Row, row, row your boat .........

....gently down the stream......etc etc

and so it was that after a very chaotic few weeks which saw the junior shepherd back in a hospital bed on a drip, one way of getting out of end of term exams I suppose. Ah well he has got them to look forward to when he gets back there in September - that's if he finds anywhere to live - you would never believe that there is a shortfall of student accomodation in Aberystwyth would you? So many empty and semi derelict properties that need doing up - so aggravating when there are in excess of 300 homeless students all chasing every property that comes up! So we emptied his flat brought him home let him rest then it was off on holiday. Even the dog came too!

We went down to Abergavenny to start our cruise leaving my faithful friend my blue Subaru at a garage on the way never to be seen again - hankies out - be brave it is only a lump of metal - but one that has served me faithfully without any problems for eight years - sob!

Ater a lovely welcome by boat owners and a thorough handover lesson we were off and headed southwards travelling through gorgeous scenery, the hay fields still uncut were stuffed with flowers all giving off a heady scent. Squirrels sat and watched us pass by making no move to dart away. The trees in full leaf made green secret tunnels for us to creep through. May flies flitted through the yellow flag iris that fringed the canal and the birdsong was unceasing - blackbirds, thrushes, chiff chaff, wrens, pigeons all clamouring to make most noise every inch of the way.

We reached the end of the canal in Cwmbran on Sunday teatime and went for a walk to find a shop for some necessities, the hills were huge, green and pricked with pylons, the rows houses nestling at the base. An ice cream van played tinny music and groups of raggedy children stood cluthing coins - I havent seen that for years and years - so poignant.

As dusk fell we would park up - sorry the word should be 'moor' shouldn't it? As galley slave if there was no canalside hostelry in view something had to be prepared, a couple of gins took the edge off cooking on holiday - and washing up! The novelty of no dishwasher began to pale after a week but my nails looked wonderful. The bed on board was luxury indeed and the bed linen was gorgeous and smelt of lavender - I feel asleep as the boat gently rocked, the owls hooted - hang on - what was that plopping sound? I lay there rigid listening for it - again and again - 'Wosssat? I hissed - 'RATZZZZZZ' replied dearly beloved who then proceeded to snore his head off as I lay there counting the plop noises and nearly expiring in panic. Next morning I sat clutching a mug of tea at 5:30am looking out as dawn painted the water silver - PLOP! It was fish not rats - I bloody hate him!

Every day was different, weatherwise, the views, the little villages and market towns to be explored. One evening as we were trying to park up for the night in the middle of nowhere - I had partaken of the gin allowance having been soaked to the skin earlier when yomping along the towpath walking the dog = not sure if the exercise was for her benefit or mine! Anyway there we were instructions being yelled by the captain - 'Just jump onto the bank with that rope...'

Who me? Dont be daft - I dont do jumping on a good day never mind a very wet day and a couple of gins! 'Go on quickly the gap is getting wider...' Errrr not on your nelly .....'Go On you can do it!' ..........'Err no I cant!'

'YES YOU CAN - JUST DO IT!'

'NO I CANT!

'YES YOU CAN'

No I couldnt - I landed up to my waist in muddy water and the shrieking hysterics that followed from all concerned could have been heard all over Wales! I still go of into gales of giggles at the thought of standing up to my middle in the canal whilst the men just stood there helpless in laughter!

It has to be the most relaxing way of spending a week, we read and played games and talked, we had no idea what was happening in the world, we never even bought a paper - reality could resume on Saturday with new smart wheels, a pile of washing and back to work...........

That's that then

so that was lambing was it? Hmmmmm well I know I said I didnt want any trauma, I didn't want an huge vet bill or any cade lambs but these lot didn't want a shepherdess either!

There all my careully constructed straw filled pens stand - empty. All the buckets scrubbed - unused. Box of plastic gloves - unopened. The heat lamp that had been dusted off and hung in the conservatory just in case has gone back in its box, the coke bottles scavenged from coffee tables around reception have gone in the recycling ( coke bottles are exactly the right size for feeding bottles) So there it is - all done and dusted 16 healthy lambs from 14 happy sheep.

We just keep looking at each other and remembering the times we were up half the night, the year of eight prolapses, cold lambs, rejected lambs, the chapped hands and the snow - shudder.

These sheep are so private and shy they would burst rather than give birth with an audience. The nearest I got was Sunday morning at 10:30 when I noticed a ewe sitting in the hedge a little way from the others - I watched her from behind the hedge. I saw her looking at her own flank and making funny noises as if she was talking to the unborn lamb - I rushed down to the shop and by the time I came back - 10 minutes max - the lamb was born, up, feeding and walking off down the field tight against proud mother's side. The shepherd has gone to the fields and the only way he has known a ewe has lambed is that there is an extra number in the count of lambs.

