The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: valr on July 14, 2010, 06:04:58 pm
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I was "working from home" ;) and in-between times, made a batch of pickled eggs, a batch of pickled beetroot, smarties fairy cakes, beef olives with veg and potatoes from the garden, and put on 5 gallons of cider to ferment! My halo is shining... ;D :farmer: :wave:
Too wet to do anything outside apart from a quick dash to collect eggs!
What did other folks get up to?
Val
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can I tell you about yesterday instead?
Up at 6am... checked the very pregnant Geraldine - still no baby goat.
cats fed, dog out. got myself ready for work.
7:25, went to let chickens out before lift to work at half past.
"those pigs are loud today" I thought, looked up to see Mildred on the top path looking down at me, grunting her greetings!
so shouted them round, collecting bucket of food on the way. Girlie pigs followed me no problem to their pen (phoned husband on the way, he's still asleep. answers phone eventually!)
Murphy, the dopey boar isnt home.... he was obviously trailing behind the girls and has been left behind! he's down behind the chicken shed, crying pitifully and looking all around him for his lady friends.
So another bucket of food, he faults at the first hurdle (a slope to the path) so we go round in a big circuit twice before he eventually goes up the slope. by this point the girls have seen him and are grunting encouragement... so number three pig is returned!
As I'm struggling with a big rock (I've damaged the nerve in my forearm, under my thumb so cant lift or grip properly) a sleepy husband turns up to help block the gap the pigs have made.
A quick wash and look for muck on my work clothes & shoes (they'll do!) and off to meet my lift - luckily she was late!
very busy, full-on day at work. HAve organised a week of activities for the whole place, so incredibly busy.
found out I have to write a report by Friday.and get all the activity stuff ready for a display on Monday.
YP (young people) all totally bonkers, lots of issues all day. fire drill in the rain. gardening then organising trip for everybody next week.
Upset a delicate friend and colleague ... dont ask! but I am right, and she has since got our esteemed leaders to revoke the latest ridiculous directive, so as I explained to her, it had to be done.(but sorry mate!)
5pm, home at last!
O/H in a vile mood, wouldnt say why. think probably its because the pigs ate all the strawberries!
rang the foolish Inland Revenue, yet more nonsense about my late father in law's taxes.
set new eggs, moved young hens.
still no baby goat! played with kittens. walked to shop (car still poorly)
finally got to sit down..... dog barking at door.
got up to check - three big pigs down at the front gate!
shouted "Oi, Mildred!" and luckily she came running. all three followed me straight back to their run, with me calling and cursing them all the way!
So more blockades fitted to their pen - think they get bored in the rain, then root, and find a way out.
Fed everybody (animals) returned to dog.
cooked tea, stacked dishwasher, phoned parents, put clothes in wash.
gave up and went to bed - set alarm to check on goat throughout the night!
today has been a breeze - apart from the fights, head injury (no, not me!) endless phone calls, rain....
:)
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Phew, I'm exhausted now ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Picked 4 lbs. raspberries from my little plot in the south side of Glasgow and made 8 pots of jam as well as freezing some for Christmas Day trifle.
Great crop this year.
JD
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Painted and ate ;)
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Got soaked doing the animals this morning then went to look over a 4 acre field that I have been offered for the sheep, it has just had hay taken off it so needs a couple of weeks to recover. Really pleased to get it as my field has not been sheep free for 4 years now so I can rest it for about 8 months. Then went to collect 2 IBC containers which will make life a lot easier when I get them rigged up to troughs in the small paddock and also the hen run.
When I arrived back with them I found that one of my lambs had died, they were all ok this morning at 8 when I checked them, there is no sign of what she died from.
Then I went to my Granddaughters 3rd birthday party and had a lovely time.
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Had a day off work, and spent the time looking after grandchildren while my daughter went for an antenatal scan. All's well & I enjoyed myself.
Pity about the continuous rain.
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Fed ducks and chickens, did some choir and club book keeping in the morning, fiddled around with phones, changing sim cards, batteries etc, ran the dogs - very quickly because of the rain, had lunch then went over to my friend to have her check Freckles nails that are too long, her Cocker had started whelping so stayed till the last one came out, came back to feed and exercise the beasties again, gave up on the rain, gave them chews to keep them happy for a bit, had tea, worked more on books, just been out in the rain with the dogs again for Bobby and Allez to do some male play fight bonding while us girls sheltered in the conservatory and watched them. Now on here with a coffee and chillin out.
