Chickens, family and hayfever

Ahem!

2011-04-18T19:00:00.005+01:00

Hi folks! Hope you are all well. Aren't I the crap one! Anyway, I only popped in to say please visit my new website with it's own blog, where I am now writing. Thank you folks xx

Visit me here http://blackbushegg.webs.com/index.htm (Sorry can't get the link to work!)

Duckling Emergency!

2010-05-16T22:13:00.005+01:00

Yesterday morning, we again checked the eggs. Four ducklings were now hatched, with two eggs to go. One had no signs of life so I candled it and it obviously wasn't right, so I cracked it opento find a dead, half formed duckling inside. What a shame, but too late for that little one. The other egg had small cracks in the end but not much else. So I opened the shell a little more then popped it back under the hen.

Trouble is off to camp this coming week so we went into town to buy some supplies, socks mostly (where do they go?) While we were out I had a phone call from a woman who may have spotted my missing cat. So when we had finished shopping we went for a drive around the area where he might have been spotted. No luck in finding him but we had a quick look at the wind farm while we were there.

We arrived home and went straight to check on the ducklings. Broody hen had brought them out into the run for some refreshments. But there were only four. Looking into the nest the unhatched egg lay there unchanged and abandoned. Picking it up I was sure it was dead. It was stone cold and there was no sign off life. However, when I pulled away more of the shell it moved. We rushed it indoors and switched on an incubator. I carefully pulled away more shell and tried to release the ducklings head. It was almost tied in a knot. It was wrapped right round itself and this was obviously the reason it had been unable to hatch!! There are people who say that if they can't hatch themselves then we should leave them to it, but not me, I wasn't going to leave it! The poor duckling looked very strange, it's neck appeared to be three times as long as it should have been! I know they are Runners, but seriously?

Anyway, poor little chap was kicking furiously and getting nowhere so I eventually freed it from the shell and gave it some water. Things were still not looking good, it couldn't stand up or hold up it's head. I realised it couldn't stay in the inccy much longer and started to set up the brooder. Brand new and not wired up yet! Probably not the thing to do quite late at night and after a few glasses of wine, but it had to be done! Anyway, I wired it up wrong and managed to electocute myself in the process. Eventually gave in and asked my neighbour for help. Nice chap and was still up watching the grand prix! Finally got it sorted and I set it up next to my bed and had a very restless nights sleep.

But this is what I found in the morning;

That looks much more like a proper duckling! I couldn't believe the difference! Very wobbly on it's feet and walking right back on it's legs rather than up on it's feet, but wow it's head was on straight! After plenty of TLC and exercise courtesy of the kids it began to look better and better.

And this evening it went back out to the broody, who accepted it straight away. Within a couple of hours it was waddling around with the other ducklings as if it had always been there. So to those of you that don't intervene - up yours :P

The First Babies Arrive!

2010-05-14T23:24:00.004+01:00

Today saw the day the first ducklings hatched. I managed to coax broody hen off her nest this morning for some corn. She allowed me to examine some of the eggs. I noticed that two had a fair size hole in them and that one other had obvious cracks! Then followed an agonising afternoon at work and some very quick food shopping.

When I got home (with some very excited children) we brought broody hen's cat box into the kitchen to check on the eggs. Wearing my chicken wrangling gloves I bravely lifted her gently from the nest. There lay two little fluffy ducklings! Quickly checking the other eggs I noticed the one with the crack noted earlier hadn't changed so I eased the shell open slightly to see it wriggling inside. I quickly candled two eggs and saw that one duckling was moving strongly and one not so much. The other egg I have no idea. I will check again in the morning.

Proud mum

Little cutie

So tired

Brand new

Egg Candling

2010-05-12T21:50:00.002+01:00

Last night I sat on floor with the lights off and began candling and numbering the eggs in my incubator!

The Cayuga eggs are too new for me to know, I am a novice candler after all. The Maran eggs are at day 7 now so are fairly obvious. I noticed two definates, one maybe and 3 that I think are infertile.

The Pheasants are more tricky. The eggs are small and thick shelled. They were definately fertile but it looks like they were found too late. They don't appear to be any further on than they were when I first looked. They do have obvious signs of development, but I think it was my tired eyes that told me they moved. I can also see what I think is the start of blood rings, which I believe usually appear when the embryo dies. So it doesn't look good for the pheasant eggs, but I'll leave them a bit longer and candle them again. Not too long though, I don't want anything exploding in the incubator!

What's Cooking?

2010-05-11T21:54:00.002+01:00

I love this photo of the incubator so much I thought I'd share!!

Top: Large Grey Eggs - Cayuga Duck

Middle: Brown Eggs - Black Copper Maran Hens

Bottom: Small Greenish/Blue Eggs - Pheasant

All tucked up safe in the auto turning incubator. Phew!

(You can see the Xs and Os from hand turning.)

Poultry Matters and a Missing Cat

2010-05-10T10:23:00.004+01:00

Well I picked up the new quail hens last night. All didn't go exactly to plan. Dude was moved to his new hutch with the established females. Sanchez was given the new hens. At first he thought it was wonderful, being male he introduced himself just how a virile male should! Wonderful, I thought, he's pleased with his pressie. Funnily enough Dude did the same thing with his girls, and I'd not seen either of them do it before!! It must be all to do with new territory and new blood.

Anyway ten minutes later and Sanchez was pecking the hell out of the new hens! My cousin had told me how violent they can be but I didn't expect him to be like that with his girlfriends! So Sanchez spent a night in solitary in the shed, partly to give the girls time to settle in and partly so he can think about what he has done!

This morning I have clipped his beak just a little bit and popped him back in. Things seem to be much calmer today, he is chasing them around a bit but doesn't seem to be trying to peck their heads off!

My new Cayuga duck eggs are now in the incubator, a nice Brinsea 20 borrowed from a friend. At least I don't have to turn the eggs. My other incubator currently holding 6 Maran and 7 Pheasant eggs is manual and that's quite a chore to remember to turn them all 3 times a day! And we are only on day 5! Now all that's bothering me is that 28 days is so long!!

At least my Indian Runners are nearly cooked. They are due this weekend, so expect some wonderfully over the top posting from me in a few days! I have had a few panics about them hatching. I bought them from Ebay and was ecstatic to find all six were fertile and developing well. Trouble is when they are under a broody you can't monitor the hatch very well, and I am worried that they will not have been moist enough. I really don't want to lose them at the last minute! Ducks is new to me so it's all trial and error.

On a different note, the family is sad, we have lost one of our dear Bengal cats. He has been missing for over a month now. Just went off one day and didn't come back! A Bengal was found a couple of weeks ago in a village not far from here but was sadly not ours. He had been missing from elsewhere for 3 months though. It does give us a bit of hope that he will stroll back in one day or that someone will find him and check him for a microchip. All we can do is wait.....

For Stiggy - The Quail

2010-05-09T18:12:00.008+01:00

Stiggy asked me about the quail, so I thought I'd post a bit of info for those that don't know much about them.

My quail are Japanese or Coturnix Quail, they are one of the plainer types of the species but are a good 'starter' bird. I got my birds from my cousin at six weeks old, they were literally just off the heat lamp so spent the first two weeks coming into the house at night as it has been so cold. At first they were kept in an old rabbit run on the open ground, with a cat box shelter. Unfortunately one became ill, very dehydrated, and died. I then decided to take them off the ground and found a great big hutch for them.

Quails are very flighty birds so must have plenty of head room. They have an amazing springy quality to them which I can only describe as boingy! The best time to see this is first thing in the morning. When it is cold at night I cover them, when I pull back the cover they let their little over-night wound springs go, and boing from one end of the hutch to the other. When they first arrived I was amazed at how calm they were as I had heard about them being flighty. It didn't last and they were soon difficult to catch to move in and out of their night quarters! I loved having them in the house in the evenings though, they make the most comforting noises. A bit like when you walk in a pet shop full of finches.

Apart from their skittishness they are easy to keep. Mine are just fed on chick crumb, but you can buy them fancy quail mix which is, of course expensive. They also love meal worms for a treat. They are messy and seem to thrive in spilling their water all over a clean bed. They also get through chick crumb faster than I ever imagined for their tiny size.

Quails come into lay very early, anywhere between 7 and 10 weeks I have heard. Mine are now around ten weeks, but I still haven't had an egg! The one thing I am really looking forward to is my first hatch. For any of you that have seen quails eggs you will know how tiny they are. My cousin describes them on hatching, as resembling big bumble bees!

Anyway, as I currently have two males and only three females I am popping back over to my cousin's tonight to pick up some more hens. They will then have to be separated into two clans as, believe it or not, it is the hens that will fight not the cocks. They can live quite happily with a couple of cocks and several hens, as long as the ratio is about 6 hens to each cock, and as long as they were introduced very young. I have been told that quail can be very aggressive and can head peck so badly they will go through the skull! I am not risking that!

So hopefully soon I will have plenty of eggs to sell for both eating and hatching. Quail eggs are fantastic for baking! Obviously if anyone is interested - let me know!

Sorry!

2010-05-08T23:54:00.008+01:00

Can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. But I think I'll have another bash. I have quite a few things to keep a tab on at the moment so what better place to do it.

I have developed a definate poultry obsession in recent weeks and there is so much going on! Ever since we moved to Wales I've had a few chooks, but it's now progressed.

I now have quail! I currently have five, i picked up what was meant to be five hens and one cock from my cousin. Sadly I lost one hen and one turned out to be a cock. So I am off to pick up a few more hens tomorrow. This photo is of Dude with three of the girls.

This is Woody, my fab little broody;

She's sitting on Runner Duck eggs! That will hopefully hatch into something like this;

(Photo coutesy of lovely Ebayer from who I purchased my eggs, thank you)

Unfortunately I can't stay away from Ebay and spotted this;

It's a Cayuga Duck

Well I was smitten. I've never seen them before so I called my cousin for some info only to find he has a friend who keeps them! I am picking up some eggs tomorrow when I go for the quail! I'm having to borrow an incubator because mine is full already!

In there are some Black Copper Morans I am hatching for a friend. But also 7 pheasant eggs that my neighbour found. They are fertile but I think the nest had been abandoned and I am not sure if they are still viable. But you have to try!!

So there is a lot going on and the eggcitement starts next weekend when the Runners are due to hatch. So I will try to be good and keep posting.

Nice to be back! Again!

I'm back!!

2009-05-20T22:50:00.006+01:00

Well, I've had a break! But I'm back now, I don't know if I'm refreshed, but I'm back anyway!!

Lots of things have happened, but I won't tell you about them all now, that would take far too long!!

It turns out I don't have Cealiacs after all. What I have got remains a mystery!!

The girls continue to ride, and are now joining pony club. It really is a good deal you know. At the moment I pay £10 each for half an hour's lesson, and £5 each for half an hour stable management. For £22 a year they can join Pony Club (without their own horse) and once a month meet up for the day, ten til four, ride, learn and have fun. They can take riding tests, earn badges, compete and camp!! Ideal if you ask me! Just wish I was under 21, I wanna join! Find out more here.

I have also started riding again, yay!! A lady just down the road from me has three horses, Ippy, Echo and Gayly, that I and lovely girl have been exercising and also I have been riding for a woman locally who has ride and drive horses. Advertising time!! Felicity and her husband John have a beautiful holiday home in a very secluded and beautiful spot in the Welsh countryside. Felicity also runs driving courses, check it out here. Felicity's five year old is a bit fizzy so I accompany her on hacks on her old faithful, Champ, who provides a calming influence to help Archie settle. There is also Belle, a three year old who will be broken to drive this summer and also, hopefully, I will be helping back her too.

This weekend I am hoping to take Gayly on a fun ride, The Llandinam Mountain Event. Weather permitting of course, becaue it really has been quite crap, hasn't it?

Apart from that, well, we have new chicks in the fold after a broody hen got a present of fertile eggs. She hatched seven out of seven, we lost two but the rest are coming on fast.

Sadly we lost Bella, one of the battery hens. But Cinnamon has integrated wonderfully and is now living in the big house with the other girls.

Jedi has been to school camp, and had a wonderful time, abseiling, cayaking, orienteering, caving and a world of other things!!

The cats have been bringing me headless rabbits on a regular basis (eewwww!), I haven't seen my husband in just over a month, oh and I took this cracking pic of Harley;

Nice to be back :)

100th post and an end in sight!

2009-03-23T10:03:00.002Z

Sorry I haven't been about lately, I haven't been too good actually. It's something I don't talk about much but I suffer from Fibromyalgia. I have done for a very long time and it took years to get a diagnosis. My sister was diagnosed with M.E. a very long time ago and was really very poorly for a while. After going to the doctor with a whole variety of weird symptons and discussing them with my sister, i realised there were similarities. My sister showed me some information on Fibro and I realised that was it!! My doctor had been pretty useless uo until I presented him with the information, and I got my diagnosis about five years ago.

Since then my sister has discovered that she actually has multiple chemical sensitivity not M.E. M.E. is such a vague term. When the chemicals she is exposed to are controlled my siser now lives a fairly normal life. We think both our problems were casued by exposure to Organo Phosphates and that's why we both suffer. My chemical sensitivity is not as marked as my sister's but I still have to avoid certain things.

I have coped with my Fibro relatively well over the years and have been determind to leave a relatively normal life and not let it get to me, I think that's why I don't really talk about it. Most of the people I know don't even know I have it!! Recently I have been quite poorly and my health is deteriorating. I am loosing weight, and completely unable to put it back on. My fatigue levels are high, my skin poor and my pain levels have increased. My digestive system is also a complete mess. So last week I was off to my new doctor for a moan. It looks like I may have Celiacs Disease. A very daunting prospect!! I didn't know much about Celiacs, I thought it was an allergy. Turns out it's an auoto-immune problem where the body's immune system sees Gluten as a bad thing and attacks it,, causing damage to the intestines. The damage caused stops the proper absorbtion of nutrients etc from your food.

The only cure is to completely stop the intake of Gluten for the rest of my life. The prospect is extremely scary but if it means I can get well, have more energy for my children and generally live a much healthier life then it actually makes the diagnosis an exciting possibility!! I hope that makes sense!! Any no doubt I will have more to say about this new journey so I will let you know how it progresses. I will also try to update you on all the 'normal' things that have been happening! But for now I'm am hoping you are all feeling better than me!

ABC Wednesday - G

2009-03-04T21:11:00.007Z

G is for so many things this week, like Gosh I've been busy, for a start!! (I haven't posted since last Wednesday!!) G is for Greyhounds of course (see this post here, updates soon!) But most of all G must be for Gatherings.

An old school friend of mine attempted to organise a school reunion last weekend. It didn't quite come off. Only five people turned up!! I don't think she gave people enough warning and so many just couldn't make it. It was, however, a wonderful evening. It gave me the chance to go back to my home town in Somerset and not only catch up with a few old school friends, but also my old mates from 'home'.

On my first day of high school I met H. We became firm friends immediately and stayed that way all the way through school. After school she moved to London and we lost touch for a while but after making contact again we now keep in touch, although we don't see nearly enough of eachother. We also formed a little group with two lads, S and J. We were all pretty close.

H and S made the Gathering, but unfortunately none of us know where J is. What a shame, it was so good to get 3 quarters of the group together and catch up on old times, but it would have been something else if it had been complete.

Anyway, next year is our 20 year anniversary of leaving high school. I can't quite believe it, I mean, I think I'm only 20 anyway!! And thanks to the wonder that is Facebook, I am making contact with more and more of my old school friends, and the plan is to organise a massive reunion Gathering for that.

Here's the old Gang

Don't we look snazzy in our matching dark Glasses!

To see more ABC Wednesday G posts visit here.

ABC Wednesday - F

2009-02-25T21:03:00.005Z

Wednesday has come round really quick!! Anyway, this week's letter is F for Fundraising.

My eldest daughter, Jedi, (for those of you who don't know) has a passion for Greyhounds and for raising awareness of their plight. Along with this comes the need to raise money to help rehome and reabilitate ex-racing Greyhounds. To find out how this passion started please read my previous post.

Anyway, once again she has the urge to Fundraise. This time she is planning a sponsered silence, not any old sponsored silence, but for a whopping 48 HOURS!!! That is quite a feat for an eleven year old!

Greyhound Rescue Wales is her chosen charity, as it is our local Greyhound charity and of course you can't support them all! We are currently waiting for GRW to register with JustGiving.com so we can make this the biggest and furthest reaching fundraising effort yet. So if you would be interested in sponsering Jedi, and helping abandoned, ill-treated or just plain unwanted Greyhounds wherever you are, please keep an eye out for a future post (hopefully within the next week) which will give details on how to find her JustGiving page. Or leave a request in the comments and I will notify you when we have the information.

Remember, this is all off the back of an eleven year old with a very big heart, nothing to do with me, I'm just the skivvy!! Please show your support, not just for the Greyhounds but for a wonderful little girl who has the want and determination to do something bigger with her time and energy.

Chickens, Gardening and Springfever!!

2009-02-20T20:28:00.003Z

The last couple of days, while I've had a week off (Ihave such a great job, that means I get all the school holidays off!) I have been doing a bit of gardening. I thought it was time time to tackle my overgrown borders before everything starts growing in again. Trouble is the soil is terrible, it is practically pure clay. It makes digging it twice as hard as other soil. Every fork full weighs a ton, it sticks to the fork and mostly stays in large clumps. In about a total of five hours digging I have dug over and weeded such a small amount.

It does look amazing though, it lifts the whole look of the garden. I've dug in well rotted chicken and rabbit litter and tried to convince the girls not to feed all my precious worms to the chickens. I am hoping the more compost I dig in the better the soil will get, but I am also guessing it will take some time.

The weather has been quite good for the last couple of days and I am hoping it will stay dry for a while so I can get some more done before I go back to work. The chickens have had a great time digging in the freshly uncovered earth and compost and the cats have been enjoying the sunshine. I think they are starting to feel spring in the air. Little clumps of snowdrops are appearing and everyone seems to have a bounce in their step.

I am also glad it is mild at the moment for an entirely different reason. We didn't have a cat flap, so hubby made a whole in the 'dining room' wall, lined it will tiles and attached a cat flap to the outside. Now, seeing as how he's a builder it was never quite finished. (Anyone who's been married to a builder knows that they don't finish their own house!) But it was perfectly operational and did a good job..... until one of next doors big fluffy cats decided to visit. She came through the cat flap but before she could get out of the tunnel into the dining room she met Harley. Harley was non too impressed and expressed his disapproval of the uninvited guest as only disgruntled cats can. Mocha attempted a hasty retreat and being a rather large puss with a lot of excess fluff, must have got caught up. She ripped the cat flap off and the tiles all collapsed. I now have a cat hole!!. They love it!! Much quicker when you are being chased by your brother!! Stretch (our neighbour) has promised to fix it for us, but for now at least it is mild and dry!

THE Riding Lesson

2009-02-19T22:37:00.005Z

At last, the day came when the girls could get their bums back in the saddle. Because they haven't ridden for about two years and we're going to a new riding school, they are starting out back on the lead rein.

Here they are listening intently to their instructions:

It was wonderful that they were the only ones in the class, you can imagine what their old classes must have been like with 15 or so kids in one small indoor school. Just look at the space they had and the attention from their instructor.

Trouble is on the left and Jedi on the right:

Trouble struggled a bit to keep her reins short enough and when she asked her pony to stop by sitting deep in the saddle and reducing movement, he ignored her (at first) and she ended up with her hands round her ears!! After a while he started to listen and she did a great job.

Jedi tries so very hard to sit up straight she sometimes becomes a bit stiff so in rising trot she sometimes leans forward and ends up with her bum sticking out!! (Sorry Jedi, if you read this :P) But after a bit of relaxing in sitting trot she soon got it whipped.

I think they did great, two years is a long time in the life of small people. Next time they are booked in for half an hour stable management too. Trouble needs a bit of confidence on the ground, I guess that's the problem with being so small, everything else is so darn big!!

