Down Yonder Green Valley

Some pics from today

2010-01-21T19:33:00.004Z

Took Emma to Sandy Water Park after some more shopping (we're not shopaholics, honest...) I see from my saved photos, we were there almost a year today - 29th Jan 2009.

Used a whole large loaf of bread, and the greatest buzz was from throwing bread to the Black Headed Gulls, some of which we got to take from our hands in flight. There were lots of Coots, more than I'd ever seen in one place, and I think they were all grateful for the feed today, cos not many other people would have been mad enough to be there - it was bloody freezing!

Some photos from yesterday

2010-01-21T19:14:00.005Z

Alan and I went to Swansea yesterday for a look in some of the shops, and after took Emma for a walk round the lake. Bought lots of bread to feed the birdies, and counted 55 Canada Geese, some Muscovies, various other Geese, lots of Swans, and would like an ID on the one with the stripey head, (on the far left in the last photo) and the one that has the wing markings of the Muscovy, but a black neck and face? (the first photo) Anyone?

Oh Wow!

2010-01-07T15:45:00.007Z

Managed to escape today, yippee. The road was slippery to say the least but I had to risk it cos I was almost out of bird seed, 40 kilos gone in 3 weeks, whoops! Anyhow, the main roads all the way to the shop where I get same were fine, it's only this bit here and I managed to reverse out of the garage without hitting Mike's RAC van, but it was a bit close, I could see him looking a bit worried (he'd already folded in the door mirror lol)

So anyhow made it, spent £30 (Again) on birdy stuff, stopped at the fruit veg and freezer shop on the way back, and got some shopping for the old girl next door, and pulled up a couple of times on the way back to take some photos, it looks bloody amazing, if it weren't for the cold, I wouldn't mind it being like this a while as long as I can still get around! At 8.30 this am up at my aviary, the temp was minus 15c. It was minus 11c on the one by the back door. Queues of birds waiting all day, been out and fed about 4 times already, and now just off to do the last lot of the day before it gets dark. Nights drawing out already I'm pleased to say, it's getting nearer 5pm before it's dark already.

First six pics taken in the garden this morning,(first one is of my bamboo, flattened by the weight of the snow, normally stands about 6 feet) rest are on the way back to the village, showing Wind Turbines (again, sorry!) and the hillside and valley, and the lovely little lane leading to the farm.

Edit - just done the last feed of the day and it's already minus 11c up at the aviary! Holy Shit.

Just Frank

2010-01-06T14:26:00.005Z

Beautiful day here. Frank been helping me in the garden, and actually had the nerve to chase off one of the other resident Robins. Loads more snow fallen and am well and truly stuck here. I'd love to go for a walk, but Emma won't be wanting to and feel stupid walking around alone. Anyhow, I already slipped and fell once in the garden so no doubt would make an idiot of myself in public lol. Got a bootfull of snow and a wet bum for my troubles, just trying to get a better shot of Frank.... (feel free to laugh, cos I did, only hurt my pride, well and my hand a bit... )

Still snowing ....

2010-01-05T21:11:00.002Z

It snowed some more....

2010-01-05T17:09:00.003Z

Been falling heavily all day. Thank god I went and got some shopping in yesterday, nobody has been able to go anywhere here today. We have around 8 or 9 inches now, it looks fantastic but a bit worrying for all the animals, and farmers being unable to get to them in some cases. The RAC man who lives opposite hasn't been able to get out of our road, and he said even yesterday that he was unable to get to two different breakdowns because of the snow. Our council is only gritting the minimum of roads, the primary through roads, and I don't think they've even done that today, haven't been to look but haven't heard any traffic moving at all today, they have run out of grit I think.

Little Frank been here most of the day, sitting in the front porch, or round at the kitchen window a few times. Great news as he seems that he can use his little injured leg a bit now, I didn't actually think it was him this morning, couldn't believe it as he came in the kitchen window and was using both legs! He holds it up a fair bit, but obviously has a bit of use which is great news.

Oh well, not much else to report today, I've spent most of it going from one place to another putting food out for the birds, I have at least 14 Blackbirds coming and begging for food, plus a lovely Song Thrush which is fantastic, so rare for me here.

Erm, it snowed....

2010-01-04T17:27:00.006Z

No fainting please, this may well be a one-off blog, I don't know if I can keep it up, so much happens lately, so little time to spare, well not exactly, but I always seem to have other more important things to do, and just can't seem to get enthusiastic about using the pc so much these days, apart from looking up things, a couple of quizzes instead of my old 25 or so a day... and buying stuff online of course, which sometimes seems to be the best and cheapest way.

Anyway, enough waffle, I took some photos of the snow the other day when Alan and I went for a walk up the hillside and along the top, various bits and bobs. The snow came thick and fast on Saturday, luckily we'd made it home because it was a real blizzard. Has been the most beautiful weather since, blue skies and sunny days, but never rising much above freezing even so, and the weather men say we have more to come this week. It put paid to me going up to see mum over Christmas so I have all her pressies here still, awaiting a few decent days when we can travel safely hopefully. The main roads are clear-ish now, but the side roads and pavements are lethal, people are having to walk on the roads.

Other brief news which is a bit sad but trying not to make much of it and think about it too much, but Emma had a turn for the worse over the last month or so resulting in her being hospitalised at the vets on a drip twice, her kidneys have all but given up after a year, and she had a steroid injection to get them going again. So far, so good, her appetite returned and she is almost back to her old self but I have been warned that she probably only has months left now, she won't see next Christmas, and that I've been lucky she lasted this long since the onset of her kidney failure in December 2008. She hasn't got a lot of energy and doesn't want to walk very far now, if at all but is happy to be out in the garden really. It's hurting like hell to not be able to take her with us, like on the walk up in the snow, two years ago she would have been loving it.

Still mustn't dwell on it, treating every day as a bonus now and hope she carries on for a long time yet.

Another thing to mention is little Frank the robin is back on the scene daily, still being chased by the other one if given the chance, and the sad news is that he appears to have broken his leg/foot. Been dangling now for over a week and showing no sign of healing so I guess he is going to be burdened with that now, hope it doesn't make him more vulnerable. Jake the Blackbird has managed with a similar injury though for at least 3 years, so hopefully he will be ok. He is always waiting for me in the front porch mainly now, and I am debating whether to go get some live mealworms again as I know he prefers those, he will eat the dried ones reluctantly though and the suet pellets. All the birds are absolutely starving in this weather and I am being inundated with blackbirds (at least 10) chaffinches and starlings being the most numerous.

That's all for this time then, now will post some of the photos. First ones are of the garden and views from. (Alan made the Snow Owl and Snowman) :o)

Frank this morning

Another quick update

2009-11-09T21:54:00.003Z

Below are a few photos from the farm, plus the last two, one is a Woodpecker on my living room window peanut feeder, lousy I know through the net curtains, but wow, I was 2 feet away from him and he didn't see me! Erm, last is for Emma fans.

Okay so here's the bad news, mum was taken into hospital at 1am Saturday, had fallen over again, having had the doctor out to her during the daytime and who didn't think she was ill enough, yeah right, so much for having any faith in the NHS, just a locum doing the rounds, never seen my mum before or knew the slightest thing about her. She then fell and couldn't get up off the floor in the night and had to bang on the neighbours wall. So I have had to arrange someone else to do the farm and my animals and am going up on Wednesday to try and sort things out. It's a nightmare. Something that I knew would happen one day I suppose but just tried not to think about. She can't look after herself, her house is freezing cold, and I've got my work cut out I think trying to get things sorted as quickly as possible. Sod's law that this should happen now, the only month of the year when I'm tied up with looking after the farm, plus I have a cold myself and don't feel brilliant. Shit.

Update on the hoggy

2009-10-30T13:50:00.007Z

Sad news, the lady from the hospital phoned, the little man didn't make it through the night. :(

At least he died in a warm place with his little tummy full of nice food, instead of out in the garden somewhere.

No hogs came last night again, I think they've moved on or also been killed, too early to have hibernated, especially with the mild weather. I'm actually wondering now if a rat could have bitten the little fella, although it would have had to had a very wide jaw, maybe not, only I put my webcam on last night just to see, and the rats were having a field day eating all the food bar the mealworms. I don't want to do anything about them though, as poison is not an option in my book, apart from the horrible way the rats die, it can poison other things too, so a complete no-no.

Apart from that, someone up there has got it in for me I think. I'd been trying to pick the right day to do some washing for ages. This morning, got back from the farm, it was warm, sunny, windy, so went for it. I honestly had only just hung it out, came back indoors and it started to chuck down. Can't bloody believe it. The first time its rained for about 9 days I think.

Oh yeah, and the wind turbines. Nearly forgot to mention the fact that the noise is just bloody awful up at the farm, and I can hear them slightly here in my garden, which is about 1 and a half miles away. The noise can only be described like that of a high-flying jet passing over, but it's constant. And there is also the non-stop che-donk che-donk che-donk in time with the blades rotating, like giant tumble-driers going round and round times ten. Great eh? They sent a survey form to fill in this week, I hope they like my replies, which were polite btw. They say that modern ones are silent and can't be heard against normal background noises. Fine if you live alongside a motorway or in a city, but what background noises are there in a rural farm, half a mile from the nearest road? Sheep, Cows, Birds, and just maybe the occasional tractor in the distance. I wonder how these government officials who are pro on-shore windfarms covering half of Wales would like them in their back garden? It's all about money sadly. The farmers are rubbing their hands with glee at the money they are getting for them on their land. And we are supposed to be beside ourselves with joy at the local community getting a £75,000 grant. Whoopee.

Sitting here very despondent about things, I need to sort something out about my mum, but apart from phoning a few people, I just can't do it from here, but I can't be in two places at once, and although there is the person who can stand in for a couple of days, I would need to get someone to do my animals too, and I doubt she could do that, she has a farm of her own to look after. Sigh. I've just got so much to do here too, I need to go to the docs and dentist myself, stuff needs to be done on the car, the house is filthy, and I just feel like going to bed and forgetting it all, hoping it will go away. :(

Not a good day...

