Blue Skies

The Calm before the storm The Trelawnyd Glebe

The Hysterical Runners led by the hybrid drake Halleh have screamed their last hysterical screams on the field for a week. Some of the silly buggers have known me for over four years but still they shriek lilke little girls as soon as they register anything new within a mile's radius of the field.
( and when I say new.....I mean even me wearing a hat they have not seen before!)

"arrrrhhhhhhhhhhh run.....run for the hills!!!"

I always have the urge to do something drastic when they start

Hummm perhaps it was an unfortunate choice of video seeing that the older I get, the more nervous I get about flying......I wonder why that is?

At least we are not "suffering" the orange skinned, scouse harshness of the  Easy Jet cabin Crew and the  filling "common as muck" free-for-all fight so we can actually sit together before some uninterested stewardess throws a hard bun in a piece of cellophane at us for a fiver a go!

In my experience the cheapness of Easy Jet never quite balances out the fraught look on Chris' face when the bunfight run for seats start at the very beginning of his much earned holiday break.....

His expression says it all

"It was never like this in Miss Marple's day"

and he would be right

We are flying British Airways.

And so I am off now to sort out some frozen pork to share out amongst the kind suckers that have kindly agreed to care for the Bwthyn-y-llan animals...without them all, I would have to be content with a day trip to Llandudno.

So I give a big thank you to you all

Janet and Ned (who are taking in George)

Eirlys & John ( Bingley,Theresa,Carol Polenta and the runners)

Mike and Viv ( The blind Rooster Cogburn, Phyllis Diller and  abandoned cockerel Buster)

Islwyn ( hens & geese and house sitting and security matters)

Mandy (water distribution and security jobs)

John F (Water Butt filling and paddling pool care)

Carol ( Albert feeding and rabbit corpse removal)

See you all on our return......I will try and drop a quick blog when we're out there

Even Gentleman like tv Zombie Shows

Now for those that have missed the unending stories of chicken woes and turkey tales, tomorrow's post will be heavily centred upon the story of the somewhat deafening transport of the hysterical runners from my field to the safety of my friend Eirlys' farm for the duration of our jaunt to Sitges.

Carol and Polenta, Bingley and Theresa will be going too, which will, I am sure be a load off the mind of hen babysitter Islwyn who may be a bit long in the tooth to fend off a hormonal stag turkey or to be charging around after runner ducks that spend their lives jumping and screaming at the top of their lungs as soon as anyone farts in their direction

 

Today's post is going to be somewhat of a geek fest!

Now I make no bones that I am a somewhat sad fan of the zombie/disaster flick series The Walking Dead...I think I can control this obsession as I know I am not quite at that bedroom living/hamburger munching/same t shirt and underpants all-week wearing /sad bastard level of geekdom just yet!

(no I am NOT!)

However I do frequent some websites and blogs that celebrate the zombie apocalypse (like you do) and one of my favourites must be Lee Sargent's The Gentleman's Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse

This talented blog is a light hearted romp into the rules in post Zombie invasion survival....and his entry today ticked me somewhat because he featured me and George in one of his cartoons!

 "Now.....where's that hamburger?"

Public Speaking

I am not a big fan of public speaking.

I can do it at a push, and I thank my father's genes for the ability to do so...for he would have made a speech in the queue at Tescos if people would have let him. 

I am thinking about this subject today as I have been asked to give two "talks" to the local Women's Institute this Autumn...I think that they want a sort of precis of all the best bits from Going Gently , ....humorous and touching animal stories aka James Herriot...that sounds safe enough..... me thinks

Years ago, I once was asked to present a paper to several hundred delegates at a conference in The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.

The subject matter was emotive to say the least, as it was a personal account of how the ward staff and I , as ward manager, coped with a particularly "challenging", suicidal and acutely mentally ill patient in the inappropriate setting of a general spinal injury ward.

My account, in my mind was pitched just right. It was honest, reflective and dare I say interesting, and as I had practised the whole presentation a hundred times, the whole thing tripped off the tongue as easily as if I was a radio 4 news presenter!

