2026 - My Shetland blog

[Frances144]

All Together

Happy smiley faces greeted us this morning, so we gave them their breakfast, put rugs on those that needed them, and threw everyone out together into a nearby field. It would be easy to get them b…

myshetland.co.uk

Put all the horses and ponies in together for the day. They seemed to get along just fine.

 

[Frances144]

Blizzard

After a good breakfast, Floss and I put everyone outside without their rugs because they are all:- very floofy and fat they can move around better, roll and play and it wasn’t that bad, weath…

myshetland.co.uk

The weather has deteriorated. Everyone raced inside early.

 

[Frances144]

https://myshetland.co.uk/more-snow/

More snow overnight. We are all heartily bored of it. I have yet to find gloves that are actually waterproof.

 

[Frances144]

Took to my bed

Last night, I crawled into bed immediately after supper and stayed there, armed with valium, naproxen and an acupressure mat determined to get my back under control. Recently it has been deteriora…

myshetland.co.uk

I gave myself the day off to try and sort out my back. Painkillers, acupressure mat, etc.

 

[Frances144]

More Snow Pictures

My back is still giving me problems so, while I have Flossie here, I am making the most of it and lying in bed all day getting up only to feed the animals. As Floss was going out to lug water (appa…

myshetland.co.uk

I'm still in bed. Daughter went outside with camera for me.

 

[Frances144]

Exercises

A spectacular sunrise this morning. It even made the muck heap look good. And while that was going on in the sky above, everyone equine was totally oblivious and happily munching their breakfast ha…

myshetland.co.uk

Doing exercises to help my back. Not sure if they do, tbh. Life is very bad. I hurt.

#myshetland #shetland #sunrise #winter #snow

 

[Frances144]

I’m Still Standing

Well, surprise, surprise, I’m now pretty much back on my feet again and I am not sure quite how but maybe it was a mixture of pills, potions, ointments, unguents and exercise. Last night, bef…

myshetland.co.uk

Things getting better now. Thanks for all the advice. Gentle exercise today.

 

[Frances144]

https://myshetland.co.uk/not-great/

Today has not been great. The sciatica has returned with a vengeance. Feeling very down.

 

[carthorse]

Oh Frances, I hope you feel better soon. I don't suppose there's any way you can get to a physio? I know your problems are too extensive to be fixed by one but if they can ease off the tight spasming muscles it can greatly reduce the pain.

 

[Frances144]

To The Doctor

As OH managed to get up our track and escape to town yesterday, I decided to make an appointment with our GP to talk about my dreadful sciatica. Things are no better and I am getting very depresse…

myshetland.co.uk

Today I went to see my doctor to talk about this sciatica pain.

 

[Frances144]

Lambie’s Not Right

Lambie has been acting strangely over the past few days. How do you tell, I hear you ask. Well, as his Muzzah, I just know. I am telling myself it’s the weather, and everyone is cooped up wh…

myshetland.co.uk

My dear little sheepie boy, Lambie, is not himself. Trying to work out how to help him best.

 

[Frances144]

Opened the Gates and Shouted!

Today has been vile – rain with constant storm force winds. It is not freezing – now, there’s a plus, but it is definitely not nice out there. First thing, Floss and I went out …

myshetland.co.uk

Weather is terrible. Everybody gratefully came inside.

 

[Frances144]

The Face of a Thief

I’m getting slowly worse. I can barely walk now without a huge amount of pain. So not great. The bad weather eased off this afternoon and I managed to get the horses and ponies out into th…

myshetland.co.uk

Is this the face of a thief?

 

[Frances144]

Tunnocks, Tea and Tramadol

My current diet consists mostly of Tunnocks, tea and tramadol. The three T’s, as I like to think of them. (The blue/silver ones are the dark chocolate variety if you’re busy thinking …

myshetland.co.uk

My diet at the moment.

 

[Frances144]

A Different Approach

Today’s regime has been different. No painkillers today – I don’t think they actually help, just change my focus of attention. The pain doesn’t go away but I just don&#8217…

myshetland.co.uk

Trying to find a new approach to my sciatica.

 

[carthorse]

Very gentle hugs.

I have mixed views on painkillers. If they're anti-inflamatories they can help ease the problem, unlike straight painkillers, and both can reduce the amount of damage you do elsewhere compensating for the pain, but at the same time there's a very real risk of doing too much because it hurts less and so making the problem even worse. You have to make an informed choice, and be careful whatever you decide.

I do hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[Frances144]

In My World

This is my Night Nurse who finally turned up having cleared up the supper things first. And this is my Day Nurse, who likes to sit on my arm, gaze at me (probably to check I am still breathing) and…

myshetland.co.uk

this is my world... currently.

 

[Frances144]

A Glorious Day

It has been one of those rare calm Shetland winter days. Even the sun made an appearance and everyone just breathed out and relaxed. I am trying to get out more now, doing little things, but defin…

myshetland.co.uk

It was beautiful today in Shetland. Finally calm.

 

[Frances144]

Fresh Grazing

Everyone is fed up. I could tell. The fields that had grass are now almost bare. While that’s fine for younger and fatter Shetland ponies, it is not ok (apparently) for the others. So, I r…

myshetland.co.uk

Opened up new grazing for the older horses and ponies. They are very happy.

 

[Frances144]

Rugs On Today

I’ve not been very energetic today as I’m not feeling very well – back pain, sciatica, general malaise. I had one thing planned – to put rugs on the older horses and ponies.…

myshetland.co.uk

Managed to get rugs on all the old horses and ponies before the rain set in.