AnnieP’s blog

Well, it could easily be: Have been so busy the last few weeks, really had no time at all to sit and write this up, but with the rain and all....

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First of all, we are now the proud owners of 6 very fine ex battery hens, known collectively as "The Bennet Family". Individually, that's Mrs. Bennet, Jane, Lizzie, Kitty, Lydia and Mary.

They are absolute stars. Have settled beautifully, seem very happy, are real characters and are laying eggs for England, bless them! They are pretty well feathered compared to most rescued hens, and have just been so good! No squabbling, pecking or aggression. They are just about mastering the fact that they eat other things than their meal, and so far can be persuaded to eat sweetcorn and lettuce. Still turning their noses up at everything else and trampling it into the ground though. Haven't mixed them with the other three yet: Its just looking at eachother through the bars at present.

The day after we got them, I left Jonnie to it and headed off on our annual school trip to Bude in Cornwall. It was a great week and the children behaved fantastically. No broken bones or sickness, no falling out or problems, the weather was kind to us and such a beautiful place! Cannot post pictures for obvious reasons, but the children boogie boarded at Widemouth Bay in breakers 5 foot high, canoed, rock climbed, abseiled, fenced, did archery, swam.... heavenly!

I came home exhausted after 4 nights away with them all, and a 6 hour drive due to closed motorways, but it was a great trip!

Next on the agenda was report finishing. I forget just how much I loathe and detest this task until it comes around every year. Still, all done now and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Went for our first tandem ride last weekend.. to the pub. Was good to get on it again and to know that we haven't forgotten how to do it!

This weekend has been manic too. Went out for a curry to our favourite restaurant with friends on Friday night, then yesterday after a quick stop in Marlborough for hot chocolate and cake we headed for an Omlet meet in Dorset. Supposedly at a National Trust property, the weather was so foul, we decamped to Mel and Paul's, bless them. A lovely time was had and it was great to catch up with people again.

Then, a hasty retreat home and out again to supper at Wendy and Dave's. Got to bed just the other side of midnight after a very long day! Super meal though, and great company, as always.

Phew, that's it, just about, oh apart from this...

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Goodbye to Thierry Henry. Watching Arsenal won't be anywhere near as interesting ever again....... now, where's my Barcelona shirt.....

Today I though I'd write a list. I like lists!

Good things                                               Bad things

Nick Harper's CD is out, and I've got it!               Back to work.

Rags is fine and got the all clear at the               I still have 23 reports to write

vets after her dental work.

We had a lovely weekend doing "stuff"                7 weeks until the next holiday.

Just had another curry                                      Need to loose about 4 stone in weight

Going to see Nick Harper tomorrow                   Will be tired on Wednesday

Off to Bude with the school next week               Will be tired until at least the end of July

Well, I just have one thing to say today:

HAPPY 21st Birthday to my niece and God-daughter, Kerry!

oh, and Kerry, this is for you:

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What a sweetie eh?

No doubt she'll be wearing a very similar party dress tonight and over the weekend when she is out celebrating!

Can't believe you're 21!

Have a great weekend and be good! ;O)

Well, Rags had 16 teeth removed yesterday. Ouch!  With three already taken out a couple of years ago, she has now got to be a contender for the gummiest dog award. She is currently recovering downstairs on a giant duvet.

She has lots of painkillers and mouthwash (oh joy), special soft food for a week and the right to be a grumpier old git than she usually is, for at least a few days. Meanwhile, can anyone advise me on the best method of cleaning up blood off cream coloured carpets?? Thanks!

The bill was just astounding.... I come out in a cold sweat just thinking about it, but hey, they clipped her claws for free while she was under.....

I got a request read out on the Janice Long Radio show last night! How cool is that? Fame at last!

I'm supposed to be writing reports this week: 8 a day was my total and so far I am on number.....1.

Here are the top ten tips for procrastination...

1.

Running man

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Well, Jonnie ran in a 5 mile road race this morning. Nutter! I had Tim come to do some training with me. So we are both going out for a curry this evening to undo all the good work!  Yumtastic!!

By the way Jonnie... sexy legs eh? (not).

