Sunday 17 February 2008

Spring Time


I have the huge pleasure of receiving another award!! Gosh how marvellous! Thank you so much Gone Back South.

That and I've won a Handheld PDA (whatever that is) for my Christmas Horror Story about the escaping hamster.
But I've been in no mood to really appreciate any of these nice things, I've had cold in by dose, my chest hurts, my back hurts and I've been very unwell. I think it was flu because I really haven't done a thing, haven't blogged much at all and have done very little work.
I did have a major problem in that I lost my voice. It didn't really matter here, I just stayed in bed and ignored everyone. I did though, take my business phone with me...stupidly. It hadn't occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to actually answer it. Oh, and of course I had two excellent enquiries by phone. My clients must have been simply bowled over by my whispering husky voice! I probably made the sales through pity!
I've got nothing too exciting to say apart from my world record attempt at use of Kleenex and painkillers, so I'll tell you a (nother true) story that Darling Husband told me.
My brother in law 'lambs' around a thousand ewes (looks after girl sheep having babies) every Spring, and he does this on his own. So we don't actually see much of him for a month or so, he's on call 24/7 and is permanently exhausted beyond belief.
If there is a sudden drop in air pressure/ change in the weather (how likey is that?) a whole bunch of the woolly things go into labour, and he nurses every lamb that others would give up on. He puts a mark on every lamb with a special sheep mark (red paint) and then some creosote smelling dot to keep the foxes and big cats away (yes, we have them around). Sometimes he's bottle feeding 30 tiddlers (orphans or rejected ones) during the day and night as well as coping with the lambing and feeding of each and every one.
So Darling Husband went to see his brother, and there he was with a Ewe looking really worried. "Look at her, her face was all red yesterday. Her mouth was all red, eyes running, off her food...it's Blue Tongue #*!!#*"
Darling Husband had a look.
Brother in Law went on "I've given her Penicillin, her eye is better but look at her, she's not right"
Darling Husband noticed the Ewe scoffing as much as possible, positively thriving on being segregated from the flock. He came home, laughing.
He had sheep mark on his hands, and had noticed his brother in law had some on his face...the stupid thing (sheep) had had her head in the sheep mark bucket and eaten some and got it all over her head. No wonder she was off-colour so to speak.
Brother in law wasn't easily convinced, he's so tired, bless him.

6 comments:

Maggie May said...

I have just read your Hamster post & it was hilarious! Can't think why I haven't run into you before! I love your blog. I will be back.

Lovely photo of the lamb, couldn't possibly eat one!

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Hi there - lovely to meet you, but I'm afraid I'm not Tattie (although I do know her - in a cyber sort of way of course). Yes, you are just over the border from me & I very much enjoyed your writing. Will be back.

LBD xx

Tattieweasle said...

Well curioser and curioser said Alice!!!
Just cathcing up 'cos like you been v.busy and fighting to stay well - do hope you are OK now...love the ewe story - but damn things will have a tendancy to die on you just when your back is turned that or accidently sleep on their babies - squashing them!!!
Yup been there, done that and found I couldn't quite hack it so became a journlaist...what a cop out!!! Miss the lambing tho' even if I was so tired I forgot to go to bed and would kip down in the barn with the dog....

Chris Stovell said...

Hello! thaks for popping over to read my blog. My Daughter in Cardiff has been involved in rural affairs and knows a lot about the perils of Blue Tongue and all kinds of horrid diseases - you have a lot to worry about. Actually, connecting with your previous blog, she had a bit of rough time in Cardiff on Saturday for sounding so obviously English even though she's lived there for five years! I have to add though that this is not the norm just a few berks, as ever, getting out of hand.

Potty Mummy said...

I helped out with the lambing on occassion when younger. Very hard work - but great. Mind you, not much chance for it in Kensington...

Pig in the Kitchen said...

I think your brother in law should be made an honorary woman; all that feeding, being up in the night and losing a grip on reality. Well done him.
HOpe you are feeling better.
Pigx