Something for Emma's fans

Just a very quicky to try and keep this blog going. Still so busy at this time of year, if I don't make an effort to come on here in the morning before I start, I don't seem to get round to it. Done loads and loads since last time I blogged, best thing was going to the opening of the first new racecourse in the UK for over 80 years, last Thursday, called Ffos Las, about 2 miles from Alan's house, which is handy! Did take a few pics but not gotten round to downloading them off the camera yet, oh dear. Oh and I came home quids up, (and a little hoarse, forgive the pun, screaming your horse on up the straight is something else, along with about 6,000 other people) I won £30 on the last race which quite made my night on a 25/1 outsider! (Have a look here, it's brill - http://www.ffoslasracecourse.com/index.php )

With the light evenings now, I am not even putting the tv on let alone the computer, normally outside doing something in the garden, shutting up the greenhouse, gardening, watering the tubs and borders, shutting in the birds, or just gazing upwards watching the swifts and swallows hunting. Then come in time for Alan's phone call about 10 pm.

I start the farm today for 4 days, so expect some more pics of cats, dogs and sheep, they have some newborn lambs popping out from all directions, the mistake of the two rams from last year that weren't castrated properly! Oh and expect the weather to change I suppose....

Anyway, a few pics I took yesterday of Emma on a walk down by the river, my favourite place. Needed to cool off, lovin' this heat, long may it continue.

More cats and dogs

All taken today, fun in the sun...









Fight!



















Doing a "Pete" here, the sun was a bit too bright on the colour version, so thought I'd try this

Just cats.... (mainly Little)

The remaining farm cats (Bigley has sadly disappeared...)











Little and Shorty

Just dogs ...

At the farm....

Another quicky

So much happened since the last one I did, can't even begin to put it all down now, but I had to post some of the wonderful shots I got yesterday up at the farm. Doing this for 8 days this time, and loving it with this superb weather, hot hot hot! The field alongside the ones I take the dogs for walks in is smothered in meadow buttercups, and I had taken a photo or two of it the other day, but yesterday was thrilled to see the mares and their gorgeous little foals too, so it set it off so well.

Will try and update with some other stuff I've done soon, have taken photos but just been too busy to do this, I didn't even touch my laptop for two whole days last week (shock, horror) Blame it on the weather and the fact that it's light until nearly 11pm at the moment, the only television I have watched in two weeks is Springwatch Hour!

Watch this space.

Few more...

Let Emma out for last wee about 11.30 last night and there were two hoggies at the front dish. Dashed back to get the camera quickly, but by the time I'd got back the little one had legged it and hidden by my mower! Then the damn battery had gone flat in the camera, grrr. Anyway quick change and by then Biggy had started to vacate the premises too, but stood and listened to my conversation for a few minutes, sniffing the air and considering her best move, then suddenly lifted her skirts and ran like hell and also hid by my mower, lol. Was very funny to witness. By this time it was getting on for midnight.

I wonder what the neighbours think of me having convos in the porch and flashing camera lights at that time of night? Not to mention that the porch is becoming a latrine. Must get the poop scoop in action today I think. (Well I'm sure the neighbours think they live next door to a very eccentric person to put it politely. Who else stands outside in their dressing gown calling "Thierry, Frank or Gitty" at 7 am in the morning? ......

Birds and Hog/s

Well what can I say? Well for the sake of trying to be polite, (for a change) Fed Up would be the best way of putting it. I'm sick and tired of this godawful weather. Grey skies, drizzle, torrential rain, 10c most of the time highest temps, wind, and central heating still on. 'Nuff said. Grrrrrr.

Okay so I took some photos of the birds in my aviary the other day cos I had been given a new budgie, who has been living indoors in a cage. Long story short, she wouldn't tame down with the owner, I had a try, and she is completely mental, in fact I have called her Psycho! So anyway, she's now gone out into the aviary with my others and has settled well so I took some pics to show the previous owner when I see her (Alan's sister's neighbour) Also took some of a few of my cockatiels.

Frank been back a couple of times this week for the mealworms. Eaten three or four then flown off with just one. He'd disappeared for about 2 weeks again. I say "he" lightly now. I have a theory. I think Frank may, after all, be female. Its the only explanation I can come up with for the pattern of appearing/disappearing. I think when s/he was coming and taking zillions of worms a few weeks ago, obviously feeding chicks, which I think both male and female do. When s/he disappears for a couple of weeks, could be sitting on a nest of eggs, and just turning up for a few to eat on her lunch/tea break? Obviously if I'm not around at those times, I wouldn't see her. Dunno, could be anyway I think.

Also now got a lovely male blackbird named Thierry, after the gorgeous male black man, swoon, erm, yes he is at the window looking in at me all the time, I'm having to throw him 8 or so mealworms at a time. There's also another Robin who is becoming bolder, taking lots, both of these are nesting really close by because they literally are gone and back within about 1 minute! Costing me a fortune.

Took a couple of proper shots of the hoggy in front porch last night, very cute, the unmarked one. Will have to think of some names for these this year. Hum.

Dunno what's in store for the weekend, if the weather stays the same as now not very much I think. Got the farm next week for three days, then the following week for eight days, so hope maybe we may have an end to this wet and miserable bloody cold. Everyone is saying it's more like March. Well I was warmer in February.

Aviary

Smudge Jo Boy

Psycho

Thierry



Hoggy

There's more...

These two are in lurvve! The one in the dish is female, pretty sure. She sat and ate and ate, whilst the other one circled round and round for about 25 minutes. No aggression at all. Then they went off together hand in hand... no not really lol, but anyway, it was cute to watch. Later, there were two again, but definitely one of them was different, back to the pushing and shoving, was about 11.30 pm.

