tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88710296921702894382024-02-19T06:21:58.517+00:00You cannot judge of a tree by its WWOOF.Laura and Matt's experiences of WWOOFing in the UK and Ireland (and some other stuff!).LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-59273782728353964472012-01-05T16:41:00.010+00:002012-01-05T18:12:19.507+00:00Allotment photo update 2Well, it's been ages since we wrote anything properly on the blog, so here is a mainly photo based catch-up on what's been happening on the allotment since July. Lots!<br /><br />Produce wise we had a great year, bumper crops of onions (which we are still eating)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc0tncp8Biagxmg-Z0be1lXyxJT2t7XG5jR1xh5Lf8-qkEHdIqjr5xcr5QDPy3nhxaQD2Sfogq-XHgFhH42eDSRvZlOU4LEma_UIuGvENFXXLmpUjM8o17ZNQcpD8VbQjv-SII0qA-XU/s1600/P8100074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc0tncp8Biagxmg-Z0be1lXyxJT2t7XG5jR1xh5Lf8-qkEHdIqjr5xcr5QDPy3nhxaQD2Sfogq-XHgFhH42eDSRvZlOU4LEma_UIuGvENFXXLmpUjM8o17ZNQcpD8VbQjv-SII0qA-XU/s320/P8100074.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694196571902945298" /></a><br />Another great squash harvest - although thankfully not as many as last year! (still eating these too!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMQx2BiU_7LIXTZ2s7DWWvLrcBVuFBdPqpkSlwqIOxANnHlJ1mrepdbimOfyBngkzCdUtKyecbklxcfWxcL4HM4f3ZidM6GDlwBjCs-ujUeHRFKYboYjxBGvpm5feYk6hdek3PrnGi3I/s1600/P9180009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMQx2BiU_7LIXTZ2s7DWWvLrcBVuFBdPqpkSlwqIOxANnHlJ1mrepdbimOfyBngkzCdUtKyecbklxcfWxcL4HM4f3ZidM6GDlwBjCs-ujUeHRFKYboYjxBGvpm5feYk6hdek3PrnGi3I/s320/P9180009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694192333534461778" /></a><br />Plenty of dried beans to keep us going through the winter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqug8yB2BwKmlxXUohXCmBe8OAJC2KHERq7pBjsE7w6mLIi4DJcSPW72-RgPbkLDplx2e81fKAIix_ZJb3W-2ph9pJwwSUaf7AbP8xLfS_MjsO8bxz6mBHwWcE_kwDaULxfyu2VcMu9Qk/s1600/P9300015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqug8yB2BwKmlxXUohXCmBe8OAJC2KHERq7pBjsE7w6mLIi4DJcSPW72-RgPbkLDplx2e81fKAIix_ZJb3W-2ph9pJwwSUaf7AbP8xLfS_MjsO8bxz6mBHwWcE_kwDaULxfyu2VcMu9Qk/s320/P9300015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694196573028409042" /></a><br />During the summer the Crystal Lemon cucumber was so prolific we could hardly cope - we made at least three batches of sweet cucumber pickle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf9lPjRgIvYv8wVhN9_YR5fRwk-K3d8htrodof_alCMGyPyub1w9M-oag_WDw8gmxRO3ZWWN7QLdLW-ppe-sgYb0GRlE_9n9lE8GzM3vS3SBHRzyzcQvEF3iXgdU8ZvFFYdidNrTeAvE/s1600/P9300016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf9lPjRgIvYv8wVhN9_YR5fRwk-K3d8htrodof_alCMGyPyub1w9M-oag_WDw8gmxRO3ZWWN7QLdLW-ppe-sgYb0GRlE_9n9lE8GzM3vS3SBHRzyzcQvEF3iXgdU8ZvFFYdidNrTeAvE/s320/P9300016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694196590905031458" /></a><br />Rainbow Chard, delicious as well as great to look at.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRx4Ub7BE3wxfUYEVWLaVLLDaHcsDUgoxSUr2yq0Te6Z2QBgGS8NCngnwR-bhu7SRNFBrezP_-4tGOR8XSF92tRf8umHdJ6hHvAxikJBnb7NGXk52ud-HiWIzsZwzH2tfbcgbHFQcT_I/s1600/P9300041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRx4Ub7BE3wxfUYEVWLaVLLDaHcsDUgoxSUr2yq0Te6Z2QBgGS8NCngnwR-bhu7SRNFBrezP_-4tGOR8XSF92tRf8umHdJ6hHvAxikJBnb7NGXk52ud-HiWIzsZwzH2tfbcgbHFQcT_I/s320/P9300041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694192369504161186" /></a><br />Our collection of brassicas are still going and keeping us well fed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO_6xqlHIS3txt8aT_fX47UTCbZtCVuRNS7iPgYkMERfowpk5Hga_kcEz6tSyvZLZ4-3WuJ0OxTbgErVLmgky8v9qCrS9bLwfK0_hCzRCpXQ-VwRrOWIXdnYVxI26ReZzO1LYxIHJGr0/s1600/P9300048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO_6xqlHIS3txt8aT_fX47UTCbZtCVuRNS7iPgYkMERfowpk5Hga_kcEz6tSyvZLZ4-3WuJ0OxTbgErVLmgky8v9qCrS9bLwfK0_hCzRCpXQ-VwRrOWIXdnYVxI26ReZzO1LYxIHJGr0/s320/P9300048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694193574863977442" /></a><br />We also had lots of apples, unfortunately they don't store very well though but we made the most of them while they were in season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjJbipDyJ3Vk7sw0D8U0SXGO4DDHSwKAvW2jsu2lIdz23uKeb_kYHCpFMYq9GPzd6r-bbKxg7P_5pM6jc07LTU6G2XUu9kv9PD6_lgf0-KGtXEnaNKeP675oJZxvZOk5bwNp-AWCsCUs/s1600/P9300039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjJbipDyJ3Vk7sw0D8U0SXGO4DDHSwKAvW2jsu2lIdz23uKeb_kYHCpFMYq9GPzd6r-bbKxg7P_5pM6jc07LTU6G2XUu9kv9PD6_lgf0-KGtXEnaNKeP675oJZxvZOk5bwNp-AWCsCUs/s320/P9300039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694193581094801282" /></a><br /><br />The allotment has been a riot of colour, and amazingly we still have marigolds in flower now due to the unseasonably warm weather we've been having.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItcy0WREU7ry0iu4E830Yen9Ap0JxjW5pkzjOje-aHPQujYmw57kcPqt2OC0ETPxvjStvGSwT6JG1rBBU0cRINy32b83mSGq57112rsglbogmmOd27Sp0RbXriHVjnxamodIMQUfuBB8/s1600/P9300025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItcy0WREU7ry0iu4E830Yen9Ap0JxjW5pkzjOje-aHPQujYmw57kcPqt2OC0ETPxvjStvGSwT6JG1rBBU0cRINy32b83mSGq57112rsglbogmmOd27Sp0RbXriHVjnxamodIMQUfuBB8/s320/P9300025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694193616424631410" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgv5vDKrcc9SlmFBNJ6o60cvF8CGRlGuYXxiWzsAaEVx5T7SedNJo4IbYTQFKD4HUC2wLuMPGBU7gxesklTGyrgY-OSJ9dMrSt_Ss745YiTkfW6_Bp2hwElJFiUgqQVNzhourTcr-Kj0/s1600/PA140082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgv5vDKrcc9SlmFBNJ6o60cvF8CGRlGuYXxiWzsAaEVx5T7SedNJo4IbYTQFKD4HUC2wLuMPGBU7gxesklTGyrgY-OSJ9dMrSt_Ss745YiTkfW6_Bp2hwElJFiUgqQVNzhourTcr-Kj0/s320/PA140082.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694193597630075586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeG-8e0ChyphenhyphenPe4Dxj9B1taRIf7U-SStiWOzFL8dD50C1elpb6-AwwGdFD6nAA8s8YwUrFqPntvuBmUxgds2s0egbsvo8jpROgeZZF04_YHmkTrQgXtrz4Qdz-837vpt34fxWon6dnguys/s1600/PA140088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeG-8e0ChyphenhyphenPe4Dxj9B1taRIf7U-SStiWOzFL8dD50C1elpb6-AwwGdFD6nAA8s8YwUrFqPntvuBmUxgds2s0egbsvo8jpROgeZZF04_YHmkTrQgXtrz4Qdz-837vpt34fxWon6dnguys/s320/PA140088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694193591872583202" /></a><br /><br />We've had a few wildlife encounters with newts, slowworms and I even got chased by a grass snake (no time to take a photo of that i'm afraid!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNJmwdRRJ9eWFDDe8_OZfklnyW-_rBEegBLhmKrRlC-6uo0t7DZ2fTJG689u9j9nWV8rVQj4i8OC8y-zhyphenhyphenBkh6MI9xz5alQOZTlhw7vtZDJImxJ7AHJ9ObqhBXn42OPCtyHuF2USDhGs/s1600/newt.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNJmwdRRJ9eWFDDe8_OZfklnyW-_rBEegBLhmKrRlC-6uo0t7DZ2fTJG689u9j9nWV8rVQj4i8OC8y-zhyphenhyphenBkh6MI9xz5alQOZTlhw7vtZDJImxJ7AHJ9ObqhBXn42OPCtyHuF2USDhGs/s320/newt.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694212323526011234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pcqwWkdCPeWgBgK-Eld46UTcB1aS8eEeHEvyAkVRTjgMvVZOAeVMWdK8g4qq0o3LiQ4vULi2Di_fJalHEZGo8MCswxlCRv3mVrkOKyDEsVT4lTD_xBeO2UMGuSk5-dywoR9YFgsUcsw/s1600/PA140080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pcqwWkdCPeWgBgK-Eld46UTcB1aS8eEeHEvyAkVRTjgMvVZOAeVMWdK8g4qq0o3LiQ4vULi2Di_fJalHEZGo8MCswxlCRv3mVrkOKyDEsVT4lTD_xBeO2UMGuSk5-dywoR9YFgsUcsw/s320/PA140080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195314933247458" /></a><br /><br />Spot the difference through the seasons - and the addition of our new raised beds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgES0jeDE5XDBO24Mylu1brVmU6iomMThjfWpywTU25KLKZwDYSED7Qz1r3n0R-AiB08ySUNUi0xwCj73Y11zbfOz57AejcPVsFPOI-Uwwes3Y_nWGjk-81HcC1IfPuPafEIWzcmJGxnUo/s1600/P9300013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgES0jeDE5XDBO24Mylu1brVmU6iomMThjfWpywTU25KLKZwDYSED7Qz1r3n0R-AiB08ySUNUi0xwCj73Y11zbfOz57AejcPVsFPOI-Uwwes3Y_nWGjk-81HcC1IfPuPafEIWzcmJGxnUo/s320/P9300013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195930263661730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWUMVHYtTGnnXBt_gjsgaoqq9zKkNQqDQQueVKr7MCoK7ieTBhKbMzXRYeZuR5H8hgYon266MYmHv3v9UsLt46DWR1_n92vg8ne5PWg6M3826zrdM0X7WvR5suUBbmtn4qMK8vxDM1DQ/s1600/PA230107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWUMVHYtTGnnXBt_gjsgaoqq9zKkNQqDQQueVKr7MCoK7ieTBhKbMzXRYeZuR5H8hgYon266MYmHv3v9UsLt46DWR1_n92vg8ne5PWg6M3826zrdM0X7WvR5suUBbmtn4qMK8vxDM1DQ/s320/PA230107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195327640845202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KBNBpqkOMrX5DWhDqqJlRCRLQBis1g_6XhSj0OLYL08hPbxnJXgNfDohbjvlPD_pJ6jH0FcOA4H2VbYMc811i9H5LwDvtqvCptdivyp2sOjZg6K9SgpUMvHyIkHujKfUYg3U3lVk-u0/s1600/PC040059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KBNBpqkOMrX5DWhDqqJlRCRLQBis1g_6XhSj0OLYL08hPbxnJXgNfDohbjvlPD_pJ6jH0FcOA4H2VbYMc811i9H5LwDvtqvCptdivyp2sOjZg6K9SgpUMvHyIkHujKfUYg3U3lVk-u0/s320/PC040059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195339702971682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH7GK8e1N3Lt915JAZCkhq7zwZhYUGi-YoOaN9fdvXBtX0mmrsV8_xd5eX0LZx6eAr0NCNUSVkpsJzWead3A0t2-Utf13u8OHc9h__ugt6uDRfWOLmFfOlGZP4VY66qC1qvJbOK4qsm8/s1600/PC160065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH7GK8e1N3Lt915JAZCkhq7zwZhYUGi-YoOaN9fdvXBtX0mmrsV8_xd5eX0LZx6eAr0NCNUSVkpsJzWead3A0t2-Utf13u8OHc9h__ugt6uDRfWOLmFfOlGZP4VY66qC1qvJbOK4qsm8/s320/PC160065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195933215246578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUYpuqCbUIO45y8A-U7i2ZzeL4h6SOgK7J6Z32nA5UjJ7fH_UOyoT89v_zUKQg994euQO3hw9_dqYmJtKue_3XB40ttKf3jxc1KdV99HXCwu22n5I-WWXkuv0LRqYtFH0gqGF-8LWz3w/s1600/P1050103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUYpuqCbUIO45y8A-U7i2ZzeL4h6SOgK7J6Z32nA5UjJ7fH_UOyoT89v_zUKQg994euQO3hw9_dqYmJtKue_3XB40ttKf3jxc1KdV99HXCwu22n5I-WWXkuv0LRqYtFH0gqGF-8LWz3w/s320/P1050103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195945128504834" /></a><br /><br />And finally the new lock on our shed after break-in number two...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaEIqdc51PKpPL3EI253pk6UVGcH6nZpuKRtf7fiGmtmRz4rUl_vIPJpeWOaOIR2q1k8LE5CHSzbZgutjmQMI12lDtmtZNiK0TQhzAwo6JPZTyrZQryYUZ1f5hoL4fmfWPFoB7-WX6qY/s1600/PC160064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaEIqdc51PKpPL3EI253pk6UVGcH6nZpuKRtf7fiGmtmRz4rUl_vIPJpeWOaOIR2q1k8LE5CHSzbZgutjmQMI12lDtmtZNiK0TQhzAwo6JPZTyrZQryYUZ1f5hoL4fmfWPFoB7-WX6qY/s320/PC160064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694195953889739570" /></a><br /><br />Sheep update to follow soon!