2009-10-29T21:30:00.003Z

Been one thing after another, firstly, I put the uneaten hedgehog food dish out under the bush by the kitchen window, so that Jakey the Blackbird could eat it. Looked out about 11.30am to see a small hedgehog in the dish. Oh no. For those who don't know about hoggies, if you see one out in daylight, it means it's probably not at all well. So I went out and could see before I even got there that he was shaking and wobbly. Picked him up and he didn't even attempt to curl up, his eyes were only just open, and he was very cold. Brought him indoors, out with the heat pad, put in carry box with towels and food. I weighed him, 350gms, and he measured only 19cms. Couldn't see anything actually wrong with him though but did seem a bit dehydrated.

Anyway to cut a long story a bit shorter, phoned the lovely lady who is my nearest hedgehog rescue, I took one to her about 3 years ago, and she said to bring him over. Was 34 miles door to door, but it was in his best interests, as she has all the facilities there and medicines etc. After examining him and getting some fluids down him, she was checking to see if he had any ticks, and found a wound by his ear, looked the other side, and there was an even bigger one on the other side. Poor little bugger, something had obviously tried to pick him up by the head, and bitten him. We suspect cat or maybe next door's dog, I have my suspicions about both possibilities. Prospects of him making it not bright, but she promised to let me know, if he hadn't improved overnight, she would take him to the vets tomorrow.

Next, on the way home, an imbecile farmer-type in his land rover hit a beautiful cock pheasant on the edge of the road. He only had to brake slightly or turn his wheel about an inch to avoid, but made no attempt to do so, the poor thing was practically on the grass verge, but just got caught. I stopped and got out and he was still alive, couldn't see any breakages in legs or wings, and I held him to me and tried to soothe him, but after about 3 or 4 minutes, he did the death-flap and died in my arms, I was bloody distraught, lots of cars passed by whilst I was there and gave me looks as if I shouldn't have stopped where I did. Well tough shit. I can't just ignore things like that I'm afraid. I carried him over the bank and buried him under some leaves in a wood, to stop anything else being run over whilst they preyed on his poor body.

My mum not been doing too well. She's not eating, not drinking, and has been sleeping in the living room chair for two days by the sound of it. She really needs some care and help but it's like bashing your head against a brick wall trying to get anything done by her council, the doctors don't want to know, nor do the carers. I am going to ring Age Concern tomorrow and see if they can help. Why did this have to happen when I have the farm to do, another 20 days yet. I have the number of someone else who can step in to do a couple of days but I need to go up there for a couple of weeks by the seems of it and start chucking my weight about a bit, maybe they will take notice then. Grrrrr. Bloody authorities.

Anyway, pics of the little hoggy, fingers crossed for him. and a bit gruesome, the poor dead pheasant. :(

OMG!

2009-10-26T19:25:00.002Z

I was just sitting watching the telly, and I saw something out of the corner of my eye, small and dark scuttle along the skirting board and go under my display cabinet. Mouse I thought. WRONG! Toad! Bloody Nora. How on earth, how long has it been here that is the question. Thinking back, have heard a few strange noises from various places for a few days now, thought it was coming from outside, hedgehog normally, but I've a feeling he's been in here a few days at least. I've been finding water droplets on my kitchen worktop in the morning for instance.

I had to get a broom and chivvy him out from under the cabinet, and then remove a few cobwebs and bird feathers lol. Put him out the back garden near my greenhouse and the little pond I've got up there. Hope he will be okay.

Emma was petrified lol

The Farm, Day 2

2009-10-26T14:58:00.014Z

Photos below taken this morning, it was beautiful up there and I was walking round marvelling at the wonderful surroundings. Amazing weather which made it so pleasurable. Fed the cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, walked and drank coffee outside.

The most amazing thing that happened was that as I was walking round my favourite field (the one with the two oak trees pictured below) between that field and the one with the horses, there is a wide, fenced ditch. The dogs had been running up and down excited and sniffing and then calmed down, they have a habit of chasing squirrels so guessed it was that. However, I picked up my camera (well my mobile phone which I use all the time now) to photograph the horses, and a beautiful fox jumped up in front of me and ran like hell, he was literally only 5 or 6 feet away, the closest I've ever been to a live one. I had seen one up the farm twice recently, but not that close, wow, it was fantastic. Good job the fence was there else I would have lost Skye and Barra (Emma didn't come, she is too lazy lately, and stays with the cats in the yard)

Apart from that, had a great weekend with Alan, we went to New Quay Saturday and had the best fish and chips in Wales and nice ice cream, Emma had a walk on the sands and in the sea now dogs are allowed on the beaches again, it was like being at Crufts, the place was full of people with dogs having a great time. We then came back and sat and watched our fave night on the telly, Merlin (fantastic best thing ever on tv, love it to bits) then Strictly, and then the X Factor, shame they clash a bit but thankfully I have Sky+.

Yesterday we did farm together and I did us Sunday lunch up there, was a nice change. Will take me a while to adapt to the clocks altering as usual. Hate it with a vengence, wish they would leave it until December and alter them, it's horrible being dark at 5.30 now, makes such a long evening, and I'm hungry too early, tired too early, grrrrrr!

Mum still not too well, had another couple of dizzy spells, and is such a worry to me, I still hope to get her up here to stay, if she has any more near misses or falls, she wont have a say in it I'm afraid, I shall just go get her and fetch her up whether she likes it or not. I just know once she is here and sees all the lovely scenery etc she will want to live here (well I'm hoping anyway, I would love it.)

Enough for now, time to go up the farm again now, it's looking grim outside now, clouded up and will soon be dark, how depressing...

Beautiful golden colours of the trees, I love looking at them against a blue sky like today :-

The little Dexter bulls (and Emma, showing how brave she is..) : -

Lots of unusual fungi around at the moment -

Emma and her fellow cats... (I'm sure they think she is one of them, so funny at times, seeing as she chases them out of my garden, but accepts these like her best friends...)

An update

2009-10-16T20:01:00.012+01:00

Photos below from the farm last weekend. Was beautiful weather, a real indian summer here thank god, which makes up for the rubbish proper one we had. From this coming Sunday, I have 25 days to do in a row. Hope the weather will be as kind. It was great getting back to feeding my Daisy again now they are back on the feed. The new additions which I haven't photographed as yet are 4 little Dexter bulls, very cute and getting tamer. Trying not to get to like them too much as I know what their ultimate fate will be. :(

My mum is improving. Long story now but she had a fall during the night on Sunday,and couldn't get up in the bedroom and had to call an ambulance. She insists that she wasn't dizzy, just stumbled/tripped. She has banged her head and cut her knee but didn't have to go to hospital. The doctor came out to her yesterday and was satisfied, and today she had to go to the surgery to find out the blood test results from last week, and it shows she has a very low B12 count, which is what I have suffered from for about 30 years, I don't retain it and have had to have injections ever since. I wouldn't be at all surprised if my mum has had it this long too, she just would never go to the doctors and its taken something like what has now happened to her to make her realise she is human and elderly. She doesn't eat properly, and lives on sweets and cakes! Anyway she has to go and have injections every two days for the immediate future and her lovely neighbour is running her back and forth as the surgery is about 2 miles from her. She has to keep up the pills for the labyrinthitis and high blood pressure, but she sounded very perky on the phone, I'm ringing her every night to check on her. She hasn't had a sick or dizzy spell since Saturday now so am very hopeful she's over the worst. I'm determined to get her up here to visit soon and she is at last warming to the idea. I'm sure she will love it up here and hope to persuade her that maybe she would like to live near me and see the seaside regularly at least!

Lastly, Alan and I are having another last ditch attempt to save our relationship. I am determined this time to make a go of it, I truly hope we have a future together, I want it very badly and will do all that I can, as will he.

Many thanks for all your lovely comments previously, I will try to keep up the blog from now on, I promise, with as many photos as poss, including Emma of course!

Few Pictures

2009-09-07T20:23:00.004+01:00

Heron at Sandy Water Park

Slow Worm in Alan's Garden

The first Wind Turbine on the hillside above our village appeared about 3 weeks back

... and then there were 6, 4 to go (for now, plans are for about a hundred eventually...) Taken today. My home is in direct line with the one second in from the right, about a mile away. My friends farm, where I look after the animals, has one about 200 metres away in a field next to theirs. We are all praying they don't make the awful noise that we have been warned about.

Emma at Dogs Trust Fun Day recently

2009-08-25T20:29:00.000+01:00

Yuck Yuck Yuck!

2009-08-20T17:59:00.003+01:00

Well not really, you see I am one of those weird people who actually think slugs are quite cute. But this monster had to be seen to be believed. Every night before dark I check my greenhouse for the little darlings, otherwise I don't think I would have many tomatoes, cucumbers or beans come the morning. Sometimes I have taken away about 16 of them to the far end of the garden. Last night, I couldn't believe this one, I think it's probably the biggest I've ever seen. Brought him in to measure and he was over 5 inches OMG!

Hmmm, well been a busy few days but today not done much at all, lots that needs doing but can't get motivated, not helped by the fact I've had a splitting headache all day, taken two of my migraine pills now but still not feeling bright. Weather not helping, one minute quite sunny, but gale force wind all day and horrendous sudden downpours, hailstones at one time, unbelievable, it's August isn't it, not April????

Still here

2009-08-18T09:46:00.002+01:00

Just another quick blog, want to try and do this at least weekly.

Mealworms arrived for Frank and he was sitting outside the bedroom window as I drew back the curtains on Sunday morning lol. Didn't see him yesterday though because I was away until teatime, and no sign, so start to worry again. In fact no birds at all then I saw why - bloody Sparrowhawk, sitting as bold as brass in the tree. Grrrr.

