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Oct 2009 Went to see my friends new baby foal this
weekend down in The Borders. Isn't he adorable !!!
Nov 2009 - We got a new puppy!!! - She is an
Australian kelpie / collie cross. We have called her Jeni.
Dec 2009 - Weather has taken a turn for the worse !! Very cold and lots
and lots of snow. Struggling to get all the chores done. Fingers
freezing.
Jan 2010 - Weather does not seem to be letting up at all. Kids spent New
Year sledging on the side roads around our house !! Horses have double
jackets on now. Even when they are in at night!! Can't wait to get jobs
done and get into the warmth of the coal fire at night !! .
Kids building snowmen the size I have never seen before
!!
Kids persuaded my friend and I to sledge on the road down the steep hill
outside our house. The kids made it look sooo easy. We were pathetic !!!
Fell off every 2 minutes!! Haven't laughed so much in ages !!!!
4th Feb 2010 Thought
I'd manage time for myself today. Roads really slippy, but loaded up
horse to go showjumping. Just heard it's not open today!! Great!
Oh well, on
the positive, at least I know after all these months, my horse will
still box and my trailer brakes aren't stuck on !!!
6th Feb
Thank goodness frost finally away. Hurried
feeding and mucking out all the animals today so that I could jump my
horse. Had a fab time !
6th Feb
Cows, dogs, cats and horses all done. Away
to the beach for a gallop with the horses.
My goodness. That was brilliant fun !!!! Weather pretty good and horses
behaved perfectly !! Loads of other people on horses there too.
7th Feb
Have guests from France staying in our lodge
this week for the rugby. Although my French is terrible it's great to be
trying it out!
8th Feb France won !!Have
very happy French guests this morning !!
Had a
dressage lesson this afternoon. Good job I'm not trying to make any
money from riding !!!
9th Feb
Just been for a run with the dog so that I get peace from it tonight !!
Lovely dog, but no limit to the amount of energy it has !! Taught
Jeni some dog agility ie jumping over jumps etc. She was really good !!!
Managed to jump up to 2ft 6 with no problems at all !
10th Feb
Cows, horses, dogs and cats all fed on the
farm once again. Then horsebox on and away to try to showjump at
Rowallan. Had great fun!
Perhaps not the best idea to teach Jeni to jump so well, just caught her
on top of the kitchen table !!!!!Bad dog !!!
12th Feb
The French children staying in our lodge (and their mums!) all had a
ride on the horse this morning. Had a good laugh! Their Dads turn
tomorrow !!
13th Feb
Dad managed fine !! Even managing to joke in
French now !! Have really enjoyed their stay. Farrier here today too.
Prices up again !!!
14th Feb
What a glorious day! Very unusual for Feb.
Our French guests left us lots of lovely champagne !! Had some already.
Going down a treat !!
Bull ready to be sold now. Not needed here any more. Will need to
get him in the paper next week.
16th Feb Heavy frost again. Another battle on our hands to keep the
water running on the farm !! Farmers all around us putting out the
smelly stuff !! New kids in lodge this week, Been riding a couple of
times now, Doing really well !!
18th Feb Have a wee calf that has pneumonia today. Have given it some
more medicine and lots of TLC. Fingers crossed.......
19th Feb Where on earth does the time go ! World going too fast, think I
want to get off !! Jobs all done. Horse ridden. House presentable. Away
to Galloways, Smellies, vets, supermarket, pick son up at 3.45. Home.
Fire lit. Horses in. Hope to go out for tea, then more paperwork to do.
See ............
23rd Feb Left on my own yesterday on farm. Had to calf a cow by myself !
Bit rusty, haven't done it for a while. Calf got stuck, had to call vet.
Thank goodness he said cow wouldn't have managed by itself and that it
wasn't me who was pathetic !!! Got it out with only 30 minutes to spare.
Wee thing was almost gone. Spent a bit
of time with it yesterday and it is now bombing around the pen !!
Need to get photo !
24th Feb What on earth happened to the weather !!!!! Heavy snow
once again. Someone up there is needing to give us a break !!Calves
being born all over the place !! That's the last time we run three bulls
with the cows at the same time !!!!