This is Jedi's Dougle:

This is Trouble's Dougle:

Sorry about the blurry pics, it was lunch time and they weren't really interested in posing!! And this fella here just wanted to kill anyone who came near his dinner!!!!

So we went home for our own, all full of smiles.

Bethddusuit's Recommended Read

2009-02-19T01:18:00.007Z

I have decided to give a shout out to all my favourite bloggers so Thursday is going to become;

I am going to go through my reading list, from top to bottom, and each Thursday write about one blog. I do have quite a few, so it may take a while, but I hope you enjoy maybe finding new blogs and finding out what amuses me! So without further fuss or bother I present you with the first blog in my list;

A View From The Green Barn

A View From The Green Barn is written by Don, an elementary school teacher from Michigan. He lives and writes from his little farm, surrounded by chickens, woods and wonderful scenery. Don always posts the most amazing photos of the farm, chickens and other beautiful things, and I enjoy looking at these as much as catching up with hatchings, gardening plans, bread making and general goings on. Don is a friendly chap who always makes the effort to respond to comments on his blog and to leave comments for others. I'n not sure how he has the time though, what with all his fans!

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Don for a fanscinating blog and for all the kind comments he has left for me. So why don't you pop on over to Michigan, visit Don and say Hi.

Saddlesick

2009-02-19T00:19:00.004Z

Oh dear, that actually sounds like I'm sick of the saddle but it's actually meant to be like the exact opposite, like homesick! Oh well. The girls have their riding lesson tomorrow, thank God! They have been quite unbearable this week. They have been wearing all their gear around the house and Trouble's scooter has become an interesting, if rather skinny, silver pony!! I'm looking forward to it too, I can't wait to see them back in the saddle, it will be worth the money I've spent already this week, honest! I will be taking my camera, which reminds me; I must put new batteries in, and am hoping to get some great shots.

The trouble is I'm bloody jealous! The more all this goes on, the more need I feel to get back in the saddle. It hasn't been too bad up to now, the road that passes the end of the drive is not suitable for horses and poor old Blue is too old anyway. But now all this talk has started, and I know the girls will be riding, the need to ride again is growing.

Also, just to fuel it, while I was perusing the ABC Wednesday posts I stumbled across this blog. Janie and Steve in Utah have some beautiful horses and the most wonderful countryside to explore, all from the back of their trusty companions. Boooooo! Not fair. Hmmmph. I'm going off to sulk.

ABC Wednesday - E

2009-02-18T21:45:00.006Z

I thought I'd do something a little different this week. So this weeks letter, E, is for Elbow!!!

The elbow is a complex joint which forms a hinge or ginglymus. What a great word!!

The elbow is where three bones, the humerous (upper arm bone), ulna and radius (the lower arm bones) meet.

The nobbly bit on the outside of your elbow is actually part of the ulna bone called the Olecranon.

When you hit your funny bone the sensation you feel is actually irritation of the ulna nerve which is the largest unprotected (by bone or muscle) nerve in the body. It runs from your shoulder all the way down to the tip of your little finger.

This useful info was sourced from Wikipedia.

Other 'interesting' facts about elbows;

It is physically impossible to lick your own elbow.

The length between the inside of your wrist and the inside of your elbow is roughly the same as the length of your foot!! Looks huge, but try it, it works!

This info came from a file in my head labelled 'Weird and Useless Information!'

Scientists have discovered that Octopuses and Squid have the ability to form 'part-time' elbows to help them eat. Strange but true!

And that came from a random google search for 'elbows'.

Hope you've enjoyed discovering more about your elbows!! To read more interesting ABC Wednesday posts from around the world please visit here.

What a shame horses don't poo money!

2009-02-16T19:47:00.004Z

First, I have been asked by Jedi to let you know that she has started blogging again. Her first attempt at blogging was a bit slack but she's decided to give to another go, so please drop over to House of Jedi and say Hi.

Anyway, on to horse poo. When we lived down in Somerset the girls started having riding lessons, they were doing ok but the groups were so big they just didn't seem to move on. I promised them when we moved here they could start again. Finally, over a year later I have found a riding school that looks really promising. At Bradnant Equestrian Centre they will be having lessons with just the two of them in the group, so hopefully they will improve quickly. They can do stable management classes which I think is great, teaches them a bit more respect for the animal when they have to do some of the work to look after them, not just hopping on for half an hour then leaving them in someone else's hands. There is also the chance to get involved with Pony Club which is something I'd really like them to do.

It must be two years since any of us have ridden so inevitably the girls have grown enormously. Trouble fits into Jedi's old stuff but seeing as Jedi hasn't stopped growing since we moved here and is now catching me up at speed, she has grown out of everything. So I spent yesterday evening on Ebay, bought her some beautiful muckers (I always ride in Muckers, I think they are so comfy) a new silk (well velvet!) for my/our hat, cos the old one has disintegrated, and a pair of chaps for me. All this talk of riding has made me desperate to get back into it. I can only go so long without my bum in the saddle and I get sad!

Then today we accidently went to 'just look' at our local countryside store, and bought Trouble some gorgeous little lilac gloves and Jedi some new jodhpurs! And all this is before we get to paying for the lessons!!! Oh well, it's my own fault I guess for wanting them to ride in the first place, but at least my parents only had to pay for one!

I think I am going to have to offer myself up for exercising again. That's what I have done for the last few years, just helped out other people with their horses. Can't afford my own yet...... one day.....

ABC Wednesday - D

2009-02-10T21:43:00.011Z

D is for Dancing.

These pictures are from my wedding, there was lots of dancing.

Oh, and D is for Dress!! I love my wedding dress. I go to the wardrobe sometimes, just to look at it!!

The first dance, all together now..... aahhhhhh!

Lots of people dancing. I love the ghostly appearance of this photo.

And traditional Cypriot dancing, lucky man all those women at his feet!

But best of all the traditional Greek money dance. We had been living together for a while and didn't really want presents so we decided on this dance, where guests pin money to the bride's dress. It helped towards the honeymoon. And of course, plate smashing!!

And the result of all that dancing? Discarded shoes!!

To join in with ABC Wednesday please visit here

Yay! I got to play at last!

2009-02-07T21:56:00.004Z

Thankfully the snow is still here today and I got to play with the kids in the snow. The in-laws didn't make it but Hubby did, so with Buzzards calling and soaring above us, we all headed up on the field behind the house. Armed with a sheet of good strong, black plastic and wrapped up like Michelin men we trudged our way up to the top of the field, only to throw ourselves back down again.

I haven't had so much fun with my kids for ages!!

Silly Snow or Silly Schools?

2009-02-05T22:40:00.005Z

My girls finally got a day of school today. The descision was made yesterday, by Powys County Council, to close all of it's schools. (Powys covers a huge area!) We were due a really heavy snow fall and I guess they were staying on the safe side. Today they were looking a little red-faced, we had no where near the forecast amount of snow. In fact it didn't really start snowing until after lunch.

I called the kids from work at lunch time. I had left strict instructions that if it started snowing hard they had to go out in it. I mean that's half the fun isn't it? Playing in the snow with it falling all about you. When I rang they informed me it was snowing quite hard so I asked if they had been out in it like I had said. Apparantly it was too cold. I informed them that is was no excuse and that I expected to find two perfectly formed snow girls waiting for me when I got home! They weren't overly impressed.

I was glad of the snow today though, our drive had become lethal where the car tyres had packed the snow down. I performed the new version of Dancing on Ice as I went to work this morning! The inch we had this afternoon just provided enough for me to get back up it when I returned home!

Anyway, I'm hoping we won't get any more snow, my father in law and his mum are due to come up for the weekend. And of course hubby is coming home. Jedi has spent a lot of time working on an amazing walnut and coffee cake and I am sure it will be well appreciated, well I hope so, considering the mess she left behind. She makes amazing cakes but the devestation is pretty amazing too!!

I'll leave you with a couple more snowy pictures;

ABC Wednesday - C

2009-02-03T22:43:00.004Z

C is for cows. Aren't they cute?

I love their inquisitiveness and the way they can stick their tongues up their nose!!

This fellow, Ringo, is the nicest, most friendly bull I have ever met. He turns himself sideways to the gate so you can give him a scratch!

And where would we be without them?

For more info on ABC Wednesday, and to join in please visit here

Snow fun

2009-02-02T20:39:00.004Z

Unfortunately not enough snow for the kids to stay home from school yet, but it has snowed gently, but steadily since yesterday afternoon. Actually I can't remember the last time it snowed for so long without stopping. Apparantly we are expecting more tonight so there is hope yet!

This was taken about half ten this morning, you can see the chickens morphing through the duck stage into penguins!

These are the snow angels that the girls made when we finally got home this evening.

Photographers, Eggs, Fancy Dress and Cow's Feet!

2009-01-29T10:20:00.005Z

I am getting all over-excited now! My friend Brian Phipps, see last post, has promised to come up and visit. We've done a deal, if I show him some cool places he'll lend me a camera and teach me a few things! Who got the better deal I wonder?

Also Dee Doody has promised to take me out in March to look for the new Kite nesting sites in the woods near my house!! How bloody lucky am I to have amazing friends like these.

After a rocky start to the year I am at last getting a few things to look forward to.

I have also been invited to a fancy dress Valentine's do at my cousin's pub. It's meant to be a couple thing, you know, dressing up as famous couples. But Hubby will probably be in Scotland, so I was wracking my brain trying to think of who I could go as. I finally decided to go as Lorena Bobbit, 'cos I don't think her husband would accompany her anywhere after that!! I have ordered a plastic knife and, ahem.., a little something else from the internet, and await my unmarked package!! I haven't had a proper night out since before Christmas so am really looking forward to it.

I have had some interesting eggs this week. One of the youngsters who has finally come into lay is laying decidedly pointy shaped eggs! They are really long and thin! I guess when they fill out a bit they will be decent size eggs but for now they do look a little strange!

All I need now is some decent weather so I can get outside and start getting the garden ship shape and take some more photos.

I just thought of something that Trouble said the other day, that made me smile;

I had been talking to the girls about some of the things that go into our food that we don't expect. I asked my youngest if she knew that Marshmallows had cow's hooves in them. (Well gelatine anyway, which comes from cows' hooves, so close enough!) The reaction I got wasn't really what I expected!

'Don't be ridiculous mum, cows feet are crunchy!

ABC Wednesday - B Two!!!

2009-01-28T23:14:00.005Z

Just thought I'd use the opportunity to reintroduce a friend off mine. So B is also for Brian Phipps. He's an old school friend and we go way back. Nowadays he's a wildlife photographer and a bloody good one at that. He's done a fair few magazine articles and the like and is becoming pretty well known. He specialises in British Wildlife and travels all over the UK for his shots.

Check out his website here, and take a look at his work. He sells prints and cards etc, so if you see anything you like you can treat yourself, or someone else to some of his pics.

So go check him out :)

ABC Wednesday - B

2009-01-27T22:27:00.005Z

B is for back at last!! Haven't done this for a while, but pleased to be here again!

B is also for Bryntail Lead Mines. A beautiful place not far from where we live, what's left of the mines lay at the base of the Llyn Clywedog dam, near Llanidloes, Powys.

Bryntail Mine, a Guardianship Monument in the care of Cadw, was worked between the late 18th century up to the late 1860s, producing lead ore and barytes. Visible workings are largely of 19th century date and include 3 main shafts and a deep adit, well-preserved remains of an earthwork incline, tramway track beds, a leat which once carried water drawn from the Clywedog further upstream, substantial remains of buildings including structures which housed pumping and winding machinery, a barytes mill, mine office, smithy and store building, a circular explosives magazine, together with wheelpits for winding and crushing machinery, ore bins, roasting ovens and precipitation tanks, jigger placements, a washing and picking floor area, buddles, slime pits.
(Information from Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust)

The approach to the mines with Llyn Clywedog dam in background

Part of the mine ruins

An old stone wheel

Llyn Clywedog that lies above the mines

A woodland walk close by

Photos mine!

Updates and Adventures

2009-01-27T21:29:00.004Z

Right, I'm going to try and get back to regular blogging! It's been a really mad start to this year and it feels like it should be about June already!!

Things have improved for Blue quite a lot, she is getting feed and attention at least every other day. Not quite perfect but a damn site better. Her owners aren't spring chickens anymore and I have to hand it to Mrs for going out in the weather we have been having to tend to her. Fingers crossed it will continue. As for the RSPCA they still haven't been back!

Jedi's idea of a good start to the year was to go into hospital on New Year's Eve down in Somerset, when she was staying with my parents and I was stuck up here in Wales suffering terribly from Flu with poor hubby. Just before Christmas she had had a pain in her tummy which went off quite quick and that we put down to trapped wind or something. Anyway it happened a couple of times after that and eventually wouldn't go away, so she was admitted with a suspected apendicitis. She showed all the classic signs and was really quite poorly but when they did blood work there was no evidence of infection. They also did an ultrasound scan and couldn't find anything wrong there either!! I rushed down there on New Years day, still dying myself, and spent a further two nights there with her. They eventually released her with no real explanation for the pain except that it may be a grumbling appendix which may well kick off again. It took quite some time for the pain to go but she is much improved.

Hubby is back in Dumfries, we are on our third week apart :( I'm not sure when he'll be back, he left saying 'see you in February or March!!' He did ask me the other night where in my menstrual cycle I was. I wondered why he was suddenly interested in women's things, turns out he's planning the best time to come home!!! Oh well, at least I know I'm good for one thing, oh and doing the washing he inevitably brings home with him!!!

I am finally getting eggs!!! Yay! My one youngster that had come into lay before winter has finally started laying again, along with two others. The ex-batts haven't bothered yet, but I don't mind that so much, the eggs are a bonus really. It's so nice to have proper eggs again. I really do hate buying them when I have chickens in the garden.

I promised the girls a picnic at the weekend, and you know what happens when you make promises like that, so last Saturday we wrapped up warm and packed some lunch. We headed off to Llyn Clywedog and Bryntail Lead Mines. It was cold but sunny and we had a lovely day. The resevoir is stunning and the kids loved the lead mine ruins. They found a tiny one room cottage and tried to imagine what it would have been like to live there back in the 1800s. They gathered sticks and made a pretend fire in the old fireplace, and swept the floors and scattered grain for the pretend chickens. All the while waiting for daddy to come back from the mines! It was a great day and the weather held off just long enough.

I'll leave you with some pictures.

Updates!!

2009-01-14T09:35:00.003Z

Apologies for the delay in updating you all on poor Blue. Unfortunately my dear Jedi has been attention seeking again (not really!!) and spent New Year in hospital in Somerset! She's fine, problem not resolved yet, but that's a long story for another post!

Anyway, Blue. I had a phone call from an RSPCA inspector back on the 22nd December. Apparantly he had visited on the 19th. I had wondered, because all of a sudden Blue had started getting a little more attention. He told me that he had not been impressed with Blue's conditions and had layed down some requirements, including cleaning her shed and feeding her properly. (The phone call from the Lib Dem office obviously worked!) The inspector told me that he would return the first week of January to ensure that things had improved....... haven't seen or heard from him yet!

But things have improved for Blue, they aren't great, but she is being feed hay and hard feed (although I don't know what), her rug is being adjusted and water is being provided. At the moment this is happening about once every three to four days although one day she was seen to twice!!! Her shed still hasn't been cleaned out but fresh straw has been put down on top. Not acceptable but better. At least she made it through the terrible cold weather we have had. Before Christmas I never thought she would.

I do have doubts that this period of 'care' will last, I think the novelty will wear off quite quick, but we are faced with Blue every day so we won't be giving up. Another call to the RSPCA from the Lib Dem office may be soon needed too. The inspector promised me he would be back and I intend to ensure he fulfills his promise.

Blue - show your support

2008-12-18T20:57:00.003Z

Some of you may remember the old horse that lives in the field next to our house for those who do and those who don't here is an insight into her life;

Blue's Story.

Blue was once a well cared for and loved horse who was placed at shows and won rossettes for her owners' children. The children have since grown up and left home, so Blue is retired.

I first called the RSPCA out last summer when I noticed that she was very unsteady on her feet and on closer inspection noticed blood oozing from her coronets (top of the hoof) and mud and pus in her feet. The RSPCA eventually responded after about 5 weeks and a barrage of phone calls from both me and my neighbours. The RSPCA inspector had a look round her, never lifted her feet and recommended she see a farrier, that was it. They never even returned to make sure it was done.

A few months ago the owners of this horse were evicted from their property so effectively the horse was abandoned. No one came to check on her and as the weather deteriorated and the grass disappeared we became concerned. Again the RSPCA were notified and eventually turned up many weeks later. This time the Inspector was very unhappy with the horse's conditions and as by this time the owners had returned left a list of criteria which had to be fulfilled. This was several weeks ago and the RSPCA have as yet not returned to ensure the requirements have been fulfilled.

To give you a better idea of her conditions read on;

Blue has an open fronted 'shed' to shelter in. It is full of LAST years cow muck. To get to it she has to wade through mud and stones.

Until a couple of weeks ago she had no rug. She now has a non waterproof rug which is too small. Considering the weather we have been having she has been drenched during the day and frozen at night. It also slips to one side causing the straps on the other side to dig into her belly and leg. No one comes to straighten it.

Her water trough has been freezing, no one comes to break the ice.

The grass is long gone. There is hay in the barn but no one gives to her and besides a horse left out over winter, especially of this age needs far more to eat than poor quality hay.

She repeatedly collapses and spends hours on the ground struggling to get to her feet. Last Sunday morning she spent at least five hours down in a very hard frost. Our neighbours thought she was dead.

We have done what we can for Blue, we groomed out her moulting summer coat in the warmer months, straightened her rug, given her water, and hay. The RSPCA have now told us to stop so they can see that she isn't being cared for, which makes sense........ if they ever bother to come back.

Merry Christmas!

I now have Lembit Opik's office fighting for Blue, they have contacted the RSPCA and asked that they come back to see Blue asap. Next step the papers!

If any of you have Facebook please join the following group

If not then please just show your support for Blue by leaving messages here.

Anyone who wants to link to this post, please do - I want as many people as possible to read it.

Thank you.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-12-10T22:00:00.004Z

What a funny day! I've had the girls home for a couple of days, there is an awful tummy bug going round the school and both girls have been low with awful colds, so I decided to keep them home for a few days. Half the school is absent anyway! My dad turned up unexpectedly this morning, he'd come up to view the bungalow in the village. It was only a flying visit but a lovely one!

Then Hubby rang to say that he had been temporarily laid off! For some reason they hadn't got all the planning permission they needed and the job has been stopped. So nice news that Hubby was on his way home for my birthday but not great circumstances just before Christmas. Luckily he has managed to get a bit of work with my cousin so it should just about tide us over.

Then off to work. I have a ridiculous dry tickly cough which of course raises it's head when I am taking phone calls. I have been drinking cough medicine straight from the bottle all day but it doesn't seem to help much!

Then back home where I had to cook tea! Hubby can be a bit useless with things like that. Oh he can cook, he just doesn't much! And he'd brought a mate with him so I had to make a vast Shepherds Pie for them all. Jedi had made me a cup of coffee though, which was very much appreciated.

Anyway, not the most exciting birthday I have ever had, but I guess that happens as you get older! At least I have a nice warm body to snuggle up with tonight.

Very proud mum!

2008-12-07T20:37:00.003Z

Well, even though we have all had dodgy colds we made it to the school Christmas show. Because it's not a church school, they have a slightly different take on the nativity and this year was the Xmas Factor. Trouble was an angel of all things and Jedi was Mary. They both did a fabulous job and Jedi's solo brought a tear of sheer pride to her mummy's eye. The infants and junior are split and do their own little show and I have to say the standard was incredible. Those teachers must put so much time and effort in to get all those little ones doing and saying what they are meant to. And some of the juniors definately have an acting career ahead of them!!

Jedi's foot is much improved, her chest is fine and the troublesome child has been removed from the school, so things are definately improving for her.