Anyway, had a lovely weekend, we went to the Gower on Sunday, and yesterday just popped into Llanelli and walked round Parc Howard. Been there before a couple of times last year, but not seen it with all the flowers in bloom, it was beautiful. Took a couple of pics anyway to show off my Emma for a change. *cough*

Was expecting a heatwave today - the forecast on Sunday said it was going to be a scorcher, 24c for here and 29c for London. Well I guess I should've known better. Pulled back the curtains and its grey grey grey. Instant depression. :(

Oh well at least it's not raining for a change I suppose. Yet.

Frank at last!

2009-08-13T20:14:00.003+01:00

Well no fainting please, I know I have been away for a long time, and probably will be again, just never have the time or inclination to do this anymore but a wonderful event happened yesterday and today, and because I took so many photos, just had to do a quick blog. I should actually be outside now cutting the grass which is about 8 inches high in places, sigh.

Anyhow, the event is that my little Frank the Robin had disappeared without trace for around 6 weeks or more, along with all robins actually. I was convinced something had happened this time, but yesterday when I opened the front door he flew at me like he wanted to kiss me, and I felt the same. Moved me to tears, so relieved. Anyway, I was virtually out of mealworms, so hastily ordered some more which may come tomorrow hopefully, and took the chance that he would come back today, and he did. Found me round the back garden this morning and spent most of the morning with me, sunbathing, panting on the windowsill because he was too hot, then going in the holly to cool off, then back again. So much for the bird scarers on the window too, which I put to stop birds flying into the window, he wasn't at all bothered, and laid there so cute whilst I sat next to him with my coffee.

He also came again this afternoon and landed in my little apple tree and I had to explain that I didn't have any worms left and he took a few suet pellets from my hand instead, and some more round the front porch at teatime. It's so rewarding remembering what he was like last summer at this time, a spotty little baby, and that he has retained his trust in me all this time even though there's been months without seeing each other.

Oh well, that's about it for now, I will try to start doing this again more regularly, will be easier once the nights start drawing in a bit again, but theres just so much else to do this time of year.

Something for Emma's fans

2009-06-25T09:02:00.004+01:00

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

2009-06-09T21:59:00.009+01:00

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)

2009-06-08T15:34:00.003+01:00

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

Little and Shorty

Just dogs ...

2009-06-05T19:33:00.005+01:00

At the farm....

Another quicky

2009-06-05T07:56:00.003+01:00

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...

2009-05-23T08:07:00.002+01:00

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

2009-05-22T21:34:00.005+01:00

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...

2009-05-16T09:55:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-05-15T09:31:00.002+01:00

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!

2009-05-13T09:46:00.006+01:00

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

2009-04-27T18:45:00.003+01:00

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

2009-04-27T14:13:00.016+01:00

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....

2009-04-23T19:06:00.002+01:00

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!

2009-04-20T20:14:00.003+01:00

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

2009-04-06T17:30:00.003+01:00

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

2009-03-27T11:58:00.002Z

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

2009-03-27T11:34:00.003Z

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

2009-03-23T20:30:00.007Z

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

2009-03-05T20:59:00.004Z

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

2009-02-17T19:46:00.004Z

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

2009-02-14T17:48:00.004Z

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

2009-02-11T20:07:00.004Z

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...

2009-02-04T17:19:00.003Z

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

2009-02-04T17:00:00.004Z

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

2009-02-03T16:32:00.003Z

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.....

2009-02-02T20:21:00.004Z

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

2009-01-26T21:37:00.005Z

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

2009-01-20T21:45:00.003Z

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

2009-01-18T21:24:00.004Z

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

2009-01-17T19:34:00.006Z

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.

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....)

Little Frank

2009-01-17T19:15:00.004Z

Not sure if I've mentioned before lately or not, but one of the little robins I was hand feeding as a baby made a very welcome return a few weeks back. Had a very upsetting thing happen with one of the others, the old lady next door brought one to me and am pretty sure it was Sage, and he was dead. She'd had him indoors for a few days, and he hadn't eaten anything at all. I couldn't quite get to the bottom of it, but I wish she'd asked me before he died, but won't go into that now.

Anyhow the cheerful news is that despite getting chased off by three others that have taken residence in various parts of the garden, this one has managed to fight off and returns daily now. In fact, he even flew up into the tree where one of the others (which I call "The Git") and perched with it today, so am thinking they are starting to pair up maybe.

Anyhow, because of the breast markings, am pretty sure it's Frank, so have been calling him that anyway. Wonder what happened to Pepper, best not to think about it I guess. When we had the freezing weather, there were five coming to feed, calling a temporary truce, but none of the others are at all tame.

Frank was coming to the front porch to feed, but now has been to the kitchen window, and also round the back door, anywhere he spots me actually! He normally flies off with his last worm when he's full in the direction of the hillside so I guess he's found another garden over that way as his territory. He still happily takes worms and suet pellets from my hand, which is so rewarding of course. He also has a habit of appearing out of nowhere and making me jump, and I've nearly trodden on him a couple of times too, but I don't think that will happen, he's too fast for that!

At last managed to get a few decent shots of him this morning anyway.

Emma update

2009-01-13T21:48:00.007Z

Well since the last time, Emma hasn't been too good again. All the chicken and rice was coming out of her in the same condition it went in for a while, undigested. Then on Friday just gone, she had bad diarrhea all day, about eight times in all, culminating in doing loads of it in the hall (21 different blobs to be precise...) at 10 pm in the evening, some of which had blood in it.

So I'm back on the phone to the vets, Damien wanted to know if there were any developments, and I thought that warranted reporting pretty quickly. Spoke to Sian this time, and she said to bring her down on Saturday morning, meantime she would speak to Damien.

So off we went, Damien popped his head in the door to see how she was, although he wasn't supposed to be working. Anyway, came home armed with some new tins of food for dogs with sensitive digestion. Guaranteed to settle the most iffy stomachs. No so Emma of course. Continued with the diarrhea all day, and into Sunday too.

She had the most awful wind you could ever imagine, and at 6am yesterday morning, she was sick three times, and the diarrhea continued all day.

So today, back to see Damien. Told him everything and he was most worried about the sensitive food not doing its job. Emma can't have the Addison's Disease, her level of sodium is completely normal and a dog has to have a very low level showing in the blood for this to be the problem. He agrees she has a food intolerance of some kind, that various nutrients aren't getting to the right bits, and this could be caused by kidney problems. The trouble is the only way he can be sure is to take a biopsy using a gastroscope in the gut but this can't be done without a general anaesthetic of course, and we can't risk that because of her heart condition. He is pretty sure she wouldn't make it. So for now, we have to find a diet that won't upset her, to build up her strength, to get the levels back as they should be hopefully and then her heart condition should improve. So I came home armed with another type of food for dogs with Kidney/renal failure or problems. She likes it which is the main thing.

Damien took some more blood tests to check on the four things that are wrong, and will ring me on Friday with results and see where we go from there. So again it's a game of wait and see, and hope that this time her stomach will settle a bit.

I can even try her back on her old original food that she's eaten for months, but will have to soak it because of her bad tooth, so there's another possibilty.

That's all for now, so feel a little bit more optimistic than I did, she seems okay in herself anyway.

All about Emma...(and it's very long )

2009-01-08T17:22:00.008Z

Well most of it will be anyway. Far too much catch up on otherwise.

All my good intentions of keeping up with the blog have, for one reason or another been put on hold for the time being. I still can't get motivated enough, always thinking of something else to do. I don't use the internet so often now either.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about Emma. I purposely haven't written anything about her for a while as I have been, and still am waiting for news about what can be wrong with her.

I'll start at the beginning.

About three weeks before Christmas, I noticed how thin she was getting. Now this was good in a way, as I had been feeding her less and giving her a "Senior Light" blend of dog food, but she still had been getting as many titbits, biscuit treats, chips and other naughties so was wondering why she was suddenly getting a bit "ribby". Also over the previous month or so she had a couple of days where she didn't want to eat anything at all, which is very, very unusual. Turned her nose up at everything. Occasionally a spell of being sick.

That sets the scene, so I thought I'd take her to see Damien for a check up. He listened to the above, and decided the way forward was to do a blood test to check out for anything not right. Her heart was checked, and it's none too good at present, plus the fact she has a bad tooth which needs to come out and maybe causing her some discomfort, but we can't risk the anaesthetic at this time, because her heart probably won't stand it. Anyway, the test came back within a few days, Damien rang me to say it she is very low in protein and albumen. I was to start feeding her up with higher protein food, and more of it, little and often, to get it up to normal level (she was something like 16% and it should be 25%)

This was on the Friday of the weekend before Christmas. So I went out and bought the same brand of food, but the normal one instead of Light, with higher protein. That night she was sick. Next morning, fine, and ate normally all day. That night she was sick again, and brought everything up. Same again on Sunday. She threw up so many times I lost count. Then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, she was fine, ate normally, was lively, happy and waggy, so I thought thank goodness, just something she'd eaten (I forgot to mention she ate cat's sick up at the farm on the Friday, so thought that was the explanation for that episode)

Christmas Eve, about 9.45 pm Alan and I sitting watching tv, Emma asleep down the side of the sofa. She got up and staggered across the room, screaming and screaming like you've never heard, near tore me apart. She collapsed on the floor on her side and was violently trembling, her eyes rolling, legs jerking, and then she stopped breathing. By this time I'm down on the floor sobbing, and holding her head, and I stuck my fingers down her throat and got her breathing again. Meantime, she'd lost control of her bowel and bladder.

So at 10.15 we are down the vets, and had to wait with her limp body, whilst the duty vet, lovely girl called Annwen was tending to another sick dog. Carried her in about 10.30. Told her all the symptoms and as much previous history as I could, and she thought it may point to liver failure, causing her to reject food with protein in, which would account for the fact she was so low in her system. Emma managed to stand up after about 20 minutes, and laid down in the corner. Had to bring her home and see how she went on, and phone up if any more problems. We got home Christmas Eve about 11.15pm, and I was going to sit up with her all night. Well it got to 1pm, and she got up, shook herself, and went to the door to ask to go out for a wee as if nothing had ever happened! So decided to get some sleep.