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-65472279471261185892012-01-04T17:52:00.005+00:002012-01-05T10:14:35.762+00:00LMD Original<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEuqzD0nWkU66z2HO-tIEGxpuxCaJZyKnBY5tHmjDT3LZ8pTwW4HiGdJWvArFdtz4Ekfz2V1mrFgLb2-VUZP36ruKa9Q7pVAcaUkZpjgcSz6KAN2EqexFeZV9wpW6WLE3AA3wyBR1O5o/s1600/Logo.BMP"><img style="centre; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEuqzD0nWkU66z2HO-tIEGxpuxCaJZyKnBY5tHmjDT3LZ8pTwW4HiGdJWvArFdtz4Ekfz2V1mrFgLb2-VUZP36ruKa9Q7pVAcaUkZpjgcSz6KAN2EqexFeZV9wpW6WLE3AA3wyBR1O5o/s320/Logo.BMP" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693839570538300802" /></a><br />My new website, <a href="http://www.lmdoriginal.co.uk">www.lmdoriginal.co.uk</a>, is now up and running.<br /><br />Visit the site for your supply of unique greetings cards now!<br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />Laura<br /><br />PS. A very belated sheep and allotment update will be posted soon.LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-20223322490504506972011-07-27T19:04:00.004+01:002011-07-27T19:12:28.873+01:00Allotment photo update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIxQ_IJFNBY8sUEwaT01pi6QLdzuBGv-7haxY5KGNsiGGfvZaHaAFCU5amKYkgpIDYQamOa5euVlasyfX7HiddRWX-tfy92qOBg4yDCEHiRfaJmPc2dUdEkDUWbqBAn6yfITZunprWvI/s1600/P7230173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIxQ_IJFNBY8sUEwaT01pi6QLdzuBGv-7haxY5KGNsiGGfvZaHaAFCU5amKYkgpIDYQamOa5euVlasyfX7HiddRWX-tfy92qOBg4yDCEHiRfaJmPc2dUdEkDUWbqBAn6yfITZunprWvI/s320/P7230173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634094977206751570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdYkxLWbLMmxyfOecJKsvnwWriIOepIMGiSXIEnnJRChIEmTgZeUNNOP5TLZ7ZttBnOgeNJJe8-Cfabv2RusaQKRJENJLDYZhrc_RVLADEka0AJkojCiGd5Cv1oH2GGTNuJwUr2UcvXQ/s1600/P7230176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdYkxLWbLMmxyfOecJKsvnwWriIOepIMGiSXIEnnJRChIEmTgZeUNNOP5TLZ7ZttBnOgeNJJe8-Cfabv2RusaQKRJENJLDYZhrc_RVLADEka0AJkojCiGd5Cv1oH2GGTNuJwUr2UcvXQ/s320/P7230176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634094988786043090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIFOTwmJHeVYXuR-G_UYwl7AmEI5Em-G_dA89a7v11jQfC5y-CmGBiPDPKZjFOtBRmHwg8ov89QignVOhtDsplNVG1I9hBn76i5WFt-9gVcCFq0BSUWjS4nGo8NsqYp8RuI7kswLs_fQ/s1600/P7230177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIFOTwmJHeVYXuR-G_UYwl7AmEI5Em-G_dA89a7v11jQfC5y-CmGBiPDPKZjFOtBRmHwg8ov89QignVOhtDsplNVG1I9hBn76i5WFt-9gVcCFq0BSUWjS4nGo8NsqYp8RuI7kswLs_fQ/s320/P7230177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634094997577420658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRELMynr0p4pOb7vhAXZKYpiJu8YpC81MK6_DE4FSwy-OF_3hUbsAfz_QCUVVKNWQDW3wWa8Rw-vc8u0Hs0AcO6bl71Jb7jhB6ux_THs3GEHdohG1OY_coV1CzKJjHWlqKuCqSWSaw4Mo/s1600/P7230180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRELMynr0p4pOb7vhAXZKYpiJu8YpC81MK6_DE4FSwy-OF_3hUbsAfz_QCUVVKNWQDW3wWa8Rw-vc8u0Hs0AcO6bl71Jb7jhB6ux_THs3GEHdohG1OY_coV1CzKJjHWlqKuCqSWSaw4Mo/s320/P7230180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634095564313497106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_X1uFmsDTGgFzjvpyhT0EzlmrK5iZD6MvnPPjPT1wVXrvOqNZjS-4Q3tjhdP_YBIuX1jdAMK-QuG2KgsqP3ZocezKd2ZwXzc-zwEPtUI8j_NurbRLGJUXx_vUoK6tHMd_qu3biQFv84/s1600/P7230181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_X1uFmsDTGgFzjvpyhT0EzlmrK5iZD6MvnPPjPT1wVXrvOqNZjS-4Q3tjhdP_YBIuX1jdAMK-QuG2KgsqP3ZocezKd2ZwXzc-zwEPtUI8j_NurbRLGJUXx_vUoK6tHMd_qu3biQFv84/s320/P7230181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634095578406111458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3Mm9zFJQ3K64E8oVBnU47Vs-AGbLSN0Rw7qoHGp_obeXZOYrhh35y-uIO2nzhobMQw0fDN-Evwd43iS1GnFDNfN2W8ivs96fFbypSL1Y4tes9HjeWJFca1r9e1gOBROWEhitsheXpyg/s1600/P7260186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3Mm9zFJQ3K64E8oVBnU47Vs-AGbLSN0Rw7qoHGp_obeXZOYrhh35y-uIO2nzhobMQw0fDN-Evwd43iS1GnFDNfN2W8ivs96fFbypSL1Y4tes9HjeWJFca1r9e1gOBROWEhitsheXpyg/s320/P7260186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634095583356365282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYWTGocUagnQRv2QZBytaviQBiuPqJ2smtZ6BIwZLA0YboaNJw9zntBH_Gj2A5MfpczjRKZJeDiJORaAGPbIPLASJ3gAiPV6HOMOwbCBYExSZwwikHNxz5iE52DRoPhZMmgQpO4P8K50/s1600/P7260188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYWTGocUagnQRv2QZBytaviQBiuPqJ2smtZ6BIwZLA0YboaNJw9zntBH_Gj2A5MfpczjRKZJeDiJORaAGPbIPLASJ3gAiPV6HOMOwbCBYExSZwwikHNxz5iE52DRoPhZMmgQpO4P8K50/s320/P7260188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634095598189301906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFdKA8ysb3taz-X-u9SwUNFYSgyM72nlF-Q4r32wtE11o8t0Qvz_-YkS1QwHUJwE8wdis0ENfREwCuYZhGtXKyqKHGQXX_oqdAGP2RWFQUhWHj18rwC1UEjKi8FTm_bGgMF-rF0Iy4Gk/s1600/P7260189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFdKA8ysb3taz-X-u9SwUNFYSgyM72nlF-Q4r32wtE11o8t0Qvz_-YkS1QwHUJwE8wdis0ENfREwCuYZhGtXKyqKHGQXX_oqdAGP2RWFQUhWHj18rwC1UEjKi8FTm_bGgMF-rF0Iy4Gk/s320/P7260189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634096295486224210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinskunDJoXVYtmvsHvE9AovAFUJ5P-NOLts7vTifjXMQ7BE989GnfbFDKvP9ZTmxEd8IDUBNHSLH4GnBBMmi0OFTIr9nLmQ5wv0cwQiq4IzjR-QxLSc0jLkD3YS78Kq5bUF4Hd5_pRzNw/s1600/P7260191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinskunDJoXVYtmvsHvE9AovAFUJ5P-NOLts7vTifjXMQ7BE989GnfbFDKvP9ZTmxEd8IDUBNHSLH4GnBBMmi0OFTIr9nLmQ5wv0cwQiq4IzjR-QxLSc0jLkD3YS78Kq5bUF4Hd5_pRzNw/s320/P7260191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634096298944271426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8SGFjqFJ8EmyT_E0rrFswOS43JD5hRMfdCt2pi0n3jsesyADkyR-FMNGANo67MVc6bzweV5zKsh0hlKUCKroiScATdoHS5qM3MqmJCkY3ndwC9q28sACBseSIiIqOGe9KIsgix-95zg/s1600/P7260195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8SGFjqFJ8EmyT_E0rrFswOS43JD5hRMfdCt2pi0n3jsesyADkyR-FMNGANo67MVc6bzweV5zKsh0hlKUCKroiScATdoHS5qM3MqmJCkY3ndwC9q28sACBseSIiIqOGe9KIsgix-95zg/s320/P7260195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634096323748266018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkJuWz2V3iKQ0t0cAQJluOoGtOqzZitEX4wdh8euBhVuw-68PnjM9c0y6GniSa2YS2A39R27PjzJPHQUtQhTdU6fJja8cHieCZBJhSulxQ8m6t_bnBZxZYnrCj8iYdM-9Bg_eX6oI96A/s1600/P7260196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkJuWz2V3iKQ0t0cAQJluOoGtOqzZitEX4wdh8euBhVuw-68PnjM9c0y6GniSa2YS2A39R27PjzJPHQUtQhTdU6fJja8cHieCZBJhSulxQ8m6t_bnBZxZYnrCj8iYdM-9Bg_eX6oI96A/s320/P7260196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634096328453031010" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-69613289030328535062011-07-05T21:15:00.004+01:002011-07-05T21:22:49.502+01:00Sheared!This weekend we put the knowledge we gained on our course last week into practice – and it all went surprisingly well! We even invented a whole new way of shearing…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoLxkqlTk9GFnhCt1WxGSIM_qr7lMRS15ZtT0ZS74x9AoIQWtCVjSQk720WGdp9aVfWV8xQBnU0teGssKd6dwvN4I4G4TKY0W53ZDTE-Fv8348WzDd_Z4lYm3ckypD6Q-KhDAnppIh_w/s1600/P7020116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoLxkqlTk9GFnhCt1WxGSIM_qr7lMRS15ZtT0ZS74x9AoIQWtCVjSQk720WGdp9aVfWV8xQBnU0teGssKd6dwvN4I4G4TKY0W53ZDTE-Fv8348WzDd_Z4lYm3ckypD6Q-KhDAnppIh_w/s320/P7020116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625964950710918130" /></a><br />Not quite sure what’s going to happen yet…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1XRIIxhKGBhjKVxUakHlnYjAECf9-zASnhly7gFj5ES3EJ2YFoIbcFkCYtfaULiB6S8Ccr7BXJUJOphsgMAvXTTUiGrW73BcopoW0UCdWgG3qYPEycZliClNUYK0xHfphnY69m6Ys3A/s1600/P7020121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1XRIIxhKGBhjKVxUakHlnYjAECf9-zASnhly7gFj5ES3EJ2YFoIbcFkCYtfaULiB6S8Ccr7BXJUJOphsgMAvXTTUiGrW73BcopoW0UCdWgG3qYPEycZliClNUYK0xHfphnY69m6Ys3A/s320/P7020121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625964934281045858" /></a><br />Peppermint was our first volunteer for a haircut, looking good!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfInLzNjsVhx_OwKG9OMn9eEqndLN6wAlwq1QtnAKpnooJ66XhOCvPIJ-J-EObOPe1K0w8UKjLrVk9AkO47sAj7Hxh2vVLUQ9Bfg07geTKWoOmxIx92lvuVHdksYZieyHmvXKsfvllJIg/s1600/P7020125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfInLzNjsVhx_OwKG9OMn9eEqndLN6wAlwq1QtnAKpnooJ66XhOCvPIJ-J-EObOPe1K0w8UKjLrVk9AkO47sAj7Hxh2vVLUQ9Bfg07geTKWoOmxIx92lvuVHdksYZieyHmvXKsfvllJIg/s320/P7020125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625964925192998274" /></a><br />Next up is Petal, keen to try out our unorthodox standing up method!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11lG1paVf2Q8mv01JYGNyIy04vZteFZZpDSn3to68vizRB_2BdgGclet8tUPXjJnXgRvUPlatl5eGcuOMpG1Rsd75YHUFi_HUYPxTeoRmhmB8AOpdZXRDE0HWdZ4sGyrflem3QY0qTjI/s1600/P7020131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11lG1paVf2Q8mv01JYGNyIy04vZteFZZpDSn3to68vizRB_2BdgGclet8tUPXjJnXgRvUPlatl5eGcuOMpG1Rsd75YHUFi_HUYPxTeoRmhmB8AOpdZXRDE0HWdZ4sGyrflem3QY0qTjI/s320/P7020131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625964914120627986" /></a><br />Pawn has some help from Liquorice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw6S3-i-GkJtDz5pof52ZJYIhgVeKcpx8H6-QXXrYnvTRgGJz5LteObXrHHoOlT5HpLE3qoWAirvgCc-Ioen8nJzsX38QZAidrE9SHN97NK55hsmVZ06_VhIpUSMwQzH8eH61FlEmotA/s1600/P7020135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw6S3-i-GkJtDz5pof52ZJYIhgVeKcpx8H6-QXXrYnvTRgGJz5LteObXrHHoOlT5HpLE3qoWAirvgCc-Ioen8nJzsX38QZAidrE9SHN97NK55hsmVZ06_VhIpUSMwQzH8eH61FlEmotA/s320/P7020135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625965771862518370" /></a><br />It’s easier with two…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8LXm1ZlkUm_mfibFsSVJRXpy5v3As2M29GdEG2t7okPjNUbGeb9K_bOU3HzQzx2SUbVj5v_2vFBRJXwyUdWj9gevhNU5HvpFJaPjOp9FKn8xa7ZmzE7tzWybkptLnl5xTKdR6szJCoQ/s1600/P7020144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8LXm1ZlkUm_mfibFsSVJRXpy5v3As2M29GdEG2t7okPjNUbGeb9K_bOU3HzQzx2SUbVj5v_2vFBRJXwyUdWj9gevhNU5HvpFJaPjOp9FKn8xa7ZmzE7tzWybkptLnl5xTKdR6szJCoQ/s320/P7020144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625965784176971730" /></a><br />It’s all over!