I am still getting no eggs from my chickens, which is very frustrating but apparently I am not the only one! There was a young fox loitering around the house this morning so I must be vigilant. We have hardly thawed at all over the last few days but we have had no snow. The Bengal Brothers are spending most nights under my duvet and will wake me up, patting my face until I let them in.

I am slowly getting through the Christmas shopping but have disappointed myself by giving in to the kids and putting the Christmas tree up yesterday. Christmas never starts this early in this house! We usually put the tree up the weekend after my birthday, which isn't until Wednesday. I think we just all needed a bit of a boost, and I have to admit that seeing it twinkling by the window have lifted us all. Jedi has been madly wrapping everything in sight, I love wrapping presents but I haven't had a look in, she even offered to write my Christmas cards! The tree brings much joy to the cats of course and Clay has been climbing it every five minutes since it went up! Hubby would hate it but he's not here so up yours with ya humbugs!

Does it ever end?

2008-12-02T20:56:00.004Z

Jedi was so pleased to get the part of Mary in the school Christmas production, but it looks as though it could be under threat! She has developed a terrible cough and we are desperately hoping it won't get onto her chest like it usually does. She saw the doc today who said she had the start of a crackle on the usual lung, but thinks she should clear it on her own. He has, however, prescribed antibiotics to take in a couple of days if it hasn't cleared.

The dress rehearsal/grandparents production is tomorrow. My parents are coming up to view a bungalow in the village and are hoping to combine the two. Then there are two further evening productions on Thursday and Friday. Hopefully the girls' dad is coming up for Friday night, so all in all I hope Jedi can hold out until the end of the week.

I broke a tooth on my lunch at work yesterday. It's quite bad as half of my tooth is now gone! Luckily it's the inside that has come away so I don't look like I've been fighting, but what a time of year for major dentistry!!!

On the other hand I am loving my new job. Although by Christmas I will be twenty stone! The boss sends out lots of goodies to customers at this time of year, including tins of chocolates and biscuits. Because he is of a generous nature he opens them for us too. Trouble is as soon as one is gone he opens another. This has been going on for two weeks now and there is still another couple to go. When I got into work today there was; a tin of Quality Street, a box of fancy biscuits, a box of After Eights, a chocolate orange and a white chocolate orange, all sat on my desk! Every time I reach for my tray my hand falls into one of them!! I could do with putting on a bit of weight but all this chocolate can't be healthy! Oh! the trials of life.

Beautiful Day

2008-11-30T23:32:00.003Z

Well Grandad had a beautiful send off. The church service was a wonderful blend of traditional English and Cypriot. It started as any other British funeral, Hubby and his father and male cousins carried the coffin. We sang hymns and listened to tributes and readings. Then he was blessed by the Cypriot Papa. At the grave olive oil was poured over the coffin and food thrown in to see him through to the other side.

It was a very emotional day, but I think he would have been very happy with it. Nan coped amazingly well, I think she knew it was time. It was wonderful to get the family together and a few unsteady bridges were reinforced. It really couldn't have gone any better.

Thank to everyone who has left kind messages, you are all so lovely.

In other news, Jedi has now had her cast off and was STILL in quite a bit of pain. So she went to see my cousin the chiropractor. Turns out she had a slight dislocation in the side of her foot and torn ligaments. The doctors had obviously missed it on the x-rays!! Anyway the ligaments weren't healing because of the dislocation. My cousin has put it right and the difference was almost immediate. The ligaments will still take a while to heal but at least they can now. I'm glad she went, imagine how much trouble she would have had if we hadn't. My cousin also had to adjust her back where she had been walking funny for so long. It's seven weeks since the original incident!

Apart from that not much to report apart from the fact it is too bloody cold! At least I'm not in Scotland like my poor hubby!

For Grandad

2008-11-26T09:47:00.005Z

Grandad is on the right, with his father, who he looked so much like in later life

Grandad was born in Kaimakli, Cyprus in November 1916. He worked as a stonemason and if you go to the Post Office in Nicosia you can see his work standing proud. Grandad fought for Britain in World War II and came to London after the war. Here he met Nan, fell in love and stayed.

Grandad worked in various posh hotels and restaurants as a chef and has even cooked for the queen! Grandad and Nan started a family and after living for a time in Cyprus settled back in the UK. (Nan couldn't cope very well with the climate in Cyprus).

They had four children one of which was my father in law. When my husband was growing up he embraced his Cypriot heritage and was extremely close to his Grandfather. He learned the language and spent as much time with him as possible. When he was about ten Grandad took him to Cyprus for three months and had him confirmed in the Greek Orthodox church.

Grandad was a very heavy smoker when he was younger and was finaly diagnosed with emphysema when he was in his early seventies. He battled on and led a fairly resonable life. The last time he went back to Cyprus was in 2002, he wanted to go again last year but his health had deteriorated too much and doctors would not let him fly.

He was a very strong man, and very tall for a Greek. But he was also very much in charge of his family. He was very much the head. He kept the family in line and was always the one to sort out any arguements. What Grandad said - was. Even as his health failed him, he was respected and revered.

Back at the beginning of November Grandad ended up in hospital with a chest infection. He was up and down for a couple of weeks. One minute we were told he only had a few days to live, the next he was getting stronger again. He finally, drifted away peacefully 6 days after his 92nd birthday.

I have worried about this time ever since I met my husband and grew to realise how much his Grandad meant to him. I have dreaded the aftermath. We both thought he would fall apart but my husband is so far coping remarkably well. The time Grandad spent in hospital, I guess, has given us all time to adjust and get used to the idea. The funeral will be down in Somerset on Friday, that is going to be the hardest, that's when it really hits you most. The worst thing is that my husband is now working up in Dumfries a million miles from everyone. He has to fly down for the funeral then fly straight back again. I will meet him there but it is hard not being able to be with him and support him the rest of the time.

Grandad was a great man and will leave a very big hole behind. I just hope everyone can be grateful for the many years we had him for and celebrate them.

Rest In Peace Grandad 16/11/1916 - 21/11/2008

R.I.P. Grandad

2008-11-22T00:14:00.002Z

After celebrating his 92nd birthday last weekend Grandad finally decided enough was enough. He passed away peacefully this morning.

Ups and Downs

2008-11-13T21:00:00.002Z

Where do I start? What an odd week!! Late last Saturday night we were told that Grandad had grown increasingly weak and that his meds were no longer any benefit to him. We were told that he only had a few days to live. Nan was rushed over from one hospital to the other, Hubby dashed back to Somerset, but he his a determind old man and has decided he is not finished yet! All this week he has improved and strengthened. But of course there are no guarantees but he may just prove them wrong. Grandad turns 92 on Saturday.

Nan has now been discharged. An infection broke out on her ward and they decided she would be safer out of it. She is staying with one of the aunts until alternative arrangements can be made. I am really glad she is out, she will be much happier and she will be able to spend more time with Grandad.

I have started my new job, and am loving it. My colleagues seem like a good bunch, and the work is challenging and variable. It is nice to be in the company of adults again too.

I have had a broody hen for a while, and as she was the only hen laying I have had no eggs! I really hate buying eggs now but I guess I will have to give in, as Hubby was complaining about their abscence last weekend!

I think that's about it for now!!

Sexy's back!!

2008-11-04T20:58:00.002Z

Hi folks, I'm back. Phew, been a bit manic I guess. Thanks to everyone who left kind comments and best wishes. We got down to Somerset and saw Nan. Thankfully she has improved hugely over the last week or so, but is adamant that she will be home soon and taking care of Grandad. Unfortunately, Grandad is now also in hospital. He came down with a chest infection which, of course, on top of emphysema was pretty serious. He is doing well though and at least Nan can stop fretting that he isn't being looked after properly.

They will both now stay in hospital until suitable care is arranged and the house adapted for them. Hopefully, they will both be tranferred to the community hospital a bit nearer to home. It has been a very worrying time but things are looking brighter.

The foot that Jedi hurt nearly a month ago has been getting worse not better. I took her to the doctor and he referred her to a consultant at the fracture clinic in Shrewsbury hospital. The hospital is an hour away and we spent a further three and a half hours there getting nowhere fast. They don't really know what she has done, nothing shows up on her x-rays but poor Jedi is still in a lot of pain. They have decided to immobilise her foot by casting it for three weeks. Hopefully this will give whatever has been damaged time to heal.

On yet another note, I finally have a job. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself for getting through the lengthy application/interview process. The job is not the classroom assistant post I had hoped for, but an admin post which promises to be a challenge. The company provides supplies for schools and closes during school holidays so will fit well around the children. I first had to pass a numeracy and literacy test, which wasn't too difficult but focused on attention to detail and accuracy. Those that passed these tests got an interview. At the time of my interview I was told there had been a lot of applicants and that they would narrow it down and then interview again. I had my second this morning. It was between me and one other person. They told me I would hear in a couple of days but by lunchtime I had been offered the job!! I wonder if the other person didn't turn up! Anyway, yay for me and as I will get paid monthly there will be a nice bundle in the bank just in time for Christmas. :)

Worrying times

2008-10-20T21:01:00.003+01:00

The last few days have been very worrying. My husband's 81 year old Grandmother was taken into hospital on Friday. She had been suffering with a bladder infection that had got out of control. She had become so poorly that sickness was causing her not to keep the antibiotics down.

Initially on Saturday she appeared to improve a little but on Sunday she developed Septicemia which in turn caused problems with her heart. My husband is very close to both his Grandparents and because he is in Liverpool has been feeling the distance. It would be at least a five hour drive to get back to see her. He has been on standby all weekend.

Not only are we extremely worried about her, but Grandad also. He is in his 90's and has suffered from Emphacemia for 20 years and needs a lot of support. It's quite amazing really, both of them have health problems and alone stuggle to cope, but together as a team they cope very nicely. Grandad is unable to visit Nan in hospital and is undoubtedly very concerned.

Today we received the new that Nan is on the up and is now stable. But it looks like she will be staying in hospital for around a month and when she does get home will not be able to care for Grandad anymore. It looks like they are going to need full time help.

Hubby's contract in Liverpool comes to an end this week, so he is going to come home on Wednesday and spend a bit of time with the family before he goes off to his next job, which unfortunately is in Dumfries! So Thursday the kids are going to stay with my sister and we are heading back to Somerset to see both Nan and Grandad.

I do hope Nan recovers quickly, I really am unsure how Grandad is going to cope without her, and it is awful to see them apart.

Crapness

2008-10-20T09:47:00.003+01:00

Things are a bit crap at the moment, and I will fill you all in a bit later on but for now I leave you with some photos that I took of the autumn colours the other day.

ABC Wednesday - M

2008-10-15T20:11:00.003+01:00

M is for Mum

Maybe a popular post for this ABC Wednesday, but this is my little tribute to the special mums I know.

I never appreciated my mother until I had my own children, probably a common story. I believe mums are very important and I feel terribly sorry for people who have to do without their mums for whatever reason. Like bringing up your own children, whether you agree with how they did it or not, the way your mum brought you up always has a bearing on what you do. And you can't beat you mum when you're feeling rough, even to this day I seek comfort from mine when I'm ill, even if it's only a whinging phone call! My mum turned seventy last Saturday, and is a wise and interesting woman who I hope to have with me for many years yet. Thanks mum!

Another mention has to go to a good friend of mine back in Somerset. She got pregnant very soon after starting to see her partner, and still very young, was panicked when she found out. She wasn't sure if she was going to keep the baby and wrestled with it for a long time. She decided to keep it and March last year gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. She is a wonderful mother, who has glided from a young and free girl who loved partying, to a mature woman who always puts her boy first. She is still with her partner and they are expecting their second child early spring.

Her sister is next. I have to mention her. Her and her partner had wanted to have a baby for a long time but due to health reasons had to keep putting it off. Finally they got the all clear and were trying to get pregnant for ages, way before her sister got pregnant, which was difficult for her. Anyway their first baby, also a boy is due tomorrow. So my thoughts are with them and we are all hoping for a smooth birth as she still has health issues. These are the times when I really miss my friends.

Finally I would like to mention another friend who sadly had her impending motherhood snatched away, when just a week before she was due, she was told that her baby had died.

So everyone that was lucky enough to have a good mother, please take a moment to think of her. For those of you who didn't (my husband being one of them, she did far more harm than good) I am sorry. For those of you that are mothers, be the best you can, they will thank you for it....... eventually!

Adventures without my camera!

2008-10-12T23:03:00.002+01:00

Can't believe I was so stupid as to forget to take my camera!! Because we were blessed with such a beautiful day today we decided to make the most of it. I spoke to one of the local farmers the other day and he agreed that it was ok for us to walk through his fields. I thought it would be, but it's polite to check isn't it. He told us it was fine as long as we respected the country code, which of course we would anyway.

So off we went today. Jedi's foot has recovered remarkably and she was determind to come. She still can't flex it fully but if she's careful she can put weight on it now. We headed up the field directly behind the cow sheds which sit behind the house. We soon came across a large stream which runs down between the two large hills. It was quite a long way down and we had to carefully pick our path. When we got down there it was so beautiful. This is why I wish we had the camera. It tumbles down from the hills through a slate lined valley, dotted with little waterfalls.

It was cool and green and beautiful. We followed the stream up hill, weaving from side to side, choosing the best route. Some parts were a real problem solving session, where the stream was too deep, or the slate too slippery. There were awkward parts where the gorse was too thick or a ledge to narrow. It was exciting, adventurous and challenging. The girls enjoyed sips of the cold, fresh water and marvelled at the strange fungus and moss we found.

We got a bit wet and a bit dirty, but that's half the fun right? We had quite a steep climb to get out of the valley and then had to follow the sheep trails back around the hill towards home. We all had a fantastic time and even though some of the walk was tricky the girls learnt about all sorts of things, like wet slate is slippy, the edges of the bank aren't always solid, and tree branches that look like good hand holds are sometimes rotten!! Good things to know if you're going adventuring!!

I just wish I'd had that camera, but I promise that next time we go adventuring I will take it with me. This place is too gorgeous not to share with you.

On another note Jedi has decided she wants to blog too, so please pop over and say hi to her here.

A pain in the .....foot.

2008-10-09T21:53:00.004+01:00

I am sure my kids were sent to try me. I mean Trouble is getting so much better behaviour wise, we still have the odd battle but we enjoy eachothers company more and more. And Jedi is such a great kid but these last couple of weeks have been such hard work. Not through any fault of her own, of course, but stressful none the less.

There was another incident at school yesterday with the Devil child. Only a minor one in comparison to what has been happening, but still an incident, and one that should not have been allowed to happen. For some reason in the last lesson of the day DC (as he shall now be known) was moved to the table next to Jedi. Usually he is at the other side of the room. He then spent quite some time pinching Jedi at every opportunity. This on it's own is probably quite a common occurence in schools all over the world, but why on earth, when they know Jedi has a problem with DC was it allowed to happen? It was a supply teacher but I don't think that is anything like an excuse. So I had to kick off at school again this morning.

This whole issue is proving to be quite a drain on us. Jedi has started having dreams about it, which shows that she is not dealing with it quite as well as she makes out. And every day I take her to school it makes me feel like I am taking a lamb to slaughter, and I end up worrying about her all day. It just proves her love of school though that she still wants to go. I have now written to the Chair of Govenors and told them that the next substantial attack will result in me pulling Jedi from school. Personally I don't think home schooling is good for children, but as she has only been at the school for just under a year and it is her final year of juniors, I don't really want to move her, so it may be my only option.

Anyway, aside from all that she's had the recent chest infection that we had been hoping to avoid. She's off the antibiotics and is much improved, but it has been a worry again. Then, just to ice the cake, yesterday evening when demonstrating her dancefloor 'shapes', she rather over enthusiastically leaps into the air and comes down on the outside edge of her foot and falls to the floor in agony. My first thought is that she has broken it again! She has previously broken bones in both of her feet, but that's another story! Living where we do the nearest 24hr emergency department is Lord knows where and I didn't think it was quite bad enough for an ambulance. So I dosed her up with pain killers and put a bag of frozen peas on it.

She slept downstairs on the sofa last night, because she has a bunk bed and there was no way I was heaving her up there. Today we spent all morning in town going between the MIU at the surgery and the hospital x-ray department. Luckily, however, it is not broken. Instead she has torn the tendon that runs along the outside of her foot and pulled it away from the bone a bit by her little toe. Excuse me, but fucking ouch!! Poor thing, (I was going to say little, but after carrying her around all day, I can tell you she's not bloody little!) She is in a lot of pain and feeling very sorry for herself. I now have even more to worry about when I take her to school. She wants to go but she is going to be twice as vunerable. And I am worn out. Yes tired from carrying her but also pretty emotional drained. Roll on Saturday when Hubby is home and I can have a nice big, protective, manly cuddle.

Cooking up a storm

2008-10-08T22:06:00.005+01:00

On Saturday evening Jedi decided she wanted to make pasta bake for tea. Simple enough, but she wanted to make sure she got it right, after all she is only eleven. So she comes into the lounge where me and hubby were watching a bit of telly. Jedi was asking a few questions on the best dish to cook it in and how to go about it. Then she asked;

"Should I cook the pasta first?"

"What did you just say?" says Hubby in a shocked and rather angry voice. Me and Jedi looked at eachother, puzzled.

"I said; should I cook the pasta first?"

"Oh" replies Hubby, sheepishly.

"What on earth did you think she said" I asked

"Should I cook the bastard first?!"he muttered.

I don't think I have been laughing enough lately because this kept me going all night. Every so often I would remember the conversation and burst into childish and uncontrollable giggles. It is still making me snigger now!

ABC Wednesday - L

2008-10-07T19:23:00.005+01:00

L is for Lory

Lories are beautiful birds which come in a variety of colours. My favourite has to be the Duyvenbode Lory, and the reason for this is because I once owned one.

This is Caleb.

I think Duyvenbode Lories are often overlooked because they are not immediately eye catching. But I fell in love with Caleb as soon as I saw him. As you can see in the photos he was mostly a rich chocolate brown with flashes of an amazingly bright yellow/orange. This bright colouring was most obvious in flight as it is most prominent beneath the wings and tail. You can also see a blue tinge to his tail which was most obvious when the sun caught it.

Caleb on his specially adapted poo catcher!

Lories have a very soft diet of mostly fruit and in the wild nectar. They have specially adapted tongues, which are somewhat like a feathery tube, which they would use to get nectar from plants. Caleb was fed a special Lory mixture that was a bit like packet baby food, fed fairly wet, and also fruit and a runny honey mixture. Because of this runny diet you can imagine what his poo was like!! He had an amazing habit of shooting it at someone if they weren't to his liking. So a special perpex sheild was attached to his cage to protect everyone and everything.

Caleb and his toys

Caleb loved to come out and play, this bell was one of his favourites probably because it was noisy. He would sometimes lie on his back and kick his toys like a cat.

Unfortunately Duyvenbodes can be very noisy. Caleb was a real mummy's boy and took a dislike to my, then, husband. As soon as he walked in the door Caleb would start this awful shreeching noise and wouldn't stop until my husband left again. The time came when I received an ultimatum, him or the bird. So unfortunately I had to sell Caleb. Probably the wrong decision as he is now my ex husband but that's life!!

One of the funniest things about owning one of these birds is trying to get insurance for them. I phoned pet insurance companies then got told surely I wanted motor insurance for my Lorry!!!

I found this amazing picture of a Duyvenbode Lory in flight at Warren Photographic.

Beautiful aren't they?

Poor Little Birdies!!

2008-10-07T17:59:00.004+01:00

As if it wasn't enough that the poor birds that do venture into my garden to feed, get constant and relentless harrassment from my beastly Bengals, they appear to have another problem. Now, I am a huge fan of birds of prey but what I witnessed up close and personal today was something completely new!

There I was in the garden, after bringing the girls back from school, having a look at my chickens. I heard a fuss in the tree where I hang the bird feeders, and looked up to see a Sparrowhawk fly out of the tree and right in front of me with a blue tit in it's talons! Now, I know this is what Sparrowhawks do, and I have seen them in the fields darting along the hedgerows, but never quite like this. I was actually quite shocked.

