Its so easy

Well as its so easy another huge bale of straw was disassembled and bagged up ready for use. It only took 30 minutes so it does seem to be a cheaper alternative to the square bales.

The 30 30 challenge was completed, no fanfares, no standing ovations, just the soundtrack to Gladiator as I cycled the 380something km without actually getting anywhere. So day 30 30 30 lvl 12 hill 12.8km (Gladiator soundtrack)

Trying to think of another 30 30 to do for April, but for now I'm having a couple of days off.

Happy Mothers Day

While the apprentice smallholder made his mothers heart melt by giving her his efforts with blue paint on canvas, several cd's that the cd police are not allowed to confiscate and some chocolates, yours truly was faced with a mad cow making funny noises and looking at me funny. So part of the day was spent moving critters around in the hope that a new configuration would ease the housing shortage for mothers to be. Matters became critical mid morning when Piggle started to build a nest and any idea that she might only be faking pregnancy in order to avoid Mr Whirlpool were dismissed as she has now, along with her sister Iggle achieved the hallowed accolade of pet status, meaning I cannot eat her and I need to find her somewhere to live. Fast.

So, Daffodil was taken along with Mindy from the med bay which also houses the straw in large white bags, and put in what was the old rabbit run but was more lately the goat house (Big rabbits or small goats, you decide) All animals were given a generous bedding allowance which emptied two white bags, the remaining two were placed up on the bank on pallets double wrapped to prevent wetness. This meant Hetty could go into the med bay which really pleased Kayleigh who until today had been forced to double up with Hetty as Hetty kept jumping out of the Corral OK.

After a lovely Sunday lunch with my beautiful and oh so patient wife's mum and brother where little t demonstrated his newly acquired skill with a spoon, I got back on with the new order.
Iggle and Piggle were separated from the three little (massive) pigs (without us spending hours running up and down the lane shouting at naughty porkers who wouldnt go where they were supposed to be, honest) and put in a purpose built substantially reinforced pig pen off the Corral OK where they soon made them self at home in the deep straw bed and we will have to wait and see what, if anything, happens there.

Today's jobs have only bought us some breathing space, we still need more space, or rather the space taken up by the three not so little pigs. This may be resolved by next weekend. By which time there are bound to be new critters here.

Day 18 30 30 lvl 15 endurance hill 21.6km (Buckcherry, Buckcherry)

Yes 21.6km a personal best.

Grazing rights

We as commoners have grazing rights, meaning we are allowed to have a number of units (animals) on the common land, grazing what passes as grass in these parts.

Not sure it extends to neighbours gardens though!

In all the mayhem of yesterday I omitted to report the sad death of Sybil our oldest pet. This ancient lagomorph, in her eighth year passed away in a manner befitting a loved pet, quietly in her sleep. Bless.

Today I have been from one end of the Red Kite empire to the the other, or rather from bottom to top, Vic and I covered over 220 miles there and back again, a very productive day. We have a new visitor to Rock HQ, Roxy an adorable mastiff cross rottweiller cross bath sponge. Soppy as anything and totally bewildered by anything with hooves. Shes met the clan and survived the welcome so she should survive her stay only emotionally scarred from her encounter with the pocket rocket.

Day 5 30 30 lvl 14 outdoor training 13km (Generation Terrorists, Manic Street Preachers)

A kick inside

Look closely, once you get over the dogs panting, the shaky camera angle and recognise the cow breathing, towards the end there is a definite kick from the soon to be with us calf. Preparations are underway, some new metalwork is going to be fitted in the stable this weekend, rings either end so if necessary Hetty's front can be attached to the wall while a rope and pulley will drag the calf out. This is presuming she needs help, she may just dump it on the straw, or she may need a c section. Our favourite vet called this evening to give us the low down on what to look out for and briefed us at which point to call him. Fingers crossed, its not long now!

BBMC training up and over the Bonsai Mountain

Day 2 30 30 Hill lvl 14 12.2km (Alternative 80's mix)

Garden planning

Its been another glorious day on the Bonsai Mountain, perhaps the 5th sunny day in a row, inevitably attention is turning to the "garden" or warzone. The vegetation and trees have fought gallantly against marauding hordes of hoofed beast determined to eat their fill, the end result of this onslaught is defoliation on an almost agent orange scale. One green house has been ruined by hungry goats keen to exploit the fig tree and grape vines, and a mental cow who took to sleeping in it after making her own entrance, and then a different exit, just in case. Plans are afoot to rectify the wreckage, part of which is the demise of Ambrose our last long range goat who is about to make a contribution to Rock HQ other than stripping the bark off the fruit trees. Our new version Anglo Nubian being agoraphobic is a much better form of goat and as she hates outdoors is environmentally friendly. I am going to be a bit more sensible about what we plant though, our first year here I planted dozens of everything and got precious little in return, I mean no one really needs to plant twenty types of melon do they? Especially when you end up with no actual melons for your hard work.

Day 1 30 30 Hill lvl 12 10.4km