All the food from the front porch dish had gone by then, so I put out a lot more. At least I know it's the hogs eating it though, I did wonder if they were leaving lots and the early birds were clearing the dish. So they ate dried mealworms, raisins, peanut halves, sunflower hearts, suet pellets and broken up bits of Rich Tea. Eat better than me! Costing me a small fortune actually, the tub of mealworms only lasts about 2 days!

Hog News!

I think there must be a whole army of them out there at night. The garden is covered, and I mean covered, with hog poo! I picked up about a sack load from the back path and front porch yesterday, and there's dollops all over the grass everywhere I look. Sorry if that's too much info!

Anyway, I know for sure I have three. One is marked with white on rear end, one has marks between front shoulders, and last night, a little cutey in front porch, very small, no marks, too early to be this years of course, but I guess one of last years babies that made it through the winter.

Few shots from the webcam, last night for the first time there were two at once, and much bumping and barging going on.

Went to collect the dish from front porch just now and one of them had wee'd in it. Lovely creatures aren't they?

Anyway, cam is not an option for you early-to-bed merchants, they aren't appearing till gone 10pm, captures from last night were about 11-ish. Sowwy! (You know who you are) ;o)

So much to catch up on AGAIN!

Never seems to be enough time to do this any more. Such a shame cos I'm still taking a few photos with good intentions, and then end up with a huge backlog stored either on the phone still or on the laptop, and I keep thinking I must do my blog, I must do my blog..... Well it's raining, I'm still in bed (yes it's 10am but I was up at 7.30 to let Emma out, put out the bird feed, uncover the budgies, give the guinea pigs their cucumber, then I got back in bed with my coffee to do my quizzes on here YAWN, yes very boring I know.

Anyway, here's some photos and a brief bit about some of the stuff I've done over the past couple of weeks.

The first two are of a wonderful night out with a dear old friend of mine from the past - John Mann. I'd been back in contact with him again recently via email and was thrilled to find out he was doing the opening night concert of a newly installed Wurlitzer organ (originally in the Gaumont Theatre, Manchester) only down the road here at Folly Farm. http://www.folly-farm.co.uk/events.aspx?PageID=35 (Sorry don't know how to do the links that you click on) I used to be very into the organ world of concerts and travelled to USA a couple of times with the ATOS London chapter way back when. Anyhow I'd not seen the lovely John for over 25 years! Had a great night of music and brought back some wonderful memories for me, and then the following day Alan and I were invited to join him and some pals for lunch at a superb restaurant,highly recommended - http://www.cwm-deri.co.uk/ Great scenery looking out across Pembrokeshire, and super food and staff.





The next day was Bank Holiday and we went to a Classic Car event at Swansea, which was great, and then onto the Mumbles for tea and sat looking out at the sea. Had to stay inside the cafe though as it was a bit breezy and chilly. Would be great on a nice day though.







Okay fast forward now to last weekend, can't remember what I did during the week only usual stuff oh been working my socks off on the garden and getting it looking the best it's done for a few years even though I say it myself. Lots of tubs full of bedding plants, and loads of small seedlings coming along in the greenhouse, together with tomatoes, cues, beans, sweet peas. Oh hell yes, one day in the week we went to Sandy Water Park with Emma, been there lots of times, but did a different walk this time and found this in the woods ....

Its a sculptured wild boar made out of recycled metal.

Was very windy that day lol, as you can see from Emma's dumbo ears. Also was a swan nesting, very close to the bank, hope she will be safe.






Right now onto last Saturday, stayed local and went to the Woodland Trust woods near here in the afternoon, and saw all the superb bluebells everywhere, it was really magical, we did a very long walk this time, over 2 hours, and it's so steep there, but felt quite chuffed that I did it ok, I'm certainly a lot fitter than I was a couple of years back, would have been huffing and puffing more than Emma then. Surprising really being as I've put a bit of weight back on ....













Got back to the car park and saw this rabbit, seemed to tame, got very close before it hopped away, we think it may have been elderly though, def didn't have the dreaded lurgy.





Sunday we went to http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/enjoying/visit_the_vale/attractions/parks_and_gardens/cosmeston.aspx Great time again, lots of lovely walks, Medieval village, lots of water birds, nice cafe (a major necessity...) Only saw a small bit of it, definitely want to go there again, but we were going to Alan's sisters later so not enough time, needs a full day there with a picnic would be good.

Monday I was up the farm, helping with the shearing which was great like last year. Weather has changed now though so I bet they are feeling cold and miserable, poor things. I was folding the fleeces and the lanolin was great for my dry old hands, I love the smell too. Tim the Shearer reckons there are another 4 ewes due to lamb - I expect they will wait until I am doing the farm for the week again next month.....

Anyway that's all now. Just nearly had a heart attack because I'd done all this and then went to publish and it said Blogger was unavailable for 10 mins (which was actually over half an hour in the end) but luckily it had saved most of it, I only had to do the last bit again, phew. I was about to vent and say that was the end of blogging for me if I'd lost all that lot!

Watch this space...

Short Video of the Red Kites Feeding

Worth a visit purely because of the number of kites involved, and you can get quite close to them. Only a hide to go in though, you can actually view them from the road without paying but we thought that would be really mean, the guy has to buy the food after all. (There is a pub at the end of the road where you have to park the car, but it wasn't open when we went, under new ownership - they do snacks and teas Pete!)

http://www.redkiteswales.co.uk/location.html

Trying to catch up a bit

Well, hopeless task to go right back to Easter with this, seems like ages ago now, I had a nice weekend, went to some good places, the weather was fab, and I took some photos, but other than that can't really remember what or where until I sort through them for this!

