Anything goes
New arrivals
Wednesday 8 August, 2007
We are expecting three new arrivals at Longcarse in the next few weeks. We've bought three coloured Ryeland ewe lambs. This is the fulfillment of a long held ambition for me - a flock, albeit small, of pedigree sheep!
I've been a non-flock owning member of the Ryeland Flock Book Society for a couple of years - now I get to upgrade! Hopefully, someone from the Society will get back to me sooner rather than later and tell me how to register our new flock.
It all worked in rather well (apart from the FMD). I was intending to go to Lanark next week to the Rare Breeds sale and had sent off for a catalogue. However, I have to attend a meeting at work on the same day, so I was trying to work out how I could be in two places at the same time.
We're back!
Wednesday 8 August, 2007
This will be our first post for a long time. During our time away, we've been to Australia, which was amazing. However, July is NOT a good time to be away from te garden. On our return, we were sure a family of pygmies were living in the lawn - the grass was certianly long enough to conceal them!
The cats seemed to have missed us most - especially Cassius, just proving that he's just a big softy.Tess also seems glad to have us back - at least, I take that she hasn't tried to bite me this week as a sign that she missed us!
Wanda's parcel
Thursday 12 July, 2007
I've had the funniest morning. You may recall a previous post about how much my horse and his chum, Johnny, like Marmite sandwiches. Well, Wanda, who comments regularly on the diary, told me that she hadn't experienced Marmite. I therefore undertook to send Wanda a jar of the lovely brown, sticky stuff.
I duly purchased the Marmite, but decided that it was a rather sparse gift from Scotland so I put together a wee Scottish hamper (and I do mean wee - it was all accommodated in a biscuit box) of Scottish delicacies, guaranteed to rot the teeth and widen the girth. As I put the last things in this morning, I thought it might be interesting to enclose a copy of each of out two local rags. So I bought two copies of the "Alloa Advertiser" and two copies of the "Wee County News", put one set in the box and wrapped the parcel up with the last of the brown paper and miles of parcel tape, and left one set on the kitchen table to read later.
Flaming July
Sunday 1 July, 2007
Well, July has started well, weatherwise.
Claire came over today, so we took Smokey out on his long reins. Before we left, Claire put her gaiters on over her jeans because last week, we came back along a very puddley track. When we left, it was very hot and sunny. We'd been out about 20 minutes when the heavens opened. Naturally we pressed on, not being candy floss and, therefore, not liable to melting.
By the time we got back, the only bit of Claire that wasn't wet was the bits under her gaiters. Which proves they work, but wasn't quite what she had in mind!
SEERAD
Friday 8 June, 2007
For those not in the know, SEERAD is the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. South of the border, it's DeFRA.
As I work in local government, I am well aware of our shortcomings.I am also well aware of central government's i.e. said Scottish Executive drive to "modernise government" and make evertyhing electronic.
I was rather surprised then when I phoned our local Animal Health Office in Perth for some advice about sheep tagging. The duty officer was not available, so I asked the person on the phone is she had an email address. I really didn't want to get into a series of missed telephone calls and since I wasn't going to around at my desk for long periods of time, I thought "email"."Yes", I was told "she has an email address, but we're not allowed to give it out."
What next?
Tuesday 29 May, 2007
I was leafing through an old copy of "Country Living" Magazine (August 2006) and came across an article called "Farming for the Future", about Warborne Organic Farm in Hampshire. It's quite an interesting article and I was quite enjoying it until I came to this bit "George spends a lot of time with his animals, particularly his chickens, which he trains to live free range. "When they first arrive I have to teach them how to forage," he explains. "I get on my hands and knees and use my finger to peck deep into the sward of herbs and grasses. They watch me curiously and then copy my action.""
Rare Breed Sale, Inverurie
Saturday 28 April, 2007
Just a reminder that there is a sale of rare and minority breeds at Aberdeen and Northern Marts Thainstone Centre at Inverurie on Saturday 5th May. The catalogue is available to download from the ANM website.
If I'm not too tired after the election count on Thursday night, I might have a run up. Only looking, you understand.
The first swallow
Saturday 21 April, 2007
I saw a swallow on Wednesday. There was only one and it was sitting on the telephone wires above our house.
However, one swallow does not a summer make, 'cos it's been pretty chilly since then. It's overcast here today, has looked like it's going to rain but apart from a few spots, it hasn't (so far), and has been chilly when the wind has been blowing. Maybe it just feels colder because it's been so warm for the last few week; but Dan's in 14 sweatshirts and has put the central heating back on.
The scourge of monoblock
Friday 6 April, 2007
Apologies for this having nothing to do with smallholding and just being a rant!
Alloa is a nice Victorian town, which is fortunately having a bit of a renaissance. There's been quite a lot of resurfacing done in the town centre - in the ubiquitous monoblock. And it's all in different colours! There's grey, a sort of red, a hideous yellow - don't these people ever watch an interior design show? Don't they know to pick a couple of finishes and STICK TO THEM. Variety is NOT the spice of monoblocking.
Love, hate and Tesco
Friday 6 April, 2007
I have a love / hate relationship with Tesco. I spent two very happy years working for the company about 20 years ago. I've always shopped there. I have very strong loyalty genes. And I really like my Clubcard points. Now, I know this is all very non-pc and it bothers me. I am very uncomfortable about the rising power of the supermarkets and I hate myself for all the reasons that I love Tesco.
So today, I'm feeling good because I have struck two very small blows against the power of teh supermarket. The Tesco board will have a sleepless night, I'm sure.
