Tag Archives: My Shetland

My Day Off

9 Replies

This morning started as a grey day but it had potential.

As the day went on, there were hints of blue sky coming through – enough to patch a Dutchman’s breeches, as my mother would say (and apparently it is a nautical phrase as well – I did not know this).

My view at lunchtime from the newly opened Westings Inn which is situated at the very top of Wormadale hill, looking over Whiteness Voe, which opens onto the Atlantic Ocean.

And as we ate our delicious lunch (homemade mackeral pâté, oatcakes, then blueberry cake and an everything-in hot chocolate), the sun came out and the view became even better.

We were close to Lerwick, so we popped in because I had received a phone call saying my sheep flock were getting low in their field.  I quickly restocked and then realised something was going on outside.

We were asked to stay quiet or hide while they filmed “Shetland”, the tv crime drama.

I think everything was concentrating around this gentleman but I’m not very sure as I don’t follow the programme but there had probably been a murrrrrrder (and now I am wondering if he was the murrrrderer!)

Our last stop was  the Cash n’ Carry – I haven’t been there for 30 years. It hasn’t changed and was still excellent. I will return.

Finally home and I did my animal chores (fed ducks, hens, did clean water, put out haynets etc) and then I thought I would continue with my day of leisure and sat down in the sheep’s field.  Bert came and sat beside me and we listened to music together and discussed the merits of the cash n’ carry.

So, all in all, a very good day.  A day off, in fact, from my usual day.

Farrier Today

4 Replies

We had Jay, our farrier, coming today so, after their breakfast, I put everyone where they could be easily caught.  The old horses and ponies were grazing the green grass around the outside of the house while the little Shetland ponies were in their paddock with a haynet to stave off the boredom from waiting.

First up was Haakon and Pepper duly got in the way.

Then clutching my same cob-size headcollar, I caught Fivla….

And lastly Vitamoobag.  Again, note Pepper.  I did ask Jay if he wanted me to put her in the house but he said he didn’t mind. Honest.

The old ones all done (those that needed), and we headed to the  Shetland pony paddock avec le petit chien who dutifully got in the way.  It was a full time job for her.

At least I managed to find a smaller headcollar – one that actually fitted.

Pepper “helped”.  She also recruited a friend – Newt.

Looking at this photo of Albie, I have to ask myself how is Pepper still alive?

I mean, seriously?

But no one kicked her, she didn’t get her nose cut off and she remained unscathed.  A ruddy miracle if you ask me.

And once finished with the horses and ponies, Pepper was ready to annoy another victim!  Poor Monster – he was chased into the house but don’t worry he will get his revenge. He always does.

Summer vs. Winter

8 Replies

While the rest of the UK is basking in incredible high temperatures, Shetland is not.

I took this photo this morning – and we have enjoyed an ambient but overcast 13℃ all day, which is fine by me and my animals.  I am not worrying about anyone over-heating.

It got me to thinking, though, and I asked my OH this question. Which would you hate most – a bonkers hot English summer or a cold Shetland winter?

OH went for the bonkers hot summer saying that it would only be for a few days here and there and he could cope with that.  I couldn’t. I know – I used to live in London and the heat was awful and the pavements smelled of baked dog poo.  Gross.

I said I preferred a rough cold winter because, although it was difficult, it was much more bearable.  It is easier to get warmer than it is to cool down – both animals and people.  Though winter is very hard work.

Ok, this photo is of an extreme day in Shetland winter – Flossie and I were trying to convince our two new sheep to come home and have some food. It was Gussie and Dahlia who were being unhelpful and “lost”.

Having said all that, looking at the photos of winter, I am now not so convinced by my argument!

But Shetland summers are perfect – rarely too hot – and the wild flowers growing everywhere are beautiful.

All the animals are happy – no one is too hot and I am not worrying.  So I think I am saying that I can cope better with a Shetland winter because itis not as bad as an bonkers hot English summer, which would be unbearable for me.

Grubby Little Boys

2 Replies

Last year I took down part of the Shetland ponies’ track and put all the plastic fence posts into a big tonne bag in case I needed them again.  The bag was left securely tied to the fence post. Since then, every time I walked past the bag, I thought to myself that those fence posts would be better off in the shed.

It was a big task so I split it up into doable bite-size chunks and every day (if I remembered) I would go down the hill and take up a few fence posts to put in the shed until it was empty.  And then today, I went down with a knife and a pair of strong scissors to cut the tonne bag off the fence post, dragging it up the hill to put in the shed.

The ponies spent their morning staring at the vacated spot from the tonne bag.

They knew something was different but they couldn’t quite put their hoof on it…

So far, the track is working well.

Everyone is happy if revolting. Tiddles will not let me brush him so I that’s his choice.

The farrier is coming on Thursday so I might have another go then when Tiddles can’t argue.

Newt is sporting his sleek summer look.

And Albie is also revolting.

Silver is the perfect little white dream pony.

And Waffle optimistically followed me up and down the hill after my tonne bag.

In other news, Little Herself is back on form.

And note-to-self, I must remember to check my brakes!

Congratulations to Daisy!

34 Replies

I’ve been on tenterhooks all morning looking at my phone waiting for a text or a call….

Daisy was having her viva (short for viva voce – a spoken oral examination, typically used to defend a doctoral thesis (PhD) or other advanced academic qualification).

And, at 13.30, just as I was typing into Google, “how long is a viva?”, I received the phone call informing me that we must all now refer to Daisy as Dr Daisy!

Apparently, and I wrote it down, she has a PhD is Veterinary Research and Equine Nutrition.

I can’t even begin to tell you just how proud I am of Dr Daisy.  This is a huge achievement for her.

It has not been an easy path but she has succeeded due to all her own hard work.

The bit that really tickles me is that Daisy is the first female Doctor in our family, ever, which is bloody amazing.  I am incredibly proud of her.

(and am obviously wearing my proud Mum t-shirt).

And I hope Daisy is now celebrating her socks off!  Well done Dr. Taylor PhD, MSc, BSc.