At present, am doing the farm, only four days this time, and of course the weather changed in my honour, turned wet and a lot colder but still.

Bird stuff, well a first, a pair of Redpolls on my niger seed feeder, been coming a few days now. Not a very good photo cos it's only through the glass window, didn't dare open, they would have been off, but it's a proof shot more than anything!

Frank still coming and taking plenty of worms, had to buy another £3.50 on Saturday in the Pet shop, his babies must be at least 11 days old now so due to fledge shortly I would think. Mrs Frank getting a bit bolder but still won't come too near.

Had an upset this morning, a pair of blackbirds have been nesting in a large bush out the back, I checked the nest last week and she had 4 lovely eggs. Had another look this morning as I noticed she wasn't sitting, and all that remained were the shells, perfectly broken in half. I wonder if a hedgehog would have climbed up in there or maybe a rat, grrrrr. I suppose could even have been a magpie, have noticed one around a bit more lately. Thank goodness the babies weren't being formed properly, that would have been awful. Only hope the hen is ok, not seen her today but no feathers around.

Emma still doing good, been lively and happy. Her last blood tests show her albumen levels still slightly low, but Damien says to keep her on the same diet for now and re-test again in about another 2 months. Her weight is staying stable so that was a relief, wasn't sure if I was giving her too much or not enough. Oh, she is on some other heart pills now too in addition to the Fortekor that she's been on for a couple of years, wonder how much they are going to set me back. Still haven't received any insurance money for this lot, but that seems to be Damien's fault slightly, he promised to get the forms sent off last week, and the week before that and .....bless! (No comments...) He said it was his next job when I saw him at 4.35 last Tuesday, as he glanced at the clock (they shut at 5)

I've been really busy getting stuck into doing some gardening again, last year it all got left apart from basics like grass cutting, but have got the bug again and bought a new greenhouse cover a few weeks ago, and have got cucumbers tomatoes and strawberries on the go in there now, going to buy some bedding plants this week and get my tubs and hanging baskets sorted out. Done a new rockery in the front garden, and a new border near the aviary with Sunflowers, Lupins,Red Hot Pokers and asters coming along, and the steep grassy bank round the back which has always been a nightmare to look after I've planted out with lots of wild flowers, bluebells, primroses, violets, forget-me-nots and chucked a lot of wild seeds in which may or may not come up.

Can't think of anything else much to catch up on really, so will post all the photos that I can find out from the phone and memory card and put what they were beneath if I can remember!

Redpolls

Unwelcome visitor from a couple of weeks back

Mouse in the shed, inside a polythene bag, they think you can't see them lol



New Rockery

New Passion Flower with trellis, Flowering Currant and Teasels

The bank with wild plants

Emma at Easter, Teifi marshes Nature Reserve, Cilgerran




Walk along the coastal cliff path at Aberaeron Easter weekend









Walk along the coastal path at Llansteffan, Sunday 19th April























Visit to Red Kite Feeding Station, near Llandeilo, Sat 18th - Great close ups of the Kites, better than at Gigrin Pete, not such a nice set up though, no tea room!

















And finally.....

Emma had a bath! I'm fed up with people saying she is fat. She isn't. She has a wide ribcage and is stocky. You can feel her ribs and her spine. The fur makes her look tubby. When she is wet all is revealed. So there.

Okay, I know I have lost the plot....

It's about Frank. Again. Well to cut a long story short, I ran out of mealworms on Tuesday lunchtime. 100gms gone since late Friday (and that's a lot of worms) As I was out a lot on Saturday and Sunday, I hid some and showed him where the pot was so am pretty sure it was mainly him taking them.

I had to go to the Vets at 4-ish on Tuesday so I thought he'd have to wait till about 5 when I would have some more, wouldn't do him any harm, he must be finding other things to eat anyway, or will have to at some stage. So I go in Pet Shop and she's sold out! None till Friday. Not in the least bit sympathetic or helpful, which upset me a bit, I spend lots and lots of money in there. She didn't know where else I could buy any.

So I came home and got out the phone book. It's 5.15pm by then. I knew which shops didn't sell them, and started to go through the list of next nearest ones which might. No luck with the first, struck lucky with the second. Woo hoo. The good news is he had 8 tubs at £2.20 a tub (cheaper than my normal one), the very good news was he was open until 8pm, but the bad was it meant a 72 mile round trip to get them. Oh well, what else was I going to do all evening! (Well actually I was going to go to Tesco, so it worked out okay)

I got 4 tubs, and he's now gone through one and a half of them. He's also now bringing Mrs Frank with him. I thought at first it was a rival, but the Git is still here chasing him off each time but this one is actually taking three worms as well from the pot with Frank at the same time and they fly off in convoy. She is terrified of me though which is a shame. He will come on the windowsill and she is staying back on the wall, and if I throw out a worm for her, she flies off, so I've got another pot in the flower border alongside the wall.

The things we do eh?

Frank's a Daddy!

