Tag Archives: lerwick

Escape for the Day

As Flossie hasn’t left the house since last year – just after Christmas to be precise – I thought we should have a day out. It would do us both good. And I am also panicking about any potential snow dump that might happen. After all, if there is a life-threatening snow storm about to hit the USA (please, all stay safe everyone) and mega-snow in Russia (Kamchatka peninsula), then I have to worry.

So I got the horsevan out (first offering up a prayer to the Gods of starting vans) and off we drove to Lerwick, sadly leaving Pepperpot behind.

It was cold, windy with occasional biting rain. There’ve been no boats for many days so I couldn’t get some of the animal feed I wanted. Never mind, we have enough for a while, no one is going to starve. I did, however, get a big bale of hay so now we are well stocked with hay.

Everyone in town is gearing up for Up Helly Aa – held on the last Tuesday of the month.

I checked the sheep field in Jamieson’s and kicked myself for forgetting to bring any one. Never mind. OH will go in on Monday and I can send them in with him ready for the cruise ship full of tourists arriving specifically for Up Helly Aa.

We had a nice lunch – our reward for all our recent hard work – and then a quick nip around Tesco’s. It was very obvious there had been no boats.

Apparently no one likes watermelon.

Or beetroot.

I think (but I could be wrong) the only local produce Tesco will sell here is milk from Shetland Farm Dairies. There was absolutely no bread in the aisles – which is disappointing because there are at least 8 – 10 local bakeries scattered all over Shetland. At least the local shops are well stocked with bread.

We went home feeling full (delicious lunch) and with a good supply of hay too.

A Morning Away

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Today I left my bed.

It was bliss. My friend, Monika, kindly offered to drive me to Lerwick. I desperately wanted to stock up on animal feed before the next snow arrives – it is threatening for next week.

So, Monika collected me at 10 o’clock, when we had all finished our crofting chores, and drove me to town.

First stop, the feed merchants. It felt very odd being amongst real people as opposed to my family who are used to my current prone form on the bed for most of my day.

Then on to another feed merchant – to get all the stuff that the other one hadn’t got.

And lastly, to the chemist who supplies the drugs for Bibble and his cancererous bits. They are lovely in there and I always show them a photo of a very happy Bibble so they know all their efforts of finding the cheapest version of the drug and ordering it for him are totally worth it.

Just before we turned for home, I said that I had more energy than I thought I would’ve and could we possibly go to Tesco for a quick nip round with a trolley. Such luxuries before me and I stocked up on the essentials – yes, my Tunnock teacakes were replenished.

It was lovely to be away from home, animals and around other people and things. For me, it was ridiculously wonderful.

And then home, unpacked and I spent the afternoon resting on my bed remembering that I can be normal, I can have a normal life and I will get better one day to reclaim it.

Huge thanks to Monika who was the best chauffeur.

Edited to say I am paying for my galivanting now – currently on acupressure mat wondering when I can take analgesia.

Dreich

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I don’t think it is actually going to stop raining until next year. It was dreich (a great word for today).

And it was just getting light when I went outside serving up breakfast to everyone, hence the dismal photos. Tis the way, this time of year.

So, armed with my extensive shopping list, I headed to Lerwick stopping off first at the feed merchant for provisions for all things ovine, equine and poultry.

And then a quick swoop around Tesco with my trolley and I drove home while it was still daylight. I hate driving in the dark.

In the last of the quickly fading light of early afternoon (now around 2.30 p.m.; how pathetic is that?), Skippy and I unloaded the car and I made bedding a bit fresher for the chucks and ducks and the sheep too.

Obviously, I had my little follower. She never left my side though her determination to be run over by Skippy was admirable (if I had a pound for every time I tell her to get out from under the wheels, I could probably pay my feed bill!)

With the ducks and hens now comfortable and the sheep bedroom slightly fresher, I saw the sheep had all come home from their day out in the field. Even Gussie and Dahlia had turned up – a routine I want them to get into.

You can see just how wet everyone was but doesn’t Gussie-Dustbin look handsome? He’s quite the sheep these days.

I got out my statutory biscuit tin and gave everyone one ginger biccie each. Them’s are the rations. I think there was muttering about bigger rations, though. I didn’t listen as I shut the front door for the end of the day – at 3 p.m., (fer cryin’ out loud!)

Non Christmassy

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It has been a lovely day. The light, peace, no wind….all glorious.

I fed the Shetland ponies who insisted on coming down afterwards into the little paddock, which was a bore because I wanted to get the sheep out while convincing them that they could all live together in perfect harmony.

Waffle was not helpful and insisted on stalking with a hint of chasing but I am hoping Gussie will stand his ground and make friends with them all and Waffle will give up.

The rest of the sheep are pretty scared of the ponies and rushed off into the bigger part of the field for the rest of the day.

I know Tiddles wouldn’t be horrid. It’s just Waffle. He can be difficult. We’ll see how it goes. If the sheep refuse to go into the field tomorrow, then there are plenty of others to eat in.

And so to town for a spot of Christmas shopping.

I didn’t feel particularly Christmassy but I like to be organised and to know I have options.

Failing dismally, I went to see my sheep field.

I added more sheep and rearranged it a bit for good measure.

On my way home, the views were spectacular. So good, in fact, that I stopped the car twice to take photos.

My spirit was soothed. Now to find my Christmas one.

All Things Biotin

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Today, I made a quick trip into town to get all things biotin for Haakon’s hoof as well as get my hair cut.

I spent my morning at the feed merchants looking at labels on all the equine supplements and trying to make an educated guess as to what would be best for my poor old boy.

Feeling that I was getting into a huge muddle with this, I went and stood outside trying to find a halfway decent mobile signal in the drizzle while phoning NAF Equine for more information and some guidance. They were very sympathetic to Haakon’s situation and I came home with biotin in liquid form (Pro Hoof), a General Purpose Supplement and some TurmerAid (Lambie and friends had finished my supply).

I also bought Haakon a big bag of his favourite veteran mix to add to his food as he knows when I put anything suspicious in, like boswellia, which he loathes and then refuses to eat. Fussy bugger.