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!

A good 24 hours

Got to Sheffield yesterday afternoon and had a couple of hours free before meeting Nigel, so spent a wonderful time at the new Weston Park Museum which has recently undergone a 19 million pounds refit. The museum had been pulled into the 21st Century by its brastaps and looked stunning! I was most impressed.

Met Nige in All bar one for a coffee and glass of wine and we couldn't be bothered going to the Showroom cinema as we had too much to chat about. Had a excellent Turkish meal down London road then back to Nige's for more chat- a good night!

This morning drove to Dronfield to finally catch up with Kathryn in her new and slightly Kitsch flat. I liked it immensely as it is totally a reflection of her personality and is very cosy. The kitchen is my favourite room, bright sunny and ever-so-slightly 1950's and it was good to catch up over cups of tea at the kitchen table. I miss Kathryn and her dry-as-a-nun's-chuff sense of humour and felt a little guilty I hadn't made the effort sooner.

Sweaty palms in the auction room, Sarah bites the dust and Theatre Clwyd

I didn't get any sleep after a particularly busy shift, (one death, an admission of a very sick toddler and a multi trauma RTA victim) but was boosted up sufficiency to attend Roger's Jones antique auction with Ann. Surrounded by rather dubious looking "dealers", we were very much first time virgins and sat there trying to look like we attend these auctions every week of our lives ! instead of two shy looking first timers! Mrs Roberts' clock was number lot 88 and soon enough I was was waving my registration number with the best of them. Seconds later (It felt like hours) the clock was ours and all the effort and stress was worth it! In fact I almost could have stayed on for the rest of the 900 lots but was well behaved!

Got home and sadly found that Sarah (one of the chickens) looked rather under the weather and halfway through the afternoon she was dead and stiff as a board! which is sad as poor Robina looks rather lost in the huge "chicken run" compound. Hopefully the rest of the new "girls" will be coming very soon to keep her company as chicken house number two is delivered tomorrow!

Requiem (2006) at Theatre Clwyd, Is a German feature filmed in an almost documentary style and is apparently based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a 23-year-old student, who died of starvation after an exorcism in Miltenberg, Germany in 1976. The film is a subtle and a cleaver portrayal of a girl that could have suffered from psychosis,epilepsy or indeed demonic possession and who gets caught between her own wishes to be saved and to develop into an individual as well as being buffeted by friends, family and the clergy who all have their own agendas. I thought it was an excellent and moving film, Hazel was less impressed, though we both agreed that Sandra Hüller as the doomed Michaela Klingler was stunning.

Mrs Roberts's clock and runner ducks

Blustery cold day and night shift tonight, so managed to get to Llandudno to get Chris' birthday gift and then on to the antique auction house to have a second look at Mrs Roberts' long case clock which is being auctioned tomorrow. Chris rang me and said he thinks we should try and buy it as it has sentimental value to me and is a lovely rustic country piece. I must admit I fell in love with it years ago so I am excited at going tomorrow to try to buy it. Ann is coming with me as I suspect that my driving may be slightly erratic after a night without sleep. Here's hoping we get it!

The girls are loving their new Chicken run and I am tempted to extend the allotment further by getting a few Indian Runner ducks (pics) which look rather bizarre but kind of cute