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Went to the Great Yorkshire Show. Had a lovely time. Did some gardening then the heavens opened and had a huge thunder storm like I've never seen before here and torrential rain. Hate thunder and lightening as does my springer Meg. She climbed on my lap and for 20 mins we just sat there chatting. When rained cleared it was a beautiful evening and went to check on sheep and goats to see if they were nervous. It was like nothing happened. Must be just Meg and I who are scaredy cats.
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Hello vair I arose as usual at 5.30 ish as usual (5.20 - 5.40am) visited the bathroom and then had a ponder switched on the compooter and sorted the pipe and cannula out and switched it on while the compooter warmed up.Read the new posts and Kath bought in my cereal and a coffee.I never used to have food before 10.30 am but Doctor said I should take medicine with food so I have a few Rice Crispy's and milk and take my medicines.Answered my mails and send others.Try to contact npower via Email its now 11.0am npower like a lot more of the utility's have a ring and one ends up using their 0845 number but not this boy I don't see why I should pay a 10p connect charge and 6p a minute to listen to their dreadfull choice of music while their opperator does heaven knows what! To explain to them several times THEIR MISTAKE So I have sent a letter recorded delivery and explained I shall deduct the cost of the postage from their bill All this electronic mail is very nice but !!!!.So its now noon.I went to look at the plants and harvested my shallots they have done very well this year I took a picture to show you but I cannot get it on my post George Lunch.So I had my soup and a thick round of the bread I made yesterday.I stirred the walnuts and then I vak-packed some raspberry's Roy gave me until there is enough at the weekend to make some more jelly. I don't make jam the pips get in my teeth :D I prepped Tea and set the oven to cook it for 6.00pm David is calling on his way home. We are making a little lean to shed and he is going to drill a 1" hole for me to pass a 25m/m bolt through the wall and secure a plate to it.That job did not get done it was lovely and sunny here at 6 and at 10 past it was pouring with rain 240 volts in a non waterproof unit do not mix good so we have left it until the week end.We had tea and a natter he went to Sixhills and I played on here It wouldn't obey me so I pushed in the Green button on the extreme lower left and watched the TV :farmer: :wave:
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It's my birthday so had tea and toast in bed. Lovely! Pity it's raining because it's St Swithin's Day and if you believe the folklore, it's going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights.
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Hello Rosemary OHHH you muck hound all the toast crumbs in bed urhhh ;D Happy birthday belated I know We hope you had a smashing day and Dan took you somewhere nice for dinner. :farmer: :wave:
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Happy Birthday Rosemary!!! Some times this horrid weather enables you to relax indooors!!! Have you moved yet????
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Some times this horrid weather enables you to relax indooors!!! Have you moved yet????
Thanks! It's today, the 15th. We're going for a Carnoustie fish supper tonight! The rain gives me the chance to wash paintowrk for the estate agents visits!! Not moved yet - planning to be at the CSSA meeting next week.
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George if its an 0870 number try looking up " say no to 0870" on google. They give you alternative numbers to ring. We use it all the time.
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Here you go, George - al Npower numbers here - http://saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php
Happy Birthday, Rosemary! Not got your caravan yet then? See you next Wednesday. Is Carol managing to handle the website?
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Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Rosemaryyyyy
Happy birthday to you
I had a bit of a day last Saturday...
A friend of mine from Fife had sold a miniature gypsy wagon to a couple in Staffordshire and had agreed to deliver it on Saturday.
By coincidence, I had seen a litter of lurchers advertised at a place called Bromyard, just on the border of Herefordshire, so I decided to accompany my friend on her trip and look at the dogs whilst there.
I rose at 03.45 and got organised, then drove my wee horse lorry to Fife. Friend was ready to go, so we set off at 05.30 in her car, towing a horsebox with the wagon in it. She drove to South Queensferry, where we stopped to fill with fuel. On the way there I'd realised that she is one of those people who can't talk and keep a consistent pressure on the accelerator ;D, so I drove from there, promising to ask her to drive if I felt tired.
I must admit at this point that, for reasons unexplainable, I have previously had some difficulty driving into England. I have been down in the past, but always with work (I was a security guard for a company which handled government contracts, and had to accompany 'sensitive' cargo), but one the one occasion when I was invited to visit a Fell pony stud in Cumbria, I took fright about twenty miles over the border and turned tail for home ::) ???. Stupid, I know, but true.
However, this time, probably owing to having no real worries about having my family with me, and driving someone else's yoke, I felt up for the trip. We had an uneventful journey down the M6, at sixty miles per hour, and my friend's AA routefinder was spot on. The downside was having to pay eight quid to the M6 toll1 ???
