Neil had made it to Garth Hall before me so the chickens and ducks were already out. I saw his quad by the airlock and he was walking along outfield. “Look!” I looked. He had found the chain harrow. “Where was it? I also think you should put an upright marker on it!” “No, that’s where I’ll keep it from now on. It was over by the well!” “Well, well, well” It had to be said. What’s the betting he’ll be asking me where he left again next year?” 😂 “Before he tells you otherwise, he’s been fed!” He said with a nod in Rascal’s direction. We both chuckled and headed down to the alpacas. We passed an ewe on our way with the twin mark on her back. She looked young but on reflection she was probably born 2023. It could be her first lambing. I looked around. I know the sun wasn’t out but everything was bleak and dismal. Like the colour had faded out if it. The grass isn’t green anymore. Its dead. There were low clouds, no leaves on the trees and for once me and Neil were both in khaki green with dark hats on. Not even a red hat or yellow waterproofs to brighten the place up!
I filled the rams tub and handed it to Neil then filled the alpaca food bucket. We headed over to the boys. We were chatting about the tractor as I put food in their buckets. I notìced there were buckets left over. I hadn’t realised there were three missing boys! “It’s alright, they’re up by the pod although they’ve normally noticed before now!” I took the three spare buckets and hung them outside while we called. No sign of them. We called and called. “I’ll go up now” said Neil which was quite a shock. I’m always teasing that he’s lost the use of his legs from being on the quad all the time. As he began opening the gate, a white head appeared over the horizon. Once he’d spotted me, McQueen sprinted towards us. I expected the other two, Tex and El Cap to be hot on his heels but they weren’t coming. Neil undid the gate and put one foot inside when they also appeared. Tex doesn’t often do ‘fast’. In fact food is his only motivation to go fast. Neil shut the pen gate so the three latecomers had a chance to eat their food in peace. With them finally being fed, we went to the girls field.
As usual. I was jostled but I managed to get the food out without injury 🙄 Feeding the rams is a much safer option . Neil walked up the field to check on the younger two and then we went up towards the top corner by the ring feeder. There was frantic mole activity. Neil said he would chain harrow them flat as soon as possible. As we left, we passed the girls bath. I had taken a lot of ice out of that so water levels were low. “I’ll bring the pump up later and refill it.” “Tidy. I’ll give it a clean now.” I keep a scrubbing brush underneath it to clean algae out of it. It didn’t take long and I got the job done. While I was doing that, Neil went to find the hose. It had been left out but grass had grown over it so he pulled it out from the girls field, all the way to the brook. On my way back, I let the boys out of the pen and we went back up. I went in Barry and Feral Beryl was on the nest. “Sorry madam, you’ll have to let me check underneath.” She was already buggering off. I collected the three eggs and we both went home.
After having the last of my chinese, I spent the afternoon emptying one drawer of paperwork. It took ages to sort through. I’ve replied to my cousins as well. Then I managed to put some alpaca fleece products away in the drawers. There’s now some in the large wooden chest of drawers, the big black chest of drawers, the wooden desk drawers and a small set of white drawers. Once that was done, I was able to write this blog. Neil went back and pumped water for the girls. He has informed me that February 2nd is known as Candlemass. If it’s cold and icy on that day, the winter is over. If it is clear and fine, the worst of the winter is yet to come. I looked at the message for a while. They both mean the bloody same 😂In the winter, if it’s cold and icy, it will be clear and fine. That’s made the winter feel even more bleak and dismal 🤦♀️ He then regaled me and Jordan with endless sayings. They seemed to go on for longer than January itself 🤦♀️
Helen x
