|
27th Oct Horses fed 7.15am. 2 cows
loaded on trailer for market 7.30. At lodge to turn it around 7.40.
Electrician arrived 11.15 to do health and safety check on lodge.
Finished lodge 12. Business meeting at lodge 12.05 (yes, it was THAT
close !!) . Meeting finished 12.45. On horse for riding lesson 1pm!!
Horses out 2.10pm. Mucked out. Grass all raked up. Horses in and fed.
New guests welcomed to the lodge. Dinner made. Shower and washed my
hair. Just about ready for bed now !!!!
This is the end of the building that Tom and Gavin had to fix before the
cows came in. They had to build in new concrete panels at the bottom and
then fit in all the strips of the wood at the top.
There are spaces between the strips of wood to allow ventilation into
the cattle. The pile of fence stobs outside the door is for their next
task...... fixing field fences !!
30th Oct Went to a Halloween party at a neighbours house. Was brilliant
fun !
Us !!!!
Some friends of ours who went too !!!!!
31st Oct Rode this morning. What a lovely, lovely day !!
I love this time of year with the changes of colours. The countryside is
so colourful just now.
Tom and Gavin clipping an 8 month old calf using a 'crush' which is
designed to help hold the animal calm, safe and steady for the few
minutes it takes.
Now that the cows are in, the first job is to clip all the hair off
their backs and stomachs. This helps to keep them cool and clean during
the winter months.
2nd November. Got a new horse at the weekend ! He is a Connemara, dun
coloured. Very handsome !! He's called Bailey.
3rd Nov
That's
half the
cows in
!! Rest
coming
in at
the
weekend
!! This
is
officially
the end
of
summer
!!!!!!!
Oh yes,
like we
hadn't
noticed
!!!!!!!
17th Dec This is beyond a joke now !!!Weather down to minus 15c by
8pm at night! Really, really cold ! Haven't sat on my horse for weeks.
Chores on the farm taking double the time. Poor Tom has to defrost any
machines before he can use them !! Bought a huge space heater which has
been a great help. Lodge boiler gave a little hic cup yesterday, so I
think I'll get the boiler serviced, just in case !! Guys in the lodge
left yesterday and are hopefully travelling back to Ireland today.
Snowing really heavily again today. I hope they get home ok !
19th Dec Got boiler at the lodge serviced today and just got mine done
too as I really wouldn't like to be without heating in this weather !!
20th Dec Wish I hadn't bothered getting OUR boiler serviced !! Hasn't
worked since it was serviced yesterday !!!!!! Luckily we have a coal
fire in the house and have a small gas fire for such emergencies, but
the house is still really cold !! Had a tuberculosis test on all the
animals of breeding age on our farm today. They all all given a jag
today and the vet comes back again in a few days time to see if we have
any 'reactors' . Fingers crossed all goes well and we have no signs of
TB on our farm. It was a long cold day standing in a freezing barn for
most of the day. After the vet leaves it usually takes a good hour or
two cleaning out the buildings that have been used. Long day. Glad to
get to bed tonight !!
22nd Dec Heating fixed for a blissful 3 hours today and is broken again
!! Having trouble getting hold of the engineer again !!
120 sheep ran amok in the lodge garden today !!!! Farmer was moving them
from one field to another and they just popped in to have a wee look
round !!! Good job the garden was all frozen. No harm done !!
'Wasn't me !!!! Honest !!!!! '
23rd Dec Gas fire ran out last night. Minus 20c outside, and not much
better inside !!!! Engineer promises he will come today at some point !
Vet back again today, and we have to go through he whole process again
!! Luckily Gavin off from his work now, so he was able to take my place
today !! Very happy bunnies tonight though, everything passed !!
He's arrived - it's 6pm, and he won't be leaving here until I have heat
!!!!! Going to friends for a party (and a heat ) tonight, looks like we
are going to be a bit late !!
24th Dec Heating now working !!!! Bliss !!!!!!! House feels like a sauna
!!! Frightened to let the boiler stop in case it wont start again !!!!
New guests in lodge for Xmas. Had fun putting up a Xmas tree for them
and a couple of presents for the children under it . It's been so long
since my own children were at that stage !!
 Jeni
sitting by the fire ................ waiting on Santa !!!!
25th Dec Merry Christmas everyone !!!