Still haven't had time to get a photo of new calves. At this rate there
will be a whole pen of them instead of just two !!
25th Feb Ah ha . I hear we have some followers of 'my farmers diary' in
Greece. A big 'hello' to you all !!!
Farmer Tom . Looking a bit happy, considering the snow
has been lumping it down again !!
Some of the new born calves. Aren't they just gorgeous
???????
27th Feb Oh my Goodness. We have just remembered it is my
daughter's pet cow's birthday !! She is called Jumper and is 15 today
!!! (That's really old in cow years )! My daughter has had her since she
was born. They have grown up together. They have a definite bond !!
We did of course sing 'Happy Birthday' to her! Are we mad or what ????
The Birthday Girl !!!
1st March Went to my first 'zumba' class today. It's really good. It's a
cross between salsa, belly dancing, aerobics, dance steps, really loud
music with a terrific beat. The girl who takes the class lost 5 stones
in weight in a year doing it !! Have worked out that means I will be my
ideal weight in 36.5 days !!!!!
4th March. Had a phone call from a friend tonight to say she's coming to
stay for the weekend. Really looking forward to it.
6th March. My son finally passed his driving test today !! Whoopee !!
Soooo thrilled for him. He hasn't stopped smiling all day !! Had a magic
day, lots of friends called round, visited some others, lots of horse
chat ! Took pup for a lovely long walk with the horses too. She slept
for hours !! Result !! Calves still coming thick and fast. Nearly lost
one today, but thanks to the skills of Farmer Tom, we managed to save it
. Think we are up to 12 now. Only about 40 to go !!!!
7th March Went to a showjumping and dressage competition today. Needn't
have bothered !!!!!
13th March Mgts pet pedigree Hereford cow in the calving pen now.
Have to watch it like a hawk. Because the calf will be a pedigree it
should be worth decent money when she goes to sell it. She's been in the
pen for 4 days now. Nothing !! Invited out to a friend's house
tonight, bet she chooses tonight !!
Yip. As suspected. 6pm tonight and the blasted cow decides it's time to
have it's baby !! Luckily all done and dusted by 7pm. It's a girl !!
It's a really big girl !! No idea what she will be called, but
kids are talking about showing her at the agricultural shows already !!
Quick showers all round and off out to celebrate !! Gavin stayed home
incase there are any problems.
14th March. My goodness what a week ! Just can't keep up with the calves
being born. Running 5 calving pens now and as fast as we get them empted
they are all full up again !! Mucking out and keeping an eye on the
'maternity ward' is a 24 hour job now. Have no idea how many calves we
are up to now, think it's about 22, which is about half way. Will go out
this afternoon and get some photos.
15th March Big Alfie, a coloured horse here, has had a slightly sore
back and has had a months holiday. He was ridden for the first time
again yesterday. Don't think he liked it much as he pulled one of his
shoes off in the field today !! Ooops. That will be him on holiday again
until the farrier can come and put it back on !!! If I didn't know
better, I would think he meant it !!!!!
Margaret's wee calf is the one in the middle. No name yet !! Update -
Kids have decided to call her Isabel !
18th March Went out at 11.30pm last night. Had to fling a cow and calf
out , change pens for another set and bring one up that was calving.
(Bit like the NHS really !) During all this, cows smashed a gate down
and broke into the nursery wing where all the tiny calves are (luckily
none were trampled !!) tried to separate them all again. Got knocked to
the ground for my trouble! One then escaped outside. My Goodness I was
glad to get to bed !!!!
20th March Went to bed slightly earlier last night. Exhausted. Up at 6.
Too late. Cow had tried to calf during the night. Calf too big for her.
Calf dead and cow unable to get up unaided. That's what happens when you
have a full night's sleep !! Quite upset about it all. Glad I had an
action packed day planned. Chores, riding, then a day at the races with
friends. Was a really great day and fairly lifted my spirits.
Thought as my day away had lifted my spirits that I would take hubby out
after tea for a drive just to get him away from the place. Managed to
Strathaven, (7 miles away ) filled car with fuel, phone goes, young cow
calving, can't manage. Hurried home. We can't manage either. Vet phoned.
Just waiting on him now. What a long long day !!!!!!!!!
Update -
Calf and cow ok . That's all that matters.