At about 3.15 am, I heard her get up and she wanted to go out again. Let her in front garden, she came in all waggy and excited and wanted her treat for being a good girl and going asking to go out, so I gave her one of her tiny little treat biscuits. Within 10 minutes, she was screaming again and had another fit. She then settled down and I managed to get about 3 more hours sleep. 8am came round, and the same thing happened, another fit, but no screaming this time. Fits only lasted about 1 minute too.

Anwen phoned to see how she was, and said to bring her back down. So Christmas Day, 10 am back down the vets. She gave us some food especially for liver failure in dogs, and I was to give her one spoonful every hour, nothing else.

The next bit is going to be hard to believe, but by midday on Christmas Day, she was right as rain, again as if nothing had happened. We were going to Alan's daughters for dinner, and we were still able to go, with Emma in the car on her beanbag, she was fine, we went out to check her about every 20 minutes and no problems at all.

By Boxing Day, Emma was livelier and fitter than I'd seen her in years, I had to do the farm and she was running round with the dogs up there like a 2 year old. This carried on for many days, three days of farm especially.

Had to take her to see Damien on the Tuesday between Christmas and New Year, and he did a blood test for liver, had to leave her there all day for some other tests. They all came back clear on Friday, and again he said I needed to feed her up with something she likes best, but preferrably, chicken and rice, with white of egg added or some fish. So I gave her half a tin of tuna. We went out for a few hours, shopping for the chicken and rice etc and during the day, she had various dog treats, and when we got home, she didn't want the Tuna. That in itself is so amazing, she would take your hand off for tuna normally. So I cooked the chicken and rice, she didn't want that. So I tried her on the special food she'd been on and devoured with relish for the past week, she didn't want that, or any other food I offered. About 2 hours later she was sick again, and brought up everything she'd eaten all day, undigested.

Damien had said if there were any developments to phone the surgery. Of course, it was after 6pm by then so I only got someone to answer who said they would get the duty vet (John) to phone me back asap. However, Damien phoned me within a few minutes, and told me to come down and he'd give me something to settle her stomach, and to give her nothing for 24 hours, but then to try again with chicken and rice.

He phoned me from home in the evening to say could I take urine sample (Emma's not mine...) down on the Saturday morning, and John would test for kidney failure, as the symptoms were pointing toward that now.

Was fun doing same, following her around the garden in the dark in my dressing gown at 5.40am when she asked to go for a wee.... anyway, did the deed, got loads of wee in the dish, and on my hand...

Dropped it into vets first thing, and John phoned within about 20 mins to say kidney function seemed ok for a dog of her age, and Damien wanted me to take her in again Tuesday (the one just gone) for a further update.

So (nearly finished now) have to feed Emma as before, brown rice, chicken, white of egg and some vegetables, carrot or beans. I've been busy cooking up a big batch, had to find boneless and skinless chicken to cook, else I would be the one throwing up, it makes me want to heave if it still looks like a bird, sorry...

So she's on little and often, splitting it into about 5 or 6 meals a day, and back to see Damien on Tuesday. She's already gained a fair bit of weight, not sure I'm too happy about that, don't want her being a fatty again, but will have to sort that out later I guess. Damien is going to do some more tests for something called Addison's Disease. I looked it up on Google, and everything seems to fit her symptoms. Fingers crossed we will get to the bottom of this.

So there you have it. Still a worry of course, but I don't think it's the big "C" which was my first thoughts with her vomitting everything back, like a tumour, she's far too healthy and lively and would be in more pain more often. Also the blood tests would show anything like that I think, and she's not diabetic which was another possibility.

So as it stands, Emma is happy, waggy and huffy as ever, but always that worry round the corner of will it happen again. Fingers crossed for her then everyone.

One of the sad things for me about all this is that Emma has her little Christmas stocking, stuffed full of goodies, still wrapped hanging up in the larder out of her sight, because we couldn't open any of them for her, until we know if she is able to eat any of the contents. It could be she has developed an intolerance to the additives in dog foods for instance, just not worth taking the risk at present till we know. :(

Sorry this is so long, now you know why I've not posted before. Will keep it updated with any news.

Mainly photos

2008-11-20T19:18:00.007Z

Did the evening walk and feed at the farm tonight, as K & T have gone to Cardiff to see Joe Brown (blimey, I couldn't believe he was still going, doing a 50th Anniversary tour apparently, I feel old, very, very old....)

Anyhow, there was the most amazing sunset up there so took a few photos on the Nokia, which reminded me I took the odd one here and there during my five week stint, so thought I'd stick them on here, seems a shame to have taken them and then they were just on my memory card. So here we are then -

Donkeys are back in the top field

Tiddly, the latest feral kitty

Walking in the Moonlight

The Ram, looking like Monarch of the Glen lol

Just a quickie (again)

2008-11-18T20:33:00.004Z

Well I'm still alive, still can't find time to do this, but for all you Emma lovers out there, I thought I'd just do these cute photos I took this morning. ;o)

Other than that, I have finished my 5 weeks at the farm, had a great time, lived in every weekend and a couple of other odd days, have another 4 day stint to do weekend after next, plus will be helping them move the sheep around this weekend if it stays dry, being split into two flocks and rams moved etc.

I have a healing suspected broken toe at present, I cleverly walked into my exercise bike in bare feet last Thursday, so for those with a strong stomach, theres a couple of pics of the damage. Was screaming in pain for about 5 minutes, I'm not normally such a wimp, it's normally a lot of swearing and ouching and rubbing but not this time, I have never, ever felt such pain I can tell you. Didn't bother with docs or hospital as they don't do anything anyway. It's okay now though, still a bit black but I can walk fine as long as I don't bump them against anything....

Been flying about here there and everywhere, never got time to do anything but the necessaries, and that's set to continue for the rest of this week for sure.

Oh, the good news too, one of my little hand tame robins is back, but having to dash about else he gets beaten up by the other one by the back door. Managing to get him some mealworms now and then anyway, seen him twice today. I can't make up my mind which one it is, the breast marking tells me it's Sage though, but I so wanted it to be one of the other two, they were my first little babies, Sage never got quite so tame, but he is coming onto my hand very quickly, not sure.

Right, well I shall post the pics and then off to watch Im a Celebrity Get Me Outa Here, so I am pretty tied up from 9-10pm for the next three weeks, unless I lose interest of course, but at present can't take my eyes off Simon Webbe.... cough.

Ive just sent these photos off to Cute Overload, will let you know if they publish them.

Ouch

No fainting please...

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

....well I'm not going to make a habit of it again, but just to let everyone know I am still alive, am fine, (well most of the time) and a very brief update I suppose of my exciting life since the last time on here.

Well I can't begin to remember all that's happened in just over a month, but I suppose things of note are :-

(1) I am still seeing Alan,
(2) Went to see my mum for a very long overdue visit, only could manage 4 days though
(3) All the work at last finished in the bungalow, central heating is bloody great
(4) I've been doing the farm for 11 days now, have 21 left, no problems so far, have "lived in" last weekend and the weekend before, with Alan. Don't fancy doing it on my own up there though
(5) Still feeding hedgehogs, not sure how many coming now though, but there is one living in my box in the garden, a large, unmarked one.
(6) All my dear little Robins long since disappeared, the last sighting was the last day I blogged here, with little Frank, I think it was a farewell song. All three went the same day, can't get my head round it. There are three others here, none are tame, they must've reclaimed the territory and my little ones had to move on. Very sad about that.
(7)Lost interest in the internet really, hence my lack of blogging, I often only switch on for half an hour or so to do my quizzes. Maybe with winter coming along I will have more time/inclination not sure, shame really I know, but just seem to have other things to do all the time. I've not used my camera in weeks either, but did take a couple of pics up the farm the other day with my Nokia, so will end now with those.

Fantastic sunset at the farm on Thursday evening, taken at 18.40 pm

Biggley keeping my car battery warm for me

Frank the Robin

2008-09-10T20:23:00.004+01:00

Dear little Frank came to ask for his worms earlier today, and having had a couple, decided to sing me a little song to thank me. He sat on the bird table yesterday and did the same but by the time I got the camera, he'd gone, so was thrilled he gave me another chance today. He was only 12 inches away from the camera. Pepper and Sage still around, and I actually think there's maybe another one coming to hand now, but they all look the same except for Frank! He has an almost straight line across the bottom of his red breast, whereas the others have a v-shaped dip.

I'm back

2008-09-09T08:23:00.003+01:00

Don't know if I should be doing this now but if I don't it will be put off again.

Just an update really. I took Alan home yesterday after having him here since Saturday week, they let him out of hospital after two days, although they really wanted to keep him in longer for observation, but due to his dad's funeral on the Monday, and him pretending he was now "fine" (sigh) they let him out as long as he had someone with him (me) Was glad to be looking after him though, made me realise how much he means to me, he's a lovely, lovely bloke, one in a million, but boy is he bloody stubborn! He was not "fine" by any means, and still isn't really, although much improved. He still has a constant headache although says it's getting less and less painful. He still has blurred vision in one eye.

The day of his dad's funeral went okay, he managed to carry the coffin along with 5 other family members, but thankfully, it was only from the hearse inside the crem, about 15 yards I guess. Previously to that they held a service in the house, and the guy did go on a bit, and Alan was leaning against me and swaying, I thought he was going to pass out.

Other than that, he did a few things for me here because he was bored, and he had a bad turn on the Tuesday, but wasn't going to say anything to me, I could throttle him at times! I knew though, he went and sat down and I saw him through the window as I was outside doing my bird feeders. He had a searing pain across his head and everything went black. He's been a lot sleepier too, but the weekend just past pretty much back to normal. Wasn't happy about him going home really, but phoned him last night and he has been pottering and sorting after I left him in the afternoon, and has phoned the doctor's as he promised, so will have to see how it goes.