Had a great day !! We all worked really hard to get all the farm work
done really quickly this morning, then unwrapped our presents in our
nice cosy house in front of the fire, made my part of the Xmas dinner,
then we, and all my sisters and their families, all descended on
my parents house for dinner, a few beers and some silly party games !! A
great night was had by all !! Bed at 2am - far too late - alarm goes at
6 !! Hey ho, it was worth it !!!
26th Dec Had a lovely chilling out couple of hours today in front of the
fire watching DVDs with the kids, after all the farm chores were done.
Had a lovely time.
27th Dec Margaret's been busy for a month now doing all her homework for
university. She's hoping to have it all done by the turn of the year.
Tom and Gavin busy dosing all the cattle against any diseases or
illnesses that they can take. Another very long day, over and above all
the normal chores that need to be done !! Some of the medicine has to be
poured on their backs and is absorbed into their skin, the rest is given
as a massive tablet that has to be swallowed. As you can imagine it is
not an easy task, and the cows are not keen to open wide and take their
medicine !!! Lodge turned around too today. Everyone tired again
tonight. Early to bed !!
30th Started the major house and farm clean up, clean and tidy operation
for the New Year !!
31st Dec Housework all done, car washed, farm tidied, rubbish all away.
Having friend's over to bring in the New Year, so have made plenty of
food and cakes for them all, and have of course stocked up the drinks
cupboard !! We have friends coming to stay for a few days which is
great. We always have great fun !!
1st Jan HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! Had a really great night last night. After
all the farm chores are done, we go to 'first foot' local neighbours and
family. That traditionally means you take drink and a piece of coal for
good luck and spend some time with them. There is always plenty of
laughs !! Other people come with their bottle and 'first foot' us ! Went
to another party at neighbours tonight. Great fun.
2nd Jan Tired but happy today ! Took all the kids out on the horses
today for a long hack along the country roads ! What a nice day was had
by all .
3rd Jan Glad we had a few days of fun. Snow back. Here we go again !!
Jeni trying to make a 'snow ball' !!!!
A cosy Bailey getting some exercise in the winter sun.
8th Jan Kids went sledging today. Managed to persuade Farmer Tom to
have a go. No photos of Farmer Tom sledging, but some very funny video
footage !!!
What a speed the kids got up to on the road outside the house !!
I thought Drumboy Lodge looked lovely in the winter sun.
Loudounhill looked beautiful that day too.
12th Jan A half thaw now. Everywhere soooooo slippery. We have all
developed a funny kind of 'penguin walk' for getting out and about
!!!! Horses in today. too dangerous to try to get them to their field.
15th Jan Weather all back to normal now. Nice green fields to look at
out of the window ! Have even managed to ride the last couple of days !
I think the horses all thought they had retired !! Went to a Rabbie
Burns Supper tonight with friends. What a brilliant night it was. First
of all the haggis (a traditional Scottish food item) was piped in with a
Scottish piper in his full Scottish dress and playing the bagpipes, Then
we had a lovely Scottish meal of soup, then tatties, haggis and neeps
(potatoes, haggis and turnip !) , then steak pie, potatoes, carrots and
peas, then biscuits and cheese. My goodness we were all stuffed full to
bursting !! All of this while being entertained with recitals of Rabbie
Burns poems and listening to Scottish songs sung by local girls, and
listening to a medley of Scottish songs on the bagpipes. It was
excellent !! Well done to 'The Avondale Young Farmers Club' for
organising it !!
18th Jan Managed to ride my horse over some jumps today !! Leg still
doesn't feel completely right after breaking it last year, but I'm
trying to persevere in the hope that it finally all comes all right !
20th Jan Weather brilliant just now ! Cold , but lovely and bright
! All our cows are getting close to starting calving now. Not be long
now until we have some new baby calves on the farm again ! Managing to
ride most days again. Mgt still off on holiday from Uni, so it's nice to
spend some quality time doing something we enjoy together.
21st Jan Met up with lots of girly friends tonight. Had a great night !
Lots and lots of laughs ! Just what's needed at this time of year !!
23rd Jan Gavin has been going to the Avondale Young Farmers rehearsals
for months now, for a concert that they put on for the public this week.
They do lots of singing, dancing, plays, tell jokes and stories. It's of
a really high standard, and they all work so hard at it. I think there
are about 80 of them involved in it this year. They rehearse tonight,
Monday and Tuesday, and then perform to a full house, Wednesday,
Thursday , Friday and Saturday night !! We're all going on Friday night,
and are really looking forward to it.
