Blown modem

Well – what storms! The skies went black, the rain came down, thunder and lightening bounced round the hills – and the modem blew. So we’ve been off line for a few days. Had similar problems at work so we’ve been a bit out of touch!

The rain was amazing, we didn’t flood here, but our tennants did in Bridge End, which we’re not entirely suprised at. The shop didn’t flood which is good as many others did. The main road through Halton Lea Gate was under water and as for our land – as the water was streaming off the fell it formed rivers and came gushing though the walls. Now I appreciate the benefit of dry stone walls. No damage as water just came through like a fountain. Had it been mortared then whole wall would be down. Cars were having to slow right down as the road had ponds in it and the lane at the bottom was unpassable. And it hasn’t stopped although it is no where near as bad as it was. Everything is just feeling damp.

Anyway, a new modem brings us back on line.

Said good bye to Helen on Sunday after saying good bye to M & D and S the previous Wednesday. We had the whole family together from Monday to Wednesday and we therefore planned a family barbeque on Tuesday. Of course rain came, but just as we had finished cooking so we were able to rescue the food and retire inside. A good few days were had by all, and it was a break for us from doing other things.

So now we are back to normal and getting the flat ready to rent. We’ve decorated the kitchen and that is looking several times better, and we’ve de-scummed the bath and sink using some industrial strength cleaner (which I highly recomend and will use at home) and we need to wall paper that and one of the bedrooms. The tennants are hoping to move in on 1 Sept and I think we will be ready for that. We’ve had a person interested in renting the shop too, for a year which is the same as the tennants in the flat so that might work out quite well.

So what’s been happening animal wise?

Well the two buns have grown and grown, now look like proper rabbits and we are getting them used to being groomed. We have tried to sex them using pictures in a book as guidence. Ian reliably informs me we have one of each but not sure which is which. Hmmm.

The ducklings that were in the stable are now outside and through themselves into outside life eagerly. They are more friendly than the others, although they do take themselves off around the field.

We have lots of chicks, two lots were under hens, but one lot of 5 had to be rescued because they were wet and cold because of the rain and had to go under a heat lamp. So we just have one hen outside now with three chicks. We have the 5 chicks which we rescued from outside in one room, we have four more in another, and quails all over the place! The plans for Pennine Pickled Quails eggs are comming along nicely.

All the livestock are fine – damp muddy, but well. Debbie’s ram had fly strike and had to be treated so we need to keep an eye on our sheep and goats to make sure that the damp doesn’t encourage the flies to them.

The peacock eggs did not hatch, so perhaps I won’t buy any more eggs from Ebay – however I will keep an eye open for hatching eggs from reliable sources.

This weekend is the craft fair in Newcastle so tonight will be getting things ready and making sure that the damp has not made soap ‘sweat’ too much.