The two woollies (Devon Longwool) both had lambs for the first time this year - they were under threat - produce or else - so I'm so glad they have done the business at last. They are completely mad - like a couple of naughty girls. I couldn't work out why the one was always covered in grass leaves and mud until I found her one day rolling down the bank in the middle of the field - for fun! She would get to the bottom shake out her long filthy dirty tresses and rush back up and do it all again. The amount of wool these two produce is amazing and now they have two little white woolly daughters.

Lambing being a very hands OFF event this year has meant we could wander away from home for a few hours at a time - Attingham Park with the last of the daffs, the first of the rhodedendrons and bluebells was very picturesque - not as picturesque as the tents full of second hand books - drool. I came home with a carrier bag full -I'm set up for months now. Had to have a quiet giggle - nearly every box had a copy of 'The Da Vinci Code' in it - one box had at least three - I wonder what that says about that book?

So that was lambing - the most uneventful, absolutely boring lambing season ever - but with no vet bill, no bottle feeding and absolutely no stress what so ever who am I to complain?

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 ........

phew - time passes at a remarkable rate..........

..............when you are enjoying yourself!
Well its been galloping along well here on a windy hillside looking at Wales.
The junior shepherd did a whistlestop trip home last weekend bringing a friend or five that needed feeding and generally caring for. At one stage I found two of them asleep on the sofa - obviously hard work this university life! They were deposited back to the little station at Welshpool in time to catch the 7:50 train back to the coast, clutching carrier bags of my cupboard comtents and clean washing - bless!

The sheep are all wobbling along nicely, at least they are staying at home now instead of disappearing all day and coming home at night. This picture is for Bayou - we never got a close up view of them in the flesh this weekend, we never actually had the time. Lambing is due after Easter. They can still be a little bit flighty, the header picture was taken by me walking away from them, and them being as nosey as nosey can be came to see where I had gone when I crouched down. Just like naughty kids!

Well Friday was a day to remember - I was off with wet hair as per usual to find Bayou who had come over from Belgium to join in a Border Bloggers meet up. With much shrieking and hugging we were off on a whistlestop tour of South West Shropshire - we got up into the hills and down into Bishops Castle. The sun shone from a brilliant cloudless sky and BC looked as though it had been brushed especially. So sad however to find more empty shops, more businesses closed and gone, such a shame.

As we hurtled around the lanes I was quite amazed at the way the continual weeks of heavy snow and ice has left the countryside looking so drab, as though all the life blood has been sucked out. The grass is yellow and flat, the verges are full of black mud, the trees are bare - we need a good dose of sunshine and some warmth to rectify all this tiredness.

A quick dash to Shrewsbury station to retrieve an anxious Lawyerlady who had managed to get her self propositioned by a couple of drunks at lunch time - cant leave her anywhere on her own that one! Then full steam ahead to The Lowfield at Marton which has been the choice once before for a bloggers get together. Its big, its spacious, its airy, comfortable and the food's good, the barman/waiter is a rugby player - hmmmmmmmmmmm 12 women and one rugby player - he didnt stand a chance really - bless his cotton socks.

There was much shrieking and laughing - quite normal. There was chocolate - cheers Bayou.

There was reminiscing about Country Living, Children Chocolate and Wine and how we have all found each other, then Twiglet and Jane realised they had actually gone to the same school! Honest! Why has Mountainear got a lamp growing out of her head? Sorry I'll try harder next time!

Mollygolver and I realised we both knew a man in the village - not as in the biblical sense I hasten to add! Somewhere along the proceedings Friko attempted to translate for Bayou the well known saying 'All fur coat and no knickers' and mayhem ensued. I think the best expression could be 'lost in translation' - totally! Even said rugby playing host visibly paled.

Exercise and fresh air was the only remedy and so it was a motely collection of cars that climbed up to the mountain kingdom of Trelystan to find the little church in a field looking down to the valley. Just beautiful at any time of the year but truly magically with carpets of snowdrops in amongst the leaning gravestones. we enthused at the barrel organ, the lights, the kneelers and the stained glass, we marvelled at the love and dedication that goes into keeping this little corner of religion well tended and cared for. Then it was down to Mountainear's for tea.

We all talk away like long lost friends who have known each other for years and yet for over half of those on Friday they were meeting in the flesh for the very first time - the power of the written word strikes again - and very nice it is too. Next? Come on, you know you want to.....

co-incidence or ............?

Somewhere on a list of fave books on a blog profile is the title 'Driving Over Lemons' - it was a title that appealed, and last week scrummaging around a bookstall - there it was. By Saturday night it had practically burnt a hole in the bedside table I was that desperate to start it.......

I was not to be disappointed! I absolutely loved it but..... did I have a surprise.........anybody who has read this lovely book will undoubtedly remember Chloe's christening undertaken by the botanist/retired vicar - Richard Blakeway Phillips who was in Andalucia with his wife Eleanor - I sort of squawked/shrieked waking up sleeping husband 'I know them' - you can imagine husband's response -'well I don't - so SHUT UP!' 'But you DO...' I persisted at my peril....

