Della and Pirrie to the rescue

Thank goodness for Della.
She stopped by today to let me know that she had seen a fox, as bold as brass walking down the fields near her farm , pen-y-cefn-isa, and although I know that foxes are always around, her warning put me on top alert so to speak.
Tonight, just before the light turned into dusk I made a point of leaving the warmth of the wood stove to go and watch the hens form themselves into small groups outside their respective hen houses (the turkeys and ducks had already been put away into their own houses)

Before I got to the field, I could hear the smallest of my bantam cockerels, Pirrie(above), angrily chattering away from his vantage point on the top of the ark roof. In immediate response the roosters Jesus and old Stanley started to run up the field and the three guinea fowl started to scream from the Churchyard wall. I caught sight of Hughie, Alf and Ivy and all three of them were craning their necks in the direction of the riding school in anger and panic.

I followed their gaze, and there standing 50 yards away with his face poking through a gap in the fence was a large fox.
Despite my advancing years and wellies, I galloped forward shrieking like a girl, and the fox turned and trotted off ( not galloped but trotted! how bloody rude was that?)

I stayed out until every hen was locked up and the guinea fowl were safely up in their Churchyard tree!!
Thanks again Della
x

Lets have a group hug

With the major Government ministers chosen, perhaps there is a place for some optimism at last.......? I do hope so.....
I think people want to see their politicians act like the adults that they are.....no one has to be best friends at work, but we would all like to think of ourselves as professionals when we have to work alongside someone we dont actually like or agree with....
Perhaps the conservatives and the lib dems will now leave the toys in the cot where they belong and start working together.......
who knows?
sigh

No News

Chris returned from Newcastle at lunchtime and I dragged him up the Gop with the dogs in an effort to relax him. The weather seems to be turning for the better and the general talk around the village is of the push now to get the delicate vegetables into the warming soil to make the most of the growing season.
The gorse on the Gop is bright and vibrant, and the view across the vale now lush and green. Spring might have started properly!

When we got back, Chris went to bed for a sleep and I finished planting out the second vegetable plot. Broad beans, Chinese cabbage and beetroot have gone in, so that leaves one large and final plot ( around thirty feet by fifteen) to finish off. This final plot will be planted out with sweetcorn and pumpkin (Apparently it is an American way of utilizing space:- the pumpkin snakes in and out of the sweetcorn mulching the ground in hotter weather)- is that right American blog readers???

I am working tomorrow night, which is nice as it leaves me free to enjoy the weekend with Chris.....I think we will be going to see Robin Hood (Mr Crowe at his gruff best!!!)

Next time...it's a comedy

I don't think that the cinematography in a film has ever made me feel sick before. Today was a first.

In the Italian saga I am Love. the steadicam roars around the vast millionaire mansion villa of the Recchi family in a nausea inducing homage to the museum scene in Brian de Palma's Dressed to Kill....so much so in fact that I literally had the urge to vomit, which I am sure is not quite the effect that director Luca Guadagnino was looking for.

Having said this, Guadagnino has crafted a stylish, almost Hitchcockian family saga which centres around a doomed love affair of the rather controlled matriarch, Russian ex pat Emma, (Tilda Swinton)....the camera swoons around her sketchily drawn family like a swallow around a field, and I found the cinematic themes of passion and food (the scene where Swinton eats a prawn has to be seen to be believed!) interesting but all rather cold and with characters devoid of any warmth.

I gave it 7/10

Our second film of the day, as it turned out, was not a bag-of-laughs either!

The Headless Woman (La Mujer sin Cabeza) is an odd unsettling little film about denial, guilt and I suspect concussion!

In it , a wealthy middle aged dentist Veronica (Maria Onetto) runs "something" over on an Argentinian back dirt road. In the accident she strikes her head on the windscreen, and enters a slightly opaque, ever-so-quiet-senseless world where nothing may be what it seems.

Veronica may or may not have killed a child (a ghostly handprint on her car's window is left chillingly just in view) but any concrete clue of what indeed did happen is quietly camoflagued by subtle confusion which mirrors that hard smile paranoia exhibited by those with a head injury.

It is not an easy film to sit through and for me it is far too long, but it is a film that provokes thought and discussion........Having said that, I don't think it is the masterpiece that some in the artistic press would have us believe....it is just not that clever

7/10

Hazel and I felt a little wrung out after our movie double bill....... we agreed next time we would see something a little more uplifting next time......two challenging, slightly depressing movies in one day is a little too much!!!

