Well today has been “interesting” in the extreme.  It appears we are now viral.  Get us!

The Brain Farts, as Jo calls them, are out in force and we have been accused of promoting over-breeding, photoshopping (I mean I am good in as much as I can erase a Twix wrapper from a photo of Scalloway Castle, but I am not THAT good!), leaving the jerseys on all the time for the ponies to wear, over-heating the ponies (they were not standing in that freezing weather!), etc.

I have also been asked a few times for the name of the person who made the jerseys so they can order some for their equines.  Now this is not a good idea.  Originally, when the idea was first mooted to us, Jo and I looked around our myriad of Shetland ponies to find the right pony for the job. Whiffy Chicken of Lerve (aka Fivla) and her friend Minnie (Vitamin) were our only choice.  They are kind, gentle and very very quiet.

The rest would not have been quite so accommodating about having folk under their bellies doing buttons up.  Heads would’ve been kicked in and we never thought to attempt it.  I have put up some photos of Robert, Daisy and Jo putting the jerseys on the ponies.  DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!

I know, I know the feet are extra cute but that is the way it is.  Enough with the brain fartery.

Pictures and video of the whole process!  Yup, now you know what we did this weekend.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2266196/How-turn-pony-jumper–combine…

http://imgur.com/a/tNNaT

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/features/onesie-wearing-shetland-ponies-bac…

http://entertainment.ie/wtf/Shetland-Ponies-in-Jumpers/161050.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/22/shetland-ponies-cardigans-funny-pi…

Ok, it is everywhere and this is our fifteen minutes of fame.  I am dead proud of everyone involved – Jo, me, Robert (Jo’s son), Daisy (my daughter), Richard (he made our lunch), Rob (photographer) and Robin (sent from Visit Scotland) and even BeAnne who got in the way!

We’ve done very well and if it spreads the word that Shetland ponies are out there, loud and proud, then all to the good!

Shetland ponies often have bad press but Whiffy and Vitamin were awesome models who behaved every minute without having any opinion (they are now known as Kate and Naomi)!

A day of cold.  I ache therefore I am (recovering).

Freezing cold.  Watched by some….

…. and others….

… we loaded up the Land Rover and made some decisions.

It is bluddy freezing and will be for a few days more…

so we returned Whiffy and Vitamin to their herd…..

… and put out a bale of silage for them.

They were very happy to see food ….

and quickly found it (a Shetland pony talent).

Everyone should be alright now.

This cold is very…… well, cold!  I am still recovering from the last few days.  All will soon become clear, I promise (ie, our five minutes of fame)!

(this is a pathetic blog, I know, but I am exhausted, I hurt and I have to go out and do more in the pitch dark – I actually want to go to bed and die!)

We all started very early, as the sun rose.  It was a beautiful sunrise so I considered this a good omen for the rest of the day.

Yup, I still can’t tell you anything but we went to four different locations, looked at a few others and our stars were wonderful.

BeAnne stayed at home and was not happy.  Apparently she howled, so after our lunch break (back at Thordale for green soup (? flavour) and sausage sarnies), I took her with me for the rest of the day.

This was Location No 1.

Fantastic light and we worked hard.  It was frikkin’ freezing and my feet turned into blocks of ice.

Jo brought her son, Robert and he kept us amused, and diverted, from thinking about the cold by smashing ice over his head!

Then we gathered up our belongings and moved off to find our next location.

We drove around for a while, looking at various options and decided on a hill view.

After lunch, now with BeAnne in tow, we headed back to Sandness where the seals watched us in total bemusement.

The last shoot of the day was with Foula in the background.

BeAnne was now incandescent with rage as her skills had not been employed once..

Unhappy with their choice of models, BeAnne made her feelings very clear and set up an ambush!

Sadly, her pleadings for work fell on deaf ears (their loss imho) and she had to be restrained until the day was over (oh, the shame).

Oh yes, and I made Daisy brush her hair with the horse’s brush because I had left mine in the Land Rover and I couldn’t be arsed to walk back up the hill for it.

If it is good enough for our supermodels, it is good enough for her!

Well I can’t discuss today at all except it was hard work and my back hurts beyond all painkillers.  I have endless lists everywhere and I am thinking on my feet (not a good combination, really).

The stars of the show were wonderful and I love them to bits because they never batted an eyelid, took it all their little stride and I will hug them forever if we pull this off.  There was a great deal of bribery too.

The weather was most unShetland-like (ie, calm)

but with a very magical light.

Tomorrow we start all over again, at the crack of sparrows (definition) only this time I am taking a boat load of Tramadol with me.

I am sorry I can’t write more.  When I can, rest assured I will and then there will be picture overload too.