Uncles John and Chris

Chris went to Chester Zoo today with Mike, Bev and chatterbox Maisie. I had already arranged to take the Scotties on their 40 mile round trip to have their haircuts.
They all returned late in the afternoon, tired but entertained by the day's events, and just about managed to eat a large meal of meatballs and spaghetti (Maisie's request) before crashing out for the night

Maisie has been a pure joy to deal with. But we know we are too selfish and set in our ways to cope properly with a child for more than a day or so......Chris is off to have a doze on the couch...me I am off to lock the birds up

It was lovely to catch up with them all

Mixed bag

Today the nation decides on our next government....listening to the manifestos, the pledges, the spin AND all of the "lies", my head is in a whirl of PR and stats as well as being over shadowed by last year's "expenses row"
It is all a sorry mess.
The financial crisis in Greece seems to be pushing the country into some sort of anarchy...and I am fearful of what will happen to us all if Britain heads down that precipitous path; a fear which has been compounded just a little by our isolation here in Wales.
Somehow living in a city feels slightly safer when petrol prices soar out of control and amenities and public services may be cut
.......so how the hell do we pick a political party that will stabilise our lives and our country?
I will vote today, but I think I need a long quiet walk with the dogs before I do so.

Anyhow to happier things..
Readers of this blog will know that I absolutely love little acts of kindness. They are the stuff that makes the world go round, and they bring a smile to your face at the oddest of times.
Yesterday I got home after delivering eggs and there sitting on the wall was a vintage poultry feeder. No note. No sign of who dropped it off for me. It was just sitting on the wall, as an anonymous gift.
And it made my day!
So many thanks to whoever dropped it off for me.
It was lovely!

Today I will meet our friends at the beach for a bit. More hens have hit their broody buttons, so I will have to come back at some stage to sort them out. Too many broody hens means no eggs and broodiness is catching!

hey ho

Last night we had a flower show committee meeting and have allocated some of our funds to worthy Village causes.
We agreed that three groups would benefit by donations and gifts; one for the elder population and one for the junior population of the village and one for the Memorial Hall which is the focus of the village....Obviously I cannot detail our decisions as yet until the relevent parties are informed, but it is wonderful to feel that the original remit of the Flower Show ( ie to support worthy causes in the village) is being upheld

Maisie

Maisie wanted a photo all of her own on the blog, so it was not hard to comply with her wishes. Mike and Bev have taken her to Llandudno today to walk on the pier and to play in the amusement arcades. It has rained all afternoon, and I have braved the elements and have planted runner beans.
Despite being wormed regularly, Kitty, one of the female turkeys have come down with some sort of infection(yellow poo again) so I have separated her from the others and have dosed her up with some flagyl.
Flower Show Meeting tonight!

Digby

Sometimes you can come across a blog that catches your attention
I caught this blog the other day

http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/
It is the diary of a family with two dogs that are living in France......and one of the dogs, Digby has been diagnosed with a serious liver and fatal blood disorder Over the past week he has deteriorated and the rollercoaster ride of the consequences on his "family" makes for upsetting but compelling reading

Old Friends

The good thing about old friends is that you can just pick up when you left off with them.

We met up with Mike, Bev and Maisie, last night. We popped down to Prestatyn Beach and sat on the cold Promenade eating fish and chips out of the paper whist Maisie and Chris demolished sand castles with bare feet and gaudy plastic spades.

It was a relaxed and easy evening which had a pace and comfort we are all well used to.

We dropped the family off at their pretty rental cottage and had a few beers and taught them how to light a fire ( they are city people!!!)

I am looking forward in catching up with them over the next few days

You just can't win

Since my last week's effort with post and chicken wire, the Graveyard has now been made a no go area for the field population. Not a chicken can be seen casually wandering amid the tombstones or sunning themselves on the wildflower borders, and I think that the country graveyard is more the poorer for their absence.
However, the few complaints about how the chickens could scratch at the floral tributes (I have never seen this happen) or how one got under the feat of a visitor ( anyone who knows chickens will realise that this comment is a complete fabrication)..have now been addressed and the country churchyard is now a chicken free zone.....

Today as I was rushing around getting jobs done before our visitors arrive, I noticed a woman amid the graves, I gave her a small wave as I usually do and the woman called me over!
Bloody hell I thought....here comes another gripe about something or other..... and as I flashed my best PR smile the woman said...
"I must complain to you"
I signed- here it comes...I thought.....
"I saw your new fencing..last week...and I must admit I really miss your chickens over here they always used to make the place seem so welcoming"
I found myself apologising for the chickens absence
sod's law

Bodysgallen

The weather was lovely when we went to Bodysgallen hall for Chris' birthday tea. (Bodysgallen is pronounced BOD-ES-GA-CLEN) Before we sat down , we had a chance to walk around the grounds which were small but perfectly formed
Below is the boxed herb garden

Chris was having a nice time (honest)

Now as we tucked into our sandwiches with the crusts cut off and our home made scones, my sister Ann (left) subtlety removed her wrap to show off her left arm.....it took an age for us to notice that she had been fitted with a false whole arm tattoo! complete with colour!

She had to do one better than the fake tattoo I had placed on Janet's backside! the one that Ann fell for as real, hook line and sinker! The saga of the family tattoos continue!!!!!!

Below Janet, Ann (with tattoo) and Chris outside Bodysgallen

41

Chris is 41 today
He has had the obligatory lie in with breakfast in bed.
Then enjoyed himself in the usual bout of card opening (and counting) and present opening. (I bought him a leather bag for his netbook)......he is never happy with the amount of cards he gets (although every member of his family and my family send him one) and every year we get the half humorous "no body loves me" comment!
Anyhow today I have arranged for us to go to Bodysgallen Hall for afternoon tea, which should be lovely as the weather looks nicer than it did the last time we went and this eveing I will buy him a takeaway treat (no starter though....I'm skint!)