Then about twenty minutes later I was stood quite close to said tree on the phone to my mother. The Sparrowhawk came back for another go, and flew within a couple of feet of my face, I actually ducked! It was lovely to see, I really enjoy seeing more and more wildlife, especially when the kids get to see it too, (they saw the hawk through the lounge window) but I wish it would leave my poor little birds alone. The fact that it was so brazen and was totally unbothered by me standing there just amazed me.

Speaking of local wildlife, me and the girls were lucky enough to see a badger a couple of evenings ago. We were coming home from the high school visit, it was dark of course because it gets dark so early now. As we came up the drive there was a badger badgering about. The girls loved seeing it. Animals like this must seem like a myth to some people who never get the chance to see them.

Funny day today, the weather couldn't decide whether to be sunny or raining, so I'll leave you with these pics of the hill this afternoon.

Art Attack!

2008-10-05T13:27:00.005+01:00

Hey all, been busy again. But doing what I'm not actually sure! I know the kids have been monopolising the laptop and I haven't had much of a look in! Bad news on the bunny front I'm afraid, there was only one more in the nest and when I checked the following day it too had died. It's such a shame, she is such a good mother when she's got passed the first few days. I promised the kids we will try again in the spring, and I will just have to be more vigilant.

Jedi has had a bad chest again this week, and has ended up on antibiotics yet again. It is difficult to know whether she is better than she would have been if she hadn't been seeing my cousin. I guess putting the rib back in place doesn't neccessarily mean that the pocket that had formed in her lung will disappear too. She hasn't been that ill though so hopefully it is working.

Anyway, a few days ago we popped into town. Jedi is now old enough to have a bank account with a cash point card, and as she is pretty responsible for her age, I agreed to open a bank account for her. Both the girls received cheques from their nan for their birthdays so they have to go somewhere. They both now have a bank account but Trouble can't access her money without me. She can have a card when she is 11. Of course, Jedi is feeling very grown up and superior and can't wait until her card arrives in the post. The good thing is we live about four miles from town anyway and neither of them can get there without me, so their money is pretty safe for a while at least!

While Jedi and I were in town setting up the bank accounts we visited the local gallery. There are two very talented artists based there. One, who I believe is the owner, draws the most wonderful birds of prey, and the other is wildlife photographer and film maker Dee Doody. Apparantly he hasn't been painting all that long but I find his work very beautiful and captivating. He is also the nicest man you could meet. If he is at the gallery when you visit you can watch him paint and he is always happy to chat.

On Wednesday when Jedi and I popped in to say hello, Jedi bought herself a new sketch book and a nice soft pencil. When we got home she decided she wanted to sketch one of Dee's paintings. After six and a half hours, a little coaching on composition and shading, this is what she produced.

As a comparison, here is the painting by Dee that she copied;

It's not a perfect copy, but I think you'll agree that the sketch is really rather good! Dee thought so when we took it in to show him. Jedi gave him a copy and he put it up near his own work in the gallery! He also gave Jedi a print of his own and a wildlife DVD for more inspiration. We ended up chatting to him for about an hour that day! He does a lot of work with Gigrin Farm, that I mentioned in my ABC Wednesday post. He helps out with the marking of eggs and ringing of chicks, and mentioned that there appears to be a nest very close to our house. I'm hoping that I may be able to get involved next spring.

Anyway, if your are ever in the town of Llanidloes, North Powys, pop into the Nature Gallery and check out some of the amazing art work of both artists, and who knows maybe one day, some of Jedi's work too!

Trouble is nine!

2008-10-02T08:53:00.003+01:00

I dedicated a post or two to Jedi so now I am doing one for Trouble. I should have done it on Tuesday but I didn't get the chance.!!

Trouble was born in Somerset at 1.17pm on the 30th September 1999. My pregnancy had been pretty hard work. I had morning sickness for 7 months and severe pelvic pain. I am a small person and have always had a small bump, I don't put on much weight either, which is great but makes midwives think my bump is too small. When I had my 20 week scan they told me Trouble had stopped growing. I had put more weight on that week than at any other time so I just couldn't see how she could have stopped growing. From then on I had weekly scans and had to be monitored every other day. It was a difficult time with a toddler already running round.

They say you should feel a healthy baby kick at least ten times a day, when I was being monitored she would kick 80 times in 20 minutes! Does that sound like a unhealthy, unhappy baby? I took everything with a pinch of salt, I think we know deep down when everything is ok. Trouble was finally induced two weeks early, because my consultant was convinced that my placenta was failing again and this was causing Trouble not to grow properly. I was told she would weigh four pounds.

Wednesday morning I had to ring the hospital and check if they had a bed for me. They didn't, so I took Jedi to the local fair! Later that day the hospital had a bed free so I was taken in and given a pessary about 8pm. The next morning I woke to a few twingey pains which soon developed into contractions. I had a bath, which was amazing and really took the edge off. When Jedi was born they had broken my waters and although I had ended up with a caersarean it had definately sped up proceedings. I mentioned this to the ward staff and promised them if they took me to the labour ward and broke my waters I would get on with it!

So that's what happened, I was moved down to the labour ward and my waters were broken. Because I had been induced I had to be monitored constantly and couldn't move around but this was one of the only times Trouble wasn't any trouble. She popped out with out too much effort and I only had gas and air. She weighed in at a surprising 6lb 11oz (not 4lb!) and the official labour time was four hours.

I'm glad that we are looked after and monitored and checked out, but this time I think they had it wrong. Although, a friend of mine recently went for her 20 week scan only to be told that her baby was dead. How does that happen? How do they miss it when there is something wrong but seem to make up problems when there aren't any.

Anyway, Trouble was a wonderful baby, she was quiet and content. Everyone told me how hard it would be to have two children now, but it wasn't. In fact I hardly noticed her at all! That was until she hit 7 months and started to crawl, then she appeared to make it her life work to annoy Jedi and cause as much 'Trouble' as possible. You know how everyone has a story about something they did when they were a child, like putting toast in the video, cutting their hair, or drawing somewhere that they shouldn't? Well that was Trouble everyday, all day. When her dad got home from work there was always a list of five or six things she had sone that day. I couldn't leave her alone, and only relaxed when she was asleep.

She's still hard work now, but since we have moved to the country, she has less opportunity to disappear like she was, and is improving. Trouble may have been a nuisance, but she is a loving, happy child, who had a great determination and knows what she wants. She has a lot of traits which in future will no doubt take her a long way but at the moment tend to get her into trouble. She does quite well at school but needs to concentrate and maybe work a little harder.

Trouble doesn't know yet what she wants to be when she grows up, but with her stubborness and determination I am sure that she will do what ever she wants!!

Happy 9th Birthday Trouble!

ABC Wednesday - K

2008-10-01T09:40:00.006+01:00

I promised a lighter ABC Wednesday after my heavy duty 'I', unfortunately I missed J all together so here is this week's contribution;

K is for Red Kite

Red Kites are a very distinctive bird of prey because of their tails, which often, from below, appear to be forked. They are a beautiful bright chestnut colour and have a wing span of nearly two metres, but with a relatively small body weight of around 2-3lbs. A few years ago red kites were incredibly rare in the UK. A couple of places were then set up to try and reintroduce a healthy population. I am extremely lucky to live pretty close to one such centre, Gigrin Farm. Other red kite centres imported the birds from Europe but Wales is home to the only native birds in the UK. It was all started by the late Mr Powell who would feed the kites that nested on his farm when he had spare rabbit meat.

In the early 90's the Powells were approached by the RSPB and asked to be an official kite centre and to open to the public. The Powells, thankfully, agreed and the result is an amazing place where we can all go to get a better look at these beautiful birds.

I visited Gigrin Farm back in August, the weather was fine and as I arrived the anticipation was huge. When you first get there, there are a series of buildings containing displays and lots of information. You then walk down a short track to the purpose built hides. There are four public hides and a couple of specialised hides for photographers and film makers. Get there early to ensure you get a good view, but I have to admit all of the hides give you an amazing view anyway. A tractor comes out with meat, which is beef, all fit for human consumption. It is spread out over the area just a few metres from the hides.

You need a little patience as the birds will not come in to feed until they know it is safe. First the crows come. Because Kites are such a small bodied bird, they do not have the strength to lift large pieces of meat, the crows help to break it up a bit, and also show the kites it is safe to feed. Kites don't land to feed as a buzzard might, they swoop down and snatch meat from the ground.

They then head up to clear airspace and feed on the wing. The sight from the hide is amazing. Even if you are not a kite fan you cannot fail to be impressed by the birds swooping just in front of you.

In the winter months around 400 kites visit Gigrin Farm every day, they come down to feed in groups. While one group feeds another circles waiting for their turn. Just driving passed the feeding centre at the right time of day, provides the amazing spectacle of clouds of Red Kites in the sky above the road. If you do get the opportunity to visit, please go along, the money we pay to see these amazing birds ensures that the Powells can keep affording the meat to feed them and keep these birds from dying out.

Hmph

2008-09-27T10:18:00.004+01:00

Well what a disappointing start to my weekend. Trouble has had some friends over for a sleep over for her upcoming 9th birthday. It's her first proper sleep over here and it went well. Jedi chose the sensible option and spent the night with a friend! Anyway the girls went out to see the rabbits and Trouble came running back in to say that Butterfly had 'popped'! I asked her how she knew and she told me she could see them. Oh dear, that is definately not a good sign. If you can see them it means that she hasn't covered them properly and they will get too cold and die.

I am a bit annoyed to be honest, this is her sixth litter and she should by now know what she is doing!! She did leave one out once before but I managed to return it to the nest. The other thing is that she normally has them around eleven in the morning so I can be at hand. I even witnessed one of the last litter being born.

So I rush out quick to see if they are still warm. Luckily Butterfly is quite sensible about letting me look at her babies. There were three lying well out of the nest and they were all really cold. If you have never seen a new born bunny this is how they look.

Sorry, not really the kind of bunnies you wanted to see, but not many people get to see them like that!!

Anyway, right at the back of her box is a big pile of fur, and there is something moving in there, so fingers crossed there are one or two that have survived. If they have made it this far then they should be ok. Once Butterfly has got them this far she is a pretty good mum. Hopefully I will soon have pictures of live bunnies for you, but for a while she has to be left well alone.

Roll on Year 7

2008-09-25T22:23:00.004+01:00

Bloody well slow down will you? I spent ages on here this afternoon, trying to catch up with you all, and what happens? I go to the local high school for the new intake evening and loads of you have been posting again!! How on earth am I meant to get anything done?

Had a good evening though. The high school is great, it gets some of the best results in the whole of the UK. Jedi loved it there and can't wait to go. She is really excited about all the new subjects. I don't know how she will ever choose her GCSEs, she wants to do everything!

She had more trouble with that damn boy again today. During P.E. he jumped on her back, knocking her to the floor and landing on top of her. She has handled it all remarkably well but I think it is really starting to get her down. I do hope my letter has made an impact in the review. That's four attacks in the four weeks they have been back at school. What must it be like for her, wondering what the hell is coming next? Going to see the head again tomorrow.

Hmmmm, just noticed that Google ads are advertising rabbits of the Rampant kind on my blog! Not quite what I expected and I'm not even allowed to click on it!! Nevermind.

All things - updated!!

2008-09-25T13:21:00.008+01:00

Website

Right well, feeling a little less stressed now. I've got all my little bugs on the website ironed out. ALL the links work properly now!! I posted about my website on my Facebook and I have just had a very kind offer from an old school friend, who it turns out is a whizz at this kind of stuff. I only wish I knew that three days ago! The last friend who I asked for help wanted to charge me, some friend. Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with myself know, and I am starting to get interest from B&B's too. So fingers crossed.

Apologies

I have two apologies to make, firstly to all my blogging friends. I have been too busy to read all your posts in the last few days and I seem to be following half of Blogger! I will read them all because I want to!! I just may not comment.

Second apology is to my Hubby and kids. I have been a raging, hormonal stress head in the last few days and have had a very short fuse. That should be easing any time soon, so sorry folks I will try to be nicer to you from now on. I have heard that Evening Primrose is especially good for PMT so I am going to give it a go and maybe next month I can be loving, caring, nice mummy/wife!!

Children, chickens
and rabbits.

As for the goings on around home, garden and school, these are the updates;

Jedi's problem child has taken to ignoring her, which I have to say is far better than what was happening before. The only time he takes any notice of her is when she plays her guitar. So that's what he needed, some music to sooth his soul! The letter I wrote to the school has been welcomed by the Head and will be handed in at the boy's review today.

My poorly chicken has really surprised me. After being really low for a week, she has started to pick up and looks stronger and stronger every day. I was beginning to think her time was up and that I'd have to do the kindest thing. She must have read my thoughts. I gave them some live yoghurt, whether this helped or not I'm not sure. She is not 100% but she is improving so fingers crossed there too, that she makes a full recovery.

And in bunny news, I seem to have forgotten my pregnant bunny knowledge from a couple of years ago!! I had convinced myself that the gestation period for rabbits is three weeks, so had calculated their arrival to be last weekend. Dumbo!! Its actually 28-32 days. I have no idea where I got 21 from! Anyway, I was beginning to wonder if she was just a bit fat, so I picked her up today to have a feel of her tummy and got the loveliest surprise. Her tummy was just rippling with tiny kicks a wriggles! I have never felt that before on a rabbit, I guess because I have always been a bit more sure of the pregnancy and have left her alone. So there we go, she isn't just fat, and she is actually due this weekend or shortly after! I'm just hoping she doesn't go and have a dozen of them!

New Website

2008-09-24T16:50:00.006+01:00

Well I just haven't had time to do ABC Wednesday this week. :( I was going to do about how Jones is the most popular surname in Wales yet there is no J in the Welsh alphabet!! Nevermind, maybe next time round!!

Anyway the website is finally on line. I never realised how much time it would take to set up, but what website designers tell you about it being very complicated and difficult is a load of rubbish just meant to get you to pay loads of money to have then do it for you. I just went online and taught myself about HMTL and FTP and got on with. Ok it may not be the flashiest site on the web but I did it all myself and I'm pretty pleased with it.

The website is probably not very exciting for most of you because it is aimed at contractors who work away from home, like my other half. It is not fully operational yet as I need to fill my databases but soon, hopefully, contractors will be able to use it to search for suitable and affordable accommodation all over the UK. I decided to start the site because I find it a long drawn out process to find Hubby somewhere to stay.

So if anyone is letting a flat or owns a pub or B&B and thinks they would be suitable for contractor accommodation then check out the website. Especially looking for digs in Kilmarnock as that is where Hubby is off to next for a major Tesco build, and he won't be the only one!!Advertising rates are ridiculous cheap at the moment so get in quick!!

Any contractors or wives/friends/parents of contractors please bear us in mind and keep checking back for our fully searchable database of properties.

Check It Out Here!!

Oh and btw, rabbit hasn't popped yet but Cinnamon chicken is feeling a little better.

Too busy!!

2008-09-24T00:45:00.003+01:00

I have been so busy designing and uploading my new website I haven't had time to blog and my vision is all ablur! So I will have to do my ABC Wednesday post and catch up with you all ~~tomorrow~~ later!

See? I've been practising my HTML!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Raring to go!

2008-09-22T13:59:00.005+01:00

Well I'm back, refreshed (kinda) and full of ideas!! We had a great weekend. I left an essay for the neighbour all about off colour chickens and pregnant rabbits! Hubby got home about lunchtime with the guy who's wedding we went to back in June, they work together. Said friend lives in Somerset so we agreed to give him a lift. I made them both bacon (from the baconry almost next door) and egg (from the garden) sandwichs and then we headed down to Somerset.

It was about half four when we got there and we headed straight for our old local. I made a few phone calls and got some of our old friends to meet us there and we sat in the garden in the sun and had a good old catch up. One of my best friends was there with her son. He's 18 months now and I so wish I could see more of him, he's growing up so fast and I'm missing it all! Her sister, also a close friend was there with her MASSIVE baby bump which must be holding the world's largest baby. She only has about three weeks to go and I will miss that too. It was so great to see everyone but it makes me realise what I am missing out on.

We then headed to our hotel, checked in and I put on my killer jeans which hubby approved of! Unfortunately the food at dinner left a little to be desired. I guess it's probably difficult to do specialised food like Greek in a small town. We had our wedding dinner at that restaraunt three years ago and I have to say it seems to have gone down hill. They are always busy and the English food is great, but I was disappointed with the standard of the Greek food that we had. Nevermind.

We then headed into town, caught up with more people and went to our old haunts. It was fab! I did get drunkety drunk drunk and when we got back to the hotel in the early hours I promptly fell straight to sleep. So hubby didn't get his much coveted Saturday night usual. When he's away all week you have to make up for it when you get the chance, but he had to wait 'til morning!

Sunday we headed over to hubby's grandparents place and spent most of the day there. His grandparents are very old now but really appreciate the visits. Grandad has had emphysema for many years now and really struggles. Our visits to see him are very important. And I know when the day comes Hubby is going to be a wreck.

After picking the kids up we headed home finally arriving back at half eight last night. As it was dark I didn't have the chance to check on the chickens or bunnies last night. This morning I find the rabbit hasn't had her babies yet, I still have a poorly chicken and the neighbours have cut the knee length grass!! I love my neighbours!!

Not sure what's up with the chicken. It's one of the ex-batts, and she has been miserable for a couple of days. Her poo is lurid green and I read somewhere this can be a sign of liver failure, so I think I have one of THOSE descisions to make. :(

The cut grass revealed a host of feathers and small animal body parts, obviously abandoned by the cats. I thought I'd better clear up the shrews and mice before the kids get home from school. After putting one shrew in the compost I went to pick up a mouse which it turns out must have been there for some time. I tried to pick up it's tail, but the fur came off!!! Yuk!! Disgusting. Note to self; use hutch cleaning scoop next time.

On another note, I had a flash of inspiration this morning and am now planning a new website which will hopefully be of interest to contractors like my husband all over the country. It's a secret at the moment though, so you'll all have to wait!!

Nice to be back :)

A Change of Plans

2008-09-19T18:56:00.004+01:00

Well the guy who invited us to go to Newcastle this weekend has pulled out. No idea why, probably fallen out with his wife or something!! Hmph! I was looking forward to being a grown up, spending time with adults and going out. I had even bought myself some killer black jeans which make my bum look great, and a new top. So hubby says, 'Lets just enjoy a peaceful weekend with no kids and get a takeaway'. Are you kidding? There is no way on earth I am staying in this weekend. So with a bit of quick thinking and a little luck I have changed our plans.

Dad came up today and took the kids back down to Somerset as planned. Hubby is working first thing in the morning and then should be back here about twelve. We are then also going to Somerset! We will go down to our old local and do some catching up, then we have a table booked at a fab Greek restaurant. Then it's into town for some more catching up and finally I have a 'superior double' booked at a really nice hotel. Sunday will be spent visiting hubby's elderly grandparents and a few others, then pick up the girls and off home. Not quite what I expected to be doing this weekend, but, boy am I going to enjoy it! I just hope I am able to enjoy my 'superior' room and not just crash out drunkety drunk drunk!!

The New Maids

2008-09-18T17:05:00.007+01:00

When we got our Bengals I had no idea just how handy they would be to have around the house.

They help with the laundry....

they make the beds.......

they wash up......

they help make tea.......

they tidy up......

they even provide soothing background music, but....

it can be very tiring!

Who knew?

A Better Day Today

2008-09-18T17:05:00.004+01:00

Firstly, I want to thank you all for your kind comments and words of advice regarding Jedi's awful problem at school. I managed to grab the head today and we had a most reassuring chat. Like I thought, he hadn't heard the whole story and was actually horrified at some of the attacks. He told me that the boy had a review coming up, so I asked him if he thought me writing an official letter of complaint might acutally be quite useful. He agreed quite enthusiastically that it would. To be honest, although the school does what they can for children with problems, I just don't think they can cope with this child any longer. He told me that although the people who control inclusions are aware of the situation they do not see the real affect it has on the rest of the pupils and in fact the whole school. The boy currently has one to one support during lesson times but the school has no funding to cover breaks, so it places further strain on staff.