Guilty pleasures

The chicks in the shed are going stir crazy. They are five weeks old this week, so will be coming off the heat early next week......note the third from the right...the araucana tuft is just showing

I am catching up with Hazel today. Chris has been working in London then Newcastle, so won't be home until tomorrow night, so today will be movie day!
Hazel suggested that we go and see the Tilda Swinton Italian saga I am love at the Scala, then changed her mind when she realised that the much lauded Argentinian movie The Headless Woman was playing at Theatre Clwyd.......(below pic)
so we are being reckless crazy bitches and ARE GOING TO SEE BOTH!!.

The Flower Show donations and a Goose house

Today I have been strimming the field borders and have planted broad beans and more potatoes. I have also sorted out the raffle tickets for the flower show and have helped organise the payments the flower show wanted to donate to local good causes.

The Flower Show has paid the transport costs for the village friendship group to go on one of their many trips this year. (The friendship group is a large jolly group of local pensioners). It has also paid for gardening equipment and plants for the village school and will be purchasing a new kitchen water heater for the village hall, so between the three good causes the Flower Show has spent over a thousand pounds and has also been seen to be fair.
We are always looking for other local good causes to donate funds to, so if there are any local readers of this blog that may have any ideas please email me!

Anyhow I have decided on what I would like as a birthday gift (June 1st)....I would like a goose house! (above) Chris sighed loudly when I started to drop hints, I know he would prefer buying me a new (and clean) pair of pants and a smart shirt as my half of the wardrobe looks like Cinderella's closet, but he now knows me so well, and understands a goose house would be a bloody great gift!
tee hee
Now all I need are the geese!

sometimes.......

.........it's wonderful just being honest......

Helping hand

I don't really blog about my brother's illness. Part of me feels that it is an inappropriate forum to do so but today after I called up to check on him, I felt a compulsion to mention it
He has been diagnosed in suffering from a neurological condition called progressive bulbar palsy for around a year now, and he has been on an emotional and physical roller coaster relating to it ever since.
As with any disease and syndrome that has no real clinical treatments, there seems to be an unwritten rule that people just "get on with things" despite everything that the condition throws at them. It is a benign statement for what is sometimes an impossible task, and to be honest if anyone resorted to this kind of platitude when I was in the middle of pharyngeal spasm attack, I would ram a length of oxygen tubing where the sun doesn't shine!
Yet my brother is coping with his condition in a normal, variable and very self directed way. He has recently acted as a guitar tech on an exhausting 17 date national tour of a rock band, started my sisters' obsession with false tattoos and has dealt with a spasmodically supportive health service without much chest beating or complaint to us, his family.
Today I could do one tiny thing for him....I called up to utilise some of my Intensive care skills to briefly check on the condition of his chest before he and my sister-in-law go on holiday.
In the great scheme of things, it was nothing but a ten second job, but boy did it make me feel as though I had at least done SOMETHING concrete to be a support as he " gets on with stuff"....
I just wish ( as I know my sisters' do) that we can do more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_bulbar_palsy

Leaving a mark and Sunday Photos

Yesterday I took the dogs down gypsy lane and noticed a strange mark on a tree halfway down the bridlepath. I stopped and cleared away the ivy and found this old carved set of initials. "GWYN REG"

I got to thinking that as a species, all of us want to leave our mark on this world in some shape and form...don't we?

Some people leave a legacy through their children........other people have work sucessess, whilst others have plaques and statues (I would love a statue of me somewhere or other!!)

But I guess the only best way of being "remembered" is by being remembered fondly by those you have left behind.......if we are missed and loved....that's what really matters doesn't it?

Hummm.......I wonder just how long this blog survives in the vacuum that is the internet...long after I am gone?...and how many comments will be present on that final blog entry?

who knows

This is my favourite view of our lane....our cottage is where Carol can be seen (she is gossiping with a slightly hungover Chris who is sitting in the front garden.) He had a work night out at Osborn House last night and I went to pick him up after I finished work.

William and Maddie watching from the cottage window

Last night there was a bloody frost that burnt off most of my runner bean seedlings. I have not got enough fleece to cover all of my "delicates", so gardening is a little like Russian Roulette at the moment...( ok NOT as exciting but hey, we do live in the country)

Above the potatoes are showing their heads

........I have weeded the whole of the pea beds and planted out neat rows of peas and mange tout

Belle is the most determined hen I have, and has been contemplating a raiding party into the Church Yard for many days now. So far the chicken wire barrier atop the stone wall has stopped her short, but as God loves a trier, she has maintained this daily vigil in the vain hope of ascertaining just where any weak points may be

With Rogo gone, the old cockerel Stanley has now taken full charge of the field population. The bigger but more junior Jesus and the bantam cockerels Roger and Pirrie have deferred to his senior position and effectively "let him get on with things". Here he seemed facinated with the omnibus version of The Archers! (Nigel will Lillian get together with Matt's brother Paul?>???)