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDpkkzzDCFMqpJfQ1TLfaeSvijpZFvQVpO6XG7nVOVLXLdzp-hxD_-VLZcgSpoHnzS0TDoVMhLYJX-YwS2hbqueXx3UQ54ZAVoXlB7O_4NM2t-EP7V9ukOREgiEqjbfUmAtXGEVijzmw/s1600/P7020146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDpkkzzDCFMqpJfQ1TLfaeSvijpZFvQVpO6XG7nVOVLXLdzp-hxD_-VLZcgSpoHnzS0TDoVMhLYJX-YwS2hbqueXx3UQ54ZAVoXlB7O_4NM2t-EP7V9ukOREgiEqjbfUmAtXGEVijzmw/s320/P7020146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625965797882545922" /></a><br />Laura rolling the fleeces<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyECfXRlx65LWMdnYNXuDyoonJi5nlvezPRG3NkwA2238w6O0fvMp1ydDF43LEgJyy5mcLqe5xQjuqUwHTwKiydpVX6iaKiX8SqH-9gxI7CWOZ6Ei0HhYM6mdaVf2RjXXFTylsIm-tFs/s1600/P7020154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyECfXRlx65LWMdnYNXuDyoonJi5nlvezPRG3NkwA2238w6O0fvMp1ydDF43LEgJyy5mcLqe5xQjuqUwHTwKiydpVX6iaKiX8SqH-9gxI7CWOZ6Ei0HhYM6mdaVf2RjXXFTylsIm-tFs/s320/P7020154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625965801595686210" /></a><br />Pawn’s lovely fleece, all rolled up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dBF0hPNerObmlpv6mD-4vi2KEuOuE8s5aOnzrjHR06H9oXa6Q1IiayY9IxuCGIiK-knI-asYiJnHePJO5KS9IzxXsSL2fSu5f8y5mlhPU8ERjcu5cvFyVFdi1OA65LgHj3ZDjnTnrbY/s1600/P7020155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dBF0hPNerObmlpv6mD-4vi2KEuOuE8s5aOnzrjHR06H9oXa6Q1IiayY9IxuCGIiK-knI-asYiJnHePJO5KS9IzxXsSL2fSu5f8y5mlhPU8ERjcu5cvFyVFdi1OA65LgHj3ZDjnTnrbY/s320/P7020155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625965814461410594" /></a><br />Ready to get outside and munch some grass!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-83016662465055318262011-06-17T10:38:00.003+01:002011-06-17T10:52:52.346+01:00Growing updatesThe allotment has exploded into life and we have been enjoying delicious potatoes, lots of lettuces, yellow mange-tout, spinach, broad beans, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, celery, rhubarb, strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberry (just one so far!), cherries and herbs galore. <br /><br />Within the space of just over a month, the allotment has grown a lot:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CPcgvlgd40Nu0vVzsSGyXkYECj0Js3V3tiTssWQ4otaFW2q6Wi-6BQpE0WCt_buD7mJzPlJisxGyW_ZNS6sjACtd9rIpMbfHXcHnKQFPlWqZHrGfdG3BgNLIQl9SOVAWdeDR5r0trlQ/s1600/P4300037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CPcgvlgd40Nu0vVzsSGyXkYECj0Js3V3tiTssWQ4otaFW2q6Wi-6BQpE0WCt_buD7mJzPlJisxGyW_ZNS6sjACtd9rIpMbfHXcHnKQFPlWqZHrGfdG3BgNLIQl9SOVAWdeDR5r0trlQ/s320/P4300037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619122571942028850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wAHI27Y1zMVc2I3n8yFG8Moi5BBoR-_f8g2Lp_IHI4aJuUblESTiE9EphDIDz7L-ahRFqXjlKWpowhyphenhypheneXpu9BfwNo2a69WH0wPkxmN9499TeLJ_pDNaAKq0hQh_z4YwvIy-7jepZHII/s1600/P5030042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wAHI27Y1zMVc2I3n8yFG8Moi5BBoR-_f8g2Lp_IHI4aJuUblESTiE9EphDIDz7L-ahRFqXjlKWpowhyphenhypheneXpu9BfwNo2a69WH0wPkxmN9499TeLJ_pDNaAKq0hQh_z4YwvIy-7jepZHII/s320/P5030042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619122566554554626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdwC3RTwAJQKlmJ8useNN7eFvPhrapWr4QhuwRzTq1bTLB_o08EM3PqwnSZh7TiDDMooLceHh44lm4GwgYbPMHlrK_RnRADESVuur-UY_c7FQv7LfK7GxqwC3BdpeaR5WimqyRlzM_HU/s1600/P6070006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdwC3RTwAJQKlmJ8useNN7eFvPhrapWr4QhuwRzTq1bTLB_o08EM3PqwnSZh7TiDDMooLceHh44lm4GwgYbPMHlrK_RnRADESVuur-UY_c7FQv7LfK7GxqwC3BdpeaR5WimqyRlzM_HU/s320/P6070006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619122560156041090" /></a><br />Won’t be long until we can add tomatoes and beans to our list too:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaFwiE1wTpKIpACe5IsaPSAvNrrn1d_YCXL545r3D0N3-ruaNzBdyr2EEOlKCzomQ7Uq4426oDlMSSEzAXO1WmpeswCamqk1IfZW7Q6oYAbhq8B1Eh-ep7ZzBPFOlc655W6PopGgofU0/s1600/P6070007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaFwiE1wTpKIpACe5IsaPSAvNrrn1d_YCXL545r3D0N3-ruaNzBdyr2EEOlKCzomQ7Uq4426oDlMSSEzAXO1WmpeswCamqk1IfZW7Q6oYAbhq8B1Eh-ep7ZzBPFOlc655W6PopGgofU0/s320/P6070007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619122555143675874" /></a><br />Last weekend we went to Shropshire and saw our sheep. The lambs grow so much in between visits, they’re getting a bit heavy to lift now!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs_Ho5uhgi-EE1lqAn0zCdf17S4oeBZfAf4hy8IcrvV_mna12pWoLiHCyplfIvOOeysNDwnv27CoccKkPXJUnFyk0R_hNXfTRrcqwVmCmA3TWAlMy5926aGdso9ZDaLU0mZmpoWTQ7N8/s1600/P6130021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs_Ho5uhgi-EE1lqAn0zCdf17S4oeBZfAf4hy8IcrvV_mna12pWoLiHCyplfIvOOeysNDwnv27CoccKkPXJUnFyk0R_hNXfTRrcqwVmCmA3TWAlMy5926aGdso9ZDaLU0mZmpoWTQ7N8/s320/P6130021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619121501966023490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIeYm5r5Rb6VNbgf7cjsibdBg8n6zStllofuBD7G_w77h7kEPbyJu2uBJXdZhwqw4xgZQZ8DuDieZdFZUorpo8opjSbGl5m240o2dqe5G3SAglieY_3fUq-gCYtD4y-YW1MspFz6MUvY/s1600/P6130028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIeYm5r5Rb6VNbgf7cjsibdBg8n6zStllofuBD7G_w77h7kEPbyJu2uBJXdZhwqw4xgZQZ8DuDieZdFZUorpo8opjSbGl5m240o2dqe5G3SAglieY_3fUq-gCYtD4y-YW1MspFz6MUvY/s320/P6130028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619121504942570354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs_Pn9-G6n-oXjGes5SCEXZwKB-ZkGwagJWBIo3JDXUKZj0R3lkU3U66lu7z9hJGwAQWQkqbm3cqok8it4nuqjP9EeTmWX9J10Uto4wo6GNHIb1H9P-4hG2dlfWXSjSH-nVcw3xwuz3Y/s1600/P6130031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs_Pn9-G6n-oXjGes5SCEXZwKB-ZkGwagJWBIo3JDXUKZj0R3lkU3U66lu7z9hJGwAQWQkqbm3cqok8it4nuqjP9EeTmWX9J10Uto4wo6GNHIb1H9P-4hG2dlfWXSjSH-nVcw3xwuz3Y/s320/P6130031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619121493914803090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9vbh_TSEWP0WqtbKCDWc_mBiJR_oJp6hjqybI9xED5hiviL1cjdPzj7qOceVpZAqgRZ-Zm2qZ39xA7T2ykxAQoUPvbJIsIFb2FKmNaO1SneMiPr8U7l8PQ34-4ZZGaO4b-Z7bkctrBo/s1600/P6130017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9vbh_TSEWP0WqtbKCDWc_mBiJR_oJp6hjqybI9xED5hiviL1cjdPzj7qOceVpZAqgRZ-Zm2qZ39xA7T2ykxAQoUPvbJIsIFb2FKmNaO1SneMiPr8U7l8PQ34-4ZZGaO4b-Z7bkctrBo/s320/P6130017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619122547400712754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mqPGfKcJ2FB3pePvZ5HSGijt2SqgIUboHba6OQAmkdT6il-SZ2C0rUjicn7ztzm0H4Vce5AxC2tn6sxBkDyxaOgQfTHSkRhA4LZQJHy-GsRLjlJQhohOqULJGZp3ncuHO96V2DsiJxU/s1600/P6130023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mqPGfKcJ2FB3pePvZ5HSGijt2SqgIUboHba6OQAmkdT6il-SZ2C0rUjicn7ztzm0H4Vce5AxC2tn6sxBkDyxaOgQfTHSkRhA4LZQJHy-GsRLjlJQhohOqULJGZp3ncuHO96V2DsiJxU/s320/P6130023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619121490316580914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rtD-yQRSVDnN2z7hMSRJnGfn3TzWzwD0L867ZBNJ8MlBx3FxmKWLhq7CQVNimoqixo63WVyXawrlfWwki8H-ZIxIM_rnfXBftY-3bw_24-VQ3ElPbB8XCt5PGiwrpnBDwimDI_JIJtk/s1600/P6130035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rtD-yQRSVDnN2z7hMSRJnGfn3TzWzwD0L867ZBNJ8MlBx3FxmKWLhq7CQVNimoqixo63WVyXawrlfWwki8H-ZIxIM_rnfXBftY-3bw_24-VQ3ElPbB8XCt5PGiwrpnBDwimDI_JIJtk/s320/P6130035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619121487759514642" /></a><br />We're off to do a hand-shearing course on Monday and will put our newly learnt skills into practice in a few weeks time, watch out girls!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-36525083404275191822011-05-23T17:40:00.003+01:002011-05-23T17:52:20.057+01:00Back on the Farm!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jQc6ev6DQIOSdykZ7wgxENURDt3MvL2oiYXGFAZjh0PWTIuXJ-1eD2ag8jUNLckcmZGcS3gRIeE81-EdgVJ1TUGcpUWfWrFEBdYt4KIsowzWBlkFhqaOcH2aV9NIWZH0wTypVeloYvM/s1600/P5210150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jQc6ev6DQIOSdykZ7wgxENURDt3MvL2oiYXGFAZjh0PWTIuXJ-1eD2ag8jUNLckcmZGcS3gRIeE81-EdgVJ1TUGcpUWfWrFEBdYt4KIsowzWBlkFhqaOcH2aV9NIWZH0wTypVeloYvM/s320/P5210150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609954215872443618" /></a><br />Worthy farm, Pilton, Somerset, no less! On Saturday we joined Kelly, Lucy, Phil and Will for some elderflower picking for Kelly’s business venture: The Festival Elderflower company. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoehLYEWumM3jpE06ir_64zZvrvK4tjgYgVe1Uptgq3T6dxi2C-c-9CgSPfkO92qBKOgNpQdFDMd4icMGW67JcPN0_hy_rLcnT9G9p0p5pY2R22BrQwC_pKvKs48H_fzBCgeH9iuUUuMc/s1600/P5210117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoehLYEWumM3jpE06ir_64zZvrvK4tjgYgVe1Uptgq3T6dxi2C-c-9CgSPfkO92qBKOgNpQdFDMd4icMGW67JcPN0_hy_rLcnT9G9p0p5pY2R22BrQwC_pKvKs48H_fzBCgeH9iuUUuMc/s320/P5210117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609954202095435938" /></a><br />It was quite surreal, picking elderflowers in a field with the pyramid stage behind us! The cows are still enjoying the grass, before 180,000 revellers descend. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip67YZBMsgflq9Vs2MCNwq4kRZL3WGdo19S_nbrlGh2poQY5rWknzno9ak-qtyvu5RD7FBNYJX98AX8DMxqEv-pA10NLlbW4J5D4Q_-JC5KZPmrAIXO6obGoSQ3_2C2nGqheAAYeV9jjc/s1600/P5210132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip67YZBMsgflq9Vs2MCNwq4kRZL3WGdo19S_nbrlGh2poQY5rWknzno9ak-qtyvu5RD7FBNYJX98AX8DMxqEv-pA10NLlbW4J5D4Q_-JC5KZPmrAIXO6obGoSQ3_2C2nGqheAAYeV9jjc/s320/P5210132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609954192338579186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY7mTvUT-xPWo33NmFzykkubg5DPj7ce2h3NJvIaiq3k381q8JjHdDc1zEjDiWKFL0r93le0WXjDT-_Ey_dzYHBF4jyPAUDB4mmN70gehRy7193WdEEditZMCkJD8sUe9cRNmXY8xFMw/s1600/P5210129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY7mTvUT-xPWo33NmFzykkubg5DPj7ce2h3NJvIaiq3k381q8JjHdDc1zEjDiWKFL0r93le0WXjDT-_Ey_dzYHBF4jyPAUDB4mmN70gehRy7193WdEEditZMCkJD8sUe9cRNmXY8xFMw/s320/P5210129.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609954184880712114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UC5p2EspfR0/TdqOtCgwwaI/AAAAAAAAA3c/0YSZ0LpBLcA/s1http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif600/P5210141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHkajvqTRlPH8-Hy_hoGQ_SImo4CdaijLSOCxDkNXjGf2X4dvvybDVP3s7BxmBNtRN4xWBfYQf2TgP9FNyrhK-85yPtAuL_OfFQ8Am20OdYnFFeJoSxH2ckwXf2IJEDCOLtjZQ5-9E50/s320/P5210141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609953190262915490" /></a><br />Well it’s nice to be able to say we’ve been to Glastonbury this year – we didn’t see much music, but there was plenty of space to camp and the weather was lovely!