24th Jan Weather conditions perfect for getting the midden emptied and
putting all the farm dung out on the fields ! It certainly smells a bit,
but it is great food for the grass once the warmer spring weather comes.
Have had some flat screen TVs fitted to all the bedrooms in the lodge
over the last few days, the guys who are staying there at the moment are
absolutely delighted !! I think they are great too, and they bring the
lodge right up to date. Painting, decorating and carpet cleaning next
!!!!
Farmer Tom's tractor and muck spreader. Not the most perfumed of
smells coming for the spreader !!!!
28th Jan All farm work finished nice and early tonight as we had to
leave at 6.30pm to get to the concert in time !! What a fantastic
concert ! Very, very well done to all the kids and those behind the
scenes that made it all such a great night. The kids sang, danced and
acted their hearts out !! Brilliant night ! Don't know how Gavin is not
dead with exhaustion !! He has been up for work at 5.30am every day this
week, only home for half an hour each night for a quick shower and bite
to eat, and then he is off to the concert. He's not home till late, and
then up, and starts the whole thing again the next day !!!! Oh, the
energy of youth !!!!!!!
29th Jan Another wonderful day. Getting lots of paperwork done today,
and then I'm off to ride my horse and take Jeni for a walk.
1st Feb Just when we thought things were running along nicely !!!! My
mother in law fell during the night last night and landed in the
hospital with a broken hip !! She's in such a lot if pain. Oh yes, I
remember it well !! By the time we had got her settled in the ambulance
it was 3.45am. This is when working on the farm is not easy. We couldn't
follow her into the hospital, as by the time we got there and she was
booked in, we would have had to leave, to get home to do our morning
farm chores. We had a coffee and a chat, and decided the best thing to
do was, waken the animals and get them all fed and mucked out, and then
we would be able to stay with her for longer in the hospital. The
animals were most unhappy at being woken early !! X-ray confirmed the
broken hip, so we are now waiting on her having an operation to plate
and pin it for her. What an awful thing to happen to her.
3rd Feb. Phone has never stopped. Phoning people to tell them about Toms
mum, and them phoning to see how she is. Operation done now and she is
settled in the ward. Just really a time thing now. Everything up a pace
on the farm. Visiting in the afternoon almost impossible for us, but if
we change things aroung a little, we can manage to get in early enough
that we can have tea, get washed and changed and get to the hospital for
evening visiting time ! What a rush !
4th Feb Our turn to visit again tonight, but the weather is horrendous.
Storm force winds and rain like never before. A huge lorry was pushed
over onto its side just in front of me yesterday ! What a fright I got.
We battled our way to and from the hospital tonight. Bethia on the mend,
but very tired and sore.
5th Feb Day off visiting today. Up early, chores all done, and then took
Margaret to her first show jumping competition with Bailey. She
did really well, and was 3rd ! She was really pleased. Weather not too
bad now, thank goodness !
20th Feb The last few weeks have just been hectic ! Farm work, then
hospital visits. Toms mum getting a little better now. Thank goodness.
Busy time on the farm getting ready for the spring work and getting
ready to start calving. Social life will grind to a halt then !! Lodge
empty for a couple of days now so giving it a really good clean today.
Long day. Bed. Exhausted.
21st Feb Furniture all moved around in the lodge and carpets all cleaned
today. Lodge looking magic !! Long day again.
23rd Farm chores all done. Horses all ridden. Lodge all put back
together. Decided to paint the lodge lounge today too !!
25th Feb Lounge all painted and put back together !! Don't need much
rocking when I go to bed I can tell you !!!!!
26th Feb First calf born tonight and with plenty of drama too !! Went
out to check all the animals before we went to bed and found a cow had
calved. The wee thing was lying in the coldest wettest place. It was
absolutely frozen to the bone. We got her and her mum into a nice comfy
bed with lots of straw but the calf just didn't look like it was going
to make it. It was heartbreaking ! We decided to get a large space
heater and switch it on in the room so that we could slowly raise the
wee calf's temperature. We stayed outside for more than two hours
massaging each limb and constantly turning the calf towards the warmth
and keeping it awake. Finally it showed some good signs of life and we
were able to get off to bed. I love a happy ending !!
 Sorry
mum I was such a bother !!!!!!
4th Feb Calves dropping thick and fast now all over the place !!