21st March Hubby now paranoid he misses another one calving that he is
getting up more than once now during the night. He was right, saved
another one at 4am !! Spent 2 and a half hours today doing all the
paperwork for the last 20 calves born. Bored rigid !!
23rd March Last night worse. One calved at 9.30pm so we thought yippee,
early night. One started at 10.30 and didn't finish until 12 and another
one started at 12 and didn't finish until 2am.!! Poor Tom fell asleep on
the straw outside waiting until he was needed. Biggest laugh was, I
think the farm dog thought he'd been chucked out ... and got tucked in
beside him !!!!!
24th March Life finally caught up with me today . Lay up on the bed
after lunch to give dog a cuddle........ next thing I knew, almost 2
hours had passed !! This is just so not me ! Annoyed at the wasted day.
Had loads planned for today. Oh well, will just need to up the pace for
tomorrow !!!!
25th March That's all my housework done for the weekend !! Whoopee !!
Fed up spending all Friday doing it, so thought I'd start early !
Everyone in house is under threat of death if they mess it up !!!! That
gives me riding time tomorrow instead !!
26th March Rain rain rain rain and more rain !!
27th March That's my cross country competition cancelled at the weekend
now, because of the weather. I was so looking forward to it !!! Had put
allot of work into ensuring my horse was fit enough too.
28th March Had great weekend with friends instead !! Was nice to catch
up with everyone. Another calf born just as we tucked the animals in
last night. It's the cows first calf and she doesn't seem very happy to
be a mother !! Have put them in a pen together with no other
distractions, so hopefully they will bond soon.
29th March Oh come on ! You're having a laugh ! As if the rain wasn't
enough. Snow, snow and more snow. I thought this was spring !!! Horses
in all day, tried to take them for a walk to stretch their legs, wasn't
easy, the snow and wind was terrible. Went to shops for extra supplies,
just in case I can't get out tomorrow.
1st April Now that was funny !! Hubby just came in and told my
son (who was rushing to get ready to get to work on time) that he had a
puncture on his car !! After various choice words, and huffing and
puffing, Gavin went out to get the spare wheel out of the car. Walked
round the car twice looking for the puncture before he remembered it was
'April Fools Day ' !! Unable to print what he so nicely called my
husband !!
2nd April Wee calf with colic today. Vet called. Hope it's ok. It's a
really good calf. Vet has now been and given it some medicine.
4th April The calf with colic is much better but we have a problem with
a cow now ! She calved yesterday and although the calf was coming
backwards, it wasn't a difficult birth. She is very ill. Vet has been
out, not too sure what's wrong. Given her lots of medicine and had to
rehydrate her by putting water into her stomach by tube. Perhaps not
very pleasant but it is probably saving her life at the moment as she is
not eating or drinking by herself. Friends popped in to wish us a Happy
Easter. Had a very good, but very, very late night ! More calves born at
2am, but at least we weren't in bed by then !!
5th April Vet out again. Cow not improving the way we would like. More
medicine, more water. Options getting less all the time. Blood samples
taken to see if they show up anything. Having to bottle feed the calf
now.
6th April At last, some improvement in the cow. She's been drinking
water by herself and is starting to pick at her food ! Fingers crossed.
Still having to give her medicine and bottle feed the calf though.
7th April What a shame. The cow didn't make it. Have put the calf out
with all the rest and call it to feed it. It has adapted very well.
8th April Thought Margaret had broken her arm. 1st trip to casualty !
Luckily only a bad sprain. Well, she won't be riding tomorrow ! She is
sooo disappointed. Weather much better now. Poor Tom has to up the work
load now to get the fields ready for the cows to graze, and for the
crops to grow. A very busy time of year.
9th April What a manic day ! Up early, cows all fed and mucked out,
breakfast, made pan of soup, 2nd lot of cows and the horses all mucked
out by 10am, lodge turned around by 11.45am (enlisted the help of all
the family ) , horse in the horsebox by 12.05pm and away to a cross
country training day. Rode for about 3 hours, home, horses in and all
fed, tea made, an hour in front of the TV, bed, sound asleep !!
12th April Gavin saying he has a bit of a sore throat. Another calf
born. Think there are only two to go !!