I've got so much to catch up on since I last blogged, can't even remember it all so will probably resort to posting a few pics with a brief note on what I did and when etc, but the most exciting thing of all that's happened is my little Frank is a proud dad! No idea how many, only a rough idea of where, but oh boy is he working hard to provide for his family. He heads off with the mealworms I am supplying, taking three at a time, right down to the end of my road, across the next and then into a garden where I lose sight, he could be in that garden or beyond, but it's around 200 yards away at least. Since Friday when he caught me out gardening, he has been back and forth countless times, around every 5 minutes, sometimes even quicker. Having to dodge the three other resident robins at times too and I have been protecting him. Most times, I am leaving him a pot full which is hidden, only he knows where it is, well that was the general idea, but one of the others has found it now too, lol. Mainly though he still prefers to come to me and take from my hand, must feel safer, knowing that the other gits can't get him there! It's a bit of a worry with him crossing the road at high speed, would be preoccupied, and not see a car I think, but it is a cul-de-sac so not that much traffic but still enough if he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can't wait to see if he brings his babies up to feed after, but think it unlikely due to the territorial thing with the other ones here. So proud of him though and so privileged to be part of it.

Bought him 100gms (£3.30 worth) of live worms on Friday, and they've nearly all gone. He won't be fobbed off with the dried version either, even though I've tried soaking them. I've got to go get some more tomorrow now. I wonder how long till the chicks fledge, lol. He may well have been looking for me before Friday, that was the first day I was around much last week, so perhaps they are getting on a bit hopefully.

He is catching the odd thing himself, arrived with a fly once, and a spider yesterday morning. Not in the least bit interested in earth worms though, took one and spat it back out. Charming. ;o)

Latest news

Well I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath, but good news about little Frank. He appeared in the front porch one day last week, but I didn't report then because I wasn't 100% sure it was him, he hid from me at first (or so I thought) then he came on the wall, took ages to decided whether he would take the worm from me, and then when he did, he flew off with it in his beak like a rocket, so I was half convinced it was an untame one, and he was just plucking up the courage.

Anyway, there was repeat performance on Saturday morning, but this time he was more laid-back, took three worms, but on the third one, another robin appeared from the junk stored in next door's porch and chased Frank off across the gardens, so maybe that was what was freaking him out before.

So anyhow, today, was in the kitchen earlier and looked across to my bird feeders up the garden, and a robin was there - he saw me and flew over instantly to the windowsill, took 5 mealworms, two suet pellets and then went! Relief. He's fine. :)

Okay so other stuff, been really busy, had a great weekend with the weather. Saturday we went to Lampeter, had lunch and then took Emma for a nice walk along the Peterwell forestry, haven't been there since about last May, no bluebells out yet but they won't be long by the looks of things.

Sunday we went to the big car boot sale at the Showground and then onto Laugharne another place not been to since about Easter last year or maybe the first Bank Holiday Monday, can't remember. The place was absolutely packed, it could have been mid-summer and height of the tourist season. Nowhere to park, all the cafes full, anyway had a lovely walk, lunch out, ice creams etc.

Photos below are of two of the lovely Camelia's in Alan's garden, and Laugharne Castle, Emma in the moat, and a view across the estuary.

Today it's been raining. Been trying to get something done in the garden but had to give up at 2-ish and come in for lunch. Bored stiff ever since!

Frank

Well little Frank has been back and forth lately. He went missing for almost 2 weeks and I was fearing the worst, the mealworms were down to the last few and I wasn't going to get anymore, then suddenly on Tuesday morning, he appeared at the kitchen window, and devoured the lot, good timing as I was about to go to the pet shop that day when I could buy some more.

Anyway, he's been around every day since and twice today. Was at the living room first thing, and then when I went up to do my aviary about 10.30 he was there too, so I had to traipse back indoors in my wellies to get the worms, so took the camera too, and he posed nicely for me.

However, had an awful shock, I can't be sure but just after I'd given him his 5th worm, my cockatiels all went barmy and screaming, and this bird flashed past my face between me and Frank, and shot up behind the aviary. It was all so fast I didn't get to see, but I think it was a Sparrowhawk, and I can't be 100% sure it didn't get Frank! I am now worried to death. I don't think it did, and not even sure it was a hawk, because all the other birds didn't appear to be phased by it, the Chaffs were still in the tree nearby and Goldfinches on the feeder at the back, everything normally disappears for ages after a hawk has been about.

Just hoping upon hope now that he's ok. Will update as soon as I have any news.

Now better get on and do something I suppose. Sigh.

Back to normal

Well my three week stint at the farm has finished and as usual, now feeling down in the dumps. I can only dream that one day my life will be to have my own smallholding with a few sheep, chickens, goats and maybe a donkey and Shetland pony to care for (not forgetting a dog of course, maybe even a couple of cats.....!!)

As much as I loved the walking exercise with the dogs including Emma, my best times and the most fun were with the sheep, particularly Daisy, the little one I helped to raise with the bottle feeding last year. She is so dear and affectionate, and I confess I was spoiling her rotten by saving her some of the sheep feed in the bucket so she didn't get squashed at the troughs in the mad scramble with the other 21. She became attached to my leg most of the time I spent in the field and barn, and tried desperately to follow me out of the gate most days. I used to tickle her ears and hug her, and she gave me a few kisses on the nose. Awwww.

Anyhow a couple of pics from my last day up there yesterday. Will be popping up later this afternoon to see Kate, they got back safe last night, but I won't be interacting with the sheep of course, and with summer coming along and they don't need the feed, just eat grass, well I guess I wouldn't be seeing so much of her anyway.