Daddy's Girl

My best friend Mike has Maisie....and as daft as it sounds.....I have Meg....
surrogate kids........yeap........I have around 74! including the turkeys!

We were watching "chopper coppers" on tv last night

Uncles John and Chris

Chris went to Chester Zoo today with Mike, Bev and chatterbox Maisie. I had already arranged to take the Scotties on their 40 mile round trip to have their haircuts.
They all returned late in the afternoon, tired but entertained by the day's events, and just about managed to eat a large meal of meatballs and spaghetti (Maisie's request) before crashing out for the night

Maisie has been a pure joy to deal with. But we know we are too selfish and set in our ways to cope properly with a child for more than a day or so......Chris is off to have a doze on the couch...me I am off to lock the birds up

It was lovely to catch up with them all

Mixed bag

Today the nation decides on our next government....listening to the manifestos, the pledges, the spin AND all of the "lies", my head is in a whirl of PR and stats as well as being over shadowed by last year's "expenses row"
It is all a sorry mess.
The financial crisis in Greece seems to be pushing the country into some sort of anarchy...and I am fearful of what will happen to us all if Britain heads down that precipitous path; a fear which has been compounded just a little by our isolation here in Wales.
Somehow living in a city feels slightly safer when petrol prices soar out of control and amenities and public services may be cut
.......so how the hell do we pick a political party that will stabilise our lives and our country?
I will vote today, but I think I need a long quiet walk with the dogs before I do so.

Anyhow to happier things..
Readers of this blog will know that I absolutely love little acts of kindness. They are the stuff that makes the world go round, and they bring a smile to your face at the oddest of times.
Yesterday I got home after delivering eggs and there sitting on the wall was a vintage poultry feeder. No note. No sign of who dropped it off for me. It was just sitting on the wall, as an anonymous gift.
And it made my day!
So many thanks to whoever dropped it off for me.
It was lovely!

Today I will meet our friends at the beach for a bit. More hens have hit their broody buttons, so I will have to come back at some stage to sort them out. Too many broody hens means no eggs and broodiness is catching!

hey ho

Last night we had a flower show committee meeting and have allocated some of our funds to worthy Village causes.
We agreed that three groups would benefit by donations and gifts; one for the elder population and one for the junior population of the village and one for the Memorial Hall which is the focus of the village....Obviously I cannot detail our decisions as yet until the relevent parties are informed, but it is wonderful to feel that the original remit of the Flower Show ( ie to support worthy causes in the village) is being upheld

Maisie

Maisie wanted a photo all of her own on the blog, so it was not hard to comply with her wishes. Mike and Bev have taken her to Llandudno today to walk on the pier and to play in the amusement arcades. It has rained all afternoon, and I have braved the elements and have planted runner beans.
Despite being wormed regularly, Kitty, one of the female turkeys have come down with some sort of infection(yellow poo again) so I have separated her from the others and have dosed her up with some flagyl.
Flower Show Meeting tonight!

Digby

Sometimes you can come across a blog that catches your attention
I caught this blog the other day

http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/
It is the diary of a family with two dogs that are living in France......and one of the dogs, Digby has been diagnosed with a serious liver and fatal blood disorder Over the past week he has deteriorated and the rollercoaster ride of the consequences on his "family" makes for upsetting but compelling reading

Old Friends

The good thing about old friends is that you can just pick up when you left off with them.

We met up with Mike, Bev and Maisie, last night. We popped down to Prestatyn Beach and sat on the cold Promenade eating fish and chips out of the paper whist Maisie and Chris demolished sand castles with bare feet and gaudy plastic spades.

It was a relaxed and easy evening which had a pace and comfort we are all well used to.

We dropped the family off at their pretty rental cottage and had a few beers and taught them how to light a fire ( they are city people!!!)

I am looking forward in catching up with them over the next few days

You just can't win

Since my last week's effort with post and chicken wire, the Graveyard has now been made a no go area for the field population. Not a chicken can be seen casually wandering amid the tombstones or sunning themselves on the wildflower borders, and I think that the country graveyard is more the poorer for their absence.
However, the few complaints about how the chickens could scratch at the floral tributes (I have never seen this happen) or how one got under the feat of a visitor ( anyone who knows chickens will realise that this comment is a complete fabrication)..have now been addressed and the country churchyard is now a chicken free zone.....