Had a great chat with the people staying in the lodge. Hope to get time
to let them ride the horses.
14th April Gavin up this morning and looks like he has mumps!! Doctors.
Says he has really bad tonsillitis! He's a wee soul. Tom getting
all the dung out, the harrowing and the rolling done. Everyone working
long hours.
16th April Gavin no better. Back to doctors. Sent us to hospital. 2nd
trip to casualty ! He was very ill. They kept him in and put him on a
drip. Back on chocolate to enable me to cope !!
17th April Wee calf born. It is tiny. You can pick it up in one arm.
Completely healthy but really tiny. So small it can run right under it's
mums tummy ! Gavin let out hospital today. Bit surprised as he was so
ill yesterday.
Gavin had a relapse. Chest pains and almost blacked out. Phoned
hospital. Advised to take him back in around midnight. 3rd trip to
casualty within 8 days !!! This has to stop !! They checked him over and
have decided the medicine he is on is the cause of these symptoms !! All
corrected now.
18th April Gavin much better. Spent the day riding my horse. Just needed
some 'me time'. Mgt's arm much better too.
19th April Margaret's birthday !! She had a great day !! Still waiting
on the last cow to have it's calf. Wish it would hurry up !! Grass is
starting to grow. Did the first cut of the garden today. Can't wait to
get the cows out to the fields. That will be 6 months now that they have
been in. Tom nearly got all the rolling of the fields done now.
Fertiliser ordered. Delivery probably Friday. This will be a massive
bill to pay next month.
21st April Chores all done. Getting a little tired of mucking out
the cows now. Wish the grass would hurry up and grow ! Moles have been
busy in the garden. That won't do at all ! What a mess they have made.
22nd April Last calve born. Thank goodness ! Everything all ok. What a
lovely sight all the baby calves all playing together out on the shed.
Will get some photos soon, spending most of my time doing paperwork !!
27th April. Fertiliser has arrived. Tom busy spreading it on the fields.
That will fairly make the grass grow !! Everyone must be thinking of
holidays now as our holiday lodge getting busy and is now booked for
most of the summer. Morning sunrises beautiful at this time of year.
Horses snoozing out in the fields with no rugs on. Enjoying the
sunshine. Daylight spreading well into the evening now. I just love it.
The promise of summer !!
29th April Faster and faster we go. Longer and longer hours trying to
get all the work done to get the grass growing so that we can get the
cows out. Weather a little colder, but a least the days are getting
longer and longer.
30th April Cows and horses all fed and mucked out nice and quickly this
morning. Then 3 garden lawns cut, washed the car, housework, paperwork
then gave all the carpets in the house a shampoo. Tea made. Horses in
and fed. Too tired to ride now. Away to have a shower and then off to
bed !!
1st of May Up really early, morning chores all done by 7.30am. In car
and away to Stranraer (2 hour drive away) with hubby and son to buy
another Hereford bull. Bought one. He's really nice. Should be home next
week some time. Home 3.30pm. On horse by 4.15pm. Took the dog for a nice
long hack. Have recharged camera batteries. Will get some photos taken
today.
6th May Pet lambs have arrived !! My goodness they are cute !!!
7th May All ready for the big horse riding competition on the 9th. Horse
is very fit. Dressage pretty good. Been showjumping 1m 10cm and have had
a good practice at cross country. Really want to give this a good shot.
17th May Well everyone, you must all wonder where on earth I'd got to ??
Well, what an idiot ! Managed to fall off the horse at the competition
on Sunday. It was a very pathetic 'plop' to the ground, however, landed
funny on my leg and managed to break both the tibia and fibula bones !!
Been in hospital Sunday to Thursday. Two leg operations and a nice big
pin that runs from my knee to my ankle !! Just had a thought. That will
be my 4th visit to casualty in recent times !!!!!!! What a great job the hospital
did though. No cast which means I can really work the muscles in
my leg and get back to
normal quickly. Up on my feet already on crutches and have now borrowed
a wheelchair so I can cook in the kitchen. Even managed to wash the
kitchen floor today !!! So, sorry guys, the photos will have to wait
until I can persuade someone to get them for me !! Hospital check up
tomorrow. Will keep you all posted.