I wouldn't want the commitment of doing it as a permanent job, twice daily, but I would be happy to do three or four mornings a week, but it would be awkward for Kate I think, not sure whether to suggest it or not. I just need a reason to get up and do stuff, otherwise I just sit around here in the morning waiting for lunchtime, nothing to do apart from housework which doesn't interest me in the slightest. Doing my own birds etc only takes about half an hour. If Alan lived a bit nearer it would be ok but 35 min drive down and I can't stay there all day and evening that often in the week, completely impractical and unfair to my pets. I am seriously wondering if I should look for a little part time job. I mentioned it to him though and he wasn't very happy, thought that I would be spending more time with him and helping with his garden once the farm was over. Oh gawd. Can't win.

Barra

My Daisy



Cats in the cradle, well hayrack...

Busy at the farm

At last have a few minutes to spare to do an update. Have been looking after my friend's farm for just over two weeks now, and trying to fit in all the normal life things that I always do, and am afraid the internet and blogging etc has had to take a back seat. The weather has been fabulous so that's meant every available second has been spent outdoors, making the most of it. Alan has been here a lot of the time too so not fair on him for me to be online all the time like I would normally when I'm stuck here on my own. As it is, I still found a bit of time each day to do my online quizzes, to which I am well and truly hooked!

Everything has been going okay at the farm apart from a shock the second day. Went up to find one of the ewes had produced twins! Well nothing unusual in that I suppose, but for the fact that the young last year's rams (Frank and BeBop) were castrated last year. Apparently it's not always 100% successful, and they needed to be rechecked in October, but this wasn't done. So mass panic set in, as I wasn't sure whether the mum could feed them, how many more were due to drop etc. Phone calls back and forth and a chap came up and checked and said that at least 6 of the ewes were in lamb. Oh gawd!

Anyway, long story short, another chap who has been doing some work up there for my friends came and took the ewe, her two lambs, and two other ewes who were about to drop in the very near future, away to his farm after the first week, and I let out a big sigh of relief!

The Red Kites are building their nest in the tree in the lane same place as last year, the nest that blew down and left a chick for Kate to rescue. Seems they haven't learned their lesson sadly, just have to hope it doesn't happen again this year.

One of my hedgehogs from last year is back, been around for over two weeks, due to the mild weather I guess. Been feeding him in the front porch, but he hasn't shown up early on the webcam now for ages, never been before I go to bed.

Today I had my record number of Goldfinches at one time on the feeders outside the living room window - 10 of them. Fabulous sight. Also have 6 Siskins coming regularly.

Apart from that, everything else in life going well, relationship-wise, and Emma- wise, so not really much else to say, so I won't!

Just a few photos I've taken up there over the past fortnight then.



















The Place of the Skull lol

Sunday - National Botanical Gardens

Well finally gotten round to posting some of the photos I took on Sunday at the above. Had a nice day out, a repeat of last March 1st of course except I wasn't alone this year. Still didn't feel all that well though like last year, and still haven't done since either. Just can't seem to get warm, or at least I am either too hot and sweating or shivering with cold. It's like I have a cold that won't come out. Been a bit achy too. And now I have to brace myself and get motivated because as of tomorrow evening I have the farm to do for the next three weeks. Not at all enthusiastic about it really this time, but I always say that then when I start doing it, soon get into the routine. Not sure if I will be staying up there this time, doesn't seem worth the hassle really, feel more comfortable here, Kate doesn't mind either way.

Other news, Emma is doing well. First photo here was taken in Alan's garden one day last week. She had one morning with a bit of runny poo but otherwise no problems at all, and is still very lively.

Was getting worried about Little Frank. Hadn't seen him since last Friday morning, but then I was away for the weekend, and thought maybe he'd been round and had no luck so had given up, but he came today twice, much to my relief. I had a horrible shock yesterday when I came in at teatime to find a huge area of the grass by the bird table covered in feathers and a leg, claw and a bit of intestines. I could see it wasn't a Sparrow, too big, looks like a poor female Blackbird has been killed, I had a feeling there was a hawk around again, the feeders aren't getting emptied very fast just lately.

Weather turned back to winter after a lovely February, had snow yesterday morning, hailstones and minus 5c overnight. Previously two days of rain, so back to squelching around in wellies after a lovely dry few weeks. Roll on May. Unless it's like last year's of course, then forget it.

Some good news

Went to see Damien this morning. Emma's blood test results still weren't back, a real pain, but he managed to get them faxed through eventually, had to wait a while, go up the shops for half an hour and then come back, but the good news is that her level of urea is back to almost normal. Her protein level is still a bit low, so he wants me to continue with the Hills kD food as her main diet but to add some other things to it to increase the protein a bit. Sooooo, this means I can now give her the odd doggie treat or some chicken in her dinner or some proper dog food as long as it doesn't make her sick or have diarrhea again. Obviously have to be careful still and not overfeed. Got to take her every two to three weeks just to be weighed and then have another blood test in about two months time. Will make life a lot easier from now on, fingers crossed anyway that she doesn't get upset stomach again. I'm still going to keep her on two or three small meals a day instead of what I used to give her, which was just dog biscuit treats really throughout the day and then her main meal at around 6pm. It means that I shall be able to use up all the other dog biscuit meals that I have here in sealed containers bit by bit instead of giving them all away, will save me some money. She still isn't very keen on the tinned version of the kD food, so maybe will just stick to the biscuit meal version and I can add a small amount of proper tinned dog food. Yay. Relief.

So today, she's had her normal ration of the diet food, plus two mini marrowbone treat biscs, and a thumb nail sized bit of chicken from my dinner. Two walks, once while we were waiting for the fax and this afternoon up the farm with Kate and the collies. So now she's fast asleep down the side of the sofa, snoring as usual!