So, I have written my letter and sent it to my dad! He has a wonderful way with words and has promised to look it over and edit it if need be. And then it will be handed to the head for the review next week. Fingers crossed we will have a good result, for Jedi and the rest of the school. I do feel very sorry for this lad, I mean, what kind of an upbringing is he getting if he thinks pinning girls to walls by their throats is acceptable? And, like Eve (http://everedstone.blogspot.com/) pointed out in my comments, what kind of a person is this young lad going to grow into?

That aside, as promised I was a good girl and went for my smear test today. The nurse I had was so lovely. We talked about the HPV vaccine and she admitted that her daughter probably would not be having it!! She did make me giggle though. There I was in that God awful, undignified position, relentlessly chatting away to help take my mind off what was going on and she says 'Where has your cervix gone?' Lordy, I don't know, it was there last time! (I was going to say 'last time I looked' but that would be impossible). So I said 'Why? Is it in a funny place or something?' 'No', she says 'You just have extremely good pelvic floor muscles!' Ok then, at least that's one thing I still have going for me after two kids, a cracking scar and the disappearance of my boobs!

It's been such a nice sunny day today too, and I am feeling quite pleased with myself and my pelvic floor!

An Awkward Dilemma

2008-09-17T21:01:00.004+01:00

There is a boy at my daughters' school who is a huge problem. He was excluded once, but the local authority made the school take him back. He is rude, disruptive and violent. He has one on one support and is mostly taught outside of the classroom, only allowed to join the others when his behaviour shows improvement. At the end of last term he was doing quite well and had started to spend quite a bit of time with the rest of his class. Since the summer holidays, however, his behaviour is worse than ever.

Because the school is relatively small, each class has two years groups in it. This boy is now in Jedi's class. Although he is not being taught in the classroom at the moment, they come into contact much more than before. Although this boy is generally pretty disrespectful of just about anyone, he appears to have developed a dislike for Jedi. You have to know at this point that Jedi is a very kind, thoughtful child and would never knowingly hurt or upset someone, in fact if she does, she gets as upset about it as the person affected.

The first week back at school, Jedi accidentally bumped into the boy outside the toilets, she apologised immediately, as she would to anyone. The boy grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the wall! This happened at lunch time and Jedi still had the boy's fingers marks on her neck when I picked her up after school. The incident was reported and the boy was made to apologise to Jedi. To me the forced apology was pretty pointless and meaningless but there you go. I didn't act any further because I believe the school is doing it's best in a difficult situation.

The second week back at school the boy tried to take Jedi's skipping rope from her. When she refused to let it go and pulled it back, he head butted her in the stomach. When Jedi told me about this incident I promised her that if anything else happened I would speak to her teacher. Yesterday the boy approached Jedi and offered her 'a fight' and then promptly started to try and punch her. My husband happens to have been an undefeated boxer in his younger days and has not only taught the girls to punch but to block. Luckily Jedi chose the blocking option. As promised, when she told me I went to have a word with her teacher. I also spoke to the school secretary, as the head was unavailable.

I find this a really difficult situation. I volunteer at the school and am more aware of the issues with this boy than a lot of the parents. I know that the school has been put in a very difficult position by the local authority but how can I allow this to continue. Jedi is in her last year in junior school and is doing extremely well. I really don't want this year to be a misery for her. The school has promised to monitor the situation but if it continues I really don't know what my next step will be.

On a different note I am off for my smear tomorrow. I am a real baby when it comes to smears. I am highly sensitive in this area and really hate the procedure. But as yesterday's ABC Wednesday post pointed out, it is one of great importance, so I will 'wince and bear it'.

ABC Wednesday - I

2008-09-16T20:07:00.007+01:00

I apologise now for the grave nature of this post but it is something that weighs heavy on me.

I is for Injection.

Specifically the new jab for HPV that is currently being offered to our children.

Now, I am not a scientist, a doctor or a chemical expert, so the things I write in this post are from research and my own opinion, so please make up your own mind.

There are over a 100 different kinds of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Some cause the common warts we experience on our hands and others can cause genital warts. It is thought that a few strains of the virus are responsible for around 70% of cases of cervical cancer. These strains are obviously sexually transmitted and are carried by men and women. The virus can stay in the body for some time, some will cause cell abnormalities, some will lead on to cancer, the majority will have no affect at all and will be cleared away by the body.

Two drugs have been developed in the hope of vaccinating against some of the strains that cause cervical cancer. Gardasil, which has been used in America, and Cervarix which is due to be introduced shortly in the UK. There are 15 strains of high risk, sexually transmitted HPVs, but strains 16 and 18 together are the ones most thought to cause cervical cancer. Gardasil protects against strains 16, 18, 6 and 11. (6 and 11 are thought to be the cause of genital warts). Cervarix protects against 16, 18, 31 and 45. Neither of the vaccines protect against ALL of the potentially cancer causing strains of the virus and they don't even protect against the same strains.

Apparantly trials have shown 100% effectiveness, although I'm not quite sure how they can prove that. Trials have been very short term and they are not yet even sure how long the vaccine will last. This to me raises huge questions about the safety of the vaccines. There have already been widely reported cases of serious side effects from the use of Gardasil in America, including some, possibly unproved, deaths. Aside from short term side effects no one has any idea what long term issues could be caused. The Uk has opted to use Cevarix, not, I discovered during my research, because it was more effective or because it was safer, but because it is cheaper.

I have two daughters one of which has just two years before she will be offered the vaccine. She will NOT be having it. I myself have experienced having abnormal cells on my cervix and had to undergo a very traumatic colpolscopy to remove them. Whether they were caused by HPV I was never told. She still isn't having it. The vaccine doesn't cover all HPV strains that are potentially dangerous, and neither does it safeguard against other sexually transmitted infections and diseases. The NHS has already raised the age of Smear tests to 25 and I believe this vaccine is an excuse to do so. I had my stage 3 abnormal cells removed at 24, after having a normal smear test result just two years previous, and I have friends who have also been through it that were younger.

I personally believe the way to tackle the problem is to re-inforce the message of safe sex. I am open with my children in regards to love, sex and relationships. I have already spoken to my eldest daughter, who is just 11, about the repercussions of irresponsible attitudes to sex and how condoms, apart from abstinence, are the only way to protect yourself. I can't guarantee that this approach will work, but at least my children will have had all the facts and been able to make decisions for themselves. There would be no guarantees if they had the vaccine either, so I am happy for them not to be filled with potentially dangerous drugs.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I want you to make up your own minds as to whether the drug is a good idea or not, this is just my opinion. I just think that sometimes the truth about these things is not quite as open as we are led to believe and we are not necessarily given all the facts. I offer you these websites, from which I got some of my information;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-561827/Anti-cancer-jab-shunned-One-girls-refuses-vaccine-guard-cervical-virus.html

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/HPV

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervarix

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=20204#UNDESIRABLE_EFFECTS

As a final note to this post I would like to also bring to everyone's attention that the British government is proposing to make all vaccines compulsary for school admission. Which would mean that if you declined ANY vaccine your child would not be allowed into school. Whether you believe vaccines are right or not you have to agree that this proposal is a complete abuse of Human Rights. I have written about this previously but I will again post the link to sign an official petition to get this proposal stopped.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/forcedvaccines/

That's it! I'm finished!! I promise next weeks ABC Wednesday will be more light hearted! Thanks for reading.

P.S. It looks like my spacing has gone all dodgy AGAIN, I do apologise!

2008-09-15T11:11:00.002+01:00

What a lovely weekend! We actually had some sunshine. The hills disappeared behind a beautiful, misty layer of low cloud just briefly, then the sun shone. We didn't get up to much, just pottering and doing little chores. I got lots of washing done and actually dried it in the garden. The kids climbed the trees and we all watched the chickens.

We've confirmed who was laying the perfect little pale eggs in the youngsters house, when she came out announcing the egg's arrival. I boiled some eggs up and fed them back to them yesterday, it's meant to be a good source of protein for them. All I know is that they love it!! I put the bowls down and was met with excited peeps and the sound of their beaks tapping against the bowls as they pecked frantically. Within five minutes there wasn't a single crumb left. I love to watch them tucking into treats, especially the ex-batts. Quite often Bella and Cinnamon won't eat treats, I just don't think they know what the hell it is and whether it's edible. I guess living on just mush for most of your life removes some of the more adventurous instinct. They love veg but it has to be cooked up, they won't touch anything raw really. I gave both groups raw apple too, the youngsters hollowed out the skin in minutes whereas the ex-batts just vaguely pecked at it.

I'm not sure the weekend was actually very productive, I mean I haven't found my borders in the garden yet. Although I did convince Trouble to tidy her bedroom, but that just gave me more washing to do. It's a wonder she actually had any clothes to wear! We are going to have to be a lot more organised this week, as we are all going away next weekend.

My dad is coming up from Somerset for the day on Friday and taking the girls back with him. They will spend a night at my parents' and then on to their dads'. In the mean time I am driving up to Liverpool to meet Hubby from work and then we are going on to Newcastle for the weekend. We have been invited up there by a couple of the lads Hubby works with. It will be four couples painting Newcastle red. Lord knows what I will wear, I don't get out much anymore, and no doubt I will be very Drunkety Drunk Drunk like my blog friend Auntie Gwen http://auntiegwensdiary.blogspot.com/

The cat/rabbit/chicken sitters (the neighbours) have been booked and given the heads-up on Psycho bunny. I have an awful feeling that she will have her babies that weekend so I just hope she doesn't stress at having someone new doing the chores. She's normally quite laid back when she has actually had the babies so I have my fingers crossed that she won't do anything hideous like eat the babies, or better yet that she'll hang on 'til I get back.

So I have a bit of planning to do to make sure everyone has what they need for the weekend and that the kids will go back to school on Monday with clothes on and homework done!

New things

2008-09-11T10:44:00.008+01:00

I am a real animal person, my husband is not. I grew up in a farming environment and have always been surrounded by animals of one kind or another. When I first left home I lived in a bedsit and we weren't allowed pets of course, so I smuggled a hamster in. It just didn't feel right to not have any animals round me. I got found out though and the hamster was evicted, he had to go and live at mum and dad's!

My husband however, is a townie and isn't keen on animals at all really. He is really soft on his cats though, but don't tell anyone, it would ruin his image!! The kids aren't allowed any more pets in the house, but he doesn't seem to mind the things we have outside. So the rabbits don't bother him too much, except for when they create sunrooves for their hutches and I need his expert D.I.Y. skills. He isn't really that interested in the chickens, but he does enjoy their eggs and he did build their house for them.

So I'm thinking maybe some quail would be nice, you know, just a trio, maybe. They won't take up much space and Hubby loves quail eggs too, although it would probably take about 20 to feed him once! So I have been looking around and finding out about them. I found this nice blog here; http://kooringa.com/?p=7482 Allotment lady has quails and has some lovely pics of them.

I also took the girls to see some locally yesterday. The lady was a bit wary of us wanting to sell eggs and compete with her 13 year old son, who's venture they were, not likely, I will be stuffing them down faster than they will lay!! They had four Japenese and one Italian. Very cute and smaller than I expected.

I'm still undecided on the best housing and also a tad confused about their diet, so if anyone has any expert quail wrangling advice I would be very grateful.

As for the brood of chickens I still only have one ex-batt laying, I was hoping that after their vague moult Cinnamon would decide to lay again, but nothing yet bless her. It looks like I only have one youngster laying too, as I have had five tiny eggs from them since Saturday. Mind you, I'm not sure if they lay every day at the beginning or whether they build up to it. Anyone know the answer to that one?

The youngsters (duck-chickens) - all grown up!

A valiant effort. 3 'first eggs' and 1 ex-batt egg

I must start thinking about combining the two pens too. The ex-batts are still separate from the youngsters at the moment, but I want to combine the runs for winter. The ex-batts only have cat box beds right now and I really want them in the main house before it starts getting really cold. They range together (kind of) when they are all out and their pens are right next to eachother, so I'm hoping they will integrate well. I just need to connect the two pens together, then they will all have the run of both. The ex-batts pen is completely covered so it will be better for all of them to have a bit more dry area.

The current set-up. I want to link the two.

Speaking of youngsters, this is one of my bunnies - Butterfly (!!?)

And judging by her current mood swings (eek, psycho bunny) I think she may be pregnant! So we will have some more youngsters in the fold. Should be in about a week and a half, so i'll keep you updated and hopefully have some pics to post.

I apologise if the spacing in this post is all messed up, it seems to do that when I mess about and post photos!

Wow! And thank you

2008-09-10T09:20:00.005+01:00

Little did I realise quite how much response I would get to joining in ABC Wednesday. I just thought it would be a bit of fun and a little challenge to come up with something interesting for each letter. I went through all kinds of H's, Harley (my cat), Husband, Happiness, Home, but they all seemed to be a bit 'easy' and not very imaginative. I wanted to do something intersting and hopefully informative. I appear to have achieved that with my Hogweed! I'm glad that I have raised a bit of awareness about the awful stuff.

Thanks to everyone who left comments, and to all that joined in with ABC Wednesday. The posts are so varied and intersting and come from all around the world. There are some lovely insights into other countries and cultures. Here are a couple of my favorites;

http://mrsnesbittsplace.blogspot.com/ Lots of Hs from around our Hostess' village.
http://brianarchie.blogspot.com/ Some amazing shots taken in the Highlands of Scotland.
http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/ Piccies from Jerusalem.

And this one, I will definately keep an eye on, all based around a lifeboat. I will be interested to see how each letter pans out; http://www.freewebs.com/mannananscloak/abcwednesday.htm#212418337

Apologies to those I haven't got round to yet, I will try!

I am already planning next weeks letter - I- and have come up with something else that I like to shout about, and which may prove controversial, so watch this space!!

I would also like to thank those who have left kind comments on Jedi's Story part II. It has been quite a journey but with an amazing ending and she is very well now. She is still sensitive to cats but improving. I read that it is the cat's saliva on the fur, not the fur itself that causes the allergic reaction. I have seen this reaction occur when the cats have got TOO friendly with Jedi, and have been loving her a little too much! But for some reason Bengal cat saliva doesn't seem to be as bad as normal cat saliva. That is why, at great expense, we got Bengals.

I have also heard that bad colic in babies can be caused by difficult births, and can be relieved by visiting a Chiropractor! Jedi also had some pretty awful colic. So if anyone out there had a difficult birth and has a very miserable baby it is worth having a consultation, it could well bring some peace to your home!

ABC Wednesday - H

2008-09-09T20:22:00.006+01:00

H is for Hogweed, particularly the giant version.

Until quite recently I didn't really know anything about giant Hogweed, so I guess there may be a few other people who don't either.

Giant Hogweed was introduced into this country as a 'filler' for large gardens but has since spread agressively. It is most commonly found along riverbanks and this is where I came across it. Your average Hogweed plant can cause skin rashes but the thing about Giant Hogweed is that it's sap can cause quite serious skin problems.

Giant Hogweed has spread along the river bank where I like to take the kids. Someone had been out there cutting it down before it seeded. My sister managed to brush against one of the severed stalks. Now, we knew that it could cause burning on the skin but didn't realise quite how it worked, so my sister assumed it was a temporary affect and that it would wear off. When she looked it up on the internet we discovered there's a whole 'other story' to this evil weed.

The sap destroys the skin's natural sun protection which means that every time the affected area is exposed to the sun it continues to burn. The area on my sister's hand rapidly developed into blisters even though she began covering the area when we had read up on it.

The blisters in this picture aren't a patch on what my sister had on her hand, I think her's will probably scar.

Can you imagine the implications of children using the stalks as swords or worse still telescopes? The thought horrifies me. I can't believe we aren't more aware of the problem and have even considered asking the head at my kids' school to talk to the kids about it.

For more information (and credit for the photos) visit http://138.253.199.114/hogweed/index.htm

And to join in with ABC Wednesday go here http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/2008/09/h-is-for.html

House of Jedi

2008-09-08T13:33:00.003+01:00

I thought you might like to see some more of Jedi's new creations;

And a card she made for a friend who's in hospital

Jedi's Story Part II

2008-09-08T12:20:00.005+01:00

Well, what a nice day. Ok so the sun isn't actually shining brightly, but at least the rain has stopped, for now. I managed to do some chores outside this morning without drowning, and it was rather pleasant to be enjoying being out in the garden again.

My garden is rather overgrown......

And I appear to have my own wheat supply growing by the house, just in case.....

But that's all beside the point because I was going to tell you more of Jedi's story.

The Jedi has had many health problems for a very long time. It first started when she was about 7 months old. I had been living in Devon but when Jedi was born we decided to move back to Somerset to be closer to our families. The previous occupants of our new house had done a marvellous job of hiding a multitude of sins on the days of our viewings, because we had fallen in love with the house, only to find when we moved in, that it was disgusting! They had had many cats and obviously weren't to fussy about where they did their business. We had to pull up most of the carpets because of cat urine, and even found cat poo in the bedrooms. The previous owners hadn't even bothered to clean, they had just taken their stuff and left! How they had managed to mask the smell I just don't know, we had to leave the windows open and disinfect everything.

Shortly after we moved in Jedi became very ill. We took her to the doctor and he said she had a virus (don't they always?) and that it was probably due to the cats and the condition the house had been in. Jedi was very ill for about a week and lost rather a lot if weight. I had a set of portraits done of her about two weeks after she recovered and she was still painfully thin, poor baby.

Since that time Jedi has been allergic to cats and has suffered from reacurrent chest infections. The winter of 2001 Jedi completely missed Christmas. She came down with Bronchitis about two weeks before Christmas, and then developed an ear infection on top. She was very poorly and the doctors had to try a few different antibiotics to try and combat the infections. She spent three weeks in bed and couldn't remember anything about Christmas at all. She didn't recover until into the New Year.

Every time Jedi caught a cold, which didn't take much doing, she would have awful coughs that she couldn't shake. She had many boughts of Bronchitis and Bronchillitis. Whenever she caught one of these colds I would make regular trips to my local surgery to have her chest examined in the hope of catching any infections early. At the end of 2005 she had one of these colds. I had made an appointment for her to be checked out. When the day came she seemed to have improved and I nearly cancelled the apointment, but I thought I'd better take her, just to be on the safe side.

Jedi fell asleep in the car on the way to the doctors, she always sleeps a lot when she's ill so I took no notice. When we arrived she didn't wake up, so I carried her in. We were called in to see the Practise Nurse and she still didn't wake up. In fact we couldn't wake her up. The doctor was called in, he pinched her and pricked her, but she still didn't wake. An ambulance was called. Jedi did come round in the surgery, eventually, but it was like she was stoned. She was very spaced out and didn't know where she was or what was happening. We were whisked off to hospital in Taunton where it was found she had Pneumonia. There was fluid on her left lung.

Jedi also had quite a severe allergy to artificial food colourings. When we first realised it when she was around two she used to have extreme tantrums, banging her head on the floor and ripping her fingernails. These tantrums used to last for anything up to 2 hours. When she was a little older she once described the feeling as being 'itchy on the inside'. When Jedi had Pneumonia she obviously needed to have antibiotics. The only thing the hospital could offer her were the wonderful kids liquid antibiotics that are usually bright yellow, you know the ones. I had a blazing row with one of the doctors. There was no way on earth I was going to give my little girl, who was lying in bed with an oxygen mask on, the evil 'itchy' stuff. The last thing she needed was that stuff coursing through her body. The hospital couldn't offer her anything else, which amazed me. So I had to make the toughest descision of my life. I had the doctor insisting that she needed the antibiotics now and that my only other option was to wait until morning and go to my local pharmacy for an alternative!