<br /><br />If you’re going to Glastonbury this year, check out Kelly’s stall and buy a cup of refreshing sparkling elderflower! For more info see the company’s facebook page <a href="http://en-gb.facebook.com/festivalelderflower?sk=wall ">here</a><br /><br />In other news, we’ve been baking lots of bread, <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWKBDEfvWMzthSHsHEFAgBhi5RbbAIHGo9TVp0WziSLlTGzz65B1qXJh38chNXJGfySONZSvwwOpqQ4gU0u0fN_PT0qnesMGrqbjwQoeSrrOaGquOVCHGSHdeX1NcGtA5RfF03QcDAk8/s1600/P5180092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWKBDEfvWMzthSHsHEFAgBhi5RbbAIHGo9TVp0WziSLlTGzz65B1qXJh38chNXJGfySONZSvwwOpqQ4gU0u0fN_PT0qnesMGrqbjwQoeSrrOaGquOVCHGSHdeX1NcGtA5RfF03QcDAk8/s320/P5180092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609953172433350466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AbRgIKudtlKsb6unF54Bxi2opl76MpVpCjM_I1Wzw4QFbY4ptuvbqyck6mIYzIETPF9Zx03W0tloknHgIIfx7dLf9Np1gT3JRc-iXSHfWFJ_Y7Eu4epFeQCyD-yZ64zXOcy4BQ0pKq8/s1600/P5190111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AbRgIKudtlKsb6unF54Bxi2opl76MpVpCjM_I1Wzw4QFbY4ptuvbqyck6mIYzIETPF9Zx03W0tloknHgIIfx7dLf9Np1gT3JRc-iXSHfWFJ_Y7Eu4epFeQCyD-yZ64zXOcy4BQ0pKq8/s320/P5190111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609953159885161266" /></a><br /><br />and I even made a mother! (a sourdough starter for the confused amongst you)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYHRaj-thquR1XhW6HqV4ITh0wJz24jYgUqUjassS5gN1TEWZYiBPzH92yctrh2ucT7TopAgdVF0kNNFPhhVhM7nHWK_adchw9s_4g9p6ibh6e3HanifO0kwFtqG04fl3seI9fNfRr60/s1600/P5180086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYHRaj-thquR1XhW6HqV4ITh0wJz24jYgUqUjassS5gN1TEWZYiBPzH92yctrh2ucT7TopAgdVF0kNNFPhhVhM7nHWK_adchw9s_4g9p6ibh6e3HanifO0kwFtqG04fl3seI9fNfRr60/s320/P5180086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609953151406583010" /></a><br />Sheep are all well, we’ll be returning to check on them soon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbfX4pglcOWAfxHF-yzNUJk0mGPEdstIOaGWh8yoRyOj5E8fTAr4ljLSP2k2ESk1Kyaqkc81JLKKniXCweaKDM_jFKXOnfN5-Ofira4IMd2f8DSTjqa_thLKB2RbmLJXw1aMzDrFWxUI/s1600/P5070068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbfX4pglcOWAfxHF-yzNUJk0mGPEdstIOaGWh8yoRyOj5E8fTAr4ljLSP2k2ESk1Kyaqkc81JLKKniXCweaKDM_jFKXOnfN5-Ofira4IMd2f8DSTjqa_thLKB2RbmLJXw1aMzDrFWxUI/s320/P5070068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609953142892891858" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-34489546405236291152011-05-06T10:41:00.004+01:002011-05-06T10:50:54.693+01:00Full CircleSo our WWOOFing adventure has come to an end, looking after Smiling Tree Farm for two weeks was the perfect way to finish and now here we are back in Bristol, back in the very flat we left just over a year ago. It’s hard to believe we ever went away… Here we are unpacking and celebrating the Royal wedding at the same time with Jenny:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdU9Et9m-W92picaryKs8mccPXcdhS_2khdXt_JphM9Qkp_qCFFzm-_ch0k1Lk9A1BP1O5wNNs5S4Z_h-QYRU78XMw4xB0THTiadyZCbknXrCvkvVNIKwxX43GXosNiYIo7rpPz4Hheo/s1600/P4290029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdU9Et9m-W92picaryKs8mccPXcdhS_2khdXt_JphM9Qkp_qCFFzm-_ch0k1Lk9A1BP1O5wNNs5S4Z_h-QYRU78XMw4xB0THTiadyZCbknXrCvkvVNIKwxX43GXosNiYIo7rpPz4Hheo/s320/P4290029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603537786247765954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhref="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O9DgPaD-kGK-2UonSr5HRDetObdK3qJyJc2b9MhSf2-cXzBHSn7tWP0RYn-dg6VlTN3C20LO58aDLPMNtw-5yZ_ut0SEG_kpyuragJpWHpDZjR0rHtPigqIMRZjY9ReK9WReb_3WXvo/s1600/P4290023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O9DgPaD-kGK-2UonSr5HRDetObdK3qJyJc2b9MhSf2-cXzBHSn7tWP0RYn-dg6VlTN3C20LO58aDLPMNtw-5yZ_ut0SEG_kpyuragJpWHpDZjR0rHtPigqIMRZjY9ReK9WReb_3WXvo/s320/P4290023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603537794679462882" /></a><br />We had an article published in the WWOOF Ireland newsletter recently which you can read via this link: <a href="http://www.wwoof.ie/sites/default/files/NewsletterSpring2011-4web.pdf">http://www.wwoof.ie/sites/default/files/NewsletterSpring2011-4web.pdf</a> Our article is on page 8, but there are also articles from a couple of our hosts elsewhere in the newsletter and one of our photos is used at the top of the first page!<br /><br />We’ve decided to keep the blog alive for the time being, concentrating on our allotment and sheep based activities and links to any interesting articles we come across, so do keep popping by – it won’t be updated quite so often as it was, but there will still be things to look at from time to time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjRbs7uGaimDQ6Loe_JLBewMGeUFAiHIX-qno7-Jd8oYgBgWSxmZdwJo71HLHslNUKNP0ndJJvkehBVtHcK1TZWp8GpJP4_IvglZbYmKIr4o0h2uyJCjFzYFvYvENcPSQQeDA7hdJ-OU/s1600/P4270015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjRbs7uGaimDQ6Loe_JLBewMGeUFAiHIX-qno7-Jd8oYgBgWSxmZdwJo71HLHslNUKNP0ndJJvkehBVtHcK1TZWp8GpJP4_IvglZbYmKIr4o0h2uyJCjFzYFvYvENcPSQQeDA7hdJ-OU/s320/P4270015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603537782658277138" /></a><br />Sheep news - As mentioned previously we finished up with 5 lambs, 3 girls and 2 boys, so to re-cap in order of age here’s what we have:<br /><br />Pawn had Liquorice (girl) and Noggin had Fudge (girl)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKR66cM1ym0QYMG8yoZGZvE6JTxGuDKGA-Qho1x0z4N4_xqKWnNQMImOvNPgwg1RkhmCmiobpvsZBzON_Mnwjrab3594kTQ0IycVHdVRBnpYtl1O9oLRZdcR82ZejcO_KnbxF6x0rXv0/s1600/P4210010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKR66cM1ym0QYMG8yoZGZvE6JTxGuDKGA-Qho1x0z4N4_xqKWnNQMImOvNPgwg1RkhmCmiobpvsZBzON_Mnwjrab3594kTQ0IycVHdVRBnpYtl1O9oLRZdcR82ZejcO_KnbxF6x0rXv0/s320/P4210010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603537779345095538" /></a><br />Petal had Humbug (boy) and Bonbon (girl)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4QD4n-4vd5TzzJZ5Lo8FOiuXA-6S6A4xd3xlHjwaYa_m2k7JJQdA4-Yz8yodmTAETKPX-nhp04ojzjRZpT4jxxShlXD0EybJawb4Cf9LJHS744HcwtukOyqxJToR9vmjH1OqNl3NvEw/s1600/P4270022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4QD4n-4vd5TzzJZ5Lo8FOiuXA-6S6A4xd3xlHjwaYa_m2k7JJQdA4-Yz8yodmTAETKPX-nhp04ojzjRZpT4jxxShlXD0EybJawb4Cf9LJHS744HcwtukOyqxJToR9vmjH1OqNl3NvEw/s320/P4270022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603536727916801602" /></a><br />Peppermint had Freddo (boy)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI2X2e79p_YqyAoC6bVuNfhgsMUydZtvmHoeLV3nqruinM8i-5bMV405HhR66KPzXuImtfNf2k5NFfOcin_zSSg2oimBGWC8xcdsgs9BVOz8bi_kURTOYAw-Og_o591bUZsuaV_ybpH4/s1600/P4270019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI2X2e79p_YqyAoC6bVuNfhgsMUydZtvmHoeLV3nqruinM8i-5bMV405HhR66KPzXuImtfNf2k5NFfOcin_zSSg2oimBGWC8xcdsgs9BVOz8bi_kURTOYAw-Og_o591bUZsuaV_ybpH4/s320/P4270019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603536721732335698" /></a><br />All are fit and well, we had a minor scare with Peppermint’s udder, one side being large and swolen but were reassured by Gareth (one of our neighbouring sheep farmers) that it was nothing serious, just that her lamb was only suckling from one side. He ‘stripped her out’ – ie milked the excess from the large side of her udder, and since then it seems ok and her lamb is now suckling from both sides. All the ewe’s have now been dagged – had any pooey bits of wool from around their back end removed to help lessen the risk of flystrike. They’ve also all had their feet trimmed. The little boys have been ringed (had castration rings applied) and we’ve tagged all the lambs.<br /><br />We’ve been very busy on the allotment since we got back to Bristol, we’ve given our shed a complete make-over, painted and re-felted.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwi7oXwGMw3vp9BrHVCghnJhdD0H42gXviQFZcKDVEcXlMEfA3EC87_Y9k17EW6tFONlw4l_fToM_LIfLYIe72NcflfYyjnUuLVQNtSNPc5w2BhyCU3dHOves2KC8JgXzDiavycCjFJQ/s1600/P4300033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwi7oXwGMw3vp9BrHVCghnJhdD0H42gXviQFZcKDVEcXlMEfA3EC87_Y9k17EW6tFONlw4l_fToM_LIfLYIe72NcflfYyjnUuLVQNtSNPc5w2BhyCU3dHOves2KC8JgXzDiavycCjFJQ/s320/P4300033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603536716948841970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK46WrLFEXSaxDaK4pkw7GCpxcu6_bXtxim-lR-DYO9Grgv3-lSOt3LFcyajYMdFddgwsHgaeVwfa-6nnpW5i5LOmvI_fvohA9-Auaqnd7XOeRf76lEbEA85LJnfGTXepnlhF3FdXhInM/s1600/P5030041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK46WrLFEXSaxDaK4pkw7GCpxcu6_bXtxim-lR-DYO9Grgv3-lSOt3LFcyajYMdFddgwsHgaeVwfa-6nnpW5i5LOmvI_fvohA9-Auaqnd7XOeRf76lEbEA85LJnfGTXepnlhF3FdXhInM/s320/P5030041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603536710623614130" /></a><br />And along with lots of weeding and a few bits of landscaping we’ve sown lots of different seeds and planted out various seedlings that we planted earlier in the year. At some point soon I will post up a detailed plan of everything we are growing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsK75i_tHOO0RTRrnCoz0iXDCMrDbSPxs9hUKS4Mks60z9AJostppM2c3q2nB0SEFeDR8R-QMUXS8o03HJLTDp2cIXjJOHAmKS_pIr4fVJfe4o7_mVPs-ZDjhWEB1Wrzz6lzf-2Cv7UY/s1600/P5030051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsK75i_tHOO0RTRrnCoz0iXDCMrDbSPxs9hUKS4Mks60z9AJostppM2c3q2nB0SEFeDR8R-QMUXS8o03HJLTDp2cIXjJOHAmKS_pIr4fVJfe4o7_mVPs-ZDjhWEB1Wrzz6lzf-2Cv7UY/s320/P5030051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603536706214664866" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-48038873485440595622011-04-25T11:45:00.003+01:002011-04-25T11:48:07.172+01:00Lambing season now over!Petal had twins - one boy, one girl, and Peppermint has had a boy. Final lambing percentage 125%, not bad for a first season:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTayuVHMBEMDEiPKxQCowtQBHCjGiIlosa9caXPLnvynyYDym8DCW8wQOxhWYY3OIlFtEmWGwsopbCjUS3_F_VIKDJSZHPxn-LjO-H7JgV4zp5oSRk2TZlT4sMm-rtwoW6htwDbIAwrI/s1600/Image027%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTayuVHMBEMDEiPKxQCowtQBHCjGiIlosa9caXPLnvynyYDym8DCW8wQOxhWYY3OIlFtEmWGwsopbCjUS3_F_VIKDJSZHPxn-LjO-H7JgV4zp5oSRk2TZlT4sMm-rtwoW6htwDbIAwrI/s320/Image027%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599470655879514738" /></a><br /><br />A more detailed account will appear once we've finished moving to Bristol!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-77274809287107305612011-04-18T18:20:00.004+01:002011-04-18T18:28:47.071+01:00Noggy Noggy Noggy......SPROG SPROG SPROG!