Deja vue

Had a lazy day today, need to unwind, relax and get my head straight about things. (Not sure if I have with the latter but still) Watched the FA cup game on tv then afterwards I took Emma to my favourite place in all the world, have published many photos on my blog of this place over the past few years but never tire of it. You know, the spooky place where weird things have happened? None today, but just blissful peace, the only sounds I heard were the occasional bird singing, and the sound of rushing water.

Heron standing across was in the same place when I left as when I arrived - don't know if he'd managed to catch anything in that hour or whether he was just taking a nap!

Emma's blood test results weren't back yesterday. Had a long chat with Damien again and he will ring me Monday now or else go to see him again Tuesday to see where we go from here on. I asked him about giving her the occasional dog treat biscuit - big no-no if it is kidney failure. This time I understood the explanation, won't bore you with the all details but in simplistic terms, there's too much protein in normal dog food, and the kidneys can't deal with it, so it causes the upset stomach etc. He said really only fruit and veg has low or little protein, but I said what about human biscuits but he didn't know so I said I would check it out. Anyway, long story short, I looked on all the contents of various packs of biccies in Tesco and find that Rich Tea finger biscuits only have 0.4% protein per biscuit. So if I break one into four bits, it's presumably 0.1% as opposed to about 20% in a normal dog biscuit treat. So will ask him if its ok of course, but in the meantime, she's had some! She's also back to eating the biscuit version of the kidney food, but still off the meat version, although has eaten a little today. Damien was concerned when I told him that she'd only eaten about half of the amount all week that she was supposed to eat. Will try to update when I know more but in the meantime, she's doing okay, seems happy and lively enough.

Yet another update

Dunno what I've done since last time really nothing out of the ordinary I don't think, but latest on Emma is that she had more blood tests done at the vets yesterday, waiting on results till Friday. It's all pointing towards the kidney problems though and Damien thinks that the blood will show the same as before. It will mean she will probably have to stay on the kidney diet food, which isn't a problem for me, it isn't that much more expensive than her normal food although I can only get it from the vets. The trouble is Emma has about one day a fortnight where she just wont eat it. I'm hoping that I will be able to allow her the odd treat biscuit, and that it won't make her ill, otherwise that's a big no-no. Will have to see what the main man says. Had a very long chat with him yesterday and sorted lots out

Doing a stint up the farm this week, started yesterday until Friday. I wasn't really looking forward to it with the weather, but it was bloody lovely up there today, not a breath of wind, and walking the dogs was a sheer pleasure. Only taking Emma for the afternoon one, it's too much for her to do both. She loves going down the slopey field to the brook at the bottom and had a good paddle today, must've been bloody freezing though! Great fun feeding the main flock of sheep with their pellet mix stuff, it's so funny with them all rushing down to the troughs, and 24 of them trying to get at the first scoop that I put out, good job my boots have steel toe caps.

I expect there's more but I just don't seem to have time to do anything at the moment, I've still not watched the Sunday night episode of Lost I recorded, and its my favourite ever programme, just not time to fit in around other programmes, being on here, feeding animals, going shopping, shovelling snow, cleaning out animals arrggghhhh!

Emma after the paddling

The main flock eating their grub



The rams - Harvey & Woody

Skye and Barra in the snow this morning

Down Yonder White Valley...

Yay, managed to escape for an hour or so today, roads all clear thank gawd. Only went to the next village and up to the farm/pet/bird food supplies shop and got a sack of sunflower hearts. Have been buying them in small bags up till now, and they aren't lasting 5 mins so I asked her to get me a sack. 50lbs sack £34! I can remember when they were £18 not so long ago. Mind you, I felt like I'd won the lottery earlier, because I need some more central heating oil and normally always use the local company as they are generally the cheapest, so you waste your time phoning other people. Just for once though I thought awww I'll try two or three others, and each and every one of them was slightly lower than the price before, and I saved a whopping £37 by making a 10p phone call! Yay, well chuffed.

Anyway, took Emma round the park on the way back from shops, and I know I am awful but I nearly wet myself laughing at a slight misfortune she had. She was on the extended lead, snuffling around on the snow, I was walking on the tarmac path, she broke into a little trot and then I heard a sort of "ugh" noise if you can imagine that coming from a dog. I saw out of the corner of my eye that she was flat on her stomach, she'd put her back foot down a hole where they have a fence in the summer to keep the cricket balls from going over into the river. Once I made sure she hadn't hurt herself, I just couldn't stop laughing, tears were rolling down my face, good job nobody else was around, I had a right fit of the giggles, it was just so bloody funny, I wish I had it on video. And there's more. We went out onto the main road and walked back round the one-way system and back into the park, else it means turning round and going back the same way or walking across the playing field and it was just too wet and horrible to do the latter. Anyway, we were walking along and I saw a black and white cat ahead, sauntering across and then went into a gateway. As we passed by, the cat had plonked itself down just inside the gate and had his back to us, but he must've seen Emma out of the corner of his eye, and it was like you'd given him an electric shock - he leapt from a sitting position about three feet in the air and shot down the drive like a rocket. Second time I nearly pee'd myself. Emma didn't even notice him lol! She's used to cats up the farm now anyway and wouldn't have bothered even if she'd seen him.

Took a couple of photos on the way back, the snow is still on the hillside, looks really picturesque.

More of Frank

Halloooo I'm here (again)


I've been everso good, honest

..but I'm really, really starving now

Oh goody, she's opened the window....