Jedi came home that night, but I didn't sleep. I stayed awake all night, watching her and making sure she was breathing ok. The next morning we ended up having to get adult capsules of the antibiotics and breaking them open and mixing the powder with yoghurt. How are they allowed to even make medicines with such evil ingredients?

Anyway, Jedi recovered from that episode but has continued to have problems. She has been to hospital a few other times with asthma attacks. I wouldn't say she is necassarily asthmatic, it's just when she gets a cough she gets very wheezy. When we moved up to Wales in November last year she had yet another chest infection that she couldn't shift. She ended up having 3 courses of anitbiotics for that. She had yet another rough winter.

I have a cousin who lives not far from us who is a Chiropractor, she told me she may be able to help. I was very dubious, I couldn't see how she could help something that was on the inside, Jedi's problem was nothing to do with bones but her lungs. I was wrong. My cousin discovered that Jedi's ribcage wasn't quite right and that she had some ribs out of line. She believes it is due to the way Jedi didn't complete the whole compression and release of a natural birth (see previous post). The said ribs were causing a pocket to form on Jedi's left lung, which was retaining fluid and causing the repeat infections.

Jedi has had 3 sessions with my cousin since the beginning of this year. Her lung capacity according to her peak flow meter has improved by 80%, she has had one cough (which she got over in a few days) and no longer needs to use her inhaler. She is a different child. Healthier and happier. She did so well at sports day this year, a couple of years ago it never would have happened. I guess this winter will be the real test but I just wish that I had known 10 years ago what could have been done for her and then I could have spared her the misery and discomfort of all those infections.

Retail Therapy

2008-09-07T17:30:00.007+01:00

I was meant to take the kids horseriding yesterday, for Jedi's birthday, but considering we are lucky not to have been washed away altogether we decided to postpone it until the weather improves. (If it ever does). We opted to go shopping instead. Jedi has firm ideas of what she wants now and enjoys shopping for herself, so with birthday money pooled, and armed with £60, we headed into town for some retail therapy.

We looked at clothes first and Jedi found lots she liked but was very reluctant to part with her money! We went from shop to shop and I was quite disappointed with her lack of ability to spend!! She really ought to be commended for it, I know, but it just amazed me, that all that money wasn't burning a huge, hot hole in her pocket!

Anyway, after quite some time she settled on a new top, a shoulder bag and a rather nice butterfly necklace. We then popped down to Argos, we are quite limited on shops in our local town so Argos provides a convenient 'allsorts' kind of place. We had a quick look through the catalogue and she found an Mp3 player for just £14.99, so she also bought that.

We returned home with plenty of money still in Jedi's purse, which I am quite proud of, if it was her sister shopping it would have been gone almost immediately, and set about getting some music on Jedi's new Mp3 player. After spending ten minutes or so on my laptop she now has a variety of tunes to listen to, which vary from Fergie to Led Zeppelin, and for the last 24 hours she has been doing everything with her bag over her shoulder with the Mp3 player in it and has become destinctly deaf to the outside world! My brother bought her a rather cute craft kit with which you can design minature clothes and hand them on dinky little hangers, so between that and the Mp3 player she has been very quiet.

Isn't it cute?

On another note, out in the garden, my baby chickens are evidently now all grown up, as when I was cleaning out their house during a rare break in the weather, I found a tiny, but perfectly formed egg in the nest box! And this morning Jedi found another. I have finally decided that they are all girls, because surely if they have come into lay, it would be obvious by now if I had a cock out there! Hubby loves a few poached eggs when he is home at the weekends so this morning he tested them. I had to put both eggs in one poacher because they were so small! He reports that they were eggcellent, so we are looking forward to many more.

Poor things though, I think they may be turning into ducks, as their run is so muddy!! Their little dust bath hole, which they scratched out in the 'summer', has filled with water, and I swear I heard one quack earlier!

Jedi's Story Part I

2008-09-05T09:54:00.008+01:00

Well today is all about J. Or Jedi as she likes to be known!! 11 today! How quickly have those eleven years passed? I still remember quite clearly that day (funnily enough, a Friday) when I woke to find myself bleeding to death at half five in the morning! I had a placental abruption the day before she was due, I still remember every last detail, like it was this morning!!

When I woke I thought my water's had broken, but after going to the loo to investigate, I discovered I was bleeding heavily. My husband (at the time) was away due to work, but luckily my mum was with me. Mum doesn't drive so off I went to North Devon District Hospital by ambulance. I was taken straight to delivery and poked and prodded in all the usual ways. My labour started and they broke my waters. Before long however Jedi's heart rate began to dive. The mad rush that followed maybe should be a blur but isn't! I was shaved, had a catheter put in, had to remove all my jewellery, and had an IV put in by a student who was totally incapable and made me lose even more blood. I remember them reading the consent form to me and just desperately wanting to sign it, I didn't care what it said! I was in considerable pain but was only allowed oxygen.

Jedi was on her way but they didn't want to risk it so I was whisked off to theatre. Poor baby had to be dragged back up the birth canal (which later caused huge problems that I will write about another day) and was born at 7.19 am on the 5th September 1997. Jedi only scored 3 out of 10 on the Apgar scale when she arrived and was whisked off pretty quick. For those that don't know the Apgar scale gives a score of 0 to 2 on five different things, i.e. breathing and muscle tone. So Jedi must have scored 0 on a couple of things. I knew nothing about it of course, as I was completely out.

I had always wanted a boy and was convinced that she was. I was a bit worried that if she was a girl I wouldn't bond with her. But when I came round from the anaesthetic and they showed me a polaroid of her in special care do you think I gave a toss? Of course not, I asked if she was ok, and when told she was, I went back to sleep!!

Anyway, Jedi is a tough cookie and after only 7 hours in special care we were reunited for the first time!! And after four days (!!!) I had the staples removed from my stomach and we were allowed home. Four days? Staples out?? I was afraid to laugh or sneeze or anything!!

So here we are, 11 years on, and I have the most amazing daughter anyone could wish for. And for those of you that say you forget the pain and trauma of childbirth you are lying!! But it was worth it. (And I did do it again!!)

Happy Birthday Jedi!!

The blabber returns

2008-09-04T09:31:00.003+01:00

Well, hello all, I'm back! I am now going to be extremely busy, catching up with all your blogs, thanks to BT. So I do apologise for lack of input from me over the last couple of weeks but BT decided to connect my phone line to someone else's house and left me without! We've had lots of problems with the lines and lightning lately so they decided to update the lines but then managed to reconnected them all up wrong!! I then had to wait for ages to get it sorted because they had such a mess to sort out. I bet someone's head rolled!

Anyway, I'm back. Hubby celebrated his 30th on Monday, I've had a job offer that I don't know whether to take or not, kids have gone back to school and J's 11th birthday is tomorrow, (A's is in a couple of weeks). All is peaceful, just for the moment, so I am going to catch up with you all.

Peace soon to be shattered!

2008-08-15T17:51:00.003+01:00

Well the girls have been off with their dad since Monday, they are due back tonight. It has been strange without them, but very peaceful!! I've had an extremely lazy week, although I did take my sister out yesterday to visit some of the old folk yesterday. It was a nice day actually. The kids get so bored with visiting the old aunts and uncles, so it was nice to catch up without worrying about them playing up. I also managed to bump into my cousin and his wife at Morrisons with their new baby, so that was lovely too, but something A will wish she hadn't missed. She has a real baby obsession, so will have to take her over to their house soon. I was going to go out tonight, but they have scuppered my plans. I guess I will just have to stay in and be a responsible mother instead!!

The Leaving of Liverpool

2008-08-11T08:09:00.002+01:00

Well that was an interesting weekend. After drying out from all the excitement of Thursday, I decided to surprise hubby this weekend, and instead of him turning up here unannounced I would sneak up to Liverpool for the weekend. I rang him first thing Saturday morning to make sure he wasn't coming back, then dropped the girls off at my sisters. Off I went with a SatNav and phone on loan from my sister's boyfriend. I didn't fancy making a totally unknown journey without a phone, just in case. Funny how quick we forget what it was like before we had mobiles isn't it?

Anyway, the weather was appalling but the trip up to North Wales and Chester was fine. Then about three quarters of an hour outside of Liverpool I passed my darling husband going in the opposite direction!! Aaaaah!! Just as well I saw him. I pulled over and rang him. (See if I hadn't had that mobile he would have just continued).

'What are you doing?' I say
'Got fed up with the rain, I'm on my way home. I did try to ring you.'
'Well you'd better turn round then' I say
'Why? What are you on about?'
'Well I just passed you' I was actually a bit cross, because this wasn't how I had planned the surprise!
'What? Why? Where are you going?'
'Liverpool to see you, you bloody idiot!'

So he turns round and we drive the rest of the way together! Anyway, after that lucky crossing of paths, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the pub next to his flat. Probably not the best descision, because I haven't been out since the wedding at the end of June, and have forgotten where to put alcohol! But it was a lovely afternoon. S is working in Liverpool with some of the lads from back in Somerset, so there was a bit of catching up to do and plenty of new faces to meet. Needless to say I was done by about half nine, and had to retire!

We spent a very lazy Sunday morning in bed watching the Olympics on telly and ahem, doing what loved up couples do when they haven't seen eachother for a while and are without the kids. Well, I was far too drunk the night before! Then we headed down to the Albert docks for a stroll and some lunch. It did make a nice break although I was a bit hungover and probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have, note to self; next time don't drink so bloody much!

Anyway, the kids' dad is picking them up today to take them away for a few days, so I get even more of a break. Yay! I wonder what trouble i'll get myself into?

River Rescue!!

2008-08-07T21:24:00.003+01:00

What an afternoon! My neighbours have gone away for a couple days and a family friend is staying at the house to look after the dog, cats, chickens and ducks. Unfortunately she has no car at the moment so I offered to taker her and said doggy, Cracker, down to the river with the kids. So off we went and met up with my sister and her dog. They had a blast and Cracker really loves the water. We had him on an extendable lead but couldn't let him off, you know, just in case. The pair of them loved running in and out of the water and chasing sticks.

Then Cracker decides to hurl himself right into the water and he managed to wrench his lead out of O's hand. The river is very full at the moment and the islands that the girls usually play on have disappeared, now there is a swirling whirlpool thing were the two rivers meet. And yes Cracker managed to throw himself into the edge of it. Bless him, poor dog was swimming against the current desperately trying to get back to dry land and getting nowhere. We tried to reach him but he was too far out.

In I go, and was quickly surprised by how deep the water was, and how strong the current was. I grabbed hold of Cracker and tried to pull him in, but all he wanted to do was climb on top of me!! This didn't help and wasn't getting us anywhere. So I decided to let the current take me and hope it would take me to the bank, but I let Cracker go and couldn't get him to come with me. But the rest on me must have given him the edge because as I floated away he managed to haul himself into shallower water and was helped the rest of the way by my sister!

I watched my cigarettes float passed me, guess it's time to give up, and eventually reached the shallows. It took me another ten minutes to work my way out of the river up the bank through all the nettles and thistles, but at least we were ok! I then remembered I had my car keys and phone in my pocket, keys work, phone doesn't! Oh well, if that's the price for not seeing your neighbours dog floating away down a river then I'll live with it!

Yay, Champion of the Underdog!

Show Winners!

2008-08-04T12:11:00.007+01:00

Wow! What a day Saturday was. We got up bright and early to get ready for the show. We baked Abbie's pizza very carefully, can you imagine burning it at the last minute? One of the cats nearly knocked Jade's layered chocolate pudding of the kitchen worktop, that wouldn't have gone down well either. We then had to get flowers in wellies, chocolate pudding and pizza to my sister's house. There we picked up her and her entries to take to the show.

When we got there I was pleasantly surprised by the high standard of all the entries. I was a little disappointed that some of the childrens' work looked very 'assisted'. Most of the flower arrangements in wellies were very over done. We had gone for the wild river flowers and cottage garden look. We thought that it suited the wellies better. Anyway we layed everything out and then the tent was closed for judging, so I took my sister home, unfortunately she had to work.

We returned at two o'clock when the tent reopened to see how we had all done. My sister's baby blanket won third in the knitted baby item class, and the Christening jacket she had made for J many years ago, won her first and best in section! The kids did well too, J got a first for her handwriting, and her chocolate pudding, that we had had to top in the car when we got there! A's pizza won second, which was great because some of the pizzas were very good and it was a class up to 11 years. Unfortunately A's cyprus flag collage didn't get placed which I was very disappointed with because it was very good. And neither did the welly flowers. The judges obviously liked the totally over the top 'manufactured' look rather than country flowers. Never mind, you can't force the judges to think the same way as you do, and the kids had fun anyway.

The rest of the show was great with a donkey derby, dog racing, lots of stalls and laser clay pigeon shooting and archery. Unfortunately S had to work Saturday morning and didn't get there until late and most of the good stuff had finished. He was also shattered and didn't really get into the swing of it. I never did find the bale toss, but I don't think he would have had the energy to pick it up let alone hurl it anywhere!! I think I'll take him to the Royal Welsh next year, if that doesn't get him excited I don't know what will!!

I found a couple selling amazingly cute bantams of varying colours and fluffiness and nearly ended up with a whole heap of new birds. But one of my ex-batts is poorly at the moment and I really need to concentrate on her at the moment. I read somewhere that chickens were very addictive, and who ever wrote that comment was right. Although, being champion of the underdog, I think I will probably concentrate on the ex-batts and not get pulled into fancy breeds, it does seem a little unfair when so many birds need the help.

Anyway the show was great, the kids won some prize money, I enjoyed the tug of war, especially when a local stag party did it in their underwear! And the weather was decent enough to stay relatively pleasant for the day. So I think a good day all round.

Sleeping policemen

2008-08-01T22:34:00.003+01:00

I am absolutely shattered. I shouldn't really be writing this but I must. I should be snuggled up in bed with my cats, snoring gently. But if I don't post today, you will have the longest essay tomorrow, and you won't bother reading it! So this has been my week;

Monday morning J was up with the larks, she's been unbearable waiting for Monday to come. So excited that her friend was coming up from Somerset to stay for a couple of days. So in actual fact I was more than happy when Monday came too! So eight o clock there was J baking chocolate cupcakes to go with the biscuits she had made on Sunday!! And by nine she had laid the table for lunch, complete with lavender to keep the flies away, glasses neatly placed at every setting and pretty kitchen roll squares folded as napkins. The cakes and biscuits were laid out on doillies and covered with cling along with a jug for water and a bowl of crisps. Later we were to make sandwichs and fruit.

Just as we were discussing how much longer they would be we had a phone call saying they were just leaving Bristol!! Oh no! I had to put up with a couple more hours of over excited 10 year old! So I distracted her with making the sandwichs. Eventually they did turn up, and friend's dad immediately fell in love with area and we had a lovely lunch and then a cup of coffee in the garden. That evening as I put the chickens to bed the wind picked up and the storms came. We had one at 7 and another at 12. No more glorious sunshine. Just as well though, I got burnt to a crisp on Sunday while the kids were out with my sister!

Tuesday was just appalling, storm after storm, torrential rain and wind. So the girls swam! We went to our local pool for an hour's free swim and then to the other pool for Aqua Splash. Then a McDonalds. So they managed to have fun in the wet after all. Wednesday they were happy to spend time together at home and go swimming again, which was just as well as the weather was terbile again and we didn't manage to do half of the things we wanted. We had planned picnics on the hills and days at the river but the rain was just too much.

Yesterday we made the journey back to Somerset to take friend home again. We arrived at about lunch time, had a quick bite to eat then went surprise visiting. We hadn't told anyone we were coming so we had a bit of fun dropping in on friends who certainly weren't expecting us. The we went over to my parents and did the same thing. The look on my dad's face when his youngest grandchild just waundered into the lounge was priceless. I can also report that my mother looks a hundred times better and her facial bruising has almost completely gone. We stayed there for tea, which was lovely, my mother hates surprises that mean she has to magic up food but she did a great job! We eventually left at half eight which was probably far too late but I had to admit it was hard to drag myself away. I have only seen my parents for odd hours here and there since we moved and it is a big difference compared to when they were only three miles away.

The girls slept most of the way home, they had had a few rather late nights with friend staying over and it was beginning to catch up! So they didn't notice that in the rather dingy, rainy weather I could have sworn that the dry patch under a bridge on the M49 was a speed bump!!! I even slowed down, until sense kicked in and informed me that they don't generally place speed bumps on motorways! I guess I was a bit tired too. They didn't notice when I had to carefully judge my path to avoid squishing frogs that were happily hopping across the country roads in the rain. They didn't notice my battle with huge puddles that had formed on the side of the road, threatening to drag me into the hedges and then throw me back into the middle of the road in front of oncoming traffic. And they also didn't notice when I came round a corner, about a mile from home, to find the biggest bale of hay right in the middle of my side of the road! I'm glad there was nothing coming the other way, because I had to swerve to avoid it! The girls obviously assumed it was just my crazy driving and slept through it. Needless to say, when we finally arrived home at 11.15pm I gave the local police a ring to ask them to remove just the last part of the assault course to ensure that someone wasn't unluckier than I.

The kids woke up at half past twelve this afternoon!!! My God they were tired. I don't think any kid in the world has slept that late before. We had a lot to do today but I just hadn't the heart to wake them. So when they did finally wake up we had a busy afternoon preparing for tomorrows show. We went to town to buy ingredients for J's layered dessert and A's pizza, then went to the river to pick flowers for their 'display in a welly'. Once home A did her collage of the Cypriot flag. A back ground of cut up doillies to represent the lace which is famous in Cyprus, the yellow country shape has two large lemons amongst scraps of yellow paper, and we found two little leaves to make the olive branches. I have to say it looks rather good. J made the most amazing chocolate and fresh strawberry layered dessert. Then A made a pizza with four different toppings which we need to cook first thing in the morning. After all that the flowers were arranged in the wellies!! Blimey, at one point I didn't think it would get done. A really should have done her collage sooner but good old mum lost the glue! J has already written ten proverbs in her best handwriting.

So tomorrow will be a busy day and I will be knackered again. I will post pics tomorow and let you all know how we get on. Wish us luck!!

House Guests and Lawn Mowers!

2008-07-26T23:05:00.004+01:00

Well, I don't seem to have solved my fly problem but it is comforting to know that it's not just my kitchen that seems to be attracting them!! No surprises this weekend, my husband really has got to work this weekend so he won't be turning up this time! But he will be back for the show next weekend.

We had a lovely day in the sun today, just pottering in the garden. The neighbours are doing lots of DIY at the moment and my girls love to go over and supervise! Keeps them out from under my feet! I actually managed to mow the lawns today, my God it took some doing! With all the rain we've had it was a real jungle. I kept telling myself it went with the wild borders and that it was a wildlife garden! The cats certainly enjoying hiding in the wilderness!

Anyway, I ended up borrowing the neighbours' petrol mower because my mower packed up in all the effort! So there I am happily mowing and emptying the grass box every two steps. After one of these emptying sessions I go back to start the mower again, mower starts fine but I realise I still have the pull cord in my hand and it's no longer attached to the mower! Oh! So good old Andy came over and we managed to put it back together and I finished my lawn. I must admit there is a certain satisfaction to seeing a nice neat lawn.

I have a very excited 10 year old at the moment, she's driving me bonkers! Her friend is coming up from Somerset on Monday to stay for a few days. S was her best friend and she hasn't seen her for about seven months so it's all a bit exciting! I'm not really sure what I have let myself in for but maybe it'll make for some interesting posts! We will be taking her back to Somerset on Thursday, so we'll drop in on my parents and check they are still in one piece!

I managed to get some photos off my digital camera onto my laptop at last the other day so here's a few older pics to finish;

The babies when we first had them.

The boys having a cuddle! Aaaaaw!

Never turn your back on a Bengal!!

No flies on me....yet!

