The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: ellied on December 06, 2010, 06:30:36 pm

Title: sad weekend
Post by: ellied on December 06, 2010, 06:30:36 pm
Well the thaw looked like setting in on Friday but on Saturday the roof of the barn lean-to collapsed in onto an area where 2 ponies had access to a round bale :o  Fortunately both must have heard the cracking of the roof timbers and got out as both were unhurt, but the whole thing has caved in leaving just the poles and most of the gates intact, and of course without the leanto the main shed is now wide open and deep in snow ::)

Later that evening a driver stopped next door having run down one of my cats, needless to say it was Jack Sparrow, the one I felt closest to since losing Merlin last year :'(  He is in a bag in the garage because of course I can't dig a hole to bury him and I've no idea how to deal with that yet..

I then had a yearling catch himself up in a haik hanging over the field gate, so that's bent and they're eating hay off the ground from now on because I can't manage any more disasters :(

The new snowfall overnight and all morning has of course made the journey to the hill ponies (shortly to be evicted but I'm not sure how I can move them let alone where) even harder but I did slide the Disco there and back in under an hour today so it's better than this time last week I suppose, and I managed to get 2 troughs defrosted and refilling themselves yesterday tho they're frozen again now of course ::)  Hill has a burn in it so just the boys paddock which has a bath in to fill from the kitchen ::)

When is it going please?  I need to dig a wee cat size grave :'(
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: Sandy on December 06, 2010, 06:42:57 pm
So sad, so horrid, this snow is affecting us all in some way, the shops will not be doing a very good trade and it is usualy the time when they all make the most money!!! Are trade is affected as some men staying here cannot get back to do thier job, and the heating is on 24/7. Hope it goes back to just being cold!!!
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: little blue on December 06, 2010, 07:38:29 pm
bless you Ellie, such a sad time for you.

It might sound awful but.... your lovely cat could, if well wrapped up, go in the freezer until the ground is thawed.
We had to hold a pet cremation once, during a harsh winter
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: morri2 on December 06, 2010, 07:59:52 pm
So sorry to hear your sad news.  I lost three cats in a year not so long ago, one of them I'd had since I had my first house, many years ago, she was so special.   I can remember burying each one of them and it was absolutely awful. :'(  Little Blue has made a good suggestion, but the way things are I don't think you'll need the freezer.  Its cold enough outside.

Really hope things improve for you.  I don't hold out much hope for improvement in the weather though. 

All the best.  :wave:
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: knightquest on December 06, 2010, 08:07:43 pm
So sorry to hear about your sad events. I hope things start getting better soon. Soon as in now!

All the best,

Ian
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: bamford6 on December 06, 2010, 09:35:48 pm
very  sorry i have 1 cat she is the onley person il share my meal with i like her more than some people
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: HappyHippy on December 06, 2010, 11:47:31 pm
Sending lots of virtual kisses and cuddles to you - things will get better soon  :-* :-* :-*
Karen x
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: sheila on December 07, 2010, 11:23:12 am
Oh I am so sorry. At least the man who ran over your cat had the decency to let you know. have a nice Christmas anyway if you can.
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: Rosemary on December 07, 2010, 02:06:52 pm
What a shame - sorry to hear about your disasters   :bouquet:  Hope things pick up from now.
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: sabrina on December 07, 2010, 04:43:29 pm
Sorry to hear you have lost a cat,  :(
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: Sylvia on December 07, 2010, 09:01:05 pm
How sad for you. Winging positive vibes your way :)
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: Cinderhills on December 08, 2010, 07:07:31 pm
I'm so sorry for the loss of your adorable cat.  :'(  But thankful for the lucky escape with your ponies.
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: faith0504 on December 09, 2010, 11:29:42 am
my thoughts are with you  :bouquet: :wave:
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 09, 2010, 11:52:46 am
what a year for you, Ellie, this is so sad. Our cat has not ventured out at all for 2 weeks, thank heavens... :&>
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: Jackie on December 09, 2010, 04:02:42 pm
Oh Ellie how awful for you.  >:( Sending lots of hugs your way.
Title: Re: sad weekend
Post by: ellied on December 09, 2010, 04:18:50 pm
Well the good news is that I managed to dig a wee grave for Jack today, and the bad is that one of the ponies that had access to the barn has colicked today - I thought it was eating too much dry hay/straw making an impaction but apparently it's spasmodic and could be caused by sudden changes of feed, weather ::), stress (barn collapsing around you might be stressful!) or generally a systemic issue - she's 17, in foal, first winter up in Scotland, visiting here since midsummer and has colicked about 3 months ago which again I assumed was a one off, and her past history in terms of worming etc isn't known..

I don't wish it were one of mine but being someone else's pony it is even more of a worry :(  I'm away out to check her again and update the vets before they change to the oncall service..  But what do I say, she's looking miserable but then she isn't allowed to be fed again at the moment and is watching other ponies eating..  She isn't rolling etc as she was earlier, but the painkillers will still be in the system I would think. 

Beach in Bali and a new hobby of knitting rather than livestock I reckon  :-\