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Newsletter June 2009

Seasons!

I do love spring. I wish it lasted longer than three months. Everything wakes from its winter sleep, the young leaves unfurl, the vibrant green of spring grass, the strict order of the blooming of the bulbs, and joy of joys – the return of the swallows, martins and swifts. We are now drifting into summer, warm weather, long light evenings, and Mother Nature back in charge

Hatched, Matched and Despatched

Bee Bee kept us all waiting for nearly three weeks before she had a lovely colt foal on 24 May.

We are presently discussing names: I think he should be called Tony the Pony, our little granddaughter wants to call him Sparky. Watch this space!

Misty, on the other hand, foaled 10 days early on 26 May! Thomas (Misty’s yearling colt) was still in the field with her, and it must have had a bit of a shock when the little filly arrived. We have called her Dragonflye (with an “e”). She really is the most beautiful foal and Misty is a wonderful mother.

There is no photo of the three of them together as Misty used to keep Thomas away from her baby. On one occasion Thomas obviously got too close and Misty gave him a substantial kick on the shoulder which we had to dress every day for a week or more.

Clun Green Man Festival 2-4 May

This was its usual success, with a packed weekend of entertainment and activities www.clungreenman.org.uk

On Sunday night 3 May Richard and I went to live music at Clun Memorial Hall – The Wurzels! Describing themselves as a “Scrumpy & Western Band” all their songs were singalong. The audience ranged in age from grandparents to grandchildren, and the Young Farmers were bopping away to “I’ve got a brand new combine ‘arvester and I’ll give you the key ooo arr, ooo arr”! The drummer was 78 years old and must have weighed around 25 stone, but he was the best drummer I have ever heard. He was absolutely brilliant! The Green Man himself made an appearance – we were honoured!

When we got home we had to take an injured lamb to the vet. Richard’s birthday was on 4 May, and as midnight came and went we were holding this struggling lamb as the vet stitched it up and I said “Happy Birthday dear!”
PS: The lamb made a full recovery!

Lambing

Very civilised this year! Having only 65 ewes to lamb does make things less frantic. There were a couple of surprises: A Texel lamb (ie by a Texel tup) is always white – right? Except that one of our Texel lambs is jet black – not a white hair on her body! Must be a throwback to something.

We also had a young ewe lamb on polling day – 4 June. That was a surprise, probably for the sheep as well.

Building Work

The building work at New Cwm Farm has finished, with lovely solar hot water, but unfortunately the internet connection suffered with the dust created - we're back in business now!.

 

Campsite at The Anchorage

We have had several camper vans stay at our site at the head of the Clun valley, all visitors have said how impressed they were, and have promised to return, so we must be doing something right!

Both the campsite and the two static caravans, are Pets Welcome, and one would imagine this would generally mean dogs. One couple brought their little wire haired terrier which looked like a cross between a hearthrug and a brillo pad. Two separate couples however, brought the family cat! Each cat seemed quite au fait with the arrangement, and had a little wander round and explore before hopping back in the camper.

“Happy Birthday dear Astra . . .”

My loyal and faithful servant celebrated his 21st birthday in March. I’ve always thought of my car as a grumpy little old man, as that is certainly its character.

He has a few battle scars, like the time I thought there was room between a hedge and a stationary tractor. There wasn’t.

People generally frown as I drive past, as if they can’t really believe such a humble little bus is actually roadworthy. I do get comments about the rusty hatchback, until I point out that I just need an extension on the exhaust pipe, because the afterburners have scorched the paintwork(!)

It is so reliable. The only time it has given me cause for concern was coming home from Devon once, when the car developed a severe cough, not helped by multiple crashes and subsequent holdups on the motorway. We got home on a wing and a prayer that day, but if I’d had a more modern, more complicated car, I’m sure I wouldn’t have got home at all.

Astra in Snowdonia, which is within driving distance of New Cwm Farm & The Anchorage.

PS: Since writing the above my loyal and faithful servant has catastrophically failed his MoT, and is sadly destined for recycling. I have many endearing memories of that quirky little car, whether scampering along in the sunshine, or in a strop and refusing to start because I had left him outside all night. Once I had put the handbrake on, but it rolled forwards and pinned me against the garage door, prompting me to complain: "Everyone around here bullies me, even the bloody car!".

And Finally: Just a Thought

The 2009 prize for the most unromantic man goes to an unnamed farmer* who bought his wife a chainsaw for Christmas so that she could cut her own firewood!

* Not Richard, I hasten to add. Last autumn I bought myself an electric chain saw so that I could cut my own firewood. Richard used it in preference to his normal chainsaw, so that when I came to use it, it was blunt! I just can’t win.

Download the June 2009 newsletter (pdf).

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