Farmer Ian and I went away for a week to Hay-on-Wye, staying at a lovely old water mill surrounded by … you guessed it … sheep. Of the huge pile of books I bought, only three were about farming.
At home, most of the shearing is done, and we’re in the
middle of hay/silage-making, but this is all weather dependent. Of course, the
nicest days were while we were on holiday – great for us, not so great for
getting the hay in. Ho hum.
Ann (and Alan) came and stayed chez nous to look after
the stock. We left Ned and Harry at home, but 4 dogs are at least 1 too many
for a chaos-free visit, so Jeb and Scout went to the local Doggo Prison –
admittedly five-star, with lovely amenities. It was a test to see if they would
be ok, with the get-out clause that if not, Ann could collect them. They had a
fine time, Jeb not seeming to be that bothered about whether he came home or
not. Scout, of course, played the Princess for the next few days as she’d
suffered so much, oh so much, by being gratuitously abandoned.
Naturally, while away, Ann kept a diary. So, for her adoring
fans, over to Ann.
Friday 17th June
OMG it’s so hot! We all sat out on the deck to enjoy the
breeze, which was picking up. Even the leaves were turning up with the promise
of rain – but nothing came. Very quiet here with only Ned and Harry. We enjoyed
watching the woodpeckers. Dad phoned.
Saturday 18th June
5am, it’s foggy and fair-weather spiders are all over Cross
Field. No ball thrower for Harry, but his stare told me where his ball was
hiding. Ned did all the stock with me – all fine except for one lamb in Burch
Lane with pneumonia. I gave dad a call to find out what to inject it with, but
I will be surprised if it’s still with us tomorrow. All finished in the cool.
Watered the plants. Amie came back for a night, and we managed to see the cows
before the rain started. Thankfully, I didn’t get a call from Jeremy! (1)
Steady rain produced a puddle on your clover lawn.
Sunday 19th June
What a relief – a cool walk around Cross Field and Sonnyside
- there’s a stranger in there with a blue mark (2). Amie enjoyed helping me
this morning, especially feeding the calves. Harry managed the early ride round
the 13 Acres cows, but we took Ned everywhere else. As expected, the lamb hadn’t
survived. Neil came to fetch Amie late morning, so I went up to Common then. I
counted 34 cattle twice (3), but they were all by the top fence and there were
signs that someone had been out, with several stakes snapped off. The afternoon
walk frightened the s**t out of 7 hinds. As the first 6 hopped over the hedge,
the last one was a near catch for Harry (4). Picked some elderflowers for
making cordial tonight.
Monday 20th June
Beautiful – walking in Cross Field and Sonnyside at 5:30am.
I had a leisurely morning with Harry helping me. I moved Edwin’s cattle today.
I switched the electric fence off and then went to the bottom to move the wire
to the other side of the water. When I got back to the top, they had moved
themselves. Ned came to Raceground and Common. After the heavy rain, there is
water in the gully (for now). I put some metal posts in to support the broken
fence on Common. I moved Cleeve ewe lambs to Gratton tonight, or rather, I
opened the gate and they moved themselves (5). I saw your barn owl.
Tuesday 21st June
I wasn’t quite there to see this morning’s sunrise, but the sky
was a beautiful pink. Harry came with me on the first trip. Burch Lane getting
extremely bare, as is the far end of Raceground. David came today to spread
dung in Quarryfield (6). Too hot to do much, so I had a couple of hours with my
book on the deck. I moved the cattle from Edwin’s as you suggested – they were
desperate for more water and emptied the road-gate trough immediately, but didn’t
remember that there’s another one below Rabbity Wood. I also opened the gate
for Burch Lane to move themselves, as they were extremely vocal. One lamb has a
bad foot, but is still too quick for me to catch.
Wednesday 22nd June
Harry was thrilled to find more deer to chase in 8 Acres
this morning. I managed to catch the one lamb in Edwin’s who has a very poorly
foot and treated with blue spray. I took an executive decision and let
Raceground out from the far end as some lambs were getting through the wire onto
the hedge. The solar powered fencer is behind the water in the trailer. About 9
inches of water left. I had a go at spraying the C-section heifer, but she took
one look at me with the blue spray and cleared the railings into the field from
a standing start! Thankfully, no rails or legs broken. Tony came and sat with us
on the deck until 9pm.
Thursday 28th June
Dogs walked, calves and tame lambs fed by 6am! No red deer
this morning, but there was a fox barking in Pulham Wood. Home from the market
by 9am to see everything else. We did try to move the feeder from Burch Lane
with the trailer, but found we couldn’t take off the tailgate so sorry, left
that for you to do. I managed to negotiate the giant bin without getting stuck
inside! Thank you for the sprayer full of dock killer for the orchard. I have
finished off the dregs in 8 Acres.
Gosh, my writing is getting scruffy! I have just spoken to you
about your return. Harry got the chance to chase another hind in 8 Acres. I
have marked and injected the poorly tame lamb, who was left tucking into the straw.
The bath waste pipe in the bathroom is running sooo slow.
You have too many friends with long dark hair! (7)
(1) A neighbour, checking out whose calf was running
about on the main road. Originally thought not to be ours, but read on.
(2) One of our neighbour’s sheep, sneaking through a
fence.
(3) Ah, counting animals. Generally, this work by
counting several times until the correct number is achieved, which probably isn’t
the best way, but we all do it!
(4) But Harry needs to be careful – they’ll give him
a hearty kick before he gets too close.
(5) Because of the lack of rain, grass is in short
supply and, well, the grass is always greener…
(6) The site of this year’s swedes. Currently covered
in gulls and at least 3 red kites, all looking for worms in the ploughed earth.
(7) Ugg.