18th May
The cows are finally out to grass !! Its been a long winter !
Hospital pleased with my leg but it's going to be a long road to
recovery. Have now realised how active a person I was. My hobbies are
horse riding, running, cycling, zumba (crazy keep fit, aerobics, dance
type exercise !), walking the dog, driving to horse events etc etc, so
you can imagine how difficult if has been to be unable to even walk, let
alone do any of the above !! Have been humbled by the number of calls,
texts, food parcels, help, visits, flowers, presents, cards and well
wishes from friends, family and neighbours.
Very touched. Thank you to you all.
19th May Farmer Tom busy getting the last of the spring work done and
the cows out, and sorting out who all runs with what bull. Only running
two bulls this year as three proved mayhem at calving time the last time
!! Our wee orphan calf has still to be found and fed twice a day too. I
think it deliberately tries to be as far away from the farm as possible
at feeding times !!Although the cows don't need fed and mucked out now,
they need to be regularly checked as the cold nights and warm days can
give a calf pneumonia and medical help must be sought very quickly.
Flies can be troublesome too, causing disease in the cows udders, and
stones can lodge in between the cows feet causing lameness (which
instantly appears to clear up the minute you try to catch said cow to
fix it !!!!) Calves can become disorientated and loose sight of mum, so
they have to be reunited too.
20th May New to Tesco online shopping !! It's great. It just all appears
at the door with virtually no effort ! Only mishap was I somehow managed
to order 2 carrots instead of 2kg of carrots !! Ooops !
What a magic picture of our puppy Jeni that Margaret took
!
My, how she has grown !!!
24th May Hahahaha. Think I got a bit complacent with the Tesco shopping
!! Just had a delivery which included a bottle of juice the size The
Jolly Green Giant would take in his lunch box, and a bag of pasta the
size of a half bag of cement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25th May Things are getting into a bit of a routine now around my broken
leg. With the help of my wheelchair and a bit of imagination I am
managing to cook and do many things in the home. Margaret has taken over
the household duties I can't manage, Gavin has taken over all grass
cutting duties and poor Tom has been left with all the strimming of the
grass !! That's my worst job, but you know what ? I would gladly do it
if it meant I could walk again !!
27th May At physio this morning. They are really impressed with my
healing and my determination to get back on my feet quickly. I have
worked really hard to get this far. I now have a great physio programme
that I follow to the letter !! I will be their best patient !!!!
Jeni checks out the new arrival !!!
28th May Actually guys, there are benefits with having a broken leg!!
Mgts keeping the house under control, Gavin has been assigned grass
cutting duties, and Tom has now been strimming for 2.5 hours !! And me,
filed my nails and read the paper !!!!
29th May Managed down to the arena today and gave Mgt a riding lesson on
Annie. Was nice to be outside and doing something horsey ! She says I'm
a hard taskmaster and her legs are killing her !!! Ooops !
31st May Have had a busy couple of days. It's great !! Lots of people
dropping in, texting or chatting on the phone !! Think this paperwork
may take longer than I first thought !!!! Tom now away to doing
contracting work on other farms for the summer. Long , long days for
him. Will only really be home when it rains now !!
2nd June Guests in lodge really nice. Feeling guilty I haven't been able
to show them around the farm etc as I would have normally done. They say
they've had a great time anyway, which is great. Lodge almost full for
the summer now.
7th June What a couple of days ! Hubby took me to physio yesterday.
First time in my car since accident. Found bag of minstrels ! Had a
handful, broke my tooth !! Went straight from physio to dentist, tooth
can't be saved and has to come out next week!! Magic ! Home. Last minute
lodge booking so Lodge turnaround, made dinner, bed. Exhausted!
8th June Just back from hospital. Didn't realise pin went down the
INSIDE of the bone !! Hospital delighted with progress, but still not to
put any weight on foot for another 4 weeks !! Really disappointed !!
Think doc saw that, and told me because of the type of break, if they
had put a cast on me, I would have had it on for 3... months !!!!!! I'll
be thankful for small mercies !!