<br /><br />Yesterday evening it was Noggin's turn! Another ewe lamb, a bit smaller than Pawn's but with quite different markings.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zWOMhG4RW-vxrHIkR1EeRlEzzHwA4eOVBsLzVMzp0F26NgXd8VZPBX4Ggycc3lqmpkaCfMEv6zHdNozN8i7Hr4DAN22BuAi-5jFkj7OPAsSVIY-_AswcRCC8ZTvBSkn_SSZFAiDIho/s1600/P4180175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zWOMhG4RW-vxrHIkR1EeRlEzzHwA4eOVBsLzVMzp0F26NgXd8VZPBX4Ggycc3lqmpkaCfMEv6zHdNozN8i7Hr4DAN22BuAi-5jFkj7OPAsSVIY-_AswcRCC8ZTvBSkn_SSZFAiDIho/s320/P4180175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596975907029105154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizd5P6GjV4weESC13nJYjUFVp4YiSF6Rd7OczU-ktX1oEDPVohURr8wBLP6Cs_fQRsBnA8x-4T8Flaphs3zhIVV4wAe71ZUMCqE5Q2UW_R7cCjqHfPNOl2ygLGHWRBC9tJhgWubskK3wU/s1600/P4180180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizd5P6GjV4weESC13nJYjUFVp4YiSF6Rd7OczU-ktX1oEDPVohURr8wBLP6Cs_fQRsBnA8x-4T8Flaphs3zhIVV4wAe71ZUMCqE5Q2UW_R7cCjqHfPNOl2ygLGHWRBC9tJhgWubskK3wU/s320/P4180180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596975895304462690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JBLc0cjDIdNhZk7aJ8EBMyGrt2K55ILzGjLxbbdo2eaJ5HHxbUiqM6amTpAcxfMmGBU0mHu1GBgREIlKkoSI3vSiLsGC092kwdPr4qPR4fMqXDULw0932OC9nOoyQNdMwfNWq7eETzY/s1600/P4180182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JBLc0cjDIdNhZk7aJ8EBMyGrt2K55ILzGjLxbbdo2eaJ5HHxbUiqM6amTpAcxfMmGBU0mHu1GBgREIlKkoSI3vSiLsGC092kwdPr4qPR4fMqXDULw0932OC9nOoyQNdMwfNWq7eETzY/s320/P4180182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596975894255250146" /></a><br />Up close and personal as Noggin has her feet trimmed...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUujiVmwt8tI7EthOvnxVtCR3UsOX9-YslrMsnF0Z_Rl_il8W2pvLKbYG6IJ53d6TPsbLHbnBWWlGRrE1RmYCob9Y_O5kPD3mo6UUE4uVC-Gh3jiKLXSPioH9EZyLhjfnKiPD08Z5lyU/s1600/P4180189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUujiVmwt8tI7EthOvnxVtCR3UsOX9-YslrMsnF0Z_Rl_il8W2pvLKbYG6IJ53d6TPsbLHbnBWWlGRrE1RmYCob9Y_O5kPD3mo6UUE4uVC-Gh3jiKLXSPioH9EZyLhjfnKiPD08Z5lyU/s320/P4180189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596975888927204370" /></a><br />And Laura has a quick cuddle!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-62736708691034472612011-04-16T17:03:00.007+01:002011-04-16T17:14:52.174+01:00Ladies and Gentlemen, this is LAMBO number one!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB_xpVg655tanEYHpx0hXKsRntmbFzwsCnwK2o9EECuHS1visw1rH-GkyqnEZSwkLPmlcKX0lNC3p0QxqOMGgAWIM1gv-Ly0ipBl3IvxMr_fpnB3IQa1UoH_NnYhS3is79KHQhitD5-M/s1600/P4160159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB_xpVg655tanEYHpx0hXKsRntmbFzwsCnwK2o9EECuHS1visw1rH-GkyqnEZSwkLPmlcKX0lNC3p0QxqOMGgAWIM1gv-Ly0ipBl3IvxMr_fpnB3IQa1UoH_NnYhS3is79KHQhitD5-M/s320/P4160159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596213855685857234" /></a><br />A very exciting day for everyone today, after two weeks of patient waiting from the due date, early this morning Pawn produced our very first lamb - a beautiful, gambolling girl, black with a little white tuft on her head. We are all very pleased with their progress!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbEC5H3tBwdzsmoFQLO62zlhYUYTZkWrp0PtKPmPfO77f8_p4BtXL91LwpnJGBWxBqLF8tPeetlL-yiHPhktIN-ojy1nqKzZ7j7am36CfTfk4qvi0M9nUWHkrR5sOV1TiWoaEG9VGDHs/s1600/P4160167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbEC5H3tBwdzsmoFQLO62zlhYUYTZkWrp0PtKPmPfO77f8_p4BtXL91LwpnJGBWxBqLF8tPeetlL-yiHPhktIN-ojy1nqKzZ7j7am36CfTfk4qvi0M9nUWHkrR5sOV1TiWoaEG9VGDHs/s320/P4160167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596213865205262498" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k2jA7pkcN75s8RQ9BTq4HbP36c8UuFuYqpdcCBdutbJvUOY6NCj1x26ccsYmNrWPwBDMLENQZRcIbPm-DiL5ejDeUul3wGwHwVJ03HP3tpF5rwoKrkWDR-oNksYcEPfqqEnRIQtT3eA/s1600/P4160169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k2jA7pkcN75s8RQ9BTq4HbP36c8UuFuYqpdcCBdutbJvUOY6NCj1x26ccsYmNrWPwBDMLENQZRcIbPm-DiL5ejDeUul3wGwHwVJ03HP3tpF5rwoKrkWDR-oNksYcEPfqqEnRIQtT3eA/s320/P4160169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596213870721638786" /></a><br /><br />Peppermint and Petal are bagging up nicely - so hopefully there will be more exciting lamb news to come very soon...LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-84724398278587489932011-04-13T17:27:00.001+01:002011-04-13T17:27:56.310+01:00Help smash the systemLINK:<a href="http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/2011/02/eight-steps-back-to-the-land-2/">Why not become a farmer?</a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-90788708582973869942011-04-12T13:14:00.006+01:002011-04-12T13:49:30.100+01:00Back where we started…It’s now over a year since we packed up our desks and flat and moved out of Bristol ready to start our WWOOFing adventures. Funnily enough we are back at the first farm we WWOOFed at, almost a year ago, Smiling Tree Farm. This time there is no WWOOFing involved however, just a well deserved 2 weeks of relaxed farm-sitting, recuperating after our 3 ½ hard working weeks of lambing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuH8jj1ERQr9zbtLkf5Ys0L_-rdHngbzya_rELdBMh7poRzOo43y6Wnhz38sHTB6D_6gKN-Lj1Zz8WWrNUmdpestWaBurbuTCUG_8L8CS3VNBjSrmVJ14adZqXIg_4_fK668UQ9eT5co/s1600/P3290052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuH8jj1ERQr9zbtLkf5Ys0L_-rdHngbzya_rELdBMh7poRzOo43y6Wnhz38sHTB6D_6gKN-Lj1Zz8WWrNUmdpestWaBurbuTCUG_8L8CS3VNBjSrmVJ14adZqXIg_4_fK668UQ9eT5co/s320/P3290052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675917776088898" /></a><br />So, as predicted at the end of the last proper blog, a lot more lambs were to come! They soon came thick and fast, perhaps encouraged by the beautiful weather that we were blessed with. A little too early in fact as over 30 lambed in the fields before we had time to move them to the barns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYa8kTJ5sgI4m9w0d48t7-tm-DmlTYdmWVfVJseZmRQ15yJHVzEoFbPsPDJskGqzqHzONBPC-Oy3jrW5TgX8Id2PHPmEi0Ba-l0u2VzL2qxZZybfzJ6thdOA0iRCJQ1cmOp4EvmY5wTPY/s1600/P3230040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYa8kTJ5sgI4m9w0d48t7-tm-DmlTYdmWVfVJseZmRQ15yJHVzEoFbPsPDJskGqzqHzONBPC-Oy3jrW5TgX8Id2PHPmEi0Ba-l0u2VzL2qxZZybfzJ6thdOA0iRCJQ1cmOp4EvmY5wTPY/s320/P3230040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675176926133394" /></a><br /> Luckily Ollie came to help out for a long weekend and helped us move the sheep and prepare the barns amongst many other jobs. Katy and Dan also paid us a visit that weekend and were really helpful preparing pens ready for all the new arrivals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZIrcQsI3jJ9dO1YJ2QU7-UoinebVf775JvQuZzO_JKb0O0UMKbIxVekMOjOQsHLDIQS5Ck-3L-YV_IgSAxbVpkM08HZf-rMv3a2-WxhintrPq43QBEur2h16KuLqlCwII_FAfcP7dSg/s1600/P4010061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZIrcQsI3jJ9dO1YJ2QU7-UoinebVf775JvQuZzO_JKb0O0UMKbIxVekMOjOQsHLDIQS5Ck-3L-YV_IgSAxbVpkM08HZf-rMv3a2-WxhintrPq43QBEur2h16KuLqlCwII_FAfcP7dSg/s320/P4010061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675175784796994" /></a><br />It was our busiest time on the farm so unfortunately we didn’t see them all that much, Matt in particular who did his epic 08.30 until 23.30 shift with only a few short breaks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU_MxWVf6cciKDQ98N8HSA7jMTiK6P6dIyoedQqmWyMD_hIGt7kdryjZ8X_lf3XDn1qWUduxLTcrB6u8EMMUTyzkGoqYXUZHQanLCk-G_XwytSZWzkWaN4rBjszlvldtd-51o6oyC8F0/s1600/P4010059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU_MxWVf6cciKDQ98N8HSA7jMTiK6P6dIyoedQqmWyMD_hIGt7kdryjZ8X_lf3XDn1qWUduxLTcrB6u8EMMUTyzkGoqYXUZHQanLCk-G_XwytSZWzkWaN4rBjszlvldtd-51o6oyC8F0/s320/P4010059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675166625328210" /></a><br />We soon slipped into a routine: <br />1. Feed/hay/water ewes in all 3 yards plus those in pens and nursery pens <br />2. Second breakfast<br />3. Moving ewes and 2/3 day old lambs from the nursery pen to the field <br />4. Taking the ewes with lambs that looked healthy and robust from their individual pen and preparing the ewe to be “turned out” into the nursery pen which involves: clipping the wool around her bottom to deter flystrike (dagging), clipping hooves so they don’t over-grow or encourage foot rot,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CsNoG6ibBKGnerGIXf6bwveo19jH29DKuRFI84nKIHIAXdCNkicDs-epeGCarwOQLxBpF-UUyXKPQ5Nbr3lqUTCKd6yjwPtrCJom9uDAek0AcP-fETKBesfTK3pE6NutXwlEeKGhPTE/s1600/P3290045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CsNoG6ibBKGnerGIXf6bwveo19jH29DKuRFI84nKIHIAXdCNkicDs-epeGCarwOQLxBpF-UUyXKPQ5Nbr3lqUTCKd6yjwPtrCJom9uDAek0AcP-fETKBesfTK3pE6NutXwlEeKGhPTE/s320/P3290045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675168454859890" /></a><br />giving ewe a delicious drink of wormer, spraying lambs with an “S” for single or 2 of the same number/letter/symbol/smiley face if we got bored etc if twins<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMOQv7V_2y5TYcziF5SGHIKW-Ir7IW94x83QGaQN6LilP2Euz1KhmszZ2rZsZKn-lRLd8mRxSrtCIt_-whnKqE1WycNdPI_F3tKlSbcrrL5gBwnGefPrTNJipTCqPexiDpioO1YpzW54/s1600/P4010088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMOQv7V_2y5TYcziF5SGHIKW-Ir7IW94x83QGaQN6LilP2Euz1KhmszZ2rZsZKn-lRLd8mRxSrtCIt_-whnKqE1WycNdPI_F3tKlSbcrrL5gBwnGefPrTNJipTCqPexiDpioO1YpzW54/s320/P4010088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594675166088076706" /></a><br />Matt was king of these jobs and thoroughly enjoyed wrestling with the hefty ewes, getting them onto their backs to clip their hooves, I didn’t hear a swearword once.<br />5. Preparing pen for next family<br />6. Ringing lambs (tail docking and castrating – my speciality!)