Yeah, gotcha, yum yum (insert puke smiley here)

Snow

It was coming down thick and fast last night. Woke this morning to about 5 inches of the stuff. Nice and peaceful though, village at a standstill. Glad I didn't have to go anywhere. God help me though if the day comes when I am disabled and can't leave the house. I think I will do myself in. I go up the wall if I can't get out for an hour or two. Although I have things to do in here, like cleaning and housework, yuck yuck yuck, I couldn't settle, and all I've done is pace from room to room looking out the windows. Driven myself mad. Apart from going out several times to do the bird feeders of course and seemingly non stop throwing stuff out of various windows for them, blackbirds begging for food in all directions.

Anyway, we have had several long blizzards, and some sunshine in between, so a status quo now. A lot has melted, but it's all due to freeze tonight, so I have been out with shovel and bucketfuls of road grit doing my paths, the back steps and the garage access incase I can get out tomorrow.

Took Emma for a walk eventually over the back fields for about 45 mins. She enjoyed it, so did I but now I really must get on and clean out the guinea pigs, budgies and run the hoover round. All of which I've been putting off for about 7 hours. Sigh.

Oh yes, I must just say I couldn't believe my eyes just now. That lazy, good for nothing git of a son of the old lady next door (she is about 84, walks with a stick) He has just strolled out to his car, and let her shovel the snow from the path, she nearly fell over twice as I watched. I really want to give him a piece of my mind. He is supposed to be her carer ffs! He does bugger all there, can't even cut the bloody grass for her in the summer, she pays the lad across the road to do it. The whole place is stacked up with his junk, poor old lady can't move in there. I feel so sorry for her, but I don't want to fall out with him either. I think I may try and have a word with the lady who comes round about once a fortnight to check on the old people round here, the warden, if I can catch her eye. He needs a bloody kick up the arse. He just goes out to do his horses twice a day, and rest of the time is sitting in there doing eff all, or probably in bed. Grrrrr.

Since last time.....

Below are some photos. Lots of Frank from today, he's been at the windows all day asking for food. I think he's missed me this weekend, although I've seen him in the mornings, and he's had a few worms and some suet pellets, he obviously likes my cafe and prefers the free handouts rather than go look for stuff himself. I reckons he's had about 25 live mealworms today and loads of pellets. He was a bit fluffed up, although it was bloody cold of course. Hope he's ok though.

Right so other stuff I've done since last time includes going to the vets with Emma again, have to take her back in another week now for the repeat blood tests. Damien didn't think it was worth doing them last week as she had the bad attack of diarrhea due to eating some cod. Ooops. Had to tell a porky to him and say that she grabbed some from New Quay and ate it before I could stop her, not that it had been given to her deliberately. I really thought a little bit of white fish without the batter and no salt etc wouldn't harm her, but obviously not. She's been on the Hills Kd tinned and dry food mixed for a week now, and she is doing well. Had runny poos once but then she always did have a bit of an iffy tummy. Hopefully she will be ok now and see what the tests show if her levels have improved. Maybe she will have to stay on this stuff almost permanently. It is very hard to make sure she doesn't scavenge though, having to keep her on the lead all the time when we are out so that I can jerk her away from food that may have been discarded, and of course, even out in the garden she may find something that a bird has dropped, its a bit of a nightmare. I'm hoping that Damien will say maybe we can try re-introducing her the occasional proper dog treat, like little biscuits etc because her little face when she is just getting this same old stuff all the time, it's sad. She was back to "I'm not gonna eat this crap" last Monday and Tuesday, but Damien said don't worry, she will eat it when she's hungry enough, if she doesn't eat for 24 hours no problem, 48 hours - big problem! So far, so good though, and her tantrums rarely last more than about 10 mins lol.

Been out with Alan three days, last Wednesday was fantastic here, really warm, and we took Emma to Sandy Water Park again, and then down onto the beach at North Dock. Didn't really even need a coat. Fed the swans and ducks and we sat outside in the cafe on the balcony and watched the sun going down over Carmarthen Bay at 4.15pm, and it was bliss. The cafe was packed again, can't believe it in January, it was like being in Spain!

Also went to Park Howard on Saturday, didn't take anything to feed the ducks and geese, felt mean, but plenty of other people gave them some bread so they didn't starve. Was wondering what the pair of birds is with the goose - looked like mallards, but about three times the size - any ideas Pete? Hybrids maybe?

Today we had another lovely day here, sunshine and blue skies most of the day with the occasional little white flake coming down, not enough to even settle UNTIL 5pm, then we had a very heavy snow flurry with HUGE flakes for about half an hour, and we have about an inch of snow now. Whooppee! (Not) I always feel bad for the poor birds and other creatures when we have weather like this, there's loads of little lambs around at the moment, and because of the mild weather last week, noticed lots of birds courting and preparing to breed, this stupid weather is creating all sorts of problems in nature. Oh well, not much I can do about it, only carry on feeding half the population of Wales' birds here. Hey ho.

Let's see if this one will print sigh.

The latest

Okay, briefly, Alan and I are trying again, we have talked and talked and tried to sort things out, so have spent the weekend together and it went well, weather fab, went to beach Saturday (New Quay) and Sunday (Llansteffan) ate lots of bad things (like chips, ice cream, cakes, sweets)

Just a few photos below, the first are of his sister's two dogs, who have just been clipped, Milly and Molly, so cute, like little teddies.

Frank the Robin been a regular, at least once a day for his mealworms and pellets, came in the kitchen window.

One of my tame young male blackbirds (his beak hasn't yet turned orange..) had been missing a couple of days, and then he appeared again much to my relief, but he seemed to have broken his foot, poor thing. So now I have Jakey who has been around for three years with his broken foot, and now this one, however, today he came round front and was putting a bit of weight back down on it, not sure if the toes will move but looks promising. He will come right to my feet for the worms and pellets.










