I am Still Mommy

I have loads to do today, as Richard and Leo arrive this afternoon.
I am trying to ignore the feather strewn bodies of two sparrows on the floor of the living room, well that is until I have my first cup of coffee of the day, and then I can get things organised, clean and tidy.( I have also got the challenge to set up a two man tent which Chris bought for Leo as his own ready made "den")

Yesteday, I noticed that the goslings have formed themselves into a neat little flock with the magpie ducks. The five waterfowl totter around the field together quite happily,all seem shy of visitors and with me they all remain wary, a fact I do find rather odd seeing that the goslings were hand reared.
Yesterday Jo (the gosling with the damaged wing) wrapped himself up in some discarded garden twine and ended up effectively immobile behind the feedbins.
It took me an age to unravel his feet from the string, but as I did so he sat quietly on my lap and nuzzled my neck with his beak, it was obvious that he remembered his old mum!

The magpie ducks, Winnie and Jo ambling off to the stream this morning.

Being belated

My best mate Mike had his birthday on the 9th
I sent a card but forgot to ring him which was an awful mistake....
I can only blame night shift for my oversight!
Apologies mike! I am looking to book a Sheffield trip the first week of September if you are free?
Time for him, Jane, Jonney h and me to meet up for a night of too much wine, gossip, bitching and laughter!

Nancy!!! read em and weep

Now I feel I must defend myself here a little, when I wrote the following statement in my blog Bliss dated 8th of August!

"Our bed is quiet! and empty.....without the usual cacophony of grunts,farts and dog dreaming woofs it is now a haven of peace and tranquility where I can spread out in peace and decadence....
bliss"

I was in fact referring to the dogs farting and grunting...not Chris as Nancy K seems to think I was:-
Nancy K. said...
"John! If Chris is really that obnoxious of a bed partner, why not ask him to sleep in a different room?
Much better than slamming him publicly like this.."

Now I have spent many blissful years sharing a bed c/o Dr Chris and in doing so would NEVER complain about any possible farts or grunts believe me!!! ( the odd bout of teeth grinding perhaps! and I absolutely cannot stand the way he gets up in the morning happy and singing like a bearded Julie Andrews!)

But all in all I wouldn't change the old git for anyone one else.(I suspect he would love someone cleaner with an Oxford accent and floppy hair!!!)

We bicker and spat like two old ladies out shopping but we are soul mates in the truest sense of the word

hey ho
;-)

Catch Me if You Can

I love rooting through youtube for movie memories... here are a few of my favourite movie title sequences

title sequence of North by Northwest

REAR WINDOW

Thomas Crown Affairs title sequence by Pablo Ferro

Wild domesticity and Sherlock gets better and Better

This morning I have been on catch up after the weekend. I caught two of the junior flock (the chicks that hatched in the spring) and had them ready for one of the sisters at work to collect to augment her small flock. I refused any payment for them ( this sister is a delight to work with) but she did present me with a large bag of corn, a bottle of wine and a huge chocolate cake in lieu of payment which was very kind.
Swapping favours and materials is common in the country and I always make an effort to do people a favour as it were as often people will always remember a kindness. Today one of the old farmers stopped for some eggs, and as usual I refused any payment simply saying that he can do me a favour "whenever"..........In the future I know, there will be perhaps a bag of sawdust for the coops or a small bag of wheat left by the gate when I am least expecting it.

So this morning I have sorted the bedding out for our guests later in the week ( remember Chris' dad and 7 year old nephew are visiting) and have just had enough time to drop some scones and eggs in for Rowenna ( a very distant relative of mine that lives in the village) she has recently had her hip replaced and is just battling through her mobilizing rehab. I have been meaning to call around but the allotment open seemed to have monopolized my time somewhat.

Anyhow.....while I was busy nature seems to have governed the domestic side of the allotment animals, Bingley (above) the Bourbon stag escaped from his enclosure and sought out the convalescing Boris, who has always been somewhat of a Nemesis.
The younger male has obviously sensed that the more powerful Boris is still well under par, and has taken advantage of the older male's weakness.
When I came home, I found Bingley, all puffed up and fraught inside Boris' enclosure with Boris nowhere to be seen.........the old guy has somehow squeezed through the small poophole in the hen house and was sitting in the safety of the coop well out of the way of Bingley and his vicious beak and claws....For a turkey this show of brains is a rarity believe me

The goslings also have been stretching their natural aggressive wings and spied a local ( and unknown to them) family visiting the field when I was inside cleaning the kitchen floor.
As young as they are , their innate instinct to protect their territory from strangers kicked in and I could hear their angry honking from the cottage. The family has warily fended off the youngsters but I was incredibly pleased that my planned "watchdogs" had started to do their job!

This lunchtime I have been busy shelling, freezing and cooking a glut of fresh peas. Thank goodness for BBC i player, as I also had the opportunity to watch the final Sherlock series episode entitled The Great Game.
Steven Moffit and Mark Gatiss has wisely kept the best story till last and I thought the whole episode was a masterclass in style, content and acting as Sherlock ( the immensely watchable Benedict Cumberbatch) and his only friend Watson (Martin Freeman) finally do direst battle against a remarkably evil and surprisingly young Moriarty.
The plot had more twists and turns to keep even the most avid Holmes fan entertained and Cumberbatch lends just a little more depth to the genius psychopath's irritating and self obsessed personality in a remarkably light performance.
To my American readers, try watching this episode on BBC i player (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/) I do so hope you are able to access it.
9/10