Anybody who lives or has lived in Clun would know them - I have no idea where they are now, but it was so strange finding them popping up in a book about living in Spain written by a former Genesis drummer. How weird is that?

Today we were on our way to take the lawnmower to be serviced and stopped at the garage - a frantically waving woman in a car got my attention - big hugs and much squealing later - we had been friends since primary school, all through secondary school but then our paths had gone in totally different directions. Not any more - we have re-converged! Look Out WORLD - we have already been on the phone non stop - the e mail traffic has started!

After delivering lawn mower it was on to the road to Welshpool to Coed Y Dinas to find the shepherd some new boots, Coed Y Dinas was SHUT! Unbelievable! A power cut did the damage apparently - so on we went to Newtown which despite a new Tesco feels as though its dying on its feet - more empty shops than ever, market stalls thin on the ground - then I got another surprise as somebody shouted my name - a neighbour who had moved away a few years ago came from behind a display of ethnic scarves - more hugging and squeaking, shepherd was included this time. Thank goodness.

Meanwhile on with the task - no boots in Newtown - back to Welshpool - success - thank you Mr Gwythyr - mind you if we had gone up to Bishops Castle in the first place like wot I wanted to....I'll say no more.

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow and yes it's the shepherd's birthday - never has there been a more un apt birthday for a person - EVER! I really will say no more ...................

..

Good Days - Bad days

I am unashamedly nicking a blog title and format from Mountainear, I absolutely writhed when I read her blog of this title never thinking that within a few days there was only one way to describe the Wednesday from Hell that was yesterday.

Hmmmmm it started well enough - well that's if you have the overpowering urge to catch a train to Wolverhampton, find the imposing building that houses The Magistrates Court and attend a training course which was so inspiring I can't or the life of me remember what the hell it was called. Wolverhampton on a wet day in February would never have inspired Wordsworth that's for sure, I looked out of a tightly shut window down onto the dirty red brick and wet slates, a few pigeons fluttered aimlessly across the rooftop and the ventilation shafts puffed clouds of warm air out into the greyness. There was still salt and grit on all the pavements but no sign of snow or ice just depressing clinging wetness. The trains were on time and wonderously there were free seats - (I never got over standing all the way to Shrewsbury from Birmigham one vey hot day next to a very hairy, sweating man in a dirty vest - yuk!)

Adventure into the heart of the Black Country over, heave a sigh of relief and look foward to the evening ahead.......

That believe it or not was the good bit - now for the bad bit...........

The little family down in the valley are now firmly back in the working routine and everything is, or rather has to be, planned like a military operation with every eventuality covered. So Wednesday nights we have to step in to a gap that happens now and again when N is on nights starting at 6pm and T is on days and doesnt get home until after 8:30 - no problem! I should be able to rustle up a meal for us, feed and bed two babes and feed a tired mum when she gets in - of course I should - so just WHY did everything go so wrong yesterday?

I drove home working out in my head what I was going to cook and jumped when nearing the village blue lights flashed in my rear view mirror, I pulled over as you do and proceeded to follow the ambulance into the village. It indicated right - so did I! The front door was open and there was a lot of activity - I parked around the back and legged it into the house thinking one of the babes had been taken ill. In the lounge a strange man sat entertaining the two little ones whilst what ever was going on went on in the hallway. I asked the perfect stranger who seemed very pleasant what on earth was going on -

It appeared that N had been feeling unwell for a couple of days and it had finally culminated in him feeling faint, ringing T (who was 10 miles away at work) she rang a friend in the village who was out but her very kind husband rushed in to find N flat out on the bathroom floor - out cold. When I tried to peer round the door all I could see was N's feet sticking out through the door and bottoms in green trousers all bending over him - I could hear them laughing so wasn't unduly worried - I meant they arent that callous are they these ambulance personnel ?

T then rushed in through the door, the friend arrived and a couple of neighbours and basically it was a full house - should I make tea - I thought - then thought better of it - didnt think there enough cups for a start.....

The decision was made to take N into A&E for some tests and very soon they were on their way with one demented T and friend following close behind. I said goodbye to all the other folk ,who ever they were, and heaved a sigh of relief as the door closed. I changed the baby and fed the pair of them, tidied up, cooked tea and waited for my other half to appear - and waited and waited ..........yep - he had forgotten where he was dining and was patiently sitting at home with a roaring log burner and Thursday night's tea cooking ......

Middle son rang him, 'I've broken down, where's mum I need the AA card details?' he asked

'Where are you?' asks N trying to be helpful father....

'In the car' came the reply .......

'WHERE ARE YOU?' helpful father tries again - slowly and with feeling

'IN THE SODDING CAR!' equally slowly with increasing exasperation came the reply.

Its a wonder we ever get anything done in our house ...............

Eventually the light dawned on the errant husband where I was and where he should have been, the AA found the wayward son and delivered him to us , and N was diagnosed with an viral ear infection ..........

did we laugh...best laid plans and all that .......

Better luck next Wednesday!