I am so behind with things that need doing here, too numerous to mention in detail, but briefly, MOT on car due, booked for Thursday, if it fails, I am stuffed because it actually runs out on Saturday. Horrible clunk on back wheel and brakes are not good, so feeling anxious of course.

Builders still not finished here. Had another leak on the old pipes, floor and wall not drying out, was getting worse, so they came and put in a complete new run of pipes last week to by-pass the old ones. Soon as it dries out, they will come and do the bathroom floor (could be today, who knows??? ) box in the pipes in the larder and general finishing off, which could involve re-plastering and papering my hall.

Weather bad, although we've missed the worst of the rain thankfully, grass now about 8 inches high though and god knows when it will ever be dry enough to cut again.

Got the farm to do every weekend for 3 to 4 days for the rest of this month, and then from 1st week of October to 1st week of November (the whole month) when we are supposed to be living in. Not sure about that at present although will be spending a lot more time there.

Still feeding the robins and hedgehogs. Think I have all three Robins still but hard to tell, and they aren't coming so often now due to being attacked by one another. Still got Jack and Cass hedgehogs coming, two out of three I marked, although don't put the cam on much now, just happened to see them when I've opened door at night.

Think that will do for now. I maybe will get round to putting up a few photos later only from the Nokia though of a couple of outings Alan and I managed. (Nice one on Sunday to Roman Goldmines, and Friday we had chickens clucking round us at an outdoor cafe!) Must get up and get on now though.

It got worse

2008-08-29T22:17:00.002+01:00

No blog update so far this week, sorry folks, but everything I did since last time was paled into insignificance when I received a phone call yesterday evening to tell me that Alan had been rushed to hospital. He'd fallen from the scaffold at his house. He is going to be okay, has bad concussion, cuts grazes and bruises and a sore neck, keeping in until Sunday now, but he's still hoping to be out tomorrow. He can't remember what happened, luckily a neighbour heard, but he knows nothing about it, or the five hours between that and us at the hospital. They landed the air ambulance helicopter in his neighbour's garden, but in the end he was transported by road as the weather was too poor at Swansea. Last night was just awful, he was shaking, crying and couldn't speak properly or remember simple things like his date of birth. I've been there all afternoon and evening again today and he is much improved, but the neuro-surgeon still wants to keep him in for observation. Of course all Alan is worrying about is being at his dad's funeral on Monday. It never rains but it pours eh?

The Nightmare continues

2008-08-21T12:11:00.003+01:00

Sitting here right now wishing I was a million miles away. I need to let off steam, everything imagineable that could go wrong seems to have. The last straw was yesterday afternoon when the plumbers thought they'd finished installing all the heaters and pipework etc. Switched the water back on (I'd had none all day) and suddenly a puddle appeared in the hall/bathroom doorway, which got progressively larger, until the carpet was soaked, and there was about an inch of water all over my bathroom floor. They had to take up my lino, and the half the hall carpet and then guess where the pipes ran under the concrete floor, and drill down till they found them. I had my very own fountain. Luckily they guessed right and a joint was leaking there because of the higher pressure on the hot water system caused by the new combi boiler. The pipes were probably the originals put in when the place was built, sometime in the 1950s. So I spent last night with a soaking wet hall, big hole in the bathroom floor and no hot water (which I wouldn't have had any way really until the electrician came back today to finish off the wiring)

I am sick of not being able to go to the loo because there is always someone and lots of tools either in the bathroom or in the loft from early morning.

I'm sick of not being able to do any washing. I've either got no water, no electric or it's pissing down with rain and nowhere to dry anything. I normally hang stuff over the bath but that's out of the question with guys in there all the time.

I made a huge mistake in deciding to have the kitchen floor done. We had to move everything out apart from the gas cooker which they wouldnt touch, I told them to just tuck the lino under a little way. Once the cooker was disconnected, they have to have a corgi registered person to come back to reconnect it. What a load of bollocks. I'd have done it myself, it's oh so complicated isn't it to turn a tap off and then turn it back on? The washing machine had to stand outside, and as luck would have it, we didn't actually have any rain for about 3 hours, first time in weeks, and managed to get it back inside before it torrented down otherwise I guess that would have been buggered.

So now my fridge and freezer were in the living room for about 36 hours. Now the freezer is back in the kitchen, it has stopped working. The fast freeze was roaring all night even though it wasn't (fast-freezing) so god knows how much electric it's used. And the food is slowly but surely all thawing out. All the bread has done so already, only a matter of time before everything else does too I guess. So now I have to buy a new one, and get in touch with the insurance to claim for the lost contents. I may also be able to claim for the lino in the bathroom and get some new stuff.

So what else? Oh yeah, I hate, hate, hate the kitchen lino. It is way too light in colour, looks nothing like the tiny sample I got to see ( a one inch square photo in a brochure) It shows every tiny little blob that you tread in. I shall be forever cleaning it. It also feels like walking on sandpaper, non-slip see, great.

The new fire place I chose was supposed to be "Ivory" It isn't. It's a warm pinky beige colour and looks absolutely vile against the proper Ivory colour on the hearth wall. It is also about two inches narrower than the recess made by ripping out the old one so the guy is as I type, bodging a piece of wood down one side. On the left hand side, there is a lump of plaster ripped out which I'm not sure if they are going to bodge also.

The Smoke Detector on the hall ceiling went off this morning when I had a shower. It sounds at around 100 decibels. I think they would have heard it on the other side of the village. I had to get out half way, covered in soap and stand with my finger on the re-set button for about 30 seconds to shut it up.

The outdoor sensor light in the porch goes off every time Michael from next door, or Tim the dog sets foot outside their own front door.

There's been a dispute about who is responsible for dismantling and taking away my old night storage heaters. I've managed to get that sorted now though, and they are going today. Until then, I can't re-arrange the furniture in the bedroom and living room, and have lost about 4 feet of wall space and nowhere to put anything.

Oh yeah, the boiler outside being huge and now I have no path to walk on to get round the side. But I think I already mentioned that.

Everywhere now needs decorating. Paintwork has had lumps knocked out of it, and that which hasn't had dirty hands all over it.

None of that of course can compare with the pain and anguish Alan is now going through. His dad died during the night. A blessed relief for him though, he no longer has to suffer that terrible pain any more. I would say God bless him, but I'm not a believer, but I'm sure you will understand what I mean. I guess I will have to go buy a funeral outfit now, you can't go to a funeral in jeans can you?

Please let it end!

2008-08-19T14:31:00.003+01:00

I'm going up the wall, stuck here, it's a complete nightmare! Council are upgrading all the places and luckily (or not) I am one of the first, I could've had a new kitchen, bathroom too, but decided mine were fine, apart from kitchen floor, so at present I am sitting in the living room, trying to watch the olympics through the tiny gap alongside my fridge and freezer. I have half the contents of the kitchen in here, and the rest in the bedroom. I wished I'd taken up my lino from the kitchen as planned, because the workmen came in before I knew as the door was open and have ripped it up. I was hoping to get it in one piece as I was going to use it in the bird shed. Sigh. I can't go to the loo because the boy is in the loft and tools and stuff all over the floor so couldn't shut the door even if I wanted to. I have had to go wee up behind the aviary! The main cause of the disruption though is having oil fired central heating put in, which I did want, and all my electrics have been upgraded, new sockets everywhere and lots more of them. I had no electricity all day Friday, and about 3 hours again yesterday.

Have to mention the weather of course. Done nothing but blow and pee with rain apart from the odd day here and there for about a month. Luckily today is one of the odd days so the bloke is fitting the central heating boiler outside on the wall. It's bloody huge, sticks out about 4 feet so no chance of walking down the path anymore without sludging into the grass. There is now a dispute as to whose responsibility it is to remove the old storage heaters, so I've lost about 4 feet of wall space at the moment in the bedroom and living room until the old ones are out of the way. I'll bloody rip the things off myself if they don't sort it out by Thursday. I need to find a new home for Chippy and Alfie's cage as they can't now sit in the window on top of the heater.

Well, best find something else to do now, hoping they leave about 4 o'clock so I can nip into Llandysul and get Emma's heart pills from the vets, else will have to go first thing tomorrow as she took her last one this morning, and if I get really lucky I will get to see Damien. Swoon. (Yes still, after all this time)

Hey ho, happy days. :o(

Saturday and Sunday

2008-08-18T15:47:00.009+01:00

No fainting, but I'm actually getting this done the day after instead of a week later! Due to the fact been stuck indoors all day because of the workmen being here and also because it's been pouring with rain non stop since about 4pm yesterday. Winds gusting outside right now to about 50mph, lights on in the house since 6pm, heater on in the hall. It's still supposed to be summer haha bloody ha.

Anyway, Saturday was also raining all day. We went to Cardigan and looked round the shops, walked Emma down the towpath alongside the river, had lunch, came home and watched tv.

Sunday we went to Ogmore by Sea and Southerndown, (nearest town Bridgend.) Was lovely in the morning, photos below - and there's more here - http://www.hartill.net/Beach/ Had a nice walk, there's a Victorian walled garden, some ruins, cliffs and miles to explore. You can see right across the Bristol Channel to Somerset, in one photo you will see the land in the distance, which will be Minehead, it almost looked like you could swim it!

Went on from there to Alan's dads, very bad news, all the family was there as the doctors think he hasn't long left now, so sad to see him go down hill so fast, only a few weeks ago he was able to go out into his greenhouse, now he is out of it mostly. Feel very upset, but they have all been expecting it for a while now.

Well I'm about to jump in the shower as I won't get a chance in the morning now, unless I get up about 6 am, no thanks!

I can do bees....

Just an even quicker quicky

2008-08-15T22:27:00.004+01:00

Well I was without electric nearly all day in the event, I wrote the stuff below here when on battery power in Notepad, so will paste this now otherwise I will get even further behind. I will have to upload the photos another time, although nothing special as they were only taken with the Nokia this time, no camera with me, apart from some of Frank and Pepper today.

