Going Gently

The lost art of writing

Taking the dogs to the groomer cuts into the day by at least 2 hours or so!
I am typing this blog at the shop as I wait for Maddie and George to be finished off! (I am using the owners laptop as a concession for waiting for so long- which was a kind thought)
I received another Birthday card today, so all in all I have been given 21, and I thought I would write a blog about how much I appreciate the thought behind the simple action of picking out,writing and actually posting a greetings card.
In this age of text, phone and email, people seldom write letters anymore, however they do still write greeting cards to mark special events, and the effort in the ritual of card sending, to me underlines the bonds of affection,loyalty,love and most importantly respect.
My friend Nia in Australia, even after emigrating has never missed sending me a card, Nuala, with all her family woes of recent years likewise has never forgotten, and best mate Mike (who is famous for his lack of contact)has even made an effort to put ballpoint to envelope!
Every year I get a card from another friend I have not seen in over 20 years, and more recently my mother in law always carefully inscribes her card with a sweet neat message which is always welcome. Friends and family seem to enjoy picking the moist appropriate cards possible, so the 2009 themes include, dogs,hens,gardening,talking vegetables, the Royal family and an old lady kicking her leg above her head......yes all so appropriate me thinks
To me, cards simply reflect the fact that someone is thinking well of you.
...and that is important

Polling day

The elections for the European Parliament took place today and after a bit of a mental tussle with my conscience I took myself off to vote! In these awfully cynical times of MP expenses, it has been suggested that a combination of apathy and dissatisfaction by the electorate may mean that far right BMP representatives may get a foothold on the political ladder and although I did have a temptation to just deface the voting paper (which would be recognised as a show of dissatisfaction against all of the political parties!!)..
In the end I voted tactically.

When I returned home from the polling station, I noticed that the village Conservation Group volunteers had been hard at work and had filled the flowerbeds in the centre of the village. The Village has two community groups,- the conservation group, and our Trelawnyd Flower Show Committee, both work very hard giving something back to the village, whether it be aesthetic changes to the flower beds and green spaces or practical donations to the community needs in the Memorial Hall.
I am trying to make a rough poll of the villagers to find out what we could spend monies collected by this year's Flower Show on.....answers on a postcard please

Blanche update

I have seen her outside just once today, the duckling (who I have named Haleh after my favourite character in ER ) is looking mighty fine

Blanche update, crops and unruly behaviour

Blanche and the duckling made their first shakey way into the hen house run this morning. Blanche still has not eaten, so I have put tempting dishes of cat food,corn and pasta in the corner of the coop, but at least they had a quick wander around.

The vegetable plots are looking quite presentable now. The above plot which is filled with herbs,spinach,turnip, parsnips,broad beans and peas, is green and fresh and neat and tidy although several of the more overactive hens have now learnt to infiltrate the fencing!.
This afternoon two sets of walkers numbering around 40 individuals ambled down the lane and both groups stopped to buy eggs. All were retired members in a walking society, and as usual they came into the field to have an impromptu "guided tour".
Older people can be more unruly than smaller groups of visiting kids, as they all seem to chatter on at once and split up into little sub groups, then these smaller groups seem to call out questions like bullets shot out of a machine gun.
"what's eaten your rhubarb?"
"what's the turkey called?"
"Is that a cornflower?"
" How do you grow celery?"
"Have you got a bag of manure for sale?"
" Joan see that hen? poor little mite... it's limping!"
and then more worryingly......
"Ohhhhhhh Marjorie's fallen over a guide wire!!!"
"giggle,giggle,giggle"
Indeed, Marjorie HAD fallen over a fence guidewire as she tottered down to have a look at the bantams (below) and thankfully she was laughing about it as she was sat on the grass, so was all of her friends who had grouped around her in a circle (I had visions of litigation)but at least they were cackling loudly. Her hips thankfully seemed to be intact , so with a couple of free duck eggs tucked into her rucksack, I sent them all on their way.....

Motherhood-look closely at the photo

The duckling that was so thoughtfully donated by Cae yesterday, seems to have settled down with a doting but fairly static Blanche. The duckling that was pipping yesterday (I thought it was a hen chick) hatched in the middle of the night, but unfortunately did not survive.so it is only the two of them in a large hen coop fit for 12.
Blanche still shows no sign of moving, so I carefully removed the eggs shells from her nest . Hopefully tomorrow she will take her tiny charge outside for a walk and a feed.

Postscript

You need to read the previous blog first to understand this one!
At 10.00 pm I sneaked onto the field and took a peek in Blanche's single hut.
In the centre of the coop there she sat, happy and comfortable on her single (pipping egg). The day old duckling was tucked carefully under her bald wing and was asleep.
Here's hoping the chick hatches and with two unlikely babies in tow, she starts to eat and drink properly.
I have taken Rose's advice and have tried her with some oats and yogurt.....none taken so far, but she has eaten a small amount of Albert's cat food!
Next year despite any poor condition, I will let her sit on her own eggs and we will soldier through!

Mercy dash

The rest of my birthday has felt a little strange. I feel as I have been "catching up" with things and never quite have reached completion with most of them.
We had lunch out in a small little Cafe in St Asaph which was nice, then I went to my other "bank" triage nurse interview as Chris waited in the car. As temperatures reached 25 degrees, I then dragged him around local farms in search of a couple of one day old hen chicks.
Blanche's condition has taken a turn for the worse. Everything I have done to break her broody sitting (sin bins....plunging her bum into buckets of cold water!!! etc etc) has failed and as she has stubbornly sat on any nest she has found, her condition has deteriorated dreadfully.
In desperation we called into Babell where the lady that sold us my first hens lives. She had no chicks but sent us scooting across the countryside in search for her friend Cae, who may have been of help.
Finally we found a very motherly looking red faced farmers wife called Cae who very kindly gave me a hatching hens egg and a tiny one day old duckling. We dashed back to Trelawnyd where we set Blanche up on the egg and duckling. Only time will tell if the sudden appearance of one fluffy baby and one potential baby will have the desired effect of breaking Blanche's broody nature but at least I have done everything to help.
This evening Chris has popped out for an Indian takaway as I caught up with feeding watering and gift opening. As usual my sisters have done me proud with a selection of thoughtful pressies, which included: hikers pants, a water feeder for the hens, two black current bushes,bedding plants, batteries,proper coffee, posh soap (trying to tell me something?) a hen biscuit box, and a pair of wellies!. Mother in law Sorrel sent some gardening vouchers which I have already spent on some lovely lavender plants for my flower bed in the allotment.....

Being thoughtfull

Well, it is not even 9am and I have been treated to a cooked breakfast, cards and gifts. I always appreciate people that are thoughtful with their time and effort and true to form Nu rang first thing with a hysterical and smiley "Happy Birthday" down the phone and my Nia (above) sent a card and pressie ( a book of Australian movie legends!!! -Russell has never looked better!) all the way from Oz! I have had birthday texts from Nige (happy birthday to you too) and the normal emails and thoughtful cards too

Chris will be working this morning, then I think he will suffer the indignity at being dragged around a garden centre after seedlings......

I need to buy a couple of day old chicks today if I can find some. Blanche the broody hen is looking terribly weak.....she needs a couple of babies to break her broody behaviour. We hens get so fixated, like she is, it is so easy for the bird to literally broody herself to death