Back to work for me. No back to work interview for me though. I was the only one working. Neil is still off, Ashton has Covid and Josh has a support on his wrist. It may be broken. He will have to have another X-ray on the 4th.
Tania (my friend) and her husband Nick were meeting me to drop off a shed. They haven’t been to Garth Hall for over a year. They were shocked with the changes. Tania fed Elsie for me first and then we unloaded the small shed into the barn. Off we went to see the alpacas. I put the boys in and then fed them. Next we met the cria. Curnnunos (now named thanks to Ellie) was edging closer and closer. I managed to catch him so they could feel how soft he was. When I fed the mammys, Zippy decided to bite me on the arm. For no reason. I was not impressed. Then they had a little walk with Vader too.
They both enjoyed handfeeding the girls. Cookie hung round for ages today and was soooo close to accepting food from Tania. Cookie is gorgeous and less shy every day. After that I had to take the mule up because there was no food left. At all. This is what happens when I leave Josh in charge. I offered Tania a lift but her and Nick walked up. I parked by Cai and loaded 3 feed bags. We finished chatting and they left. I decided to fill the blue barrel because I was taking it back down. Once down I carried the bags and put them in the bins, safe from the squirrels. Funny, I haven’t seen one in ages. I won that battle 😁
I shut the gate, put one foot out of the livestock trailer and the heavens opened. Lucky I had a waterproof coat. When I got to the truck it stopped. Marvellous! That’s the joy of shorts, your legs dry off quickly and you’re fine. I got in through the front door and my phone went off. It was a message from Admiral about writing off the truck. I passed that onto Josh to deal with. I was heading to the kettle when my phone went off again. Louis: “I’ve been stung twice by wasps. Can I come to yours?” I put the kettle on. Now was it vinegar for wasps? Louis checked on Google and needed vinegar. Before I knew it he’d left again with 2 cotton wool pads soaked in vinegar taped to his leg 🤦♀️
After dinner I went up to try to feed Hennessey. There was a lamb on the lawn. There is either a lamb or ewe on the lawn, sometimes both. I’ve sent them back on countless occasions. They may as well stay on the lawn. Elsie saw me with the bottle and wanted it but I had to try Hennessey first. There are definitely a heck of a lot more sheep. I recognise most of mine. I don’t know Josh’s. It’s weird seeing so many. I got the mammys in and caught Hennessey. She felt about the same in weight so that was a good sign. She refused to have milk but at least I’d tried. I went back up then as fast as I could, it looked like it would shower again and my waterproof was still in the truck, that Josh had driven off in 🤦♀️ There was something wrong in the corner of the wellfield. When I went down I saw there was a big piece of tree that had fallen. Fancy that! I did a quick video and shared it. The sheep love fallen branches. They strip the leaves off them.
I called Elsie then and she rushed over for her bottle. She finished it quickly and sloped off. I was tired at the point. Still not fully recovered from whatever bug I’d caught. Off I went to the car and that lamb was still on the lawn. At least he wasn’t on the lane. I was done for the day. Much better but not back to full fitness.
About 7ish there was a phonecall from Maria to say there were sheep on her garden. I had to drive because its too painful for Josh. We ran them down the lane. I expect they’ll be back by the morning. With Josh’s arm out of action I don’t know when we’re going to be able to do any of the jobs – weighing hogget and lambs, vectocerting, heptavacing and the big deal of the majority of the alpaca matings…
Helen x