2008-07-24T14:12:00.004+01:00

I have definately found another downside to living in the beautiful countryside, apart from the hayfever and having to drive my rubbish to be picked up! FLIES! I love having the rabbits and chickens in the garden and sheep, cows and horses in the surrounding fields, but I guess it helps to attract them. I can't believe the amount of flies we have swarming in my kitchen! They are driving the cats bonkers as they fling themselves around trying to catch them. I've hung up the very disgusting option of fly paper but they do an amazing job of avoiding it, and of course it's not very pretty. I wonder if any of you other country folk have any ideas? I am slightly chemical sensitive so I would obviously prefer natural solutions.

Me and the girls had a lovely day at the river again yesterday. No rocks were thrown in faces and my sister brought her mad Kelpie for a bit. She has a tendency to run off, the dog, not my sister, so the girls had the job of continuously throwing sticks into the water to keep her interested. She did disappear at one point though, when a plane dared to come over. She saw it as her duty to chase it off and make sure it didn't land, again, the dog, not my sister! But with lots of splashing and stick waving, she soon reappeared and got back into the swing of things. After a while my sister took her mad Kelpie back home and me and the girls made fish corrals and tried to catch little water beasties with an empty scotch bottle that someone had shamefully dumped by the river. Then it was down the shop for an icecream and home. Lovely.

Today we having a nice relaxed stay at home day, which A doesn't approve of in the slightest. But I told them both at the start of the holidays there was no way we could do something exciting everyday. What with living in the middle of nowhere and petrol prices as they are, it's just impossible. So we are working on going somewhere every other day. Besides, they are entering a few classes at a local village show soon, so we have things to do!!

Speaking of village shows, I was telling my darling husband about the girls entering and then had to spend half an hour explaining to him what the hell a village show is all about! Ok, I know that he's a real town boy, and as a kid he was fishing at the docks and nicking milk of doorsteps and things but not to know what a village show is about? He thought flower arrangements in wellies and showing off your best onions was completely mad! So that weekend he is most definately coming home so we can drag him down there and give him a real country education!! Can't wait, I might even enter him in the bale toss!

Well! That'll teach me!

2008-07-22T21:21:00.006+01:00

I really should have blogged sooner, but my mysterious husband turned up again on Saturday evening, after swearing on Friday, that he wouldn't be home this weekend! And not only that, he stayed three whole days!! Only heading back to Liverpool this evening. What a treat! Except that , again, I hadn't shopped for him on Friday and he didn't mow the lawn! It was lovely to have him around though. Anyway, because of this I have been completely distracted, so, please bear with me, this may just be a long post!

Saturday I had the great pleasure of entertaining my parents for just a brief time. They endured the three hour trek to have a look at a bungalow, not far from here, and dropped into see us before heading back. It's the first time my mum has been up to Wales since we moved so hadn't even seen the house! I went outside to meet them as they pulled up outside, only to be met with the most awful site when my mother stepped out of the car!! Now my mother is doing well for her age and is not unattractive, so it was nothing to do with that, but more to do with having a face that had done ten rounds with Tyson!! I kid you not, I have never seen anything like it, and my first reaction was, of course, to think she had been attacked!! But fear not, I don't need to send my husband and a few of his biker mates out looking for anyone, she had simply tripped!! Simply I say, if you call catching you toe on the kerb and throwing yourself in front of high speed traffic on the A39! (I think I may actually run out of exclamation marks but really, OMFG!!!!) Thankfully, my mum being quite spritely for her age, leapt to her feet as quick as she had fallen, and was narrowly missed by the first car that was approaching. Thank God, she did get up because it doesn't sound like he would have stopped! So anyway, smashing her face onto the tarmac has resulted in the most fantastic black eye, which I imagine will take weeks to fade away, and a fat, very bruised lip. In fact the whole right hand side of her face is bruised from her head to her chin. I just wish she would have warned me before just turning up like that!

They didn't stay long, but J had baked so they had coffee and cake and cookies. Had a tour of the house and met the chickens. Mum grew up with chickens so I though i'd ask her to help sex them, but we are still non plused. In fact, if anything, I'm now convinced that the two I thought were the girls are actually girls. How does Vanilla sound for a big handsome cock? Vanilla Ice maybe?

Moving on, after mum and dad had left I took the girls to the river for a walk. I am now convinced that the wonderful Qu-chi band is not so effective after all. But we did have a lovely walk and spotted herons, buzzards, swallows and some unidentified ducks. We also found a rather disgusting dead sheep which we would rather forget! The girls had a great time searching for unusual stones and attempting to skip smooth pebbles across the river. Until... A came along with her rather lopsided aim and managed to smack J straight in the face with a sizeable rock! Where did it hit her? Eyebrow and lip. For a while I was convinced she would wake up looking exactly like my mother, just on the other side of her face! After a few tears and a bit of shouting, I managed to convince J that it was a sympathy injury for Granny. I must say that she hasn't bruised too badly at all and, although it's been a bit sore, she looks fine now. I didn't get any photos this time, but this is from the last time the girls enjoyed the river;

Now, I hope you're still with me, 'cos I'm not done yet, oh no! The other day I though to myself that maybe I was beginning to bore you all, as I hadn't had many comments for a while! So imagine my surprise when I logged in today to find, not only comments, but awards and tags! How wonderful! My verbal diarrhorea is not so stinking after all! So a huge warm thanks to The Dotterel and Lehners in France for awarding me this;

Now the rules of this award are that I pass it on to seven of my favourite blogs. Now, i'm sure that some of my favourites are other's favs too, so some of you lucky things will get squillions of these awards and rightly so.

Right, the first of my awards goes to Little Brown Hens, because, not only, like me, she has a passion for the poor ex-battery hens, she has invaluable chickeny advice for me when I ask silly questions and she has become my first real blogging friend. Thank you Greta.

Next I would like to award A Mask to Hide Behind. I'm sure she is a favourite of many of you and if not, why the hell not? This chocolate box contains only nut varieties and will keep you entertained (or peeing your pants) on a daily basis. Thank you LJ for highlighting the bladder weakness that having kids gives you.

Thirdly I nominate The Lehners in France who tell us wonderful stories of relocating and a passion for a new language. So right back at ya!

Next is Norfolk Single Dad who tells us the story of raising a charming young man and totally underestimating himself.
Frog Blog by Frog in the Field is one of the first blogs I read and it led me on to a lot of you so for that I am grateful. Also our lives appear to similar so that's always comforting.

Jo Beaufoix has wonderful stories to tell of her two little angels Miss A and Miss M, who of course come out with the wonderful things that children do.

Last but by no means least I nominate Little Veg Patch who again has ex-batts and is experimenting with growing her own fruit and veg. Something I aspire to do but don't seem to be able to find motivation for.

This last nomination leads me nicely on to the final part of this post. Which hopefully you are still awake for!! Little Veg Patch has tagged me to supply six random snippets of information about myself.

Tag Rules:
Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on the blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Ok, hmmmmm.

1. I was born in deepest, darkest Somerset but I absolutely abhor cider.

2. I also detest olives, much to the disgust of my Cypriot husband, who is convinced he will convert me to their evil ways.

3. I like to eat Frosties before I go to bed, but never at any other time!

4. I am a champion of the underdog, or so my dad tells me!

5. I would always have loved to be able to sing, but despite my Welsh roots, I sing like a pig with it's head stuck in a bucket.

6. I'm a biker chick at heart and have partied with Hell's Angels. (That shocked ya!!)

Phew, right, tagging, um well, seeing as how this post goes on forever I am tagging all of the people that I passed my award onto. Except for Little Veg Patch who tagged me in the first place! If you are still with me, thank you so much for your patience and thanks for continuing to read my blog. To anyone who didn't get a mention, I apologise, I love reading all of your blogs and I love being part of this community. Happy blogging to all!

School Summer Fair

2008-07-17T11:09:00.004+01:00

Well yesterday was busy but successful. I will start the story a little earlier though! Last summer I had radio 2 on in the car, they did a piece on Greyhound racing and the plight of many of these graceful dogs. The figures are staggering, thousands of young dogs killed off or dumped every year when they don't make the grade, and thousands more badly treated, then abandoned or killed when they no longer run fast enough. Of course I must say that it's not all like this, some owners love their dogs deeply and take very good care of them, but more often than not it's about money not passion.

J was so touched by this story that she couldn't shift it from her already incredibly busy head. So early February, this year, she came to me, out of the blue, and said that she wanted to give her pocket money to the greyhounds. So we had a look on the net and found Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW). Looking at their website we discovered that for £50 you could sponsor a greyhound that needed extra love and attention, either physically or psychologically, for a year. Well J doesn't get THAT mouch pocket money, so I suggested we got her school involved to see if we could raise the money and sponsor a dog.

J and her friend made Valantine's cards and sold them at school and started to whip up some interest. She then managed to convince the Head to let us hold a fete. He agreed and she managed to organise quite an impressive event (with a little help from mum, of course). I din't tell her that I had managed to get the local newspaper interested, along with the local GRW rep and her two rescue dogs. So what a surprise she had when they all turned up at school!

In all we managed to raise a very impressive £150 for GRW and the school now sponsors 3 dogs!

Here are J & A and their friend with the dogs that came to visit.

Anyway, yesterday we had a stall at the school's summer fair and managed to raise another £40 for GRW. I'm going to hang on to it and hopefully raise some more so the school can sponsor a dog or two again next year.

I have to say, even though I am biased, that it's wonderful to see a kid so interested in helping others rather than just worrying about themselves.

This weekend I was mostly writing poetry!

2008-07-14T15:00:00.003+01:00

I used to write a lot of poetry, i've just always liked to write. Doesn't matter what it says or whether it's by pen or keyboard! So, inspired by J, i've been writing again. I found this amazing poetry site called Allpoetry. It's a real treasure trove of talent and covers just about anything you could imagine. If you enjoy reading poetry then it's certainly worth looking at, but if you write as well then you have to sign up! You can air your pre written poems for public viewing and comments in a very friendly place, all comments that I have seen have been full of praise and/or constructive advice. Or you can enter competitions relating to a prompt and let your imagination run away with you.

I have been writing as BerthdduSuit, of course, and if poetry appeals then you can check out mine at http://allpoetry.com/BerthdduSuit. For those that don't know, Berthddu is pronounced Berth-thi or more commonly round these parts Berth-di. Hence BerthdduSuit! Get it? I'm writing naked! J has also got a page at Allpoetry and is writing as BerthdduCake. How cute is that? So anyway, come along and have a look and tell us what you think.

Published Poet!

2008-07-12T18:44:00.006+01:00

Busy couple of days! Ian, ended up coming in for a cup of tea after all! He had some more drops to do in the area and decided to park up not far from the house for night. So I went down to fetch him and he came back to the house for tea (eggs, of course!) and a bath! The girls weren't here when he arrived, they were both out at friends houses, so it was a nice surprise to find him there when they got back. They got to stay up late too, so we could take him back to his lorry, Ashleigh Emma. Quite posh those cabs, excellent suspension, on board computers and even a cooker! How he fits in his bunk though, i'll never know, he's not exactly short! The girls enjoyed seeing the truck and enjoyed sitting in the cab, even though it was like climbing a mountain to get in it! Not a good picture i'm afraid, but here they are with Ashleigh Emma!

Yesterday I was brushing up on my Greek, I don't know a lot but I'm trying. It's a very difficult language to learn, quite complicated, but apparantly not as much as English. I have been practising typing in Greek and learn to spell properly and put the accents in the right place.

Γέια σου. Είμαι μάθηση Ελλίνικα!

I was going to post last night, but I had a little too much wine and couldn't think straight, so it's probably best that I didn't, who knows what I would have written.

Anyway, today I took the girls to the local pool for 'Aqua Splash'. It's not cheap but they love it. The have lots of floats and inflatables in the water and this huge inflatable assault course. It's well controlled and I can happily sit back and relax and watch them having fun. Here you can just see A coming down the slide.

When we got back i emptied the post box, it was full, and for a change there was lots of post for J. A postcard from Granny for both of the girls. Lots of long awaited sponsorship details from Greyhound Rescue Wales after, thanks to J, her school raised £150 for them at Easter! And the best yet; a Young Writers Award! J entered a poetry competition, along with the rest of her school, (http://www.biggreenpoetrymachine.co.uk/Primary%20Competition.html) and today came the news that her poem had been one of the selected to be published this autumn! How exciting! This was J's Poem;

Relief

She walks three miles to find water,

Little food remains in the clan,

She is the youngest daughter,

Of a very worried man.

Then came the global warming,

The crops did not grow,

It came with no warning,

The hunger slowly began to show.

But one day a plane flew down,

They all let out a delighted cry,

Everyone wore an upside-down frown,

As they realised they weren't going to die.

Clever little sausage!

(I apologise for the weird spacing in my posts of late, for some reason it doesn't seem to want to let me put them where I would like!)

Thanks Eddie!

2008-07-10T14:55:00.008+01:00

Okay, the rain has stopped and I can see blue sky. I still haven't sexed my chickens but I feel better anyway! I just had a phone call which lead to an unusual event that made me do silly things at the side of the road!

Where I used to live, I was surrounded by friends, they would often pop in for coffee, not a day went by without one friendly face or another and usually more, sitting round my kitchen table and talking rubbish. So being here, that is one thing I miss. Yes, I am making more friends, but none of them live 'just round the corner'. And for one of my old friends to pop in for coffee would be a 6 hour round trip. Hmmmm, just a little bit much.

So, when I receive the phone call from Ian, I get a little bit excited. Ian, who has been a family friend, since he dated my sister many moons ago, drives for Stobarts. Look, here he is taking a break!

He drove our lorry for us when we moved here and I haven't managed to catch up with him since. He rang to say he was passing but unfortunately didn't have time to stop. So I walked down to the end of the drive to wave him past. So there's me, stood at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with my leg out, being beeped at by a passing Stobart's lorry! I resisted the urge to flash my breasts, but the following cars must have wondered what the hell was going on. Nevermind, the odd but brief encounter has left me with a smile that will keep me going for a bit.

So thanks Eddie Stobart for sending one of my friends through the Welsh countryside to cheer up the strange folk that dwell there.

Chicken Sexing

2008-07-10T13:10:00.003+01:00

Okay this time i'm not just rambling, i need some advice please. Do any of you chicken people know how the hell I can sex my chickens. I keep thinking I know, then one of them looks totally different overnight! I'm estimating that they are around 16 - 17 weeks old. They are Heinz 57 variety so no feather sexing here. I am not about to squeeze their bums either, so please don't suggest vent sexing thank you!

The two that I thought were boys are the two black ones. They are slightly bigger than the others but I thought this was due to the other two being ill early on. They both also don't have such developed wattles as the others, although their combs are the same. One though, has changed his tail shape. It has become longer and less feathered. This chap is also the more dominant one of the group. I am guessing he's a cock.

This one, however looks exactly the same, wattles, comb and all, but has a much stumpier tail, like the others.

So am I just being hopeful, stupid, or is it just too early? I need to find new homes for the boys because J won't let me cook them. We may have found someone who will rehome one, but I need to know if I am giving away the right bird! I don't want to give up my layers! So any ideas gratefully received!

A tin of Roses for all

2008-07-09T11:25:00.006+01:00

I actually haven't got much to say today! Shocking I know! So I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who reads my nonsense and leaves me kind comments. When I first started blogging I was terrified that no one would read it, or, worse still, that everyone would think it was a load of crap, or worse STILL not give a toss wether it was even crap or not! But you have all been wonderful and I feel that I have joined a happy, friendly community. I love keeping up with everyone else's posts and my blog roll grows daily, soon there won't be room for me to blog at all!

So again, thanks to all for reading and commenting, and thanks to all that blog. You thought provoke, inform, advise and often have me in fits of laughter on a daily basis. It doesn't do my housework, but it does go well with a cup of coffee.

A 6 year old's adventure

2008-07-08T11:51:00.004+01:00

I have just been reminded of an incident that happened nearly three years ago, which is one of the reasons we wanted to move away from town life and into the country. We used to live in and ex council house on an estate. It was a cul-de-sac (or the arse of a bag, as kindly pointed out here; http://lehnersinfrance.blogspot.com/) and the kids had a small, set area where they were allowed to go. They had strict instructions on who they could talk to and where they were allowed to be. A, being A had to be reminded of the rules everytime she went out the door. She is an independent soul and has been a handful ever since she learnt to crawl!

Anyway, one day, not long after A's sixth birthday she came flying in the door and straight upstairs to her room. This was quickly followed by a knock at the door. Imagine my surprise when, on opening it, I found two police officers.

'Your daughter was at Sainsbury's, did you know she had gone?'

Sainsbury's was not far from the house, well for an adult. A must have ridden her bike down along the side of the river, over the bridge, across a very busy crossroads and down to Sainsburys. Did I know she had gone to Sainsbury's? Of course not, I would have given her a list! Anyway, she'd only been gone for a little while, she must have gone out the door, got on her bike and ridden straight there!

It turns out, that bloody lucky for her, there are a few genuine people left out there. A man driving his car happened to be at the traffic lights as A had passed. He parked up, and went to speak to her! He decided she shouldn't be out alone and was walking her home when he bumped into the coppers on bikes. Man handed A over to them and they brought her home. I mean how bloody terrifingly lucky! Man went back to get his car and drove round to the house to check that she had got back (in case the police didn't bring her home?). Anyway, I am eternally grateful to Man, 'cos God knows where she would or could have ended up!

The police asked if she had been running away, I guess it was their job, but I found it a little insulting. They were obviously looking at me as a bad mother who didn't know where her kids were and who probably did drugs and had a husband that beat her. But A was just being A. She'd gone for a bike ride, that's all. She didn't understand what all the fuss was about! Even when I told her what could have happened. I even considered staging a fake child abduction to try and frighten the point home, but then I thought knowing my luck it would back fire and we'd all be arrested or something!

She has improved over time, she isn't such a handful as she used to be, but it does feel somewhat safer for them out here in the countryside.

Chickens and bungalows

2008-07-08T10:10:00.003+01:00

So, Saturday afternoon, when I was being lazy and helping J with a computer game instead of doing the housework, S turns up unexpectedly, AGAIN! I had spoken to him on Friday and he told me he wouldn't be back for two weeks! Now S does like a tidy house, and wasn't much impressed with the pile of washing up I hadn't quite got round to, so I appeased him with a cup of coffee and two beautiful, tasty, poached eggs! Speaking of chickens, look at these two now, making out that they always liked eachother!

Saturday evening my sister took the girls to the theatre and kept them over night, so me and S had a peaceful night to ourselves. We had to go and get him some food, because, thinking he wasn't coming home, I hadn't bothered to buy him his 'man' food! Me and the girls eat a lot of pasta and rice, S is a meat and two veg man. While we were out we stopped off to look at a bungalow which might suit my parents. They have such a long list of criteria, but all of them quite important. They are not looking to move again, so the house has to be just right. They are both keen gardeners, dad has grown his own veg for years, but the garden can't be so big that they won't cope a few years down the line. My mum doesn't drive but is extremely independent, so the house musn't be too remote, or have an impossibly good bus service! The bungalow, unfortunately, was too far out of town, and would have meant mum would have quite a walk, up a hill, to get the shopping home.

It's hard looking for a house when you are so far away, we know, we did ourselves not long ago. They had a couple look at their house this weekend who were really interested, so I think they will end up renting up here for a bit until a suitable house comes up. At least that way they can see what's available and get used to the area a bit more. My dad, of course, was born and raised here, but my mum only knows the area from passing through when visiting relatives.

Anyway, as me and S cuddled up in bed quite late on Saturday night, my phone sounded to say I'd received a text message. I had left my phone in the bathroom and really couldn't be bothered to go and get it.

'Who's texting you this time of night?' asks S

'I don't know, can't tell from here' i replied, snuggling.

After the third reminder that I had a text message, i hauled myself out of bed.

'Damn it, forgot to put the chickens to bed too!' I say as I make my way to the bathroom.

'Perhaps it's them asking you to close the door!' says S from the cosy comfort of the bed.

