We had to report ourselves to Animal Health as we were unable to supply our livestock with fresh water or at least not enough to cover twenty five cattle in the shed. The one where we fitted a filtration system from our own pocket so the tenants there would not become sick then die like my father did. The estate, of course, have not replied to my emails yet they did recently send a reminder of the outstanding water charge for the farm cottage. Three days of manually supplying the livestock with snow and water hauled up from the burn. The supply has not frozen but rather it has been turned off. I wanted to sing that 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas' with the snow lying deeply around the farm, instead, we are back to day three without water. "That would have been easier, I mean, it is heaving with unicorns round here". "I look like I've been dehorned, if I had been a unicorn" said the Farmer. I hoovered up the Moon Sand, mopped up copious amounts of blood, made more hot sweet tea then just enjoyed the peace. Big brother took his small brother to after school club so The Farmer and I had a bit of peace for a couple of hours. Thank you, Eldest Son for turning up and saving the day.
The coal run was cancelled, we were not going anywhere until hot sweet tea and painkillers were dished out, The Farmer bundled into a chair and told to rest then told to rest some more as he does not feel comfortable just doing nothing. I went back to the slightly concussed Farmer and Moon Sand clarted small son. They didn't want to come in, made excuses and practically ran back to their car. "Thank you very much for the invite and I would ask you in but I'm stitching my husband's head although you are welcome to come in". The man took a step back and his wife did a nifty sidestep which took her outside. Why do people just walk in to our house? I think it is a farmhouse thing but I would never walk into somebody's house or hall.Īnyway, they were met with a blood soaked, wild eyed, scissor wielding fright. Mid stitch, I heard voices shouting "Cooee", a couple were in the hall with an invite to the localish school Nativity play. Our son sobbed and sat wide eyed until he became placated with a small bag of Moon Sand this gave me time to carefully butterfly stitch the mashed skull. I went into Nurse Ratchett mode and cleaned up the worst of the mess. Son duly wanted to throw something back so picked up a phone charger.phone charger made contact with The Farmer's head. I think the zenith (or possibly the nadir) happened when our young son stood at the top of the stairs and his father threw socks up to him, the idea was that son would pair his socks and put them away in the drawer. You know the sort of days - you begin early with good intentions then as the day unravels, it all goes wrong, hideously so. What is sauce for the goose and all that.Ģ013 soon.how about Scotland wakening up and properly losing feudalism? How would the laird feel if I asked him to prove that he had fifty grand in his account? Given that we have spent the last few years buying then storing all the articles necessary and the fact we would be doing all the work ourselves, £50,000 seems rather excessive unless you are installing a solid gold bath with real swans holding the soap, mink baffies and diamond toothbrushes. I will need a new cap as my old one is worn out with doffing.
This in addition to a rent rise notice so you spend your money to do up their house and pay extra for the privilege. This is £50,000 that the estate have estimated we would have to spend on their house. On the Eve of Christmas, we received a letter from the man who is assisting us with the Battle of the Roof the estate want us to provide a letter from the bank which proves we have £50,000 in order to do up the inside of the farmhouse once repairs are carried out on the roof. I'm studying some of my father's livestock books to try and find out the cause of dwarfism in some types of cattle. They are stocky and healthy, just small, Lilliputian cattle who are not in the least bit intimidating, docile and a joy to work with. The Farmer told me that the cattle's size was 'One of those things' and had something to do with the Belgian Blue genes. The cattle are dry and sheltered inside and the strange thing I noticed was that they seemed much smaller. The weather is still pretty stormy, we have even had a smattering of snow which soon melted and made the burn swell up again. The farm work continues regardless of holidays and the children are missing their friends. I'm eager for life to revert to normality, sans tinsel and Christmas cake. We are getting ready for the next few days which sort of morph into one that strange period of New Year when you never know which day it is and visitors that you have not seen since last New Year appear. I hope you have all enjoyed the festive period.