Surrounded by "girls" and the clock takes pride of place.

Didn't get back from Sheffield yesterday in time to beat closing time at Roger's Jones , to pick up the long case clock so had to fit a jaunt to Colwyn Bay, this afternoon with Ann acting as dogsbody and helper!
This morning, after a disgustingly early start, I finished the preparations for the new hens to arrive,stained the hen house roof, put in the sweet peas under their allotment canes, walked the dogs up the Gop then drove to the back and beyond in Frodsham in Cheshire to pick the new hens. The poultry farm was a tiny, neat affair run by a charming young couple just starting off in the business and after a good three quarters of an hour "oooing and arrhhing" over a whole host of birds I picked 4 red rockets, 4 snowy whites and 4 mixed rarer breeds including a lovely "blue comet" with a gentle grey colouration. The "girls" are all almost at point of lay (ie they will start laying eggs in 2-3 weeks), and are very young birds to be let out in an outdoor run straight away.The breeder told me that they need 24 hours shut in the darkness of their new hut so that they settle in and get used to each other and therefore are less likely to scrap when they are out! (The pic is of two of the more surprised snowy girls!)

The early 19th Century Long case clock looks fab! I am so pleased with it as it a simple country piece that has not been tampered with for nearly 200 years! I think Ann has got just as much pleasure out of the auction and its purchase as I have .

She and Tim came up again tonight to take a look at the clock in situ, and it does look quite grand when seen from outside ,

I was looking very glamorous at the time they arrived, as I was busily sponging Meg's bum free of clingons in the kitchen sink!

oh the charm of it all!

ps. Joan's senile dementia seems alot worse of late, just hope she doesn't start sharpening her claws on the new clock!

Missed Finlay today! strange how it hits you!