Qu-Chi Band Review

2008-07-08T09:26:00.004+01:00

The Qu-chi Band is a completely natural and drug free solution to the symptoms of hayfever. Developed by Andrew Broch, a hayfever sufferer himself, who is an acupunturist in Leeds. Qu-chi is the Chinese name given to the acupuncture point in your elbow crease. The English name, The Pool at the Bend, somehow just doesn't sound quite the same! So the Qu-chi band works by putting a little pressure on the Qu-chi with a small stud held in place by two bands, one of which fits around your arm above the elbow and the other below. Of course, because of it's nature, the band is suitable for children too, can be worn overnight, and may also help with other allergies which cause itchy eyes and a running nose. The band should NOT be worn during PREGNANCY.
Putting the band on is simple, getting it in the right place just takes a little practise. There is information printed on the packaging to help you position it. At first I found it a little uncomfortable, it felt like my sleeve was pulled up and I kept wanting to tug it down, but I have got used to it. I have skinny arms though, so someone larger than myself may find it a bit tight.

Sunday morning I was sneezing before I even opened my eyes, so when I got up I put the band on. Although we are nearing the end of the season and the weather has been ridiculously up and down, I do think the band has made a big difference. It appears to work within minutes of putting it on, my nose magically dries up and my itchy eyes are relieved. The first day I wore it, I took it off in the late afternoon because it was a little uncomfortable, but after going off in the car for half an hour, my eyes were itching terribly, so I put it back on and within minutes I felt much better. I think the real test will be next summer at the beginning of the next season, but from what I have experienced I think it will at least calm my symptoms if not completely remove them.

I don't know if this works for everyone but, although late in the season, I can definately say it has worked for me. I do suffer quite badly from hayfever, so I know what lengths we can go to for a bit of relief, so it has got to be worth a try. Thanks again to Andrew Broch for sending me the band to try out.

http://airtightinternationalltd.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

Religion and Acupressure!

2008-07-05T12:05:00.004+01:00

Wow, what a morning already! I decided to have a lie in, as I can usually rely on the girls to feed the cat monsters and let the chicken babies out. So, after a much enjoyed doze, just as I decided, reluctantly, it was time to get up, J came up the stairs saying there were two people on the doorstep. This doesn't happen very often. We are in the middle of nowhere and we don't tend to get many random callers. But the Jehovahs Witnesses are a determind lot! I decided to hear them out. I am not at all religious, in fact I find most of the claims in the bible to be ludicrous, but each to their own. I respect others' needs for religion and believe in good morals.

I actually kept them on the doorstep for a good hour, fair play to them, they answered my questions, mostly with what they obviously believe to be fair answers. I was just puzzled with how, faced with the question; 'Who made God?', that 'He has just always been.' was a reasonable arguement to his existence. I doubt anything will ever make me 'believe' but I do find the whole concept quite interesting, and don't mind a sensible debate on the subject. As long as I teach my children to be strong, confident, independent and respectful of others I don't think I am going far wrong.

Returning to the subject of Hayfever, i have an update. After posting of my misery the other day I received an email from a man named Andrew Broch, who is an accupuncturist in Leeds. He offered to send me something called a Qu-chi band. The band fits on your elbow and puts a little pressure on the spot which is believed to help relieve hayfever. www.quchi.co.uk
I accepted Andrew's gracious offer and the band arrived this morning! I am wearing it as we speak, and although it feels a little strange, i do believe my eyes aren't quite so itchy as they were earlier today. I will continue to wear the band and let you all know how I get on.

As some of you may already know, my number one daughter J, suffers horribly from car sickness so I have also asked Andrew advice on this too. Something similar to the Qu-chi band would be an amazing solution and end a lot of 'sticky' situations!

The girls are off to the theatre with their Aunty tonight, OH is away, so I have a nice peaceful evening to myself. I wonder what I'll waffle I will come up with.............

Well how bloody amazing are my kids?

2008-07-04T17:21:00.005+01:00

Today was the school sports day. With both of the girls running in 80m, 200m, obstacle type race, relay and both doing high jump also. J came first in all her races, except the obstacle one! She had a troublesome hoop which meant that she came in second. And she came first in her year group high jump! This is a massive acheivement for number one daughter who until recently was not very good at the physical stuff, she's much more academic.

Here she is taking an easy first in the 80m

A came third in all her races and got a second in the high jump. She has always been the more pysical of the two but struggles to concentrate on what she's doing! Something her recent school report reflects!

Here she is coming a very close third in the 80m

When I first saw these pictures, I picked up on something I hadn't noticed at the time. My girls' unusual running style! Both may be slightly unorthodox but totally different! Go on, have another look and you will see J almost leaning backwards and A determind to kick her own bum! Oh well, whatever works for you! It certainly worked for them and I am deservedly proud of both of them.

Sunshine, birds and apologies!

2008-07-03T16:06:00.008+01:00

Now I know that I've been blabbing on quite a bit since i started blogging only a short time ago, but I just keep thinking of things I want to say, and as the sun finally made an appearance this afternoon I heard the now familiar and strangely almost threatening sound of a kite circling.

I'm not a huge bird person, although I do have a soft spot for birds of prey, and i'm now living smack bang in the middle of Red Kite country, which is wonderful. But it's not just the kites, there's the buzzards of course and my neighbour swears he saw one of those escaped eagles not far from the house. It's the little birds too. We have the great pleasure of a family of woodpeckers who visit daily, along with a host of other birds that previously living in a town, i haven't had the pleasure of seeing before.

Woodpeckers

Nuthatches

Tree creepers

We even have Herons flying over the house sometimes! We have all the usual birds too, of course, House Martins, Finches and Tits of all shapes and sizes (I am still talking about the birds), and of course the Sparrows which sit on my satellite dish and disrubt the telly! Unfortunately though, the cats like the birds too, I'd rather they stuck to the mice, but I've had a robin at the bottom of the stairs, a baby nuthatch on the sofa and a blue tit flying round the lounge!

They all end up in the compost along with the vole I found on the patio this morning.

What is this stuff made of?

2008-07-03T14:18:00.004+01:00

My kindly and generous neighbour gave the girls some 'Bath Confetti' the other day. Her girls are all grown up and no doubt use expensive products now. Last night when the girls had their bath they obviously thought it was time to use some. I guess you sprinkle it in the bath and it dissolves like bath salts, but not when you sprinkle it around the toilet! When i went to bed last night i had noticed that the bathroom was like a bomb site, as it usually is when these two have a bath, and that a bit of confetti had obviously escaped. Job for tomorrow, i had thought as i went to bed, to tired to contemplate starting the rescue misson.

So today i set about tackling the wreckage. I had underestimated the spillage! By the time i had cleared away all the disgarded clothes and other micellaneous items which appear periodically in my bathroom, i discovered it was everywhere, all around the toilet, in the tricky bit where the seat hinge is, and over pretty much all of the floor. And what happens when a damp cloth is used to clear this stuff up? It turns into slime, of course! Now my bathroom is pretty small (we plan to extend as soon as S has the energy and time) but it has never taken me so long to clean it! The more i cleaned, the more it spread! I have done it, now, but i swear that the bathroom has a slight blue tinge that wasn't there before. And how the hell am i supposed to get it out of my hair? My turn in the bath i guess, WITHOUT confetti.

That's one nice gift that might have to get lost along with the noisy things and nail varnish.

The joys of summer continued!

2008-07-03T10:05:00.007+01:00

Okay, okay, i am now sorry i wished for the rain, i may have stopped sneezing quite so hard but this wetness is all getting a bit depressing. Yesterday was ridiculous, just as i decided it was time to go to town the skies opened. We've had a good drenching and today doesn't look much better. Last night when i spoke to my husband he said they'd had a beautiful day yesterday, but when i spoke to him again this morning he said the rain had come, sorry my apologies to Liverpool, it's all my fault. At least the neighbour's horse is getting some resbite from the flies that have been plagueing her relentlessly.

I lost the lead that connects my mobile to my laptop, so i haven't been able to put any new ones up. My phone takes quite good pics, and i always have it with me, so i use it a lot. At last the lead has turned up. So here's a couple of pics.

These are the youngsters, who all have interesting names, thanks to the kids; Far back; Vanilla (my favourite), in front of her is Eagle, right is Woody and front is Bumble. They are around 16 weeks, and we think the two black ones are both coqs so they will be looking for new homes. J won't allow them to go in the pot!

The other day when i let the ex-batts out, i thought i'd let one of the cats out too. Next door have chickens and the cats don't bother them anymore. I decided on Clay as he's the calmer of the two. At first he ignored them but then thought he'd have a stalk, the chickens had no concept of danger and completely ignored him. This is going to take some work if all chickens are to free range in the future!

Speaking of cats, this is H getting up close and personal with Blue one of our neighbours' horse. H is a bit nervous of Blue, but I caught C lying behind her playing with her tail the other day! She is a lovely old girl, with a wonderful calm and friendly nature.

She loves a carrot or apple and a bit of fuss, unfortunately she doesn't get as much attention as she should, so she loves it when the girls (A left, J right) come and give her some love. Here she is giving J a really good rub. When we first came A was very nervous around horses (or ponies for that matter) she wouldn't even feed her a bit of apple, but Blue has really helped her overcome it, she's a good 16hh but A is confident enough to go in the field and give her a brush, and she has learnt to gently push her away if she gets too close.

These pics, were taken a couple of days ago when we were lucky enough to catch 30 minutes of sunshine! I take it all back, it's July! Please bring back the sun!

The joys of summer

2008-07-01T20:10:00.002+01:00

Never thought i'd say it, not on the first day of July anyway, but Thank God It's Raining! I knew the hayfever would come in at some point! I've been keeping it at bay with drugs (there must be some natural alternative, any ideas?) and just about surviving, until today. Must have been the wind strirring it up but now i feel like my eyeballs are bulging and i've sneezed half my brains out, something certainly isn't working properly up there! I've soaked myself in the bath and have finally stopped sneezing (for now) so now all i have to do is replace all the fluid that has escaped from my nose, apply some vaseline to said nose and tuck myself into bed for an early night, cats willing.

Surprises!

2008-06-30T23:41:00.004+01:00

I was going to write over the weekend, but i had the wonderful surprise of my husband appearing on Saturday afternoon. He works away and wasn't due back until next Friday! So, i've had a busy weekend making him coffee and food, he is Greek after all! He's eaten all the eggs and had his washing done, and now's he gone again. Flying visit but rather pleasant!

Anyway i was going to talk about toilet training my bengals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=051SpYwy_v0. I mean, how cool is that? Both my boys have very different habits when it comes to this sort of thing. H likes to go in the litter tray, he will come in from an excursion to God knows where, and go straight to it. Why? You've just been out in the biggest litter tray there is! He doesn't even mind if it's a bit dirty, unlike his brother. C doesn't much like using the tray, he prefers to do it out. If the box has been used and he can't get out, he will either sit there and yowl a demand that is cleaned or go off and find a nice duvet or leather jacket to do it on!! So wouldn't it be fantastic to train them to use the toilet? No more misplaced doo doos, no more cleaning out the stinky litter tray. I'm not sure that H would be impressed, and knowing him he will probably fall in. But C seems to be working round to the idea. Saturday morning i got up and visited the loo, as one does. C strolls into the bathroom, up into the bath, and squats perfectly over the plug hole! I wonder how many times he's done that? Eeww, reminder to self, wash thoroughly before running a bath!!

On a chickeny note, i tried introducing the ex-batts to the teenagers today. I opened the door to the house so the babies could come out. Only two braved it - chickens. Most of the time they didn't take much notice of eachother, but when one of the youngsters came face to face with Bella, she thought she'd have a go, (being tough and having survived a cat attack and all). It didn't go down so well though, Bella grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the floor!! I had to put a gentle foot between them to get them apart! Lordy! I guess little 'un won't try that again in hurry! Will try again in a couple of days, if the bloody weather sorts itself out!

Rabbit D.I.Y.

2008-06-27T12:18:00.005+01:00

Ok, so while the boys are trashing my lounge, i take a deep breath and head outside to face the weather and my chores. It's ok, i like looking after my animals, there's a great satisfaction to watching them grow and live happy contented lives. It's just nicer when the sun is shining and i have time to sit and watch them. Chickens fed and watered i start on the rabbits.

When i get to Tiger's hutch i realise all his bedding is wet. Wtf? Did he really drink so much? No clever rabbit, knowing it was June and that the lovely friendly Bengals don't eat rabbits (?) he has built himself a sun roof!! Yep, he has chewed a substantial hole in the roof of his hutch!

That's handy, i was looking for a new job to take on.

Who? Me?

Please bring back the sun

2008-06-27T09:50:00.004+01:00

Typical! The weather has been appalling, of course, it's June! My Bengals are hating it. You open the door for them, they rush to it, take one look, then turn to me and go 'WTF? You expect me to go out in that?' Ok, so they don't want to go out, they go back to bed. Fine, lucky buggers. The trouble is they are still young, they'll be one next month, and after a certain amount of sleeping the youthful energy builds up. It's usually when the kids go to bed, and i get screams down the stairs, ' Mum, Clay is attacking my feet!' and 'Mum Harley's just pounced on my head!' I then have to go up, catch them (which is a quite a feat), bring them downstairs and shut them in a room with their toys and scratching post, and listen to them trash the room.

Last night was different, the energy build up came later. It wasn't till i went to bed. As i was finishing up downstairs i could hear crashing noises coming from upstairs. Is that the kids or the cats? Even for the cats it sounded a bit much. I went up to investigate (with my whip and chair). Now i'm not really bothered by creepy crawlies, i mean if a huge spider leapt on my face, i may lose my cool just for a second, but if they leave me alone then that's fine with me. But i have never seen such a HUGE daddy long legs in my life! And there, throwing themselves around after it with a great deal of enjoyment and excitement, are my boys, bless them! Onto my bedroom window sill, knocking a few photos off as they pass, onto the bed, falling off the bed in a suicidal attempt at flying, out of the room, into the bathroom, into the bath, out of the bath, into the wall, half way down the stairs, back up the stairs, back into my bedroom. This went on for a while, like a crazy assault course circuit, with me unable to catch cat or crane fly. Luckily they stayed out of the kids' rooms and didn't wake them either, which is a miracle in itself, and eventually i managed to guide it out of a window without the boys sailing out after it.

Quite worn out from their exploits but a little disappointed that their prey had escaped, the boys curled up on the end of my bed and promptly went to sleep. I put my room back together and curled up myself hoping the sun would appear in the morning. That's hopeful, it's June in Britain for God's sake!

Silly Cyprus

2008-06-26T22:22:00.006+01:00

My husband being of Cypriot descent, we have visited a few times. It is a beautiful country and everything is 'Super'. I found a collection of funny signs, mostly spelling mistakes. I thought you may enjoy a chuckle.

Hmmm, only in Cyprus would you get away with this nice polite 'PC' sign!

Um, which way's Larnaca again?

Lol, typical Cyprus always got to be better than the next guy!

Must make sure i go to this restaurant next time i'm in Cyprus, the food sounds delicious!

This photo was taken in Northen Cyprus, which i don't approve of, but it is bloody hilarious!

Windscreen wipers, poems and addiction.

2008-06-26T21:51:00.003+01:00

What is it, that when you get to a certain age and level of domesticity, the simplest, benign things excite you? Please don't tell me i'm alone! Like when you get a new washing machine, is it really only me that gets a little bit excited? My windscreen wipers were getting a bit wobbly, so when i put them on they cleared most of the windscreen, just not the bit exactly where i needed to see. So being typically me i kept forgetting to do anything, you know, when the sun is shining, you aren't thinking about windscreen wipers are you? So everytime it rained i had to adopt an unusual driving position to get anywhere, dangerous, i know. So yesterday, being all organised, i bought some new ones. Today when the skies opened i was like a kid, marvelling at the beautiful clear windscreen, that i could actually see through. Is my life really that uninteresting? Really?

I've decided to publish the poem i wrote for my husband's anniversary card. It made us both laugh, and he thought i got it from the net anyway, so maybe it will entertain you! It went something like this;

You make me smile, you make me laugh,
And you look good in the bath.
Even though you're sometimes grumpy,
Your pants are often hard and lumpy.
You wind me up, you drive me mad,
But when you're gone, it makes me sad.
Even though you snore and fart,
I love you with all my heart.

Oh, and addiction. Well, i'm addicted to smoking, The Sims 2 on PC, Facebook...... and now this!! I keep thinking of things i want to say. Please let me know if I bore you, i would hate that to happen.

Eggs

2008-06-26T12:43:00.003+01:00

C didn't lay yesterday and the day before we had a very odd egg. The fat end was normal, but the pointy end was a very obscure shape and paper thin. I'm guessing it was just a blip as we have two beautiful eggs today. I have given them cat food, someone said it was good protein to help them regrow their feathers and it should help with the eggs too. Trouble is because they are battery hens they have never seen anything but mash their whole lives, they have no idea what to do with anything else!

I saw a blog post the other day where someone was claiming that they would only ever eat battery eggs. Why? Because of a particular egg, which had a feather stuck to it! OMG a feather, how disgusting! Grow up for God's sake, no one says you have to eat the feather. Would people really rather eat eggs from hens who suffer horrendously than a beautiful egg (with a feather on it) from happy chickens that free range.

Schools, shops and miles

2008-06-26T09:12:00.006+01:00

There are definite downsides to living where we do. The small irritating one is having to literally drive the rubbish down to the road on a Wednesday morning. It's not particularly fun when it's peeing down with ran and the cats have ripped open the bags! Grrr. But, of course, the biggest problem at the moment is the petrol prices, everything is so far away!! We moved from a town where the pub and shop were a minutes walk away, and the centre of town was ten. It takes a bit of getting used to. We now live about a mile and a half from the pub and tiny shop which has pretty short opening hours. The nearest small town is about three miles away and the next biggest town is about nine.

School is in the next village which is also where my sister lives. School was a big factor when we moved and i decided not to send them to the one in our village. The kids came from a school of 340 pupils, the little village school has only 40! They would have been in the same class which wouldn't have gone down well, their characters are far too different. My eldest is also very bright and i needed a school that will challenege her. So i drive them four and a half miles to school. That's fine, i would have had to drive them to school anyway, and actually it doesn't take as long as it did to their old school which was a hell of a lot nearer. There are no queues, no traffic lights, just a quiet road, straight through as long as the train isn't late!

But this morning, just as we get to school, youngest states she's forgotten her homework, and the eldest has forgotten her P.E. kit. So having driven 9 miles already this morning I have to go and do it again. Ok so 18 miles isn't THAT far, but my PETROL Frontera that i bought for 'country living' seems to be very thirsty at the moment.

We really must get this country living figured out, i've already borrowed tinned tomatos and cat food from my neighbour, becasue popping to the shop at 6 when you realise you haven't got something has taken on a whole new meaning, and is now a full scale expedition rather than a 2 minute chore. God help us when we get snowed in! At least we have eggs.

Today's rant!

2008-06-25T14:44:00.002+01:00

Today i have had nothing but random and irrelavant phone calls. Either for people i've never heard of or from obscure debt management companies claiming to know I have debt against my name. Well clever you, 90% of all people who own a house have bloody debt, wasn't a difficult conclusion was it? Do they really think that phoning someone and telling them they have debt will make them listen? My response is a quick return of phone to base. Honestly the phone hasn't stopped all day and it is beginning to seriously wind me up. The next person to call me better have something good to say!

Compulsary Vaccinations

2008-06-25T09:32:00.003+01:00

Yesterday i received and email from my sister , who suffers from Chronic Fatique and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I myself suffer from Fibro Myalgia, but luckily, fingers crossed, have been fairly well for some time. This email outlines the government's plans to make vaccinations for children compulsary. Even stating that they would not be alllowed into school without them, and parents not being able to claim Child Benefit. For sufferers of M.E. and it's related illnesses this could have far reaching consequences. With the huge ongoing debate about the links of these vaccinations and Autism and other problems how can this be allowed to happen? This would definately be removing the freedom of choice.

Please follow this link and sign the Downing Street petition:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forcedvaccines/