Ducklings and Nancy

Quick blog today as I have loads to cram in. The ebay and caramel ducklings have been put into their garden run, to the numerous oooohs and arrrrhhhhs of passing walkers and I am clearing the back lean-to shed ready to put the little ones back into so that I can disinfect the kitchen pre Sorell's visit.

This evening heralds the Jospice fundraiser in memory of Nuala's mum Nancy. It takes place in Liverpool and I am going over later for an hour or two.

Chris will be on ducking,hen and dog watch for the night.

Working tomorrow on my Birthday but only for 6 hours (political unrest at work so no staff got their requested off duty!!) then off for lunch out which will be nice.

Don't feel 46

Turnips

The laburnum in the Churchyard is equal to anything we saw at Bodnant Gardens and I couldn't resist photographing it, especially as the weather has been ideal for catching up with the allotment.(I have been outside from 8 am until 6pm)
I have planted the remainder of the sweetcorn which I had sprouting on every windowsill, and have filled the final few spaces available with turnips and everlasting spinach. Duncan escaped yesterday and ate a lot of my salad crops, so I have filled the damage spots with more seedlings.

I have strimmed the remainder of the allotment,cleaned all the coops out and weeded as much as I could so that the place looks presentable for Sorrel's visit on Tuesday. Tomorrow I can start with a touch of house cleaning and I was ecstatic to hear that my shed will be delivered on Tuesday morning. With a bit of luck I can have the ducklings all installed into it before Sorrel arrives........I have not forgotten she has a pathological fear of birds...hey ho.... not a good thing with 14 ducklings flinging shit in every direction on the kitchen table,,,,,,,,,

Good news for the day is the fact that my busty hens Elizabeth Spriggs (right) and Shelley Winters seem to be settling in rather quickly. To be expected I have seen some bullying by the some of the black hookers, but Duncan quickly stops most of the fights with a few choice pecks and kicks.

The first brood of ducklings (Ripley and the others) are now nearly 5 Weeks old and are over 12 inches high and feathers are starting to show amid the down.Next week I am going to return a somewhat stir crazy Blanche to the main hen run, and in a couple more weeks the 14 ebay and caramel ducklings will be joining them in the outdoor run.

Absolutely knackered this evening. just made a cuppa and am just about to settle down with TCM and Strangers on a Train....... Think I will have an early night, lots of cleaning to do tomorrow

S.A.T.C.-The Movie

I kind of liked the big screen version of Sex and the City . Ok it was just like watching three episodes of the famous tv series (albeit with the famous punchy paced storyline strangely absent) and for a movie, nothing really happens. However, for die hard fans, it is always nice to see the four main characters return,they laugh and cry together ,have group hug after group hug, and for those who actually care, the Manolo Blahniks are always on show . The main difference SATC-The Movie has with the tv series, is that it loudly serenades the arrival of the newly fashionable "middle aged" successful woman. In the 1990's Carrie,Samantha,Charlotte and Miranda were thirty somethings with bad fashion advice and more money than sense. In this movie Samantha turns fifty, and the film's message clearly celebrates the fact that older women still can look fab and still "have it all" in the city that never sleeps.

As a romantic comedy, the movie is average. Sarah Jessica Parker carries the story with a great likability and all the best lines are grabbed by the hysterically loud and very funny Mario Cantone, (the gay wedding planner Anthony a man with a voice like sandpaper.)but the story of friendship conquering all does feel a tad dated now.

But, having said that, it is nice to feel that the iconic New York fairytale that so many people have enjoyed throughout the years has had a fitting and successful swansong.

Two fat birds... Mz Shelley Winters and Mz Elizabeth Spriggs

Janet and Ned have come up trumps and have just delivered two handsome Buff Orphingtons for my birthday on Sunday. I have always wanted a couple of these large friendly, over weight and very popular hens,so I was very touched that they had clearly gone out of their way to obtain them.
Naming these buxom pair was easy so Shelley Winters and Elizabeth Spriggs have now joined the 56 birds in the allotment menagerie.
I worked last night and the weather today has been truly awful so I have been soaked to the skin at least 6 times throughout the day.
Back to some normality tomorrow as the weather may be a little more stable

Sidney Pollack 1934-2008

Director,Producer and for me most memorable for his pithy acting,Sidney Pollack sadly died today.
I absolutely loved him as the screaming talent agent in TOOTSIE......
"YOU WERE A TOMATO!!!!!!!!! A TOMATO DOESN'T HAVE LOGIC, TOMAOES DON'T MOVE!!"
He upstaged Hoffman nicely......

Dirty little Buggers

Chris has been forced into a state of nervous exhaustion when I have been on night duty, as the rapidly growing band of tap dancing ducklings have proved to be rather a handful for his more "delicate" constitution.

I must admit, I will never hatch so many babies at once again, as the bigger they grow the dirtier they actually become. In what seems like seconds after I have cleaned out their cage, each one seems to have the ability of opening their bowels out on unsteady and rather clumsy feet, then like toddlers in a garden puddle,they take great delight in flinging the watery and rather disgusting fluid in every direction.


Yet, the funny little band, remain

endearing and sweet. Every few minutes, fourteen sets

of beady eyes follow your every movement around the kitchen, and amid a frenzy of cheeps, they continue with their tap dancing in anticipation of a portion of scrambled egg or water.

Chris has kindly bought me a garden shed, to be erected as soon as is humanly possible by the back door, in which to transfer the ducklings
I can't wait.......I've always wanted my own shed...must be my age

Eurovision 1978

This is my first real memory of Eurovison.And although last night's sing fest was a whole lot better than it has been for years and years, I do miss those clunky old days of the Eurovision, where a jury of "knowlegeable" experts voted on the songs and we didn't have all this eastern block voting.
Shame about Sweden......the old drag queen didn't get placed.........

Bodnant Gardens

It has become a bit of a tradition to go to Bodnant Gardens in May to see the famous Laburnum arch and although it is not quite "there" it IS pretty impressive. You can just see Chris on the left.
Had lunch out then back for Eurovision