12th June Kids went to the local Gala day today and left the lawnmower
unattended in the garden !! I managed to climb aboard and after cutting
the lodge grass (with my left foot working the right handed controls) I
took the dog for a walk !!!!! I have to say I got some really strange
looks ........ Was quite paranoid about checking the petrol tank
............ How funny would that have been if I'd run out of petrol
miles from home and had to phone someone to come and rescue me ???!!!
15th June Been for a spin on the lawnmower again !! Dog getting quite
used to it now !! Thinking of trading it in for a diesel one though ....
...... just not getting enough miles to the gallon !!!
18th June Am I the only person in the whole wide world not watching the
football????
20th June A school friend from long ago came to stay the weekend. It was
so lovely to catch up and have a trip down memory lane. Thoroughly
recommend it for everyone !!
25th June Tom still working hard. All over the countryside cutting
everyone's silage and haylage. Think he is looking forward to a wet day
so that he can have a well deserved rest !! Kids away to the Highland
Show with loads of friends, and they are all camping there. They
are having a brilliant time.
Just what memories are made of !!
26th June Starting to get really fed up with this broken leg now.
Household chores take soooo long. Very frustrating!! Changing beds and
making dinner particularly difficult.
28th June I think farmer Tom was bored this morning and decided to cut
down our silage !! Mayhem now until it has all been chopped, gathered
and rolled into a big pit. Then it has to be rolled again by a tractor
to squeeze all the air out. Finally, when all of that is done, a huge
black plastic sheet is rolled over the top of it and car tyres placed on
top of it to ensure it doesn't get blown away in the wind. It is so
important to get this process just right, as this will be the feeding
for all of our cattle when they come back inside for the winter.
Although, with my broken leg, I am exempt from any of the outside work
this time, it is up to me to ensure all the people who come to work here
during this time are well fed at mealtimes.
The kids. Tom and I , all fell into bed, exhausted. What a long day!
First Tom cuts the silage with the tractor and turbo mower.
Apparently straight lines are very important !!
The chopper hoovers the silage up and blows it into a
it into a trailer for transportation to the farm.
The trailer is tipped in a silage pit.
A tractor with a buckrake on the back pushes the silage
Can sometime be a little precarious !!
into a huge pile.
The pile of silage is then sheeted with plastic and then tyres are
placed on the top so that the sheet does not blow away in the wind. Once
this has fermented, this will be our cattle feed for the winter.
30th June I have to rest today. We have a wedding tomorrow and I know I
won't manage unless I am rested.
1st July A day off at last !! Wedding was brilliant fun ! Bride was
beautiful, meal was great, and the company was tremendous ! Decided to
stay the night in the hotel as I couldn't drive home (the only good
thing about having a broken leg !!). Didn't get to bed until 2.30am !
What a brilliant day !
2nd July Understandably, very, very, tired today. Had friends over for a
catch up tonight and managed to perk up for that ! Had really great fun,
once again.
3rd July Our local feed merchant had an open day in Strathaven today.
All the farmers and locals from all around were invited. They did us
proud. Free bar and food all day with lots of things to do and see while
you were there. Magic fun, although my good leg was killing me by the
time we came home !! More friends in again tonight. Very good fun, once
again !
4th July I think that's our holidays over now !! Met up with family for
dinner and then home. Bed. Sleeping.
6th July Back at hospital today. They were gobsmacked at how well my leg
has healed and said I can put most of my weight on it now !! Absolutely
delighted !!!! They think I'll be able to throw away my crutches in a
couple of weeks !!!!! Did I mention I was delighted ????!!!!!
7th July Margaret rode her pony again this morning and went down to the
lodge to see if our guests wanted to ride. Mum and daughter had great
fun. They said it was something they had always wanted to try. That's
what we're here for !!
12th July Weather a bit topsy turvy now. Not good for all the farmers
trying hard to get their crops in! It's mayhem when there is a break in
the weather at all. Tractors scurrying everywhere!! Farmers and
contractors all working long hours. Although we have our main silage
crop in, we still have our haylage to do. That needs about 3 or 4 really
good days to make, and that's just not going to happen at the moment !
Haylage is cut grass that is left to dry a little in the sun and then
made into huge bales that are wrapped in plastic. If it's too dry it
becomes hay and does not need wrapped in plastic. It will be used as
feeding mainly for the horses in the winter and also some of the cattle.
