Typhoid Mary,Typhoid Chicken

After coughing like typhoid Mary throughout the night, I finally managed to snatch 2 hours sleep under the eiderdown on the couch (with William acting as an organic hotwater bottle).
This morning I have made a doctor's appointment to chase up a possible answer to why I have suffered so many chest problems over the past 6 months and I have promised Nuala (who rang today) that I will request a chest xray! I won't think about any possible ramifications about all this....working on intensive care can be a little scary

I have felt rough as a bear's bum all day, but the nice weather has helped somewhat. I drove to Meliden to deliver some eggs to our former neighbours (who regaled me with a long, and very detailed and convoluted story about an attack of rectal. Bleeding!!).-yeap just what I needed today! I took the dogs for a walk on Craig Fawr ( which literally means big rock in Welsh) and the views over Prestatyn and Liverpool Bay (pics) were lovely

I put the ducklings out onto the field for the day, cleaned out several of the coops and then set up Susan (one of last year's hybrids) into the rabbit "hospital" hutch. Susan has been looking quiet for a day or so, and today has the hunched look of a very poorly hen. When hens look this unwell, there is very little you can do for them and invariably they die,but I will try to pull the young girl through!. I have already treated her for worms and parasites, so today I took the dogs up to the vets to collect some antibiotics for her (which the vet allows me to inject).

As I was driving up to Caerwys, I noticed an extra head popping up in the rear view mirror and I was amused to see Albert, his eyes wide as dinner plates, sat amongst the dogs.He was obviously anxious at being trapped in the car but soon settled down with his housemates that surrounded him

Off to have a long steam bath now..thanks to all that left me supportive messages including Nige (you tw*t) I loved the therapist comment.......

3 hours

I managed three hours at work before the heat of Intensive Care started a real coughing fit!....my chest still feels terribly tight and wheezy and I am resolved to get another check up from the GP, as this is my third bout of bronchitic type symptoms I have had in 6 months! The senior nurse on duty said I looked awful and told me to go home...
perhaps I am just getting old

LuPone

Lazy blog today. We went to some friends last night and had far too much white wine. Today I have a teenager of a hangover, and have wasted the day away.
Posted this as I remember seeing miss LuPone in Les Mis way back in the 80's!
I think she did a brief duet recently on a US news programme! with Susan Boyle !!!
Bet she hated that!

The ducklings get "outed" and Boys with toys

The Hysterical ducklings had their first day out today, and went out in a cage onto the field. Wellington (second from left) still looks a little moth eaten, but all seem to have enjoyed a long break out in the sun. 5 of the hens have gone broody

My friend Geoff called around with his monster new bike this afternoon and Chris had the chance to ride pillion which obviously excited him greatly......I am not a lover of bikes, having seen what damage can be done to riders during my 17 years working in Spinal Injuries, but I kept quiet when Chris voiced interest in buying himself something similar!

(although the statement "over my dead body" comes to mind)

Friday no news and Flower Show Shenanigans

Chris has had a hard day's work. It is now 8pm and as usual he and William are asleep on one couch. I am sat on the other with Meg,Maddie, George and now Albert. At least I am feeling a little better, I have felt dire for most of the day.
No real news to report, in between typing this, I have been surfing the net to organise a trip to Alcatraz for when we are in San Francisco, I have visited the prison years ago....as I recall it was a fascinating place.

Time for another Lemsip me thinks

Oh yes, there was a little news today! I am now Chairman of the Flower Show! albeit by default as our Chair person has resigned after a slightly "complicated" time.Whether I continue as Chair remains to be seen,.....oh the power!!!

Pace

This evening Sam and his father called round. (Sam was the eleven year old that came to learn how to care for chickens last week) They very kindly brought me two bottles of wine as a thank you and were filled with exciting stories of their newly bought hens!
After they had gone, I had the chance to watch the field population settle in for the night. The pace of dusk is gentle and plodding, especially when it is compared to the complex excitement of dawn.
Boris and Gloria, already comfortable in their hut can be heard chattering gently to themselves, at the same time, the runner ducks slowly gel into a tight flock by the fence border, waiting almost patiently to be directed into their duck house.
The senior hens have already found their way to the choice perches inside the 7 hen houses, and the lower ranking girls and cockerels potter quietly around the coops, scratching for the missed pieces of corn, As the light fades ever so slightly, they too in groups of two and threes disappear slowly into the small doorways. Pirrie and Roger, the tiny and vital bantams, dart around and spar with each other like schoolboys, and remain in constant motion until the light all but dies.
In the farthest run the Buff cockerels Poppy and Clover stay out the longest, they march up and down , eager eyes focused on the field borders looking out for threats and rabbits, their golden colours still clearly visible in the fading light, they only retire when strongly "encouraged" to do so.
Occasionally the pigs can be heard snorting and bickering as they make their straw beds and it is funny that they both sleep with their heads propped up inside the old nesting boxes on the side of their hut.
From the cottage bedroon window I can just make out the ghostly face of Meg and the shadow that is Albert, both watching what I am doing with interest and I smile to myself
Funny what you notice when you have the time

Taken by surprise

I have not felt at all well today, nothing too drastic- a very sore throat and cough, just enough to make me feel as though I wanted to walk aimlessly around the living room with a dirty house coat on! Fat chance......
Chris woke me up at 6am as he excitedly got himself ready for his Birthday treat ( a trip to London to see La Cage Aux Folles) a gift from Jo his colleague at work.
We went through the usual stressed panic in getting him to the railway station on time before I could go home for a lemsip , proper coffee and a long bout of dog walking.
I didn't feel like veg planting in the fine misty drizzle this afternoon, so after the field jobs I got stuck in to weeding the back garden, which was a job that desperately needed doing. The herbaceous planting has started to develop, but the true "cottage garden" feel won't be truly established until May, when the garden is at its true best.I wish I had the skill my sisters have regarding planting all year round colour.
I was just finishing when a large group of pensioner walkers ambled past (all wearing the obligatory woolly hats, waterproofs and all swinging trendy ski sticks)
Now walkers often stop for a brief chat, they like to talk about the poultry (especially Boris who is often photographed ) and many will stop to buy eggs if I have any available, so I wasn't surprised when one matron leaned over the wall and addressed me.
"You must have loved Finlay very much" she said pleasantly, and the comment took me so completely by surprise that I suddenly felt very emotional, tearful and could hardly reply to her.
Obviously she had noticed Finlay's gravestone , tucked in the flower bed in the front garden and felt compelled to comment about it.
We finally chatted about Finlay and the other dogs who had lined up at the gate to watch what was going on for a time, and after the walkers had gone, I got to thinking about how a loss can still affect you in the strangest of moments..especially when your guard is down.

Mind you, my reaction may just be a symptom of a combination of a cold virus and not much sleep!

Gem

Sometimes you come across a little gem of a photo on the internet. I found this moving image of Firemen saving a statue of the Madonna at Paganica Church, L'aquila after the recent earthquake....It's a wonderful study