<br />7. Feed again<br />8. Check ewes<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKob5JrEhyphenhyphenFCxxz-GYJoCVR5ymAMQ9CeRf2bJZsWowQulgKVUGnRU-1xDU2H8iGY6hnHljklYJY_CqcOgG5NQcGlymCVNSmA4adh-41LXiPzoSlr0m4LHZXhS13YK7MBKVzkN3Zm8TD0/s1600/P4010087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKob5JrEhyphenhyphenFCxxz-GYJoCVR5ymAMQ9CeRf2bJZsWowQulgKVUGnRU-1xDU2H8iGY6hnHljklYJY_CqcOgG5NQcGlymCVNSmA4adh-41LXiPzoSlr0m4LHZXhS13YK7MBKVzkN3Zm8TD0/s320/P4010087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594673262572038130" /></a><br />Meanwhile you had an eye on each of the yards looking out for any ewes that might just be trying to pop out a lambo, checking to see if they were coming out the right way (front feet first with nose right behind) and in the event of seeing just a head, catching the ewe and sticking a hand up (another of my specialities!) to see if we could sort it out without calling on Martin. Then there was the checking on each of the pens as we went past to make sure all lambs looked healthy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K5bd_HqFS0bDSrka3GdthJyLqRPv6WhZbFtcmcDB5cSGHdYhUZLJedHKZgOHT9hs7UVuJcI0cixOHXt8VNa6_gr8YE1qQc0oKYeXHtRIJHWanRwKX7kXLI57v-cEzEyZkgxi6r4-aPA/s1600/P4010060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K5bd_HqFS0bDSrka3GdthJyLqRPv6WhZbFtcmcDB5cSGHdYhUZLJedHKZgOHT9hs7UVuJcI0cixOHXt8VNa6_gr8YE1qQc0oKYeXHtRIJHWanRwKX7kXLI57v-cEzEyZkgxi6r4-aPA/s320/P4010060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594673257320290850" /></a><br />And moving each new family when ready to a personal pen with all luxuries included. And that was just the daytime! We were checking the sheep every few hours in the evenings too up until midnight. I do remember the absurdity of running round at 1am trying to locate a spare triplet by torchlight that could be a candidate for fostering onto a ewe who had just lost one of her twins. Or trying to sort out some hilarious mis-mothering incident where 1 ewe appears to have 4 lambs and another none – not at all frustrating when all you want to do is collapse into bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoD4rCaZZXZw1SZjm7Dtzxx_ko52HNSU8Lu_5SrCtIeohRCUq-hL411hpl22TWLGcmFU66V4huNFcpBZKcavY69zGAk1uuPZH-sNTytrJusJpEJ-MFXXCE7SHTlJalVjFgonZFEsd4tM/s1600/P4060116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoD4rCaZZXZw1SZjm7Dtzxx_ko52HNSU8Lu_5SrCtIeohRCUq-hL411hpl22TWLGcmFU66V4huNFcpBZKcavY69zGAk1uuPZH-sNTytrJusJpEJ-MFXXCE7SHTlJalVjFgonZFEsd4tM/s320/P4060116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594673256987093090" /></a><br />One of our farm mobiles before ‘someone’ left the handbreak off and it drove itself down a hill and into a stone wall...it looked pretty much the same before the crash I might add!<br /><br />It was an intense 3 ½ weeks, we learnt so much working with Martin and Chris, we got little sleep, we had bad days but some incredibly good days and now I miss the ewes and think I am getting withdrawal symptoms from staring at sheep’s backsides! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5-_awnkOABtiaam6Y4mDA8U39nhCDiWKXe2Yo8z37h8qwVuGYb388OMAruaKLJ8eg0yumZdNTTOlJyGl8weAaVbBOsILPNrfVtqBE7jAUJGLJHt-UqxihczEfK4ptVXhdJwMPjrD9CE/s1600/P4070123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5-_awnkOABtiaam6Y4mDA8U39nhCDiWKXe2Yo8z37h8qwVuGYb388OMAruaKLJ8eg0yumZdNTTOlJyGl8weAaVbBOsILPNrfVtqBE7jAUJGLJHt-UqxihczEfK4ptVXhdJwMPjrD9CE/s320/P4070123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594673251290363634" /></a><br />Luckily we have come back up to Shropshire to farm-sit, as I said, as well as be on call in the event that one of our 4 ewes decide to give birth, any moment now! They appear incredibly small and manageable after working with Martin’s ewes, in fact Matt’s thoroughly looking forward to clipping their hooves! We’re enjoying our new routine too:<br />1. Cup of tea<br />2. Feed Flapjack and Squeak (cats), Little Bear (boar), Dotty (sow) and her piglets, Dilys and her other teenage piggy friends,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0lcYcHE95gsTFKMNntQsOxkVX5R24lGMZn7YBBRgyzNomMcrvnJkzIi6LJm9nnakKV3AcOx2V1TZW68EPBqZzBbfDDWspp2Kt9VZ8HQvP-5th7MVFLQtpgJk6EOAg8498OCDMtFDQwY/s1600/P4120147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0lcYcHE95gsTFKMNntQsOxkVX5R24lGMZn7YBBRgyzNomMcrvnJkzIi6LJm9nnakKV3AcOx2V1TZW68EPBqZzBbfDDWspp2Kt9VZ8HQvP-5th7MVFLQtpgJk6EOAg8498OCDMtFDQwY/s320/P4120147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594673249733640034" /></a><br />Yolander the Shetland sheep and her friends,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4oZ4xDPwFm-Wja6vTIDt5nnZ4jzQTdG6eZF48llT3mfdmO4tl7qtINl2PAlmxP11Cwh3CtRQZ02xuKvMInBtJpCaY4_seUoEGdkJzaiGm8tZokuSSq7kXExyeIL3GwplEbrvNIQjqRk/s1600/P4120150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4oZ4xDPwFm-Wja6vTIDt5nnZ4jzQTdG6eZF48llT3mfdmO4tl7qtINl2PAlmxP11Cwh3CtRQZ02xuKvMInBtJpCaY4_seUoEGdkJzaiGm8tZokuSSq7kXExyeIL3GwplEbrvNIQjqRk/s320/P4120150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594670626693093762" /></a><br />say hello to Marmalade and Lollipop (jersey cows)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aiAODOOYANa66lxwcs2jlaKGvy8gJqKfV7N7vbhB1q_Q15XeAsSG9tJ3bop3GxmUGC52WujpHF97s4Rtto31nF-cwkaQj9n1U-qyJZPLPrnV1uRS2FqjPmE9NqnOehXy5r2ejONgnx0/s1600/P4120134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aiAODOOYANa66lxwcs2jlaKGvy8gJqKfV7N7vbhB1q_Q15XeAsSG9tJ3bop3GxmUGC52WujpHF97s4Rtto31nF-cwkaQj9n1U-qyJZPLPrnV1uRS2FqjPmE9NqnOehXy5r2ejONgnx0/s320/P4120134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594670625568426146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrAueGE3SirhvWKgCqWvRWDtycrClWbjdeBWGdJyw0AcD-7B2fN-a250U-Cqw0l0uxMvtykMyFqlofK_L0_O5hJdE3QbQo0plHB5Z5tpn4IhJz8w_G72zobHgcOPHPv3V6uxEjsUENo/s1600/P4120136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrAueGE3SirhvWKgCqWvRWDtycrClWbjdeBWGdJyw0AcD-7B2fN-a250U-Cqw0l0uxMvtykMyFqlofK_L0_O5hJdE3QbQo0plHB5Z5tpn4IhJz8w_G72zobHgcOPHPv3V6uxEjsUENo/s320/P4120136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594670621376183538" /></a><br />3. Breakfast<br />4. Chill, relax, eat, walk, read, phone for news on our ewes, go out for day, do a small job<br />5. Feed Dotty and piglets<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxrgsPZ9KKKqMD2xUKVYVz2xkbqdoxxwaI4tpMOhI81XQeotWmh4yq6dCguRrrzSYApRRvz2SxBroCEVsqQFeWiND0wocva1kdTTBVn7taBQWNQqZ-G321RYssxxE482weHMZZ2M3rI/s1600/P4120144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxrgsPZ9KKKqMD2xUKVYVz2xkbqdoxxwaI4tpMOhI81XQeotWmh4yq6dCguRrrzSYApRRvz2SxBroCEVsqQFeWiND0wocva1kdTTBVn7taBQWNQqZ-G321RYssxxE482weHMZZ2M3rI/s320/P4120144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594670617426366002" /></a><br />6. Collect eggs, check on chicklets<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Wet_RXaAIV_aHLsO1DxcVaG3Mi5We4M72wOgv84AC6zPs5NeSXvDU1z8AfpgI8hO_7dIa-2H3LtDSEXWIYgfYBHV7bDmayz5UazIvyO8QGrlsV5VKLVSb0tDwcY9lCYNCQlvdHW5m4M/s1600/P4120155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Wet_RXaAIV_aHLsO1DxcVaG3Mi5We4M72wOgv84AC6zPs5NeSXvDU1z8AfpgI8hO_7dIa-2H3LtDSEXWIYgfYBHV7bDmayz5UazIvyO8QGrlsV5VKLVSb0tDwcY9lCYNCQlvdHW5m4M/s320/P4120155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594670611989756322" /></a><br />7. Eat, go to bed before half past midnight, ooh the luxury!<br /><br />Stay tuned for more lambing news, hopefully very soon.LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-87830485512500072702011-04-10T20:09:00.002+01:002011-04-10T20:11:14.519+01:00Scilly v JerseyLINK: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/10/isles-of-scilly-jersey-warmest-britain">Isles of Scilly turn heat on Jersey over 'warmest place in Britain' claim</a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-47442850228125823352011-04-02T10:29:00.002+01:002011-04-02T10:36:36.215+01:00Not for the faint hearted!We've been working flat out for the last week, lambs popping out everywhere... Too tired for a proper blog, but a picture paints a thousand words! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVzfPNwWOLe4S7J6Ee2FyWO177t9NKI4GRCSRFMVmD9P6ovXYb2NbvwCFj98XNXoaimgqBw56twyrBTzuao_oIUSo5A0HrgqLBCSbqhhBEFrJQOfqNd3zh8bYixZ2sqw6HRJSsAxsIqg/s1600/P4010071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVzfPNwWOLe4S7J6Ee2FyWO177t9NKI4GRCSRFMVmD9P6ovXYb2NbvwCFj98XNXoaimgqBw56twyrBTzuao_oIUSo5A0HrgqLBCSbqhhBEFrJQOfqNd3zh8bYixZ2sqw6HRJSsAxsIqg/s320/P4010071.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917368971005506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9AC3JrEPHXqsv3xaW4xIXIOWwA7dAUWyEvmxg_WW57ktf0VH1bWaWCbxLA8RMCbQtgOSqbye-ag7tKIDu1WQFmaxC-OSYOnDXV_t21O0X45l-WVftepVqljNJElnMd1gHUcZBS4IVZM/s1600/P4010076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9AC3JrEPHXqsv3xaW4xIXIOWwA7dAUWyEvmxg_WW57ktf0VH1bWaWCbxLA8RMCbQtgOSqbye-ag7tKIDu1WQFmaxC-OSYOnDXV_t21O0X45l-WVftepVqljNJElnMd1gHUcZBS4IVZM/s320/P4010076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917363643216642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRukeBEeix97LnFeDG2Td861Tannl94T5pLbsh8xiI47Efl1R1Hs9xoSUM_LzPb2p-smxpQrPHVeooWbLG20I-teHc8fPKZDS17c0gp_JM66lZN4bivw-Vw2DNj6oJz5IhxtPFDKK18qI/s1600/P4010077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRukeBEeix97LnFeDG2Td861Tannl94T5pLbsh8xiI47Efl1R1Hs9xoSUM_LzPb2p-smxpQrPHVeooWbLG20I-teHc8fPKZDS17c0gp_JM66lZN4bivw-Vw2DNj6oJz5IhxtPFDKK18qI/s320/P4010077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917041514649570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ROrGtc5Yq-G8NxbGFGvFX3KcH5AHuRHygm7q4uCBBctUqZ1AkscdJivnY7u2R-MKagsNpT2Z91S8Ld6XTriq871IW4NxjJwgqoyM4Nwsk28BXUGsguI6-2rikJ2I1iA44pMmxZBN54s/s1600/P4010078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ROrGtc5Yq-G8NxbGFGvFX3KcH5AHuRHygm7q4uCBBctUqZ1AkscdJivnY7u2R-MKagsNpT2Z91S8Ld6XTriq871IW4NxjJwgqoyM4Nwsk28BXUGsguI6-2rikJ2I1iA44pMmxZBN54s/s320/P4010078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917031455076514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR_ziIjP9msJRT6-uhHlslDbgnlBP4YxJUmVyV0Yr0hR43xFP4yKSsiqHg57nOf1429Y9XoxGu7OebtLf_hN7K6T35Uxm39BhSJRLqRBpXM9xcAgyDUxFwCC2Yle4-GJt49KNy10y0ls/s1600/P4010079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR_ziIjP9msJRT6-uhHlslDbgnlBP4YxJUmVyV0Yr0hR43xFP4yKSsiqHg57nOf1429Y9XoxGu7OebtLf_hN7K6T35Uxm39BhSJRLqRBpXM9xcAgyDUxFwCC2Yle4-GJt49KNy10y0ls/s320/P4010079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917028363203938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6xt0bSUD3gUXbVCBqKe6XfjkNZvjqStcqh97yXXA1FZz5lHrRhCdgZG7Tu1tFH26dtgMsnHbPCTkPlXxzypNp6onwSbKWTA4OE-PidRZUZoQ3dhKTYm26E_evdVRqv9_8D4SxSXWsZg/s1600/P4010081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6xt0bSUD3gUXbVCBqKe6XfjkNZvjqStcqh97yXXA1FZz5lHrRhCdgZG7Tu1tFH26dtgMsnHbPCTkPlXxzypNp6onwSbKWTA4OE-PidRZUZoQ3dhKTYm26E_evdVRqv9_8D4SxSXWsZg/s320/P4010081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917027229702994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7wfZXDh-H5VZmFV7HRdP0ZYGa-hCGfion2UEbN37JQtg14ij1peTT74FkflEsSgvAm1v1KZrHpxkI4ijyQipTwpeUQLcs_bf8QrOp5tJvhiJbkm1OYb5an89nGJZwIxMdfJBD2AtawI/s1600/P4010084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7wfZXDh-H5VZmFV7HRdP0ZYGa-hCGfion2UEbN37JQtg14ij1peTT74FkflEsSgvAm1v1KZrHpxkI4ijyQipTwpeUQLcs_bf8QrOp5tJvhiJbkm1OYb5an89nGJZwIxMdfJBD2AtawI/s320/P4010084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590917024095466914" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-91844836477330180682011-03-23T19:16:00.004+00:002011-03-23T19:25:09.575+00:00Macaroni DownsTime continues to whiz past towards the inevitable… Just over a month of freedom left!