Tag Archives: Shetland Islands

A Lovely Day

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FIrst thing and I was out with my usual buckets to my usual ungrateful lot of animals.

I title this photo “Good luck with that!”

Breakfast for me and then off I went for a day out.

First, I had to drop off my car for its annual MOT and was picked up by Kerry in her car. She was taking me to Bressay for the day.

Bressay is the island next to Lerwick – 11 square miles (28 km2) and it is the fifth-largest island in Shetland. Population – 350 people.

We turned right off the ferry and went to see the lighthouse first, which is currently for sale.  Details here.

But the gates were locked so we couldn’t have a look around like we always used to (sadly).

But the views were nice and interesting.

Definitely worth the effort.

We decided to drive around a bit before lunch and went to see the memorial cairn to honor Bressay fishermen lost at sea between 1880 and 1912.

Local history is always interesting.

And there were the excellent views looking over the southern approach of Bressay Sound to Lerwick.  It’s strange to see my usual world from a completely different angle.

A delicious lunch at the Speldiburn Cafe (which had been the island’s Primary School) – great cake and a sublime hot chocolate – and off we drove to the far side of the island to see the island of Noss.

Separated by the narrow Noss Sound, Noss lies off the east coast of Bressay and is famed for its spectacular seabird colonies.  I have been round it once in a boat and can attest there were birds clinging to the cliffs.

And then we drove around for a bit.  I found some seals basking in the afternoon sun in the shelter of the Bressay Marina.

  

And then it was time to catch the ferry to go home again.

My car failed its MOT and subsequently had to remain in Lerwick so I cadged a lift home off Kerry.

A great day though, apart from the MOT failure.  Thank you Kerry for the change of scenery.  I needed that.

And thank you for all your kind words of support, encouragement and advice – I have taken it all onboard.

Not a Day for Going Outside

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Today was not a day for being outside. It was “coarse” – sporadic rain/drizzle accompanied by an unceasing westerly wind – F8/F9.

When I went out first thing, I could see Iacs just hiding behind the fence. I think I could smell the whiff of optimism that breakfast would arrive shortly.

It did.  Everyone was pleased.

The rest of my morning was spent renewing my acquaintance with Squarespace. I am determined to master it.  Quite the challenge but I think headway is being made.  It’s hard to tell.  There may have been some swearing.

Later, I asked everyone if they wanted to come out with me to help with the afternoon chores.  The silence was deafening.

And I think this lot also spent their day in the containers. There was certainly evidence of it.  There were two factions and it was their choice, I told them, as I mucked out. No extra haynets if you can’t be arsed to go find anything to eat.  I am not your slave (though, I am – who am I kidding?)  Maybe they’ll go out later. I think the weather is calming down overnight.

And I’m not saying everyone isn’t ** cough ** fat but they are!  Albie, especially.

Happy Days

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My blog fight continues.  My Chief Administrator, the ever-helpful-nothing-is-too-much Nick Miners has successfully turned the clock back and I am back to my happy Luddite state of the Classic WordPress set up.  No updates, no more blocks (what even is a block?) and I am in familiar territory. Phew.

But the question was raised – what if I moved from WordPress, which is, for me, becoming increasingly more complicated and unhelpful, to Squarespace or Wix.  It is certainly a thought and one I am now entertaining.

So,as the wind was blowing a hoolie all day, I thought I would spend a part of it productively.

Accompanied by the “Soshul-Medjah” Terrier, we went into my shed armed with my laptop trying to work out if I could use SquareSpace without too much difficulty.  I like to tell myself it was not 3 hours of my life wasted and that I can do this. I might get to love SquareSpace but I am back to those unhelpful blocks again.  My jury is still out on this one. I haven’t investigated Wix yet.

But good news – hopefully due to the time travel, all the email subscriptions are back. Let me know if you are still not receiving the blog using this method and I will alert Nick (and please go and look at his website – gorgeous architectural and interiors photography).

In other good news, Madge seems very happy and settled without her mother, Edna.  I never thought this would happen and had been worrying unnecessarily, as I now realise, that she would live in a state of panic and grief.

But nope, Madge appears calm (for her) and even comes up to take biccies from me.  She is not looking or shouting for her mother, which she has done for the last 5 years if Edna was out of eye-sight.  I am greatly relieved for her.

The others are oblivious to the loss of Edna from their flock, which is good.  When animals grieve, it is always so desperate.

And back into my shed for commissions.  Shout if you want one/two/three/four……

My Nothing Day

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My best kind of day – absolutely nothing happened.

Having had such a lovely day off yesterday, I slipped back into my daily routine feeling rested and calm.

Breakfast was non-eventful. Everyone ate up and went where I told them to go (sheep into field, please).

On my way back to the house, after finishing all the morning chores, I found these two – Pepper and Monster – hunting in an old pile of wood waiting to be cut up for burning. “Families who hunt together stay together” apparently.

Then I took The Eggbox (Jimny) to the garage to get some petrol – a 40 minute round trip but worth it for the views and the beautiful autumn light. I considered going on a small excursion to see the scenery but I needed to get home to phone the car dealer to find out what the radio security code was. The battery died a few months ago and everything stopped. After some faffing about, I managed to switch it all back on.

After lunch into my shed to make a sheep. I am starting on commissions now so if you are in the queue, please contact me to tell me what colour combination you want. This afternoon, I made a sweet little Lambie.

Back outside again later, and it was now drizzling, to feed ducks/hens.

While the birds were eating, I watched my small fan club of sparrows who were edging closer and closer to the food, hoping to clean up the leftovers. I don’t mind and usually throw a couple of handfuls at the end for them anyway.

As the ponies had come up the hill early, due to the drizzle and their belief they will probably melt, I put out two meagre haynets and they tucked in with great gusto. Their supper-time has become earlier and earlier. They are so good at looking hopeless, as if they have nothing and I always believe them too. I have little will power and they know it!

So a lovely nothing day. Bliss.

 

Sleep Well, Edna

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Goodnight Edna. It was the right decision. I know that. The vet came and she agreed there were no miracle cures and it was time. Edna went to sleep in my arms and she will rest in pain-free peace.

I shan’t forget Edna. She was one amazing lady.

Floss and I first met Edna and Madge, her daughter, in January 2020 wandering on the hill road looking out of place and starving. Hill sheep survive fairly well in winter while Edna and Madge stuck out as very obviously not hill sheep. They were emaciated. I asked around and was quickly given permission to take them.

Apparently both sheep had been dumped with their ear tags cut out – I would like to put on record there is a special place in Hell waiting for the person who did that. It was obvious that Edna was a caddy (tame bottle-fed sheep) who had probably out-lived her useful purpose and was thrown out to die in the harsh environment of the hill in a Shetland winter. Someone knows who she and her daughter were.

Shetland sheep on my knees

Anyway, when Floss and I went with food to work out the logistics of moving the sheep off the hill and take them home, Edna immediately came up and put her front hooves on my shoulders, gazed into my eyes and willed me to take her and her daughter away. If sheep could communicate, she jolly well did that day. I could not refuse her. She needed me.

starving Shetland sheep eating

So they came home, put on weight and joined my little flock. They have stayed here ever since. For five years Edna has told me she has three breakfasts, yes please and thank you, with possibly a fourth. Her determination as well as a huge amount of wanting to live was what got her through.

My thoughts now are with Madge who I thought would never cope with this. But, at the moment, she has joined the rest of the sheep and seems fairly calm about the situation. I will keep a good eye on her.

Group of Shetland sheepLambie and Madge

I will miss Edna. She has taken a piece of my heart with her.

Shetland sheep

A photo from better days