We found the place easily after about seven and a half hours of motorway, during which my friend talked incessantly ;D ::), and delivered the wagon safely. The recipients live in a beautiful rural village with lots of thatched houses and barns. The weather was lovely, although I did notice that they were kinda desperate for rain. Despite our lengthy journey, we weren't even offered use of a toilet, or a cup of tea, however, so we quickly set off on a further fifty miles to see the pups.
By total contrast, the people we met there were very hospitable. They are a family of four who live in two gypsy wagons on a well-kept farm in beautiful country. I suppose they could be called new-age travellers if a name was required for them. Immediately we arrived we were offered a cup of tea at the camp fire. ;D 8)
They keep five heavy cobs, ferrets, gamefowl, and lurchers. The chap works in the woods, hauling timber with his horses, and they find all sorts of seasonal work as well. The day before we arrived, they had just finished hauling 1500 square bales of new-made hay off the fields and into a shed...with horses and carts. By all accounts it had been a great social affair with hearty feed and much sipping of cider.
I was greatly impressed with the simplicity of the lives of this family. The children were spirited, polite, and happy, without tv and electronic trappings, and took much to do with us visitors. The young lad, eight years old was very confident around the tethered horses and spent time freeing them of clegs and spraying a home-made fly repellent on their vulnerable parts.
I was able to spend a bit of time (but not nearly enough) discussing horses, harness, trees, dogs, gamefowl, and horsemanship...all subjects close to my heart...in the company of nice people and the open air. The pups were not what I was looking for, but I was so glad that we met the people.
Much bolstered by this encounter, we set off for home and finally arrived there at 04.45 the next morning! I drove all the way ::), although I confess I had one of those red bull shots at a service stop near the lakes. These things are incredibly effective...I was still pinging when we got back to Fife ;D
I crashed for two hours at my friend's house, then drove my wee lorry home, had a bath, and then went to Brechin with my wife and two sons to have a trip on Thomas the tank engine on the Caledonian railway ;D ;D That evening (Sunday), I fell into bed at 7pm and slept for twelve hours.
I really enjoyed the trip, though. Hello England :wave:
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WHAT a marathon, but also what a great experience for you Angus. ;D I don't like driving down to Englandshire eether ;) And I can't stand red bull so I don't do it unless someone else is driving who I can trust.
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Hey I come from England and my family are there but I hate the drive back seem like entering another world ;) far too much traffic for me, I forgot the ques on my way to work making a 10 journey into nearly an hour!!!!! I love that simple life too (no choice money wise!) I always noticed that the richer the folks the tighter....simple people would happily give you the coat off thier back and a hot meal!!! anyway, I am a bit simple ;)
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Hey I come from England and my family are there but I hate the drive back seem like entering another world ;) far too much traffic for me, I forgot the ques on my way to work making a 10 journey into nearly an hour!!!!! I love that simple life too (no choice money wise!) I always noticed that the richer the folks the tighter....simple people would happily give you the coat off thier back and a hot meal!!! anyway, I am a bit simple ;)
No offence intended - it's the traffic I meant too. And you're anything but simple, Sandy ::) ;D ;D ;D
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And I can't stand red bull
I've never had red bull but the Lucozade ones work well too. Wouldn't want to drink it regularly but it does give you a boost.
Thank you for the song, Aengus
Yes, we've got the caravan but until the fencing's done and the ponies can go up, I can't go up fulltime. Hopefully in the next 10 days or so. Photos of the caravan on the main site in Diary.
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spent the day on the sofa with food poisoning, tomorrow not looking too clever either!!
at least its not Campylo-Bacta (think thats how it is spelt) had that last year and i do not reccommend it!!
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Aeungusog, I am agog at you having to pay at the M6 toll. We do a detour on the old bit of road, without going over the new one, and do not pay. Goodness, we drive down there regularly, and my OH would never pay at the toll!! You were rather pushed for time it seems, otherwise you could have called on us, as we are on the Staffs border. Sounds like a lovely visit to the new age people, I would have enjoyed that part of the trip too!!
What have I done today? Day off work, so fed all the livestock a bit slower than usual. Checked all my veg were ok after the massive thunderstorm. Complained to the council over my council tax demand, seeing as I had rung last week to say I would pay when my burnt cards were replaced, and the message was verified as received. When I rang this morning, they admitted they had got my message, but still sent the demand for the whole of the remainder of the year.No sorry, but they have scrubbed the demand (so they say!) Rang Tv licencing to say the empty house is definitely empty, no telly, so why keep harassing me to have a licence? They do not comprehend that everyone does not have a telly anyway!! Paid a number of other bills by phone. Had my lunch, walked the dogs.