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNcvDdBaMs1kecWuI1ILo-7PQnAwqAr201jaho8e2FlZMEoOv9CpjewpbA8Pn7doE5dxMn31ISyXVyiSBhevqYpy3N6iejUSWtoA5xRDOuVrsgTYr1-Hq7b-mguNyNIjs4JfEWUBLj34/s1600/P3110012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNcvDdBaMs1kecWuI1ILo-7PQnAwqAr201jaho8e2FlZMEoOv9CpjewpbA8Pn7doE5dxMn31ISyXVyiSBhevqYpy3N6iejUSWtoA5xRDOuVrsgTYr1-Hq7b-mguNyNIjs4JfEWUBLj34/s320/P3110012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587357473279074946" /></a><br />Since the last blog we have spent some time in Bristol getting the allotment ship shape and, er, Bristol fashion I suppose! Spring is officially in the air. The new half has been released from its plastic restraints, beaten into shape and given lots of lovely manure. The pond has been re-laid with new liner – so hopefully no leaks this time. And various things have been popped into the ground; a new strawberry patch now reigns where our compost used to sit, potatoes have been planted optimistically early and covered in a blankety bed of fleece, onion sets, parsnip seeds, a second sowing of broad beans all in and raring to grow. The hungry gap is closing at last.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FR2IAPUKtew0r637a4wd3xvnzH7ftFlpv3SIs5Qoob1OsL30XSvv654ZNsIk5CvQgSr40ff8Wdg3IiZvnmv2riyyFv67VBKkwSgwk4UHWXv_h3KMODDt19ggwVnlrJyhMiXWUJIdLoI/s1600/P3110010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FR2IAPUKtew0r637a4wd3xvnzH7ftFlpv3SIs5Qoob1OsL30XSvv654ZNsIk5CvQgSr40ff8Wdg3IiZvnmv2riyyFv67VBKkwSgwk4UHWXv_h3KMODDt19ggwVnlrJyhMiXWUJIdLoI/s320/P3110010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587357480860158914" /></a><br />For the last week we have been at Macaroni Downs Farm in Gloucestershire, helping Martin Squire with preparations for lambing to begin. We’ve been feeding sheep, building pens and fences and doing a spot of dry stone walling. Non-sheep related activities have included some tractor driving and bedding down the cows on a daily basis.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRXZTTvo6Ty9cots9Ry3Q7V1y9xWny8UkN1i9htT6wsno4Ewr8a-kRLf9GqO4AZDrXCrc5BwOiRzH2dVhIuhIjCNg4wwiPtBDHof32f1W7H4zEXlMF_hmcBvDul14dd8TKz3-4MiZdA8/s1600/P3200023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRXZTTvo6Ty9cots9Ry3Q7V1y9xWny8UkN1i9htT6wsno4Ewr8a-kRLf9GqO4AZDrXCrc5BwOiRzH2dVhIuhIjCNg4wwiPtBDHof32f1W7H4zEXlMF_hmcBvDul14dd8TKz3-4MiZdA8/s320/P3200023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587357496955655266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2n8EqZqXSjrjSCON05XgxZIuQzQ8_LjGStvzj1pxx5YYHOizfuxe3pnqY5ttXECZ3YC39oHx7w5moioGHWIYeIrYpa8QzM3QZYQAaUNsXlJRNpH9SdSKm9an7h65lddaToiC5vOhP7o/s1600/P3170002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2n8EqZqXSjrjSCON05XgxZIuQzQ8_LjGStvzj1pxx5YYHOizfuxe3pnqY5ttXECZ3YC39oHx7w5moioGHWIYeIrYpa8QzM3QZYQAaUNsXlJRNpH9SdSKm9an7h65lddaToiC5vOhP7o/s320/P3170002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587357483362055122" /></a><br />We have had lots of visitors already - Parents, Aunts and Uncles, and we’ve just had a great weekend with Natalia, Phil and Kelly paying us a visit from Bristol, cooking up the most delicious food and helping us finish a few bottles of wine!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabvOc6prRb2LFXwxMObiUvvDfXbrVK4NVXBJgsKo4c6eUXjkdc8HasnkPa67V2r-QSNgOqOz3cPVQkRn1Z5suzU9vsgKYPUIXk05xx4mcoaqVfzOidsATIv3ddgajo4XRBCwWWdikHg8/s1600/P3190019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabvOc6prRb2LFXwxMObiUvvDfXbrVK4NVXBJgsKo4c6eUXjkdc8HasnkPa67V2r-QSNgOqOz3cPVQkRn1Z5suzU9vsgKYPUIXk05xx4mcoaqVfzOidsATIv3ddgajo4XRBCwWWdikHg8/s320/P3190019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587358276529414082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhJ5N_Np_Oo4b7ejwhh7AEhi-LxlMMjJ_LOXVCCcomA8iP_YcBuJ0N73-nGR01gJr5490BqPNYS9dWOr16WXB-Rq4aHoPane_jLbQO-fMlMWL6-8X-JZIR3PPrikpm2GxJTiP9GYptlo/s1600/P3200025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhJ5N_Np_Oo4b7ejwhh7AEhi-LxlMMjJ_LOXVCCcomA8iP_YcBuJ0N73-nGR01gJr5490BqPNYS9dWOr16WXB-Rq4aHoPane_jLbQO-fMlMWL6-8X-JZIR3PPrikpm2GxJTiP9GYptlo/s320/P3200025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587357503365992434" /></a><br />The first few lambkins are now starting to arrive, I think at the time of writing we’ve had about a fifteen or so. Martin has around 200 pregnant ewes so soon there will be a lot more. We’ve had a go at applying castration rings to the boy lambs, something that we will be getting a lot more practice at over the next few weeks (and we need it!). We’ve also started doing late night patrols of the field and are gearing up to bringing the sheep all into the barns. Sunday evening we got our first taste of blood and juices as we helped Martin deliver a couple of awkwardly positioned lambs. And Monday night our patrol ended rather late as we spotted a ewe in distress – with a little head poking out of her back end… After much trouble catching her (eventually with four of us in pursuit) as she was surprisingly fit and managed to wind-up the whole flock too - finally on Tuesday morning at 12.30am we had her cornered and both of us got properly involved and successfully delivered the twins (one each!) that needed a bit of help in finding the right position to pop out of their womb (the juices are lovely and warm in case you were wondering!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4B5iPaSLmBquY1fy-PNJU90j4c0v72GtfLi2HV8_tvwfu-OJ25abulQjgEdyEM0jP72pWS4fyPq7IcDg6XdxdVmwwxceMP1qivo4bIsAuZYUksPZp3vu2NKBgerOQOGo18cyUBw9F5Y/s1600/P3220034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4B5iPaSLmBquY1fy-PNJU90j4c0v72GtfLi2HV8_tvwfu-OJ25abulQjgEdyEM0jP72pWS4fyPq7IcDg6XdxdVmwwxceMP1qivo4bIsAuZYUksPZp3vu2NKBgerOQOGo18cyUBw9F5Y/s320/P3220034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587358277250119106" /></a><br />Our twins with mother relaxing after their late night ordeal!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-86985333181243029062011-03-12T16:19:00.000+00:002011-03-12T16:20:29.342+00:00Famous for 5 minutes!Follow this link: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2011/mar/12/readers-pictures-extinguish">and take a look at photo 8!</a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-5109854601889073222011-03-07T11:44:00.004+00:002011-03-07T11:59:45.702+00:00Scilly daysOur last week in Scilly flew past, as a few work days were rained off though we weren’t denied our usual Fri-‘moving cows in the rain’-day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNo7xtQvbWI3u4esvbfzf-q6kRxeC490C6JC2sAuXZeQxiB6lEw7WDjw46NSn4E3R3gbYh8COCFQqFviHkNihofwmTcaevyc6VRdKo61sbw9Hsa-olVfRlePjCKfZG2kPSKWMhBV2BRg/s1600/P2250094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNo7xtQvbWI3u4esvbfzf-q6kRxeC490C6JC2sAuXZeQxiB6lEw7WDjw46NSn4E3R3gbYh8COCFQqFviHkNihofwmTcaevyc6VRdKo61sbw9Hsa-olVfRlePjCKfZG2kPSKWMhBV2BRg/s320/P2250094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581305749473950018" /></a><br />Thursday faired a little better and we managed to get out for a last day of rat-baiting, unfortunately not to Annett as hoped but back to the first uninhabited island we visited, Tean. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpZQ_niSAz-vG-fV9P_iIOGEnL42j3bzPg_eLHc2dh-m_kDQz575eAqZ3eJxBn-dK9E1y2LPw0ac2qUa6Oi5wbLOu6aNhJ3g4kuteeuxOW1NuLXs8WPJVtO-Ng24JUL3-YegR4BLL0jw/s1600/P2240081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpZQ_niSAz-vG-fV9P_iIOGEnL42j3bzPg_eLHc2dh-m_kDQz575eAqZ3eJxBn-dK9E1y2LPw0ac2qUa6Oi5wbLOu6aNhJ3g4kuteeuxOW1NuLXs8WPJVtO-Ng24JUL3-YegR4BLL0jw/s320/P2240081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581305748900168498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IBqX1WLjAxIEmYgRzeNmXn0WcR__ij78letYJjwc0TLGUf3bSmbAjwDZIl4a2ysf-MVS38Sq8G3YGZdkM0fRObIsLV3IgMBaXJvHzqS6lsjDp2LRbRmTxb_YZQE3YOwOq8LrUYIP5WA/s1600/P2240086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IBqX1WLjAxIEmYgRzeNmXn0WcR__ij78letYJjwc0TLGUf3bSmbAjwDZIl4a2ysf-MVS38Sq8G3YGZdkM0fRObIsLV3IgMBaXJvHzqS6lsjDp2LRbRmTxb_YZQE3YOwOq8LrUYIP5WA/s320/P2240086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581305741899843362" /></a><br />In the week we got to meet up with Avril and Martin (Matt’s aunt and uncle) who came over for a few days, we had a table tennis championship with Jaclyn and Tristran and we had dinner round at Darren and Penelope’s, thanks all!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sn-JVV_w9-2RHxyJ-wc-6lim2JXCNbjQvX6YQHqrDZQZ-KVkNwCKEEI5iXC79fb2V5b3jIPNLCZN-vXV1g_r3N9UzA0_bn5i_d3Rj3Znm6rLdG4ER4hW2Hw4G3iEoXVyfMgHd7V0QMY/s1600/P2260096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sn-JVV_w9-2RHxyJ-wc-6lim2JXCNbjQvX6YQHqrDZQZ-KVkNwCKEEI5iXC79fb2V5b3jIPNLCZN-vXV1g_r3N9UzA0_bn5i_d3Rj3Znm6rLdG4ER4hW2Hw4G3iEoXVyfMgHd7V0QMY/s320/P2260096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581304840766473554" /></a><br />At the weekend we added some more islands to the tally, visiting Bryher <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YEYnpiyjXylya4vKtwLUy5ChnDvcl1eCmMJhC_nnfKEXGXmVCTtGJOf9JDgvi9NT1D_hAV1ZlcO-abnGPxswW_KbOYIx924uW_EXuiqmEV6LNCS1_tnIBS6NH6bLzD-EmzDcjogqeXg/s1600/P2260103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YEYnpiyjXylya4vKtwLUy5ChnDvcl1eCmMJhC_nnfKEXGXmVCTtGJOf9JDgvi9NT1D_hAV1ZlcO-abnGPxswW_KbOYIx924uW_EXuiqmEV6LNCS1_tnIBS6NH6bLzD-EmzDcjogqeXg/s320/P2260103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581304838194217186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivAp6aY1_t0Jh9gxPE7Ke-XqO3ijWCRlmu0lh6T5UgQyLhVh6vEgSjnd5uZ9JAcv54cSO4URbHwSnjj95BjMbYGk3OOP5hJvrvYFoJMBrmKMqQX0BA5kkDyaSmxjO-9kLH1BH8-bZ_Hg/s1600/P2260112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivAp6aY1_t0Jh9gxPE7Ke-XqO3ijWCRlmu0lh6T5UgQyLhVh6vEgSjnd5uZ9JAcv54cSO4URbHwSnjj95BjMbYGk3OOP5hJvrvYFoJMBrmKMqQX0BA5kkDyaSmxjO-9kLH1BH8-bZ_Hg/s320/P2260112.