Monday, May 28, 2007

Well, Rags did very well at the vets today, got another arthiritis shot and persuaded them that there's at least two more years of life in the old dog yet... Unfortunately for her, and our bank balance, that means that on Tuesday she is off to the hospital to have some more dental work done on her disgusting teeth. I can already hear our finances screaming for mercy...

Got home to find that Jonnie had given the chickens a little present:

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It appears they were enjoying looking at all the hunky cockerels in this chicken equivalent of a jazz mag. Oh well, egg production should be up then..

Had an interesting half hour brushing all the scabs off Boots' back where rainscald has taken hold, so he now has some lovely bald patches to add to his general look of ill health. He'll fit in lovely when the baldy ex-battery chickens arrive in a couple of weeks.

Booked tickets to go and see Arsenal versus Paris Sainte Germaine and Inter Milan vs Hamburg in July at a special two day tournament at the Emirates. Should be a great day out!

Well, this week has been just as busy as every other one seems to have been this year! I can't believe its nearly June!

Half term! Hooray!

Tonight we're down to some friends for supper, then the weekend will be spent tatting around at home, as the weather isn't supposed to be very good is it? Looks like we'll need to do some staking in the garden if these Atlantic storms they have promised materialise.

Rags has her injection for Arthritis tomorrow, so she'll be on top form in a couple of days again, so we can do a few longer, leisurely walks this week. I also have end of year reports to write. Boo.

Thought you might like to see a bit of the veggie plot at present. Thrilled to bits with it.

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The chooks are loving the Cube. I bet they won't want to go back to the Eglu when our rescue girls have settled and are able to make the ladder.

Here's Tubbs in the doorway..

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They all manage the ladder like its always been something they have done, even old fatty Crockett, so I am sure our rescued chickens will manage too once they have gained strength.

Just two weeks now!

Have a great Bank Holiday everybody! Fingers crossed that they have got the forecast wrong!

We've got a busy day today! Mucking out chores to begin with, then we are heading to the Midlands to meet up with some Omlet friends. Am really looking forward to seeing them all again.

Our Hosts took delivery of a cube last week too, and I am eager to see how it compares with ours, in terms of ease of use.  They also got some rescue battery girls yesterday and I am looking forward to seeing them, as this will be us in a couple of weeks time! I know Jonnie is still unsure about getting some: He's so soft hearted and even the pictures of Rhubarb, Custard, Sherbert and Shrimp upset him. Em and Mo have other rescue girls too, so I'm hoping the classic "before and after" will put his mind to rest a bit.

Ours will be right by the road and very visible to passers by (not that we get many), so there is a concern about what people might think. I plan to make a sign telling those who are interested or concerned enough to stop and read it, all about the girls and the BHWT. It will be a good bit of publicity, and if it makes a few more people think about the issues, well, then, hey!

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It will be great to see Debs, Dan, Jules and Harry again. Jules had a special delivery from us yesterday: A picture of "Nudger Man" who, it seems, has finally found some modesty...

When they came to stay a while back the poor girl took some stick over allegedly wanting to see him, or more specifically, his "Nudger", so I am sure she was mightliy relieved to see this version rather than the real thing......

We also have a little pressie for Clare, which I am sure she will like.... But can't give that away yet.

So, we've been practising our "Whaddos" and asking for "Kippa ties" so that we will be understood today.

Will post more later. Safe journey everyone.

Well, yesterday was a good'un.

Jonnie took the morning off work to take delivery of our glorious purple chicken cube... but it didn't arrive. So he went back to work.

I begged my headteacher to take the last part of the afternoon off and got home for 2.30... but it wasn't here.

Christian came over at 2.45 to hold my hand in the vigil, but it still hadn't come.

At 3.10 Omlet rang to say they were a little behind and would be another hour. We walked the dog.

An hour passed.... another hour passed... we rang Omlet. Poor Johannes needs Sat Nav lessons, as he'd overshot our junction by 30 miles! Christian and I drank tea and scoffed cakes (thanks mate).

Another hour later it arrived! Woo hoo!

An hour and a half later it was finished! Double woo hoo!

Here it is:

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Gorgeous eh? (me, not the cube or Johannes)...

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Not sure what the donkeys make of it yet.

As you can see, I am very pleased though!

So, now we await the new arrivals so they can join our current girls.

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Hope they will all get on eventually!