Another cold start this morning. Skye made it known straight away that she wasn’t accompanying me. She went in the living room with the kittens. I went to demist the cold truck. I wasn’t there long. I fed the cat and chickens and warmed my cold arse on the heated seat. I really should have put my fleece jeans on. I got home and walked Skye. It wasn’t much warmer. I debated changing my jeans but couldn’t be bothered.
I got to Garth Hall ad checked the cabbage field for white woolly bums that have not been raddled. It was cold in there. It was a damn sight worse up on top in the teeth of the wind. I should have put my fleece jeans on. The count continued. I was up to 11 when I got to the Bedw. It’s out of the wind there. Much warmer. I didn’t need my fleece jeans.
I fed the four in the pod field first. Then refilled the bucket for everyone else. I decided not to put a lid on it. I was soon to regret that decision too 🤦♀️ I fed the big boys. Ooh I should harness the little boys. I couldn’t really be arsed though. I looked at my watch. 9.50. Plenty of time. I talked myself back into it. I would do it. I walked up to their gate. I couldn’t undo the bloody baler twine. Too frayed. I cut it with my penknife. Then I went in. Vader was squeaking and following me. He also kept standing in my way. He was desperate for my attention. I got to the side pen. I opened the gate but I needed to get the big boys out first. That took way longer than it should have. I opened the gate back up, put some feed in the hanging bucket and put my bucket in the other feed bucket. No one noticed it there. Caspar went straight over and started tucking into the handful I had put in there. Popcorn was in my sights. We went round and round that little pen so many bloody times. I decided to grab Casper while he was eating. He was a bit shocked but he stood still. I harnessed him up. Great job. He even let me stroke his neck. Lovely and fluffy. Then in the background a bloody ewe tried to climb the fence to get in the bucket. I shouted but to be honest, Casper was still quiet. I undid him then, while he was happy. Popcorn, I’m coming for you.
I was going to let him off but decided I shouldn’t. I was supposed to be training him and I was in charge not him. Although that last bit is up for debate! Round and round we went then the little shit kicked out. It was a glancing blow to my left hip. I was lucky because it was a hell of a kick. This was war! I was going to get him! It wasn’t immediate but I did get him. Several times. He kept wriggling away. And then finally, I had him. The second I had a good hold, he stood still. I had to push him up against the fence a bit to do the harness. My plan was to get the bucket and get him to walk a bit for food. Not as easy as I planned. Al Paccino had found the bucket and he was filling his boots. We didn’t get all the way to the feed buckets but half way. EXCELLENT progress. With that done I undid the harness and fed them all.
After that I fed the girls and went home. It was cold on the walk back but I managed knowing I would be on those heated seats soon. Jordan and I went out for lunch. I don’t have heated seats in my car. I should have worn my fleece jeans. After food I took the eggs over to my mother in law’s. It was lush and warm in her house. I didn’t need my fleece jeans on in there that was for sure. She asked me how I managed in the cold so I said about the fleece jeans. She’d never heard of them. I raved about them but also mentioned the downside. With all that fleece, it’s so difficult to bend my knees fully (fat legs too) Anyway from there I went to Garth Hall
Neil was there before me but I knew he was working on the fence at the top of jail. I intended to do some mucking out in the Silver Star container. Me and Emma had mucked out in the barn mid week so I knew the shovel was there. I got to the barn. I looked everywhere. No sign of the bloody shovel. It wasn’t there! I wonder if Neil had it? I went down then and over to jail. “Have you got the shovel?” “Yeah.” Well no wonder I couldn’t find it 🤦♀️ We discussed plans for tomorrow. It was freezing. I should have put my fleece jeans on. Bugger. Time for me to finish up and go home.
The four girls were over the far end of the field when I went towards the pod. I tipped the bucket into the trough and looked up. Persephone was there! Bloody hell! Munchie must have teleported down and given them lessons. They were so far away a second ago. I’ll have to have a word with her. From there I walked up as fast as I could. My feet were like ice. I needed to find my neoprene welly liners too. As I was driving through Coedely my phone went off. I took a quick glance at the fitbit. All I read was “change of plan…” Bloody hell, I’d only been 10 minutes!
Well my plans for tomorrow haven’t changed – I wearing my fleece jeans!!!!!
Helen x