Unfortunately I was wearing a body mike ( a new experience for me) and after I had finished my emotive account with a fairly dramatic flourish, the audience broke into an impressive and enthusiastic round of applause..........

I gestured towards them all with a dignified and professional nod,  and after I walked slowly ( and dramatically) to my seat to sit down. I caught the eye of Sharman Bibby who was an Occupational Therapist that I knew well.. She smiled and mouthed "phew" at me and I replied with a somewhat relieved "FUCK---------ING  hell" ....

Yes... you've guessed it.... The body mike was still on!

So, this morning, I must reassure Pat (who is the secretary of the local WI)......there will be no swearing!
I promise

Now, where's my list?

I feel somewhat jet lagged today

I was on night shift Saturday night

Yesterday was a night off

Am on  shift again tonight

My body ( 50 years old and somewhat jaded)

Is feeling the strain.

we fly to Sitges on Friday morning

Holiday checklist has just been written this am

I do like my lists

1) Animal care plans all written and laminated

2) White Underwear ( not the usual grey ones) (  and the new ones -without any holes in the gussets!) all folded and all ready for flying (just in case of a crash)

3) Pretentious Holiday reading obtained

4) Trashy Holiday reading ( to be read out of sight of others) obtained

5) Holiday shorts, walking dead T shirt, and new (non green) beach shoes all placed in a neat pile (we all love a new "travelling outfit)

6) Passport finally found after a hysterical, hyperventilating search

7) Imodium capsules located ( just in case)

8) Teaching sessions started for conscripted animals carers

9) 14 new " to do" lists written out and re written

10) Emergency Euros ordered

11) Check computer 100 times for Sitges weather report

12) Build up for a humdinger of a pre holiday row!

Ok I am ready!

Overheard this I did

Before I go to bed this morning I will take the opportunity to share an overheard conversation between two female nurses last night

Nurse 1: "Do you know my nipple isn't half sore"

Nurse 2: "Have you been jogging again?"

Nurse 1: " No...Josh caught me one with his lightsabre yesterday"

Nurse 2: "The force wasn't with you then?"

Nurse 1: "fraid not"

and with that I will say goodnight!
Goodnight x

Enjoy

Lazy post today.

I am on another night shift ( a favour for a workmate) so will have worked THREE nights this week,

Gawd practically a full timer! 

hell's teeth!

So I will leave you with a piece of music from a master composer

And that is John Williams, who at the age of 80 , has just been recognised by the Classic Brits for a lifetime achievement award in the field of film score

There's No Fool like................

At 8.45 I was first into the vets' waiting room!

Meg and William needed their shots before their holiday in kennels next week and I wanted to miss the traffic on the A55.

For those that follow Going Gently, you will know that I am a regular visitor to the vets, I usually see one of the junior medical staff when I go, you know the sorts...trendy, combat panted twenty somethings with bags of confidence and an easy way about them but today the senior chap was on duty. 

He is the vet that looks like George Clooney.

"Oh it's the chap with the piglet!" George crooned as I walked into the consultation room

( the last time I saw him was when I took no 21 in with a septic knee)

The vet flashed his perfect white teeth, perfect wide smile and perfect twinkling blue eyes and I literally turned into a simpering  old maid from a Jane Austen novel.

I laughed far too loudly at his comment and was suddenly aware that there was a gravy stain all down my tracksuit top

George smiled his wide smile again "How is that little pig she was a real sweetie!" he asked

"She's in the freezer" I squeaked 

"Oh, that's a shame" he said

I smiled inanely and giggled like a school girl.

I am such a sad old git.

"He turned his attention to the dogs who like me seemed captivated by his charming good looks

"William and Meg eh?", he boomed "I like that...good proper names"

"Thank You" I simpered away....(I cannot believe that I actually said Thank You)

The conversation and consultation carried on in a similar vein

He said something practical

I laughed at it like an over-the-hill Bridget Jones

I don't think he noticed

I bet he's used to it

hey ho

Toys

Meg has had her haircut today

Now I remember Just where I got the Welsh Terrier Bug

I think I was 4

My favourite toy when I was a boy was surprisingly NOT a stuffed dog

It was, in fact a model farm!

Go figure