A solo visit to Tregurnog again. Skye napped with the kittens in the house. Again. It’s dark when I leave but it’s light when I get there, I go this early to avoid the traffic. On my return journey, the traffic from the Matalan roundabout to the M4 is horrendous. Luckily I like leaving in the dark. The one bantam cockerel was crowing again. And I had 6 eggs today. Well done girls! Once I got back I walked Skye and then had breakfast. Emma was coming at 9. She was helping again this morning.
The second I parked the truck up it started to drizzle. Bloody typical. We both put our waterproof trousers on and went to the tradesman’s entrance. One of the rams was walking off towards the bungalow. He must have scented something. We started checking for bums in the cabbage field. We counted as we walked around on the way to the alpacas. Still 13. We fed Hennessey’s lot and then went into the little boys field. Time for another harness training session for Popcorn. I can do this only own but it’s much easier with help! I harnessed Vader first and Emma held onto him while I harnessed Popcorn. He stood well for a while. I pushed the timing as long as I could and I gently petted him. He needs to get used to being touched. I talked to him quietly as well. Then he reared up. I just calmly held him. When he was calm again I undid the harness.
From there we counted the girls. All present and correct but too wet to feed. Then off up the top of the boys’ field to see if there were more brown bums. 2 more. So up to 15. Then we went to the Silver Star container and did some mucking out. It’s hard going in there on that floor. But I went at it with the spade and gave it my best. I got one feed bag full and then Emma took over. She got one big section up. “I must have loosened that for you!” After a but more work, she found the floor. It seems solid in the middle which is the best news. With 3 bags filled we went and got food for the motley wellfield crew. With them satisfied we mucked out the big pen in the barn. So much easier with two of us. I spread lime on the floor then and shut the gate to keep the pets out. Morning shift done.
Josh was due to visit after dinner and he was late as usual. I was making stew (for tomorrow) when he arrived. We had a catch up and then it was time for me to take the eggs. I had a quick catch up with my mother in law as well, making me a bit late at Garth Hall. Neil was just driving off on his quad when I got there so I had to walk. Just as I got to the Bedw he drove off again. The elusive pimpernel! I fed Hennessey and was giving food to the boys when he turned up with some fence posts. He took them to the top where he would be using them and we went to feed the girls. Then we went up to discuss some planned changes.
The wall in the wall garden is coming down in a few more places. It would take years to restore. As much as I wish we could do that, it’s not practical. I’ll probably always call it the wall garden and I’ll remember it how it was in my childhood but that’s gone. Neil’s plan is good. We need a better holding pen and route for the truck and trailer for moving sheep. The remaining wall is going to be used to in all the muddy main traffic areas. This will also make a big difference. The wall will be used and the pen area improved. With that done I asked Neil to look at the old duck pond. He says that his digger can be used for that. So once the silver star container is cleared out, I could get ducks…
Plenty to look forward to.
Helen x