5th Feb Went out to feed the horses at an unusual time tonight and thank
goodness. I heard a low mooing noise that was unusual and went to
investigate and here was another cow that has calved unexpectantly ! Had
to run and get Tom, (who had just got into the bath !!) and we went back
to bring her up into the 'nursery ward' ! We took one look at her and
went 'Oh oh ! There's another one on the way !! It was twins !! We
haven't had twins in a while. I was so excited !! They are gorgeous !!
Will get pictures tomorrow. Went to my first show jumping show with
Margaret and the horses today. I haven't competed in almost a year
because of my broken leg. I did the baby class, and managed to win it
(well done to Mavis !), and Margaret did the next class up, and was
third ! We had a great time. It was nice to be out competing again !
7th Feb Another calf yesterday and another cow in the calving pen while
I write !! It's all go at the moment The weather is lovely just now, so
managing to get the horses out lots of days without their jackets on.
They absolutely love it. They run and roll over and over again. Spring
is just around the corner ! Thank goodness !
 Left to
right. Mavis, Bailey and Annie.
7th March What's happened to the weather ???? Back to winter !! Snow on
the ground again. Horses back in their winter woolies !!! Been really
busy calving. No idea how many calves we have now !! Will know soon as I
will have all the paperwork to do for them just shortly !! Every animal
born on our farm has to be registered and has to have its very own
passport !! I didn't get a passport until I was 16 !!!
11th March Calving particularly difficult this year. We choose to have
the Hereford breed here because of their calm nature and their ease of
calving. This year, we think because last summer was so good, and
the cows did so well when they were out at grass, therefore all the
extra goodness went into their calves. So now the calves are all really
big and it's causing no end of problems ! Certainly on first name terms
with our local vet at the moment !! That's two sets of twins now !!
Some pictures of our newborn calves ! They are about 1 or 2 days old. So
cute !!
Meet one set of the twins !!
11th March Vet out again. Calf was too big to be born naturally so he
had to perform a caesarean section on the cow and remove the calf
through the cows side. It is amazing to watch this operation being done.
When all goes well both the cow and calf recover very quickly.
The calf in having some milk after it's mums operation.
A close up of the cows wound once it has all been stitched up and
sprayed with special antiseptic spray.
12th March cow that had the operation is doing well and should recover
in no time. Up until 2am this morning with the next set of problems !!
Not so successful this time. A cow carrying another set of twins had a
twisted womb and couldn't manage to give birth to them. We tried
everything we could, we managed to save the cow, but unfortunately we
were unable to save the calves. I'm not sure you ever get used to that.
Up again at 6 and another calf had been born !! All ok this time !! Will
be away to bed after we get home from visiting Tom's mum in hospital.
13th March Snow all gone now. Paperwork today after farm chores, but
hope to ride later on this afternoon.
15th March Where on earth did all the snow come from ???? Up to about 15
calves now. They are soooo cute. I need to get a picture of them all
lying together in the straw!
16th March Up at 3am to help calve a cow. Cows sorted and some ready for
the market and all their passports prepared by 8. Down at Lodge by
8.15am to turn it around for our next guests. I have two days in between
lets this time, so doing a big extra clean. House has been cleaned from
top to bottom, twice, including all mattress protectors and valances
washed and carpets shampooed again. 7 loads of washing done. Then horses
put out into the field and them all mucked out. Lunch. Another 7 loads
of washing done and more cleaning. went to Strathaven from 4pm to 5pm to
get some shopping and to grab something quick for dinner ! Home. Horses
in. Dinner. Back to finish lodge. Home 7.30pm. Then did paperwork for
all the calves that have been born so far and for all the animals that
went to the market this morning. Finished at 10pm. Just in time to help
another cow to calve, Bed. Sleep. Up again at 3am with another cow that
had calved !!! And so it goes on !!!! What a bad time to try and give up
chocolate !!!!!
25th March Went to a magic Murder Mystery Party at friends. You have all
to dress up in character and read from a script while you have dinner
and cocktails and try to work out who is the murderer of a fictitious
person ! Was great fun and certainly got noisier and noisier as the
evening wore on !! I was neither the murderer, nor able to successfully
work out who was the murderer !! Oh well, best not give up the day job
!!! Brilliant night. Home in time to help another cow to calve.
30th March I think that's us up to about 40 calves now ! Just can't seem
to get a chance to get anything extra done. Weather really nice and
daffodils all out. The promise of summer to come
5th April My mum passed away very suddenly last night. We are all
devastated. Although mum had had various health issues over many years,
the end was sudden and unexpected. She was a mum in a million. May she
rest in peace.
