Lords-and-ladies etc

I have spent an exhausting but lovely day in the sun on my field. Strimming nettle patches is a particularly dirty and irritating job, but the benefits of a neat allotment,and a reduction of fox cover was worth it. Another fringe benefit of my hard work was that a whole colony of woodland wild flowers (Lords-and-ladies) is now free of the overwhelming cover of weeds and now have a chance to flourish.(pic left)

The cottage garden now has taken on the mantle of Miss Marple set, but has not quite reached the prettiness of last year. I wanted to weed it this afternoon but got side tracked by preparing a brooder box for Blanche's sister Beatrice who is almost ready to sit on her first clutch of eggs.

The brooder box is in fact a cheap rabbit hutch, (below), and despite giving it a good lick of paint, and filling it with wood chippings and eggs, Beatrice is not happy as yet, to occupy it.

The ducklings are all fine today, and took their first swimming lesson like ducks to water. (see below)

They have spent long periods sleeping in the sun, when I have planted purple broccoli, and pumpkins ( kindly supplied by Ann's allotment co- operative), The peas,beetroot and beans that I planted last week are already showing in the sudden increase of temperature we have experienced this week.

........and the winner is........

I had to stop myself from being slightly churlish about the Trust's " going the extra mile" award, I won recently. However being cynical is not one of mypersonality traits (believe that one or not???) and today I had to remind myself to appreciate the accolade in the spirit that it was intended .
In actual fact listening to the director of nursing, stating why I had indeed won this award, reinforced what I know I am good at, and that isn't all the technical know how that ITU demands. I was thanked for providing holistic and individual care to a spinal patient AND his family, and although this kind of nursing care is second nature to me after 16 years spinal experience, I guess it was nice for my work to be recognised by my peers.
The "Thank you" awards and the nursing conference that accompanied them, was a surprisingly interesting and professionally run day, and the highlight was a jolly Hockeysticks but rousing keynote speech by Rosemary Kennedy the Chief Nursing Office for Wales on the subject of respect. I kind of warmed to her spirit-that-won-the-war approach to problem solving.
(right) pic of me with my award (the hair is a mess: just been lying down in the duck enclosure watching the ducklings.

Chris has been watching the ducklings like a hawk today as I have been away. They have been exercising in their run with doting Blanche and already look miles bigger than they did yesterday. I could watch them for hours

A sense of duty

This morning I heard the sad news that friend Mike has lost his mother after a short illness and true to form he is already organising the necessary jobs to be done without complaint or even a hint of resignation.
This is typical of him. Out of all the people I know, Mike is the one with the most pronounced sense of "what is right", and his duty to his family has always been enviable. This week , he will complete this task and that,organise a whole host of others and keep his siblings' spirits buoyant and well supported and will do so without an edge or any hidden motive.
His family are lucky to have him.
We are thinking of him today.

Troupers

Ripley drinking

There is something rather valiant about ducklings. Two days old already, and they are bouncing around with an optimistic excitement which is totally endearing. I have spent long warm periods in the sun, head in the hen house body in the duck enclosure watching the little comedians eat,sleep, and clamber all over the benign sweetie that is Blanche, who seems to take everything they have to subject her to and more.

Blanche and Newt

From Left to Right Hudson,Vasquez,Newt,Dallas,Ripley and Hicks

I promise not to saturate the blog with pictures of fluffy chicks too much, but please indulge my paternal pride for at least a couple of days....!

3 More ducklings

After a night shift, it was great to open up the hen hut to see another three bouncing baby ducks flapping around doting mother Blanche. Keeping to the Aliens theme, the last three have been christened Hudson,Hicks and Vasquez

and we may have one more making the grand total seven, as the last egg is "rocking" but not pipping as yet. I have placed that last egg in the incubator.

Finally I am a daddy

A day early the first of the ducklings have arrived. Tied up in a messy ball, Ripley, Newt and Dallas finally arrived mid afternoon. Another two may look like they are following on, so filling the hut with chick crumbs, a shallow water feeder and plenty of wood chippings we have left Blanche to get on with motherhood...

Keeping busy

Rows of seedlings are carpeting the allotment. Beetroot,parsnips,potatoes,beans,and all of the wild flowers and gladiolis are all showing now in a sudden burst of growth, no doubt just before the late frosts which will occur in May.

"Courage Camille!"

I would never make a farmer. I get too emotionally involved with my animals. This morning is a case in point. Ducklings are due tomorrow, and this morning three have chipped their way through the shells and are pipping away to themselves. As you can tell from the snatched photo, you can hardly see the tiny "breath holes", but they are there, and underneath there seems to be healthy and very much alive babies.

The journey out of the shell can take another 24 hours, and sods law means that I am working tonight.......can the old nerves take the strain? can the ducklings survive their ordeal? will Blanche cope with webbed feet?

watch this space