back in the lambing shed....

....not a lot happening really - two weeks of full time shepherdess duties and what have I got to show for it - six lambs from five ewes. All delivered in secret when no one was about, all lambs fiercly protected by doting mothers - it makes such a change from what we have been used to over the past years with Texels - no rolling about the floor at midnight trying to persuade a heavyweight ewe with post natal depression to feed her offspring that she had hated at birth.

At counting up time this morning I couldn't get to six lambs - I searched, I recounted, I walked the field - I started to panic. As I moved a ewe from by the tree stump I found her lamb - carefully hidden down a hole out of the wind. I left him there and she sat back down to cover him up again. Dont interfere is the name of the game so I won't!

With being so not required in the lambing shed we have escaped to deliver rescue chickens up to Bodran mountain and take the dog for a swim in the sea at Rhyl. Its years since I have been to the seaside at Rhyl and I had dim memories of a seedy dump - gosh what a surprise - its been 'done up' it is now all painted pink and fancy concrete - wow! Very impressed!

We found our way home via a certain shop in Denbigh where we had a welcome cuppa amongst the rails of gorgeous summer clothes.

On Friday we were headed for Erddig - National Trust property only to find on checking the book that it does not open on a Friday - neither does Whitwick Manor, nor Dudmaston Hall - I gave up then and there. We went to visit the Victorian Farm at Acton Scott - first time without children in tow.

Clumper the heavy horse knows he's a TV star and behaved like a prima donna for his public! Whilst his 'driver' discussed agriculture with visitors Clumper got bored and then hungry = then he was off back towards his stable with the heavy roller bumping along the road. He was not deterred by the yelling that ensued - I'm afraid I stood and laughed, I was no help what so ever.

The bailiff's cottage was open and the lady of the house was busy making soup - it smelt divine. There were piglets, dozens of them all spotted and very new looking, geese, chickens and long horned cattle. The wheelwright was busy wheelwrighting and in the schoolroom coffee was served on place mats that were like old school slates. It was all beautifully presented and a credit to those who spend so much time making sure that everything is authentic.

We sat in nearby Cardingmill valley watching the dozens of walkers cascading down the hillsides in the glorious sunshine and then it was back to the lambing shed - in full expectation - forget it still just five mums and six lambs - at this rate we will still be lambing next Christmas - yawn

A Friday in April

...and if I misspell any word by leaving an 'f' out blame the keyboard its going wonky.

I haven't been in here for an age - about a foot of dust and yellowed paper, needs a good spring cleaning but no time today.

I'm ON HOLIDAY - well if that's what this is - shall I say I am not going daily to my paid place of employment, instead its up at the crack of dawn and down to the sheep fields to check on the mum's in waiting. Just one lamb so far - looking after 14 is as time consuming as 40. Back home to walk dogs through the woods to expend some of their energy and get me a bit fitter, a desk job for the majority of the time isn't that good for a body really - so its two weeks of pushing off the winter fat. Loads of other tasks that needed doing are getting done, holiday sorted, BT sorted, chimney swept, hedge sorted, ironing - nah, OU assignment ditto .....getting there, well there's another week yet isn't there?

Anyway back to 30th March - the junior shepherd had his heart operation at the very high tech hospital in Stoke on Trent. We were up bright and early to drive there but didn't allow for traffic in said city and the fact the hospital is a town on its own - we were well past the allotted time of 8:30am when we rushed through the doors of the cardiac unit. Nice consultant met us in the corridor - he was dressed in his garb ready for action - 'C'mon I want you now' he shouted to G who was busy stripping off jumper as he followed in his wake at a rate of knots - we just chased up the rear gathering up clothes as they came off like a chrysalis emerging...then they were through the 'No Entry' doors and that was that. The doors crashed back - consultant barked 'Book him in mother' and was gone again.......... I did as I was told and we wandered out into the murky streets of Stoke on Trent. We found Mooorcroft pottery more by accident than design and I duly whimpered around the display shelves. I failed to raise a whimper in Dudson or another one we found ourselves in. Doulton was shut up and partly demolished, Spode has gone and we didn't get as far as Aynsley before being summoned back to the hospital.

G was sitting up all bright eyed and bushy tailed eating his lunch, nice consultant comes barking down the line of trollies. 'I've got rid of six rogue vessels' - 'SIX?' I squeaked wandering how much there was left, we only thought there was one 'rogue', 'Yes six, and I need to have another three out but six is enough for one day....' then he produced beore and after pics and I thought I was going to pass clean out. 'He is likely to have a lot of pain, if its not bearable come into local hospital for analgesic help, he's lost a lot of blood, will be dizzy and faint - take him home - see you in the summer - bye!'

The shepherd was on home nursing duties in the days that followed - home nursing doesnt come that easy to him really, being a patient doesnt come that easy to Jnr shepherd either - they had words, he got better very quickly. The difference is amazing, nice colour, no headaches, RUNNING - never seen before.

So he goes back up to the coast on Sunday to resume his studies a lot fitter than when he left there on 27th March. 'Shirley' the long board will be going too.........ahem!

Meanwhile spring has sprung, the pussy willow tree in the front garden is amazing, the sweet smell of the spring flowers is coming in through every window and we have only got one lamb after one week of full time shepherdessing. I can however get nearer to the girls now, they have come down off the top of the bank to have a look at me ........