[Lesley Silvester]

Today I did my last ever milking. I've struggled to keep going with the goats since becoming disabled, needing a lot of help with everything. It got to the stage where milking was becoming more and more painful especially in the cold weather. Last winter, on very bad days, I was almost crying with the pain. I do have a machine but enjoy the physical contact of milking so rarely used it. So the decision was made and I've been drying Caldi up for the last couple of weeks. Today she only gave quarter of a pint so no point in doing any more although I will check her udder for a few days.
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[/size]The two girls will stay here as pets. Pom is now 10 and Caldi 3. Not much chance of rehoming them together so I'll wait until one is on her own and then rehome that one.
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[/size]I've had fifteen years or so of great enjoyment, being a goatkeeper with all that entails: lots of laughs, cuddles, frustration and wanting to strangle them at times, and I wouldn't swap a minute of it.
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[Fleecewife]

<<<< Today I did my last ever milking. I've struggled to keep going with the goats since becoming disabled, needing a lot of help with everything. It got to the stage where milking was becoming more and more painful especially in the cold weather. Last winter, on very bad days, I was almost crying with the pain. I do have a machine but enjoy the physical contact of milking so rarely used it. So the decision was made and I've been drying Caldi up for the last couple of weeks. Today she only gave quarter of a pint so no point in doing any more although I will check her udder for a few days.

The two girls will stay here as pets. Pom is now 10 and Caldi 3. Not much chance of rehoming them together so I'll wait until one is on her own and then rehome that one.

I've had fifteen years or so of great enjoyment, being a goatkeeper with all that entails: lots of laughs, cuddles, frustration and wanting to strangle them at times, and I wouldn't swap a minute of it. >>>>


That's so sad Leslie.  But you have all those years of pleasure to look back on (forgetting the pain of milking on cold days).  And you still have your goats    for a while longer     

[sabrina]

Comes to us all I'm afraid. Giving up is not easy when you enjoy something so much. I do know how you feel though. I did my last showing of my ponies a few weeks ago.  Can no longer run due to joint pain. Going to sell the 2 young Shetlands and just keep the 2 old ones. Heart breaking.

[Backinwellies]

  Leslie.   You have been an amazing goat keeper ..... Was inspired by your 'micro' dairy X

[pharnorth]

You will still be MgoM and one of the most inspiring and informed and amusing correspondents on here.  And well done on realising the time had come rather than put yourself and your goats through the inevitable downward spiral that happens when we don't face up to brave decisions.

[Rupert the bear]

You will still be MgoM and one of the most inspiring and informed and amusing correspondents on here.  And well done on realising the time had come rather than put yourself and your goats through the inevitable downward spiral that happens when we don't face up to brave decisions.

So very true , but please stay with us , once a goat keeper.. 
RTB

[Lesley Silvester]

I will stay, so long as, once the goats have gone to the pasture in the sky, I don't have to change my name to the Mad Woman of Madeley. 

[Lesley Silvester]

We all think of you as the mad woman of madeley anyway... the goats are the only thing that make you 'normal'! (to us anyway).

 


Who wants to be normal? Normal's boring.


I live in a town so no one nearby who is interested apart from the lad who helps me with them and his mum and auntie who do the holiday cover. And my best friend who has already done her bit as a goat keeper. It will happen slowly as the girls will be staying here for the foreseeable future. I have been planning what to do with the patch of garden that contains shed and yard so my mind will accept it's over when I lose the first one to death.

[Dogwalker]

 
Well done for making such a hard decision.


I know you say they are staying put but there's someone on marketplace looking for a milking goat in Shropshire.  Might be worth a message in to investigate.

See you soon, you k now you can always come here for a 'goat fix' if you start getting withdrawal symptoms.

[Rosemary]

 

[harmony]

 

[Penninehillbilly]

Sorry you're having to give up milking Leslie, i know you've often said it's a struggle but you love milking, you can still have that closeness for a while.
But maybe more important to us, please stay on the group, your views and advice are invaluable to others, and you give hope to people who want goats but only have small spaces.
Hope all goes well for you all.

[Ghdp]

 

[Lesley Silvester]

Thanks for all the support. I'm not going anywhere. You are all my family and, even when I don't have the goats any more, I will still be growing fruit and veg so I am still a micro-holder.


Debbie, still hoping to make that visit.

[Alex_]

Sorry to hear that.

You have helped a lot of us with your knowledge of goats