No doubt be more stuff after this weekend too, but not sure as the weather is attrocious outside right now and is supposed to be like it all for the next few days again. sigh.

Well. I'm sitting here slightly bored, slightly embarrassed, and trying to keep out of the way of the two young workmen who are here putting in lots of nice shiny new electric sockets, light fittings, smoke detectors etc. Their tools and tool boxes are all over the house, I have no electric and due to a burst water main in the village earlier, had no bloody water either first thing, it was off for about 3 hours. I had to go to the car and get the dog's water bottle out to make myself a coffee this morning!

So I will briefly mention last weekend, on Saturday, it was the most awful, horrendous weather, it was also Alan's birthday, so we just went out for lunch, intending to take Emma for a walk after, but in the event, no chance, it never stopped lashing down so we came home again and watched telly!

On Sunday, we went to Barry Island, my first ever visit, and it was like stepping back in time again to a typical seaside town in Kent, like being in the 60s really. Amusement arcades, shops selling buckets and spades, the beach of course, which due to the bad weather (although not raining, but chilly and blowing a gale) had about three lots of people on it. We had lunch again, a look around, and a walk out onto the headland, where it was hard to stand up. Some hilarious photos of Emma to follow. Stopped off at a huge Tesco and got some shopping, on the way to see Alan's dad and sister.

Wednesday met Alan at Llanelli for lunch and shopping and walked Emma round the lake where we went earlier back in May I think it was. The wind was so bad that all the swans were sheltering one end behind the trees, and there was an enormous flock of gulls down on the grass, which shows how bad the sea must've been.

I've just been outside as today it's not raining (hooray) and taken some great photos of Frank and Pepper, they are giving me so much pleasure, Frank (I'm such a Poser) and Pepper (I just love to sunbathe) I am now calling them, lol. Also still feeding little Sage, but I have a funny feeling there may be two Sages! I must take a note of the markings as I did with the other two, who are currently easy to tell apart. When they get rid of their baby spots and develop the full red it's going to be hard though.

The summer has been the worst I can ever, ever remember, I am not kidding. The wind, the rain, and now the cold is ridiculous. Last night the temperature up by my aviary dropped to 2c, almost had a frost, in mid August! Really had enough, and I doubt now if we will have anything much better, there's a real chill in the air even when the sun is out again.

Frank posing

Pep sunbathing

Frank left, Pep right, a temporary truce

My Poor Garden!

2008-08-11T17:55:00.002+01:00

Will blog about my weekend when I get round to it, but for now just a quickie before tea as I've been out today, leaving the workmen to it to do the base for my oil tank for the central heating. They said they didn't need access to the house today, so I made the most of it and went over to Pat's for the afternoon. Came home to find half the garden cordoned off and a HUGE trench has been dug too, not that I mind really, they are supposed to make good after, and the less grass I have to cut the better really! This morning, Alan and I had to chop down half of my bamboo too as the slab base was bigger than the gap we'd created. Still, it will grow again and shouldn't kill it.

Anyway, I took the camera out to take a few photos, and little Frank appeared to commiserate with me, he landed almost on me, and then let me put the camera right in his face to take the photos, he's amazing. Pepper was up in the area that had been dug, and wasn't particularly interested in me I guess he'd found lost of nice worms. Today, I got another baby robin to feed from me too - named him Sage, took some this morning, and again just now. Chuffed. :o)

Newby - Sage

Getting worserer!

2008-08-08T09:12:00.009+01:00

I have to confess, I probably have had the time, but I just can't be bothered with this anymore. I think my problem is that I'm now only concentrating on weekend stuff, and we seem to go somewhere special each time, and I take lots and lots of photos, and then think, oh hell no, takes so bloody long to downsize, edit and upload here, and I put it off and off. Well I did the first two things last night, and now have about 40 photos to upload and still can't be bothered.

In a nutshell, Saturday we went to Cilgerran, took a picnic, and walked the entire length of the Teifi back to Llechryd, a round trip of about 5 miles. Emma struggled a bit, but we kept stopping and were only strolling. The highlight (apart from the food of course....) was I saw TWO Kingfishers! As many as I've seen before in my lifetime. One at Llechryd end, and then another back near Cilgerran castle, so highly unlikely it was the same one. Alan to thank, he spotted them, and where they went, and we just stopped and waited till they re-appeared. No chance of a photo though, swiftly flying off down river each time.

Sunday we went to St Fagans, near Cardiff. It's a place where they reconstruct, brick by brick, original historical buildings - it's a museum of Welsh culture. It's free, and it's brilliant! All sorts of buildings, churches, mills, toll house, farm house, a terrace of houses through the ages, all furnished with original stuff, had to laugh at the 1970s one which had the most enormous video recorder, an original shop with lots of products that I remember way back when. There's lakes, gardens, and a Castle. Lots of animals too, and of course spent time taking photos of them, especially the chickens lol. You can read all about it here, and if ever you are in Wales, I can highly recommend the place, don't miss it!

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

Other stuff this week - highlighted yesterday by getting some great pics at last of little Frank landing on my hand and taking the mealworms.

Weather been bloody terrible, torrential rain a couple of days, but won't go on about that, very depressed on that score, summer has been worse this year than last, and I never thought that would be possible. I have my heating back on, and it was dark enough to need lights on at 7pm last night, grrrrrr.

Not looking forward to next couple of weeks much, the workmen are coming to instal my oil central heating and the upheaval will be horrendous, worrying about where my guinea pigs are going to go, and the budgies, and Emma and and ...oh well no use worrying I guess, just wish it was done and in working order!

Okay, I will attempt to upload some of the photos anyway.

Right thats those, now for little Frank from yesterday....

Sunday - Caerphilly Big Cheese

2008-07-29T15:11:00.007+01:00

Hectic day, but most enjoyable. Got up early to do the farm, rushed back and got ready to drive to the other side of Wales to visit Caerphilly Castle and then to Alan's dads later for tea. It was absolutely boiling hot, in fact, I can't really remember a hotter day in this country. I think you could have cooked an egg on the grass, never mind the concrete. Anyway, it was fantastic, lots of stalls, including one being run by Alan's sister and her husband, a large fairground, craft stalls, food, and the castle itself was brilliant. Live groups playing in various locations, lots of ducks and geese in the moat. Inside the castle walls there were re-enactments of ancient battles going on with men dressed in costume, fires burning, archery - it was like stepping back in time several centuries.

So anyhow, finally got home at just before 10pm thoroughly knackered, but a great day, glad I didn't have to drive home though, could hardly keep my eyes open, the heat just wiped me out and wandering around for about 4 hours.

Other news - now have 7 robins coming here to feed! Two adults appeared yesterday, and again today, and one of them is definitely reacting to the name "Sausage" He may just be my original little man, I so hope so, of course, having had no contact with me for a few months now (since about April I think) he may be wary, although he never would come that close, only within a few feet. I have Frank and Pepper really tame, Sal coming almost to me, and there's two more baby speckly ones, one of which is fairly confident, only a matter of time I think till it comes to hand.

Lastly, my beautiful Lily finally bloomed, very late this year, and the summer is over for now, been sunny and warm on and off, but really heavy rain too, windy and last night had a storm for half an hour or so. I knew it was too good to last....

Click to enlarge this one - see the face in the cloud? I did, of course.

Inside The Great Hall, live group, really good

Some of my flowers in the garden -

Saturday 26th July

2008-07-29T14:44:00.008+01:00

Another gorgeous summer's day, and we took a picnic to Abergorlech, Brechfa forest. Great walk, great scenery, lots of nice polite Mountain bikers. Yummy food (even though I made it myself, cough), ice cream on the way home, what more could you ask? lol.

Went straight to the farm, so gave the dogs a bit of extra time, and played with the cats, Littley so funny, kept going inside one of the barns, and laying down inside out of sight, and then suddenly her paw would come through a small hole and feel all round the door. Then her head would appear to look, so Alan got a piece of grass and was tormenting, erm playing with her, lol.

Alan playing with Littley with Barra looking on in disgust...

Pre-weekend quickie

2008-07-25T17:02:00.007+01:00

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year here so far. We thought so, but was confirmed on the news last night, temps at Aberporth (our nearest weather station) reached 26c. So summer has lasted almost a week now. Yippee, bring it on.

So had arranged to meet Alan, he wanted to take me to a shop that sold really cheap stuff, including bird foods, like 6 fatballs for 49p, half what I normally pay. Anyhow, when I got to his, he surprised me by having prepared a picnic! Lovely salad rolls, and some fruit, and we bought some cans of soft drink and some cakes on the way from the shop so I bought loads of bird food at the same time, saved a small fortune on it too.

We went to Pembrey again, and ate looking out over the bay after a fairly long walk to get to the vantage point - they wanted £6 car parking, so we said stuff that and turned back and parked outside the park.

Anyway, after we went to the cafe for a cuppa by the dry ski run, and I noticed they have a bobsleigh run which goes round the outside of this. Alan insisted that I went on it! I protested saying I would feel a wally, but there were people of all ages going on, and he went and bought tickets for three goes, saying once is never enough, I will love it. I wasn't convinced. Anyway, I trudged off, got on my "sleigh" and was dragged up the slope. Got to the top and you have to hold the joystick thing at whatever speed you feel comfortable at, so I was slow, slow, slow. But hell, it was fun. So I had my second go, this time, I was brave enough to hang on with one hand and take some shots with my mobile with the other! Third time, I just went for it, no brakes, and I nearly crapped myself, it was so scary, but really, really great! So glad I did it. A real adrenaline rush, and worth every penny. :o)

Emma was concerned, I could hear her yapping for me as I went up the slope first time, and as I came flying down Alan was holding her to show her where I was, her face was so bloody funny! No pics though, couldn't get the phone out and I was worried about braking properly so I didn't come of it at the end of the run lol!