Emma news, well, due back at the vets tomorrow for repeat blood tests. She has been absolutely great on the kidney diet, tinned, and loved it, no problems. UNTIL yesterday evening. Almost two weeks of being fine, no sick, no stomach upsets. Then last evening she turned her nose up at it, and wouldnt eat anything. So my heart lurched because every time this happens before, its a prelude to her being sick. So I'm on tenterhooks all night waiting for the inevitable. She got me out of bed in the middle of the night to go out, and had diarrhea. Then this morning she still wouldnt eat any of the tinned food, but would eat some of the dry biscuit version, which is weird because normally she won't touch them at all. Anyway, took her for walk, came home and then she has been fine tonight, back eating normally. I wish we could find out for sure what this problem is though, it seems to take a week or two each time on a different diet, and then she feels sick, won't eat, is sick (or diarrhea) and then she is fine again for another couple of weeks. Have changed the diet 5 times now and really thought we'd hit on the answer this time. See what Damien thinks tomorrow anyway. Sigh. Blood test results won't be back till Friday again though, so won't know much till then. Will keep you posted.

Pigeons

Yesterday had two appointments in town - dentist and SpecSavers. Great news was nothing needed doing at either, makes a pleasant change. I had an hour or so to kill in between and didn't fancy a cafe on my own, so got a baguette and bun from Greggs and sat outside on the bench to eat them - yes, it is January, but it was dry and sunny and not that cold with a coat on. Well got inundated with pigeons, it was great! They were landing on my shoulders, my arms, eating from my hand, I think they had a good half of the baguette, including the sweetcorn and tuna contents.

Anyway, a couple of guys came along and were giving them bits of their pies so gave me a bit of a break to eat my Belgian Bun..... when I noticed that one of the birds had brown cotton tightly round both his feet, joining them together so he was having trouble walking. It was cutting right in to the poor things toes on both feet, so me being me, had to try and do something. I managed to get hold of him by hooking my finger through the cotton, and then tried to unravel it without success. I looked around and was about to put him under my coat and go into Boots to buy apair of scissors, but a lady came out of the bakers smiling, and on the off chance I asked her if she had a pair of scissors in her bag, and bless her, she found some. I was then able to completely remove all the cotton from his poor little feet and he flew off happily. One successful result anyway, there are lots of the birds there with toes missing, and even whole feet, poor little devils. Anyway, in the panic to grab this one, my bun went down on the floor and the pigeons had the bulk of it, icing and cherry included!

Today went to my friend Pat's for nice lunch and catch up chat, and took dogs for a walk up the hill. Emma fine still thank goodness. We had a bit of snow overnight and I actually drove through a blizzard on the way over and nearly turned back but it was fine after thank gawd.

Sandy Water Park

Went over to Alan's today, and we took Emma for a nice walk round the lake at the above place, weather surprisingly good, after last night's strong gales here, and a hailstorm and thunder and lightening about 3.30 am. He said the weather was good and was right - it's like a different world only 25 miles away, here it was black and I drove through a bit of sleet on the way. Got over his side and it was blue skies and sunshine.

He brought along a big bag of bread to feed the birds, we learned our lesson from last week when we went there and felt very mean. Mind you, I think they are well fed, everyone and his aunt seems to turn up to feed them. Lots of black headed gulls, around 12 or so swans, two male muscovy ducks and one hen, lots of coots, moorhens, mallards and three lovely male tufted ducks who kept diving down for the bread that sank!

We went along to North Dock after and went in the cafe there and had a lovely coffee and toasted teacake looking out over Carmarthen Bay estuary. The cafe was packed at 3.30 on a January afternoon, just shows that you don't need tourists, and that local people still want to get out and about in January!

All this was a bit of a surprise really, I didn't post before because we had sort of broken up as of Friday, but I'm not going into great detail at the moment, still getting over it, but we are going to remain good friends for the time being, so hopefully status quo for now.

More about Emma

Damien rang me last night with the blood test results. There is still a problem with one thing in her blood, a word which I am finding hard to understand (with his accent mainly....)but it is apparently urea, which is a waste product produced from protein metabolism and it is found in increased levels in the bloodstream when a dog has renal failure. This level is pretty high, but other levels that have been tested for are improved slightly.

So for now, she has to stay on the special diet of the tinned food for dogs with renal/kidney problems, and she mustn't have anything other than this food, and I've to take her back in two weeks to see him again and have some repeat tests.

Since Tuesday, when she started on this stuff, she has been good. No diarrhea, no sick, and pretty lively, took her for a nice walk round the park today and she was huffing round on the grass, something she hasn't done for a while, it was so good to see.

I called in the vets this morning to get some more tins, and they will order some more in for me for next week. Damien popped his head into reception to see if everything was ok, and I managed to ask him a few more questions about things that have been bothering me, they went completely out of my head when he was on the phone last night, (I get all tongue tied and flustered... )I nearly called him back, and then thought, no, he will think I'm a pest (any excuse to speak to him.....) but anyway, it was great to see him as always, still feel the same about him of course, but know it's a lost cause, sigh.

Oh well, feel quite optimistic about Emma now anyway, if she has to stay on this diet forever it won't be the end of the world I guess, but it is hard with all the dog treats she was used to before, but if it means that or her being ill, there's no choice to make. I am able to cut up the tinned food into little dollops and spoon feed her these as treats actually, and she seems happy enough with this. I think you tend to humanise them too much really, she's probably forgotten the other stuff already (says she, hopefully....)