Skippy is back on the road now, which is great news and so I thought I would use this morning to muck out the sheep shed which I have noticed was becoming increasingly smelly.

I told myself I would only take a couple of Skippy barrowfuls out and pace myself throughout the day…..

So I ignored myself and cleaned out the lot. I might be paying the price for it now but I don’t think I would have embarked on this Herculean task (think Augean Stables) if I hadn’t got Skippy.

This time I tried a new method putting down deoderiser powder first, then two bales of shavings and lastly a bale of straw.

Afterwards, I found all the ponies fast asleep in the sunshine.

Albie was on tiger-defending duty which made me chuckle.  Like he would do anything horrid.

They all woke up and had a stretch. I wanted to go and photograph them snoozing but I had missed my opportunity.

They went down the hill and I still had to walk the dogs, so I took them down there too to jump through the long grass in the middle field and unsuccessfully hunt for bunnies.

Beginning to feel the after effects of my hard work, I sat down for a rest letting the dogs entertain themselves.  Albie came up for a chat, and to talk about my opinion about his tiger-killing prowess.

He started with my walking stick.

And then moved onto me.  As Albie was very itchy, I gave him a good scratchy groom. I told him I didn’t mean what I said/thought about him and I was forgiven because I give a good scratchy groom.