Other stuff: Frank is now feeding freely from my hand as well as Pepper. Went and bought a fresh supply of live mealworms today. I also managed to get Sal to take a few but only from a distance by throwing her a couple.

Alan will be here soon, so best get the tea started I think. Looking forward to Sunday, we are going to his home town, Caerphilly, they have a huge event on over this weekend called The Big Cheese, 70,000 people attended last year, sounds great. You can read all about it on the link here, I will endeavour to take lots of photos of course. We will pop and see his dad of course whilst over there, and we have the farm to do tomorrow night and Sunday morning before we go, so going to be busy this weekend for sure.

http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese/english/visitorinformation.htm

The Summer - Day 5

2008-07-23T15:00:00.009+01:00

Well we finally got some. Hot hot hot, no rain ssshhhhh! Even when the sun goes behind a cloud, and unfortunately there are still a few around, it's still warm, instead of that awful chill we have had so far this season. Loving it of course. Did quite a lot in the garden yesterday, and went shopping as quickly as possible today, and back in time to laze around outside enjoying it for a change. Got the farm to do at teatime, which is nice, cooler for Emma to have a walk anyway.

So what have I been up to otherwise since the last entry? Erm, well Saturday, we had a knock about on the tennis court, no laughing, finally got to try out my raquets and balls which have been festering in my boot for about 2 months since I bought them. Boy, did I feel old after, I hurt where I didn't know you could hurt, but most especially my back and my knees. I used to be a good tennis player, feel slightly gutted that it now seems beyond my capabilities. Anyway, we then went to Newcastle Emlyn, had a walk round the castle and then had some lunch, did farm in the evening.

Sunday was brilliant. Went to Aberystwyth, looked round the castle and gardens, Emma had a good old paddle in the sea, we ate on the prom at an outdoor cafe which all the bikers go to, and in the middle of eating my baguette, the heavens opened and we had a downpour, Alan rushed under the canopy with his chips, as did lots of the bikers, but I soldiered on bravely as most of me was either covered in my jacket with hood up or under the table! Luckily, was only a shower, and it cleared nicely later for our trip to the Red Kite feeding place and nature reserve just 10 miles east of Aber. They feed the kites at 3pm every day, and the scenery around there is fantastic, a lovely lake, and the view down across the valley below is spectacular. What's more, it's free to go in, just a nominal car park fee of £1.50, which I thought was brilliant. There was one amazing thing - an almost Albino Red Kite, if that makes sense! Hard to take photos, as the birds are constantly dipping and swooping of course. I should add here that right next to this reserve, which is managed by the RSPB, is an 8-turbine Wind Farm. I was most concerned about this of course, but had a long chat with the two guys there from the RSPB and they were adamant that no Kites had been killed by this farm, nor any other birds for that matter. I have to say that I feel slightly relieved, should the dreaded one go ahead here, maybe Bernie will be okay after all. Also, these turbines were less than half a mile away, and I could hear no noise at all, despite the blades rotating quite fast.

I've got lots of photos, but as I'm doing this outside in bright sunshine, not too sure if I will be able to see to do them justice or not!

Anyway, the best (if that's possible) till last, is my little Robin, Pepper. It's like having a new pet, I only wish I could protect him like you can your own, but of course nature isn't like that. Trying desperately not to get too fond of him, as the Sparrowhawk is making constant attacks here, bloody thing. There's two other baby Robins, Frank and Sal, as well as two adults, bit of fighting going on, but Pep seems to be winning all the battles so far. He is a constant companion when I'm outside, the photos appearing here are taken with the camera about 12" inches from him, and he shows no fear, he's been sunbathing on the arm of the bench as I sit here now, less than an arm's length away, and I'm almost certain I could stroke him. He has been actually landing on my palm now and staying a few seconds with his worm, before he was just grabbing and flying off as fast as possible, so the only photos are a complete blur unfortunately. Frank keeps landing near me too, but Pepper always appears and chases him away, poor Frank! Quick update, just got Frank to take a mealworm from my hand, yay! Pepper must've gone off somewhere for a sec!

Will now try to upload some of the photos anyway, so here goes, can hardly see the screen here, but if I don't do this now, I may not get round to it for ages again, I can't seem to get the motivation in the evenings now.

Newcastle Emlyn Saturday

Aberystwyth Sunday

Bwlch Nant yr Arian Sunday

Pepper today

Lastly, will just mention, but not going into detail that had a bad day on Monday, relationship wise. Was so close to it being a past relationship, but managed to sort things out thankfully, and I came home with this below as a peace offering, he is soooo romantic, sigh.

Saturday's Trip - Cors Caron National Nature Reserve

2008-07-17T15:24:00.004+01:00

This was at Tregaron, so first we took a trip into the Red Kite Centre and Museum, lots of stuff to see, lovely enthusiastic lady volunteer to tell you all about things to do in the area, she was a gem!

So then onto the Nature Reserve, built on and around an ancient peat bog. Again, will post the pics straight from the card, but it was another great place, been past it lots of times but never stopped by and walked it. There's a mile of boardwalk over the marsh, saw lots of insects but not many birds until the car park area, swallows in the nest and the lovely little fledgling Spotted Flycatcher being fed by its parent, thanks for the help from the bird forum again!

Here's the website address again if you want to know more about the place, worth a visit, and it's free!

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/national-nature-reserves/nature-reserves-of-west-wales/cors-caron.aspx?lang=en

Sunday's day out - Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park

2008-07-17T14:30:00.009+01:00

Fabulous place, been there before with friends a few times. Alan hadn't. It was a lovely day, great place to go with dogs, nice walk, lots of animals, and the icing on the cake - if you are lucky - Atlantic Grey seals in the wild. We were, there were two. Will just post some of the pics, I'm not going to edit them, just as they come off the memory card so apologies if they are too large and take forever to load on your pc! The last ones are all the seal pics, so it's not just a photo of the sea, you will see them if you click on the image. ;o)

Here's the web address, you can see for yourselves all the other stuff!

http://www.cardiganisland.com/

Okay so on the way back, we called in at Mwnt, an unspoilt little place with just one tiny shop selling some snacks and buckets and spades etc. We climbed right to the top of the mound, very steep and quite a feat being as we'd already walked a fair old distance. There's a quaint little church and the bells were ringing telling people to come to the service, a nice end to a Sunday, as was the sunset on the water. :)

Oh Gawd!

2008-07-16T20:33:00.004+01:00

I don't know what's up with me, well apart from a massive dose of lazy-itus I suppose. I had a great weekend again. And I took something like 80 photos from the two very different places we went. But I just can't be bothered to download them off the memory card, edit the size and then load them 5 at a time on here. Sigh. I suppose I will get round to it maybe eventually. Like Anna with her holiday photos from Scotland last year! It's a shame because some of them are great, domestic animals mainly, saw some Atlantic grey seals in the wild too. Just feeling very lethargic. Not been feeling that well really for a while, digestive problems like I've not had for a few years now, and constant niggling headaches. Been getting me down, but still trying to soldier on bravely.

So all I'm going to do for now is the thing which has excited me most this past few days - a baby robin who has taken a liking to me. He's named Pepper, thanks to a suggestion from a bird forum member. He's so tame, I am sure he must be related to Sausage, who's not been seen for a few months now sadly, but I live in hope. I actually have three here, but the other two aren't interested in me or my food, and shoot off as soon as I appear. Not so Pepper. He hung around me all day yesterday when I was out in the garden. Nearly trod on him a couple of times, almost threw the mower box full of grass cuttings on him too on the compost/rubbish pile. I was outside eating my lunch and he was nearby, when a bird made an alarm call, and all others vanished into the holly bush in seconds. Not Pepper. He flew to me for protection! Later on, when I was bringing in my guinea pig bowl of food, there were some ants in it, and I was standing in the doorway with the dish in my hand trying to flick them out, and Pepper came and perched on the bowl. I was absolutely so thrilled. A first for me. This morning, I went out with my normal dish of mixed bird goodies, and showed him and he again came and perched on the rim and took a look. However, nothing took his fancy and he flew off and grabbed a fly from the fence panel instead as if to say, huh, no thanks, I'll eat some proper food! He does like bread crumbs though, and I almost got him to take some from my hand. A couple more days and I'll be there I think. Birds are so afraid of hands aren't they? Even my cockatiels in the aviary will tolerate being kissed or nuzzled with my nose, but put a hand anywhere near them and they shriek with fear and are away!

Baby Pepper

Baby Blackbird having a sunbathe

Baby Bluetit on the Sky dish

At last....

2008-07-09T20:10:00.006+01:00

I'm getting worse at this I know. I can't make the excuse of no time really because I could've done it last night, Monday night, and anytime since about 5pm today. Just can't be bothered I suppose. It was easier when I was doing it every day, but once it gets to be a week between posts, and I have to stop and think what I've done, it just becomes a chore and not a pleasure. So many things happen in the course of a week, some interesting to me, some trivial, but I feel I want to record them here because I like to look back from time to time and think, ah yes, I did so and so then. Well after all that waffle I suppose I'd best put something down then.

Okay, so I have just finished a 12 trip stint at the farm (6 days) was great as always, lots happened, Alan helped with 5 of those over the weekend and we had fun with the dogs, with some stray sheep from the other farmers fields, with some new kittens which have appeared from the feral cat, Kate is not amused! Without a doubt though of all the times I have worked up at the farm over the course of the last year, this time was the worst weather I've encountered. It's been crap on the whole, rain, wind, cold, apart from a couple of early mornings when I could manage with just a sweatshirt, otherwise it's been wellies and wax coats, hood up and still getting soaking legs. Have had to light my fire at home one night, now out of logs, and I've now resorted to putting on the night storage heater in the hall, unheard of before in July.