8th April Mum's funeral today. Thank goodness we all have our chores to
do. It's all that is keeping me going. Family and friends have been very
supportive. Inundated with visitors, kind wishes, cards and flowers.
Have taken a huge comfort from all of this. Somehow I will make it
through this day.
19th April My lovely daughter Margaret is 21 today. It has been so good
to have something nice to focus on and look forward to. She had decided
to split her birthday into 3 parts and is having an evening with her
close friends, and then 2 family dinners. I'm so glad we decided not to
have a party in a hall etc. It just wouldn't have been the same without
mum.
23rd April Lots of spring work starting to happen on the farm. Weather
is tremendous. Our lovely French guests have returned to stay with us,
and have been soooo lucky with the weather. Lots of BBQs out in the
garden this week. Had a family lunch today with all of Margaret's
relatives on Toms side. Ate far too much. Fit to burst by the time we
came home !!
24th April Margaret's birthday celebrations still going on !! Made
dinner for 20 relatives for dinner at my Dad's house tonight. We all
decided we would like the dinner to be there as it would feel like mum
was there too. I made 2 types of soup, lentil and pea and ham. The main
courses were lasagne, chicken with pasta and a Sunday roast. Then we had
three kinds of pudding, topped off with homemade baking and some
birthday cake. I don't think I can continue to eat like this for much
longer !! A lovely special day for a lovely special girl !!
Margaret at the first of her parties !!
Farmer Tom and Gavin have been transporting some of our animals down the
road to their summer grazing over this weekend. The cows do this every
year and are keen to get on the trailer, but the new born calves are a
little unsure and have to be carefully helped onto the trailer with
their mum !! It's been a long winter !!!!
25th April Most of the animals are now out in the fields for the summer
months so I had my first long lie in 7 months !!! Bliss !!!!!!!!!!!!
29th April making the most of the cows being out. Getting paperwork all
up to date. I can actually get into my office now, which is progress !!
Lodge really busy which is good. My lovely French guests were back last
week. I so enjoy trying to converse with them. They say they are coming
back again next year, so I am going to find some evening French classes
to surprise them when they come back. Left me a lovely present of some
vodka too ! Goodness knows what the bottle said, but it tasted lovely !!
Thanks guys !!
1st May Goodness knows how many times I've cleaned the lodge recently !
Feel like I'm down there all the time !! Good for business, but my
rubber gloves are almost worn out !! Cows all really settled outside,
and our wee orphan calf has been adopted by another cow, which is great
news ! The cow already has a calf, but for some crazy reason has decided
it would like two !!!! She is a good cow, and has plenty of milk for two
calves.
2nd May Never thought I'd say this, but we could do with some rain !!!!!
Ground is like concrete !! Most of the farm spring work is now done.
Fields have been harrowed and rolled and the fertiliser has all been
laid down. Just need a small shower of rain to wash it in so that the
grass will grow.
5th May Wish granted !! Rain last night. Lawns have fairly grown overnight.
Need to get the lawnmower out again !!!!
9th |May We must be the proudest parents in the land just now. My son
has recently won a competition to be the best joiner in the whole of
Scotland, and my daughter has just passed her second year primary school
teachers assessment !! Really pleased for them. They have both worked so
hard this year. Well done !!
10th May All the animals still seem to be really pleased to be out. New
routine for Tom in the morning to go to their grazing field and check
for any problems. I think there is only two cows left to calve now. We
ended up with 46 calves this year I'll need to go with him one day to
check them and take pictures.
11th May Have been catching up on some paperwork over the last couple of
weeks and been back to school !! Many years ago I built this website and
I just felt it looked a little old fashioned, so I'm taking a couple of
courses to help me change the website and make it much more interactive
!! Really looking forward to that !!
12th May OK rain. You can stop any time now !!!! Yes, I think we could
manage some sunshine now !! Horses are still out all the time, but need
a cosy rug now. Have sold lovely wee Mavis to a really nice family up in
Aberdeen. She has been vetted, and passed with flying colours. I think
they are coming to pick her up on Saturday. Margaret and I are going to
be really upset. She's been here for 7 years now and is such a lovely,
lovely pony. Many of you will have ridden her when you were here.
(Especially Clara who learned to canter AND jump during the week she was
here !). I know it's the right thing to do and wish her many, many happy
times over the years to come.
|
