimes, not that you’d believe it from Frances’ photos.  This was the best one we had of him…

Anna had to have a photo with the celebrity.  He was more than happy to oblige and accepted the carrot currency.

The final stop was to see the fillies and mares where we were swarmed.

Lyra and Carina were very happy to see people.  It seems like Bozz-Bozz and Arcturus get all the fun.  The next step is to get rid of all the foal fur.

Overall, we would say that it was a very good day.

Update: Frances’s ankle is not broken, just sprained. Not fun.  Send happy thoughts!

Frances here, I may live the day with enough chocolate!  Good bloggers here.