Apart from the norm of shopping, housework and bird feeding, the nicest thing I've done since last blog was on Sunday, when Alan and I had a day out between the farm shifts, at the Teifi Valley Steam Railway. (http://www.teifivalleyrailway.com/Events.htm) We were lucky with the weather, despite the forecast being lousy, it wasn't too bad, had sun for much of the day. The railway is run and maintained by volunteers, and the journey takes about 20 minutes each way, with a turn around wait of about 5 minutes whilst the engine shunts down the track away to pull us back instead of push (apparently it's illegal to push carriages whilst passengers are on board, so we all had to get off, learned something new there) We had a lovely lunch in the cafe there, sitting outside with Emma, the cafe is run by two nice ladies who do all their own cooking and buy local produce. I had a nice ploughmans and salad which had some delicious chutney with it and found out that one of the ladies makes it, it was Banana and Date so bought a jar, and also some Apricot. Absolutely yummy. We had our trip on the train, Emma petrified at first but was okay once she was sitting on my lap. We got back to the cafe and had tea and cakes, and then went on again, but this time disembarked at one of the stations on the way back, and we could walk back through beautiful woodlands with a gorge and waterfall, takes about 20 minutes to walk. Was a lovely day out. Oh, and btw, the name of the station is pronounced Pont-pren-sitoo!

Yesterday I took Emma to see Damien again. Her allergies are really bad at present, she's scratching like mad, eyes running and coughing. I'm fed up with paying out so much money for the vaccine she has to have and obviously there are other things that she isn't immunised against, so wanted to ask Damien if she can be tested for the pollens that are prevalent from May to September when she is at her worst, and then they can be added to her vaccine for the next batch. The stuff in question seems to be Dock and nettle. Up at the farm the fields are full of dock, and Emma has been much worse since we've been walking up there. He is going to get in touch with the people in Holland to see if this will be possible and get back to me. If I don't hear from him by next Tuesday, I have to go and see him after surgery, so I have a date with him at last.... if only.... He was bloody drop dead gorgeous again yesterday, I was only kidding myself last time I think that I don't fancy him any more. Oh dear. Oh well, I can still dream. Won't get me anywhere but still, lol.

A few photos to post so will call that it I guess. Can't think of much else to report except still have at least four hogs coming to feed, no sign of Squirt anymore sadly, but Cass and Jack every night, plus two unmarked ones. Mice still scampering around in the shed. Bloody sparrowhawk killing lots of things in my garden, seem to be forever chasing it away, but it had a collared dove yesterday by the looks of things, loads of feathers up by the bird table. It's had a couple of blue tits too. Grrrrr.

And finally, please when is it going to be summer? It's cold, grey, pissing with rain, and I am so, so fed up with it now. :o(

Emma on the first journey on my lap

Emma on the return, enjoying the scenery

Another update

2008-07-01T19:29:00.004+01:00

Okay so since last time, not counting the mousey stuff from the other day -

Wednesday - had a nice lunch at Pat's, walk with the dogs, lovely afternoon. Then to Alan's for the evening. A first for me, a man cooked me a meal, and very nice it was too, bless him. And he did the washing up after.

Thursday - Went to Docs in morning, walked Emma round the park as we were forecast bad weather for the afternoon. They weren't kidding. It was bloody awful. Sat and watched Wimbledon.

Friday - Housework.

Saturday - Alan came over, went to the nice baguette cafe for lunch in Newcastle Emlyn, then to Henllan with Emma, walk down the river and across the farm fields. Called in at the Steam Railway station on way back to check out train times, always wanted to go on that, so maybe will at last get the chance.

Sunday - Went to Beaulah car boot sale am, not much doing, not many stalls, weather wasnt too good, it chucked down when we were about 5 minutes from seeing all the stalls, and we got bloody soaked running back to the car, well there's a surprise.... Cwm Tudu for lunch, it stopped by then, and we sat outside the cafe, after the owner had wiped off the seats for us! In the afternoon, we went to visit some of Alan's relatives who live close by, he'd not seen them for years (they were relatives of his wife) We've been invited to a barbie in two weeks time, looking forward to that. Oh, don't faint, but I cooked us a Sunday roast - first time I've done that for many a moon I can tell you. Turned out good though. Oh and a bread and butter pudd for afters. Yum.

Monday - went back over to Alan's and then headed off toward Caerphilly to see his dad and sister again. This time though we went via the Brecon Beacons, and the scenery was breathtaking. I couldn't take photos really though, as it would have meant getting him to stop too often. Hope we can go again though and I will definitely take some. We went into a forestry place that had an activity centre and cafe, but the cafe was shut until next year! So we ended up with a burger from a roadside place, which was very nice anyway. Stopped on the way back for a MacDonalds, so had a really healthy eating day - not! Got home at 11pm. Dirty stop out.

Today - Supposed to be a heatwave, ha bloody ha. Well it's been fairly warm I suppose, I could actually be outside in a tee shirt whilst I cut all the grass, cut back lots of brambles and stingers. Went up the farm to help Kate trim a ewe's hoof who is lame. Had two machine loads of washing out on the line which would have been dry before I went up there at 4 o'clock. By the time I got home again after the dog walks and coffee and a chat, it was peeing down. Washing now drying in the bathroom, wetter than when I put it out. We have had torrential rain since then, like I've never seen. It was coming off the front gutter in the porch like Niagara Falls. So dark in here I really need to put the light on. Sick of this sodding summer already. Fed up with feeling cold half the time and having to have at least one of my heaters on almost all the time, bar about 10 nights so far. Grrrrrr.

Got the farm coming up now from Thursday, right through to following Wednesday now, no lambs to feed this time though. Oh went and saw my little Daisy for the first time in weeks, she came for a cuddle, and she kissed me and nibbled my neck, awww, hope Alan doesn't think I've got a lovebite, haha!

Cwm Tudu

Alan found some other boys to play skimming stones with....

Water water everywhere....

My pet mice!

2008-06-27T21:26:00.006+01:00

They live in my shed, most I've ever seen in one go is seven. There were a lot of littler ones a week or so ago, but they all have grown up now. Had a disaster with one last week, as I opened the door to put their food in, one must have been on the door and he fell out onto the garden path, and ran under a tiny little crevice under the shed. So I had to prop the door open about an inch and a half all night so that he could get back in!

The camera was being held no more that 15 inches away for these photos, they are quite tame, as long as I don't make any sudden movements, but I can talk to them and call them when I first take their food, and they will come now. I know, I'm mad......

Where is the time going????

2008-06-24T20:11:00.004+01:00

Well I can't believe it's been another week since I last did this. I can't remember a lot of what I've done or what day I did it lol, but will just do a brief bit about the weekend. On Saturday I went over to Alan's in the morning as he has been busy doing stuff to his house and had to wait in for something to be delivered. As it turned out, the guy was there same time as I arrived, but anyway, made a change to be over that way. We had some lunch and then went to a great place for a walk with Emma, called Parc Howard. It's a huge, huge gardens with lovely little displays of flowers, trees, there's a museum, tennis court, kids park, two bowling greens, duck pond etc. There were a couple of weddings whilst we were there, but think they just went there to have the photos taken, and not the actual ceremony. One bride got married in pink, really unusual (or maybe it isn't these days?) Anyway, she looked lovely, and they had an elongated limo which was quite something.

Came back home in the evening, then Sunday we went to Aberaeron, it was bright and sunny but the wind, omg! We nearly got blown over with the gusts at times. Had some lunch (takeaway bagettes) sat at a picnic table in the park, and was fairly sheltered. Later we bought honey icecreams from Hive on the Quay, and had to protect them from being blown off the cornets with my hand and get round the wall quick, only to find half a dozen people who had done the same thing, we all had a good laugh!

Yesterday I went back to Alans first thing, and then he took me to Caerphilly to his dads for the day, via MacDonalds for lunch first, and a guided tour of where he used to live as a boy, which was lovely. Completely different scenery down that part of Wales, very nice though. His dad was lovely, as was his sister, and I also met a couple of his nephews. Got back to Alans and then came straight home here, it was nearly 10 oclock by then, and as usual was worried about my birds and guinea pigs, but they were fine.

Been to Dentist today, and shopping, and up the farm with Emma for a walk.

Another busy day ahead of me tomorrow. Don't know when I'm going to get any housework done. Oh well, life's too short to worry about that, well I'm trying to convince myself of that anyway, but it's not easy, sometimes get a bit uptight and tense when stuff doesn't get done. Still, I'm having a lot of fun and enjoying myself so what the hell.....

Baby blue tit in garden

2008-06-16T21:16:00.002+01:00

So very tame, took the photos below from about 15 inches away, not using a zoom lens! So cute.

Last weekend

2008-06-16T20:59:00.008+01:00

Saturday went to Teifi Marshes nature reserve, did the long walk all the way round. Took loads of photos, had a great lunch sitting outside. Weather fab.

Sunday, went to the Welsh Game Fair. Fantastic day. Spent about 5 hours at least walking round, so completely knackered. Best bit was watching all the dogs having a great time in the river Towy, I've never seen so many dogs in one place, mainly sporty dogs of course, spaniels, labs, terriers. Lots of stuff to watch in the arenas, like Motorcycle display, dogs rounding up ducks, hare coursing, hawking etc. Another fab weekend.

Photos in opposite order, so Game Fair ones are first under here.

Past week

2008-06-16T20:55:00.003+01:00

So busy again, Alan's grandson had a bad accident the previous Friday, in hospital with fractured skull, bleeding to the brain, so we went visiting him every evening but he made a brilliant recovery and was let out last Wednesday. Went to meet his family on Thursday at his home, then to Pembrey park for a wonderful walk, so much to see and do there. Beautiful place. Haven't had time to download the photos. May get round to it, but I doubt it!

Sunday 8th June

2008-06-16T20:49:00.002+01:00

Lovely walk round Cenarth Falls, lunch sitting outside in the Coffee House garden.

Also pic of about the only hedgehog now coming to feed. Never see any on cam now, this was in the porch late when I let Emma out.