Farmer came this afternoon to try and help me eartage the pygmy intact billy. He is so strong, and built like a tank. The problem is the previous owner has messed with him. She gave me a demo of grabbing his horns and swinging him round, which horrified me. Its so dangerous!! So when the farmer got hold of his horns to hold him for his ear to be tagged, he assumed it was the game he played with the old owner, and next thing he had bruised the mans hand. He is used to dealing with bulls and big cows, but was shocked at the force such a little goat could use. Like he said, he is not nasty, but those big horns are dangerous. We then put a rope round his neck, looped it round a post and I held him, but as soon as the tagger was near him, he started leaping around. Had to stop, and wait for OH to come and give us extra man power........we were both agog at being beaten by something as tall as a sheepdog!!
Just off to the supermarket for weekly shop,and then time for evening feeds.
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It was raining this morning..... so the company accounts are now finished! ;D
(if this doesn't sound like much of a thing to report, I have been doing ANYTHING to avoid completing these ever since the end of January, so it's going to feel pretty good to get them posted off to the accountants tomorrow for verification).
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Couldn't do anything outside this morning due to the persistant heavy rain, so mucked in with Rachel & did some housework.
The rain went off for an hour this afternoon, so managed to finish the rest of the frame bracing for the new run .... roll on the summer ::)
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Aeungusog, I am agog at you having to pay at the M6 toll. We do a detour on the old bit of road, without going over the new one, and do not pay. Goodness, we drive down there regularly, and my OH would never pay at the toll!!
I'll not do it again :o. I was relying on my navigator too much and didn't check the route myself, or I would have been looking for a way around. ;D
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Oh no, Rosemary...the fencing!! I forgot all about that :-[. Sorry. :-[
Did you get someone?
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Not quite as expensive but the Toll on the Humber Bridge is a bind if one has to go to Castle Hill 3 times a week
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It was raining this morning..... so the company accounts are now finished! ;D
(if this doesn't sound like much of a thing to report, I have been doing ANYTHING to avoid completing these ever since the end of January, so it's going to feel pretty good to get them posted off to the accountants tomorrow for verification).
I know the feeling. All my accountancy working life I used prevarication and displacement techniques. Never wanted to be an accountant anyway. ::) Wanted to go into the Army Pay Corps at 17 but my Dad wouldn't let me. "No daughter of mine is going in the Army" said Sergeant Major Maclennan! ;D ;D ;D ::)
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Yesterday I collected our chicks and ducklings from Sicknote. Top man very helpful and a simply magnificent Orp Cockerel :chook: :o Absolute stunner.
Today it was the agri merchant to get supplies to make them at home, their all looking good and very happy. Sorted out a temporary cosy brooder type home for them ;D Ordered their new plush accommodation and it arrives tomorrow, so I guess, as soon as the rain stops it will be the manual and self assembly time :-\ If it ends up looking like a cow shed with no roof ??? I know Ive gone wrong someware ;D
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Hello agen Cobra It weant luke like thet.It will look like a delux Hen Hut cos I can see it in me minds eye ;D :farmer: :wave:
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Ah thanks you, keep them there good thoughts coming my way, I can feel the vibs from here ;) It was on the door step 8:00 first drop :wave:
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???God knows ???
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Sandy SNAP ! ??? :farmer:
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I have been awake since 6 am this morning - on the phone to my pal who has two youngsters bred by me - they have just had their first litter and I was advising on the whelping as it progressed. Vet said there were 4 pups at her scan, 8 born hopefully that's it! - 4 boys, 4 girls, black and whites, liver and whites and tricolours. Awaiting photos so will post as soon as I get them.
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I seem to be busy ALL day and not know what I am doing!!!!!! managed to collect a lot of berries while out with Rhum and Rohan...Islay and Ben look a bit sad as Steve is suppose to be taking them out ;)
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Made a trip into a pet shop in Bathgate to try and get a baby rabbit and some gerbils for my neices' birthday this week. They had neither, so instead we came home with my birthday present (which isn't until August) of a kitten! Also checked a pet shop in Livingston, which didn't have the kind of rabbits one neice wanted, so came home again. Tidied up the goat shed a bit, put the big billy out in the little paddock and trimmed his feet and plucked out his hair which he was casting out. Friends arrived to pick him up and take away :( But he has a good home, and I know they will look after him. We then (after I had a shower to get rid of the smell of billy goat) went to visit a rabbit breeder, where we did get the right kind of rabbits- thank god! But we were there for about 4 hours- she had hundreds of rabbits and was a interesting lady, if slightly odd.
Home, animals done again and just had some soup for tea just now. Need to head back outside to bring in the male kids and shut up everything.
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Morning ballingall I know but you reminded me of a funny So you will have to let me off.Uh no the purist will only moan have a look in jokes in the coffee lounge :farmer: