The lock down
The day before lockdown
I developed chills then a high fever. The fever lasted 4 days coming
out in time to see Kathy go down with it. Was it the dreaded
Covid-19? We don't know but health has not returned. Both are feeling
physically drained with sore throat aches and pains in joints and
lymph glands.
So what mischief have
we been up to in our rural idle?
When the government
announced that dentist would be closed. That was just the trigger the
fillings needed to make a great evacuation. Kathy has rumbling pains
in the mouth, but my vacant fillings are painless sharp holes to
tempt the tongue to flagellate. Oh the joys of soup.
With no shops to
deliver cheese to, we can spend the time repairing the fencing.
Building a colditz for hens and Stalag 3 for the pigs. We keep
watching for odd behaviour with the pigs and am sure they have
started another tunnel. I can't remember placing a wooden horse in
the field.
Pigs Boris
and Trump in the sunshine
The weather has its own
problems. We went from bog to desert in just a few days. The warm
weather is very welcome, but grass is hard to come by. The goats have
made their demands, no milk without grass. Much in the same vein as
America's no taxation without representation. As we do not really
need the milk it is a bit of a stand off. I think they are planning a
mass die off as a protest (a trick they learnt from sheep).
We have 3 kids this
year so far. Flora and Fern are due in May and will probably be their
last mating, unless they know better. Of the kids 2 are male and one
female. The males are in good shape and hope they will be able to
work in September. Last year Fern had quintuplets and Flora had
quads. We expect our bottle feeding will triple overnight.
Otto born
March 2020 first outing
This years kids begin
with 'O' the males are Otto and Otis. The female is Oleander. The
females have to be biological, the male names can be anything male or
otherwise. Last years kids are doing OK. Nettle is working on her
book 1001 ingenious escapes.
Oleander,
Oatis and Otto
The dry weather is
affecting the slug population. We have seed trays in the greenhouse,
wide spacing as per government advice, and the space between
liberally coated in egg shells and coarse grit. I have no illusions
that this will deter slug attacks, fully expecting a total crop loss.
In times of lock down, exercise is important. An obstacle course of
rough surfaces should keep the slugs fit and healthy on the way to a
light lunch of lettuce sproutings.
Most families are
discovering the kitchen during lock down. Kathy has everything under
control food wise. She is well aware of my Brown, green and Yellow
sludge that I can concoct from harmless vegetables. An abundance of
eggs has been the major contributor to tasty meal times. We don't use
them! We barter them with our neighbours, for cakes, bread, and
pesto.
As for the poultry we
have broody geese, and hens. The incubator is full of turkey eggs and
guinea fowl eggs. Our luck they will be all males.
Life would be boring
without some light hearted competition. To lighten the moment, we
have a contest, who can last longest without shouting at the
television. I was doing quite well until Matt Hancock, the unhealth
minister, tried to explain the perceived lack of PPE. 42.3 seconds
before I lost it.
It is encouraging to
know the supermarkets think we are fit and healthy. Home delivery is
out of the question for us sprightly 70s+ . Kathy hits the
supermarket once every 10 days or so in silly old farts hour. Her eye
catching rubber gloves will soon need face protection. At last the
world war II gas mask may come in handy, even if it is for a dog!
Speaking of dogs, the
hour exercise is dog walking time. A chance to sample the fresh air
between dung spreading. The pot holes in the road make a useful long
jump course for the dogs. Wildlife is abundant, with bees and
butterflies. MacDonald food containers are less of an eyesore as is
the bags of dog excrement hanging from low hanging trees.
Dougie
and Molly practising social distancing
We are hoping for a
continuation of good weather, and who knows we may even collect a bee
swarm this year.
Like many families in
the lockdown we have a double lock on the knife draw!
Hope everyone survives
the lockdown safely be careful and take care. Remember you are never
more than 6 queues from a hand sanitizer
ps does any one want a
DO NOT RESUSITATE tee shirt, unwanted present!