Today as I was rushing around getting jobs done before our visitors arrive, I noticed a woman amid the graves, I gave her a small wave as I usually do and the woman called me over!
Bloody hell I thought....here comes another gripe about something or other..... and as I flashed my best PR smile the woman said...
"I must complain to you"
I signed- here it comes...I thought.....
"I saw your new fencing..last week...and I must admit I really miss your chickens over here they always used to make the place seem so welcoming"
I found myself apologising for the chickens absence
sod's law

Bodysgallen

The weather was lovely when we went to Bodysgallen hall for Chris' birthday tea. (Bodysgallen is pronounced BOD-ES-GA-CLEN) Before we sat down , we had a chance to walk around the grounds which were small but perfectly formed
Below is the boxed herb garden

Chris was having a nice time (honest)

Now as we tucked into our sandwiches with the crusts cut off and our home made scones, my sister Ann (left) subtlety removed her wrap to show off her left arm.....it took an age for us to notice that she had been fitted with a false whole arm tattoo! complete with colour!

She had to do one better than the fake tattoo I had placed on Janet's backside! the one that Ann fell for as real, hook line and sinker! The saga of the family tattoos continue!!!!!!

Below Janet, Ann (with tattoo) and Chris outside Bodysgallen

41

Chris is 41 today
He has had the obligatory lie in with breakfast in bed.
Then enjoyed himself in the usual bout of card opening (and counting) and present opening. (I bought him a leather bag for his netbook)......he is never happy with the amount of cards he gets (although every member of his family and my family send him one) and every year we get the half humorous "no body loves me" comment!
Anyhow today I have arranged for us to go to Bodysgallen Hall for afternoon tea, which should be lovely as the weather looks nicer than it did the last time we went and this eveing I will buy him a takeaway treat (no starter though....I'm skint!)

Ruth

When things can be a bit fraught at work, I often use a few choice nursing anecdotes to "lighten the mood" and to get people smiling just a little. Many of those stories centre around a somewhat larger than life character I used to work with, and that nurse is my friend Ruth.
Yesterday during break, the conversation got around to the subject of burnout. (I am not surprised given the busy week that the staff had undergone) and I told the story of when Ruth had a burnout meltdown right in the middle of a busy shift way back during our spinal injury days.
Now to understand the humour of the event you have to know Ruth. She was ( and is) a big hearted, warm Northern lass, with a somewhat acerbic wit , a consistent tongue firmly planted into her cheek and and a somewhat lugubrious set of facial expressions. Ruth was (and again still is) well loved by staff and patients alike, so her uncharacteristic reaction to a particularly busy and stressful time was such a shock to everyone involved!
The patient call bells had been ringing constantly all day as we had an unusually high number of bed rest patients which meant lots of stressed relatives and a higher than normal dependency level..........from my office I could hear the constant beep, beep of the nurse call buzzers all afternoon and after the briefest of breaks they started up their constant callings yet again.
Ruth reacted in a way that we have all wanted to,but thankful never have...she stood up at the nurses station and yelled LOUDLY throughout the ward

"WHO THE FUCK IS BUZZING NOW?????!!!!!!!"

The shock and surprise exhibited by the ward population (staff and patients alike) in retrospect was hilarious (suddenly everyone went a deathly silent).......it was one of the those surreal moments that still makes my sides ache with giggles....of course at the time, our concern for Ruth and the limits she had been pushed beyond was all that worried us., but because her tirade was so atypical....the hysteria that it caused amongst the staff, was almost palpable!

I managed to remove Ruth to my office, (after a whole series of "FUCKING BUZZERS!!!! WHO IS FUCKING BUZZING!...and "BASTARD BUZZERS"etc and the whole situation calmed down somewhat. Ruth had a break from work , and after coming back to work for a while on another less stressful ward she decided to leave to become ,of all things, a prison nurse!!!!

I remember meeting up with Ruth soon after she started work at the prison.
As humorous and as self depreciating as she had always been she told me that on her first week she had been instructed by the old lag staff to search a prisoner for drugs and contraband. Fearful that she would let herself down by being a little shy and retiring, Ruth jumped into the role with some gusto and gave the prisoner a good "checking over" as it were.
Suddenly she found something hidden in this chap's pocket and grabbing the object in a vice like grip.....she shouted to the officer that was supervising her that she had found something hidden!
The more she pulled at this hidden bounty, the more agitated the prisoner became
"what's in your pocket!!" she shouted " what's in there!!!!!!!!...let me have it!!!!!!!!"
"what is it!!!!????" she yelled
"My erection" the prisoner replied with a smile........

it only could happen to Ruth......
Thanks girl.....those stories helped diffuse many a stressful time at work
xx


Above Ruth and her family, on their visit here three years ago

Intense.,.....intensive care

Today I was caring for a woman that had lost her very young son in a road traffic accident, a crash that had hospitalised not only her but her toddler daughter.
....Makes you want to come home and hug the people close to you doesn't it?.......Chris is out dancing with my sister so I have had to content myself with lying on the couch with four dogs and an affectionate skinny cat