Although both have feeding benefits most animals prefer haylage to hay
when given the choice.
15th July Struggling to get even the lawns cut during this weather. Some
days are glorious and some a little bit dull with a little rain.
Computer has broken. Will need to go and get a new one as it was very
old.
17th July New computer all installed and ready to go. It's been alot of
work transferring all my information from my old one to my new one.
Didn't realise I used it so much !!
20th July A break in farm work for farmer Tom today so had a very nice
lunch with friends.
21st July Physio today. Said I can try and walk with one crutch now. Not
managing very well but very determined. Will be great to carry thing
once again !!!! Hopefully today will have been the last day I will need
to turn the lodge around from a wheelchair !! Look forward to when I can
walk the dog normally and not have to take her for a walk with the
lawnmower !!
23rd July Walking with no crutches for a few steps now. Leg very,
very painful . Physio says that's normal as my leg gets used to taking
weight again. My goodness it's sore !!
24th July Lots and lots of housework done today. Tom still working long
hours trying to get all the local farms silage in. Had a lovely evening
visiting friends. Haven't laughed so much in ages !! Making the most of
the time I have left to get a lift with people before I'm well enough to
return all the favours ! I think I will be returning all the lifts I've
had for months to come !!!!
5th August
Scrubbed all my floors on
my hands and knees. Did loads of washing. Exercise bike. Paperwork. Took
Toms mum for shopping. Made lunch. Changed beds. Physio. Sainsburys.
Vets. Post office. Bank. Home. Cut grass. Rode. Made tea. Yes guys, I
guess life has finally returned to normal !!!!! Oh, and did I mention I
went swimming too !!
6th August. I have now swapped my lawn mower for a bike !!! Now we're
cooking !!!! People in the lodge killing themselves with laughter at my
antics as I try to have a normal life with a broken leg !!
7th August Have been told i can drive again !!!!! Whoo Hoo !! I feel
like I'm 17 again !!!!
8th August Riding fairly coming on now. Still can't trot as it hurts too
much, but am able to walk and canter. It's great to be back in the
saddle again !!
9th August Weather on the up again. Farmers all worried that this may be
the last good spell before winter and everyone's trying to get the last
of their crops in. There are tractors everywhere !!! Tom working long,
long hours again.
10th August My Dad went in for a heart bypass operation today. We were
all worried sick. Early indications are that it has all gone well. Thank
goodness.
17th August Dad got home from hospital today. he looks really well,
considering what a big operation it was. Tractors still buzzing around
everywhere. Weather to break tomorrow. We're busy baling our haylage as
I write. Fingers crossed we get it all in tonight.
19th August Guests in the lodge had an unusual experience this morning
!!! 3 of our next door neighbours cows broke out and did the half
marathon round the lodge garden !!!! What a mess they made !! Poor Gavin
spend 3 hours filling in all the foot prints !! Luckily the people in
the lodge slept right through it !! Don't know how, as we weren't
exactly quiet chasing them out !!!
20th August I'm sure someone is spreading fertiliser all over our lawns
every night while I sleep !! I seem to be constantly cutting and
strimming grass !! Don't know who invernted gardening, and I certainly
don't know who decided to call it a hobby !!!
21st Aug Dad still doing really well. So very pleased. What a great
hospital the Jubilee is. Can't thank them enough. Kid's sold their bull
today, to a lovely farmer through at Cumbernauld. Small world, he used
to be Tom's next door neighbour, when he used to stay there !!
22nd August Warm days and cool nights now. Autumn approaches !! Rugs off
the horses by day and on by night. Won't be long until they are in now.
Feel like I missed the whole summer because of my broken leg ! Just
getting back on my feet and he summer is over !! Oh well, there's always
next year !!
25th August Still cutting grass.
31st Aug Yes managed to squeeze one more grass cutting into August !!!!
Weeded all the lodge garden too today. It's looking well. The weather
has been glorious this week, absolutely glorious !! Tom has decided to
try to take another cut of haylage bales off the field around the house.
We think winter feeding and straw are going to be very expensive this
year as they are already in short supply, so the more we can make
ourselves, the better. Fingers crossed weather holds for another
few days.
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