Weather turns

Well at least the Scotties are photogenic after their recent grooming!

The weather closed in today and with blustery wind and rain lashing the cottage, the day has felt almost wintry. I am not too bothered as the field was desperate for water, and at least it has given us the chance to do non-allotment related chores!

We braved the wind to have a walk on the beach,then had a great lunch at the Scala cafe (we are going back tonight to see Let the right one in (Låt den rätte komma in )- I cannot quite believe Chris is actually going to a Swedish subtitled vampire film!!!! He is such a "traditionalist" when it comes to cinema. Margaret Rutherford and Murder at the Gallop or Carry on Dick is more to his taste.

Haleh and the stick thin Blanche are still doing fine, Blanche is still a bit dazed and broody and had to be shaken up a little to be able to react to some tempting spaghetti! Manfully the duckling joined her and tried to swallow a 5 inch piece before they scooted back inside their run out of the rain. (above) Gloria braving the driving rain

Torch Song Trilogy Part 1

Nige reminded me that this IS one of my favourite films..........Harvey is the most unlikely of heros!
Love the "taxi" comment at the end.

Just Panties (What Else Do I Need?) POSEIDON!

Now sometimes you can too much hen information......I found this clip on youtube this morning before I started farm work.....
Readers will know that I am a disaster film fan....and this "song" from the musical version of the Poseidon Adventure has to be seen to be believed......

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

ps

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!