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581304836913582978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU3RyvT9JcTSU2MyZmZOhzniwV43bZ-AhExP_gp6WhD-k514cJ7z1zXDlv0fI2II4w4pH46z9Qfgu3i_ZR-zTq4xLWgoFzPTd06llDGDSNuTgrFGnPUiGzt6BJYULS-ppBY0IGzHl4ng/s1600/P2260114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU3RyvT9JcTSU2MyZmZOhzniwV43bZ-AhExP_gp6WhD-k514cJ7z1zXDlv0fI2II4w4pH46z9Qfgu3i_ZR-zTq4xLWgoFzPTd06llDGDSNuTgrFGnPUiGzt6BJYULS-ppBY0IGzHl4ng/s320/P2260114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581304832062858834" /></a><br />and St Martin’s<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpTggb1DMFIGDRowe8suU3osIqS5Bspx1aeKMdJ8c3iaoQc3YGWnvLMVxwZXoArF7r1fe7E7XXQKDb0DcFH7A_67xq6RLvUfUTM5J9zfnNchR1l55MDvMTvlobmgjiS9LjOGvsCjutgg/s1600/P2270121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpTggb1DMFIGDRowe8suU3osIqS5Bspx1aeKMdJ8c3iaoQc3YGWnvLMVxwZXoArF7r1fe7E7XXQKDb0DcFH7A_67xq6RLvUfUTM5J9zfnNchR1l55MDvMTvlobmgjiS9LjOGvsCjutgg/s320/P2270121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581304825731691986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnC7F2xPAZQSWHmg4wLtdBT1OISlyWCApbuM-OyzKlPCe1RRx-ZcvgOAPZGbt_aGbMdbpJeGv08Rn6TXwzp4MwrvPik6_js1xSe3QLTwzXUrI7ArFQrGPw_N9CxiTKy8Z8MndUIagTPU/s1600/P2270125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnC7F2xPAZQSWHmg4wLtdBT1OISlyWCApbuM-OyzKlPCe1RRx-ZcvgOAPZGbt_aGbMdbpJeGv08Rn6TXwzp4MwrvPik6_js1xSe3QLTwzXUrI7ArFQrGPw_N9CxiTKy8Z8MndUIagTPU/s320/P2270125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581303644258139234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEzmc9FBxNXq-qMXWpQ6-OL-WuwSbAsujx2lEEJzw1Cz2xsPQxn1oCiHhNheJS5OjUYBXUlKtPhZatXKRJyMpwazN91M4xawYn9Demu4ITiycnRuRlFcyMffRYYaEV_x4K5aEOLIl1JU/s1600/P2270140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEzmc9FBxNXq-qMXWpQ6-OL-WuwSbAsujx2lEEJzw1Cz2xsPQxn1oCiHhNheJS5OjUYBXUlKtPhZatXKRJyMpwazN91M4xawYn9Demu4ITiycnRuRlFcyMffRYYaEV_x4K5aEOLIl1JU/s320/P2270140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581303637241488018" /></a><br />By the end our tally had reached 26 islands (admittedly, some were rather small!). After these two trips we could also add to our fascinating tally of dead sea-life: 1 dolphin, 1 squid, 2 puffins and 3 seals. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5WpDJm5yE1ouvwcZdAhzxft3WhoWoZIQoOHWT3PMJYxGRuYzklmsAyEg2hu5FjDjnsCn0mBHmSS_hb2cPMWgaefYJ-vKK81HOrBjdMaAd5bOMGh5ZoFtacq_LEwqrsc0plRGEAWZvio/s1600/P2260107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5WpDJm5yE1ouvwcZdAhzxft3WhoWoZIQoOHWT3PMJYxGRuYzklmsAyEg2hu5FjDjnsCn0mBHmSS_hb2cPMWgaefYJ-vKK81HOrBjdMaAd5bOMGh5ZoFtacq_LEwqrsc0plRGEAWZvio/s320/P2260107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581303635079290610" /></a><br />Of course we saw many more alive things!<br /><br />We left a week ago today having had a fantastic six weeks in Scilly and were surprised to find it still wintry on the mainland. We have since done sheepy things in Shropshire: made the field lamb proof; cut away brambles which the sheep seem to treat as curlers, twisting them round their woolly locks; and moved the 4 from one corner of the field to the opposite corner, which took longer than anticipated. They are starting to look quite round now, there could be tiny lambs bouncing around in under 4 weeks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3uIbsg5MJgvRGztat0kcwd00HnlKLfDX521zfET7a1mW0vNOTevjwSLVPaOgPhZtKdnaHQiE3pX9qnK40r3ibjciweqEqUi1grknKkmG_yZZApIAz2QRqqeQyHPfP3vxbzsB8aRNaHo/s1600/P3050173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3uIbsg5MJgvRGztat0kcwd00HnlKLfDX521zfET7a1mW0vNOTevjwSLVPaOgPhZtKdnaHQiE3pX9qnK40r3ibjciweqEqUi1grknKkmG_yZZApIAz2QRqqeQyHPfP3vxbzsB8aRNaHo/s320/P3050173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581303630803696498" /></a><br />Right now we are at Pauline and Roger’s (another aunt and uncle of Matt’s) house, dog-sitting for Harvey, Sally and Mac (aka Big Dog).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnQ2ftWJt4MmQn34secOnzpsoV16L_gAT_zt2HDzWi0ntIHJ7Nq4hl_J_4kUBuAgVuevXAKF-vfmxClGYOGUhLsYnJSC7h4ev3QV4nXC3rsjZPiYxr1kfWFYMhPdxok0f5Xr5H_OTREw/s1600/P3070183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnQ2ftWJt4MmQn34secOnzpsoV16L_gAT_zt2HDzWi0ntIHJ7Nq4hl_J_4kUBuAgVuevXAKF-vfmxClGYOGUhLsYnJSC7h4ev3QV4nXC3rsjZPiYxr1kfWFYMhPdxok0f5Xr5H_OTREw/s320/P3070183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581303624916224914" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-9141962187614955312011-02-21T17:46:00.005+00:002011-02-21T17:55:39.524+00:00Rubbish!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPvJsenapoJZN6rX-YuG44X7WwQlldjG89Jq-B5D_LZj0Pqi7N1_AXDH2tg34265PFmt-8vFC6pPgplHMB20D6_JThy78uAfuillaMYyDDY92UxD5D_8NdbTAapc6UZUjgp9SdASjE0g/s1600/P2170016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPvJsenapoJZN6rX-YuG44X7WwQlldjG89Jq-B5D_LZj0Pqi7N1_AXDH2tg34265PFmt-8vFC6pPgplHMB20D6_JThy78uAfuillaMYyDDY92UxD5D_8NdbTAapc6UZUjgp9SdASjE0g/s320/P2170016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201198211023378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO7J8rKtI3D_z8RNlHWzjnwz5jW5ZX878FZ7IW6WghiPveAj8tLiK2r00jcHU2ZQJFPmbqWPcQCezy4uoShootsqukyHu89j3G5vvopFI2MMjDOhwxLbgJ0NVpXMJg19iCLl2MzSMOfU/s1600/P2170017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO7J8rKtI3D_z8RNlHWzjnwz5jW5ZX878FZ7IW6WghiPveAj8tLiK2r00jcHU2ZQJFPmbqWPcQCezy4uoShootsqukyHu89j3G5vvopFI2MMjDOhwxLbgJ0NVpXMJg19iCLl2MzSMOfU/s320/P2170017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201193643345138" /></a><br />After a slow start to the beginning of last week we had two rather hectic days. On Thursday we carried on checking rat bait stations, returning to the Eastern Isles and visiting The Arthurs (three separate islands linked by causeways at low tide). The weather was brilliant, blue skies, light winds and lots of warming sunshine. In the afternoon we took a trip to Bryher and after a fun ride on the back of a tractor down to Stinking Porth we helped to take down an old wire fence and replace it with electric fencing. So warm we were down to short sleeves!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlZaHuCT5zr61cPltkJpSIGUFKviXkubZZIXO6GbSSJiOY5hALC5fhpjV5hLaoo3XCQIGR-1e3W3T0VGlVsBTOU6ezcVzCvO0WKZ3emcXd9ePhNekzq5jciJKkfpsJWEIINmY8FovC1o/s1600/P2170027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlZaHuCT5zr61cPltkJpSIGUFKviXkubZZIXO6GbSSJiOY5hALC5fhpjV5hLaoo3XCQIGR-1e3W3T0VGlVsBTOU6ezcVzCvO0WKZ3emcXd9ePhNekzq5jciJKkfpsJWEIINmY8FovC1o/s320/P2170027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201189997276626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHqfc_VOAkU38GpDcJP3vWsWswscOFUT-EUQ23-S9zvb87NFdyL1AbV9XZXLrhf510lf_Yqoy6NSPddZ3jaOudO08fBzId0iaBRqZ56lqKahxjdalf6wvLdw-4CgHXZRCLM_krxS4HNI/s1600/P2170029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHqfc_VOAkU38GpDcJP3vWsWswscOFUT-EUQ23-S9zvb87NFdyL1AbV9XZXLrhf510lf_Yqoy6NSPddZ3jaOudO08fBzId0iaBRqZ56lqKahxjdalf6wvLdw-4CgHXZRCLM_krxS4HNI/s320/P2170029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201188430436066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD1b8Iz55ddhgnvQuATAHBh5wIia-CTl5Q9mw6Sy91UXIRe-mkqaeshoTCA7T3INQW1oFIZyDl0pXjHTUIos7WmCXnC9jdBr6A0Nkgh_XCm7HgIHEXJMQTLWjTQ5Rsrv-9aIvkf_fww8/s1600/P2170030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD1b8Iz55ddhgnvQuATAHBh5wIia-CTl5Q9mw6Sy91UXIRe-mkqaeshoTCA7T3INQW1oFIZyDl0pXjHTUIos7WmCXnC9jdBr6A0Nkgh_XCm7HgIHEXJMQTLWjTQ5Rsrv-9aIvkf_fww8/s320/P2170030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202008972869218" /></a><br />On Friday the weather was not so good… We were helping to moo-ve some of the cows around to a few new grazing areas. It was quite a long day as there was a lot of work to do. First we set up the new areas of fencing, then the cows that were to be moved had to be gathered up into a corral and persuaded to climb the ramp into the trailer. As accessing the Garrison requires passing through a very narrow gatehouse the trailer being used had to be quite small, so the cows could only be moved two at a time. By the end of the day and after many journeys we were all quite tired and very wet, especially after the last hour or so spent in the driving wind with pin sharp rain lashing into us up near Deep Point!<br /><br />Over the weekend we walked round St Mary’s a bit more, then on Sunday took a trip to St Agnes and Gugh. We also took advantage of the low tides to scramble out to Burnt Island and the rock beyond with its day mark. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwRfqEV1u2iBIUSDsH_gNBFCfVSXksRK-vltlHvhqoK1a4pdqE4P9_3rb7sAC5qNqU8Uj6ZlhLvNlyRsIK83XgML7iseLlk9phJuJaQy3mqsELR0g2qeILXPqNPRwAnE2sysWmArKJUk/s1600/P2200051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwRfqEV1u2iBIUSDsH_gNBFCfVSXksRK-vltlHvhqoK1a4pdqE4P9_3rb7sAC5qNqU8Uj6ZlhLvNlyRsIK83XgML7iseLlk9phJuJaQy3mqsELR0g2qeILXPqNPRwAnE2sysWmArKJUk/s320/P2200051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202008204841250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXC9OjZUdSSs7G6F24pVgikyjN-Z6sZSMseVZz9BWLyrhll30OxSWqHBzN-Ymtyg2e7Ew9qy-m_5pm48x7pJdyLif7BomD-i1WwZx2u8hbSgUHEsgegOQVD8mskK5LYTTE7Ptkx3tcAd4/s1600/P2200058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXC9OjZUdSSs7G6F24pVgikyjN-Z6sZSMseVZz9BWLyrhll30OxSWqHBzN-Ymtyg2e7Ew9qy-m_5pm48x7pJdyLif7BomD-i1WwZx2u8hbSgUHEsgegOQVD8mskK5LYTTE7Ptkx3tcAd4/s320/P2200058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202004265238706" /></a><br />Reading this blog you could probably be forgiven for thinking life here is all sunshine, fields of narcissi, birds, boat trips, table tennis and tranquillity (and if you have ever watched ‘An Island Parish’ you would probably expect tea with the vicar to be on that list). But really, just like when you get behind the scenes of any other small community on the mainland you quickly realise that there are hidden issues and disputes that seriously taint this charming image. In Scilly for example there are a vocal minority of people who occupy their time with opposing the Wildlife Trust. I find it amazing that there are people prepared to spend a great deal of time and effort fighting something as mundane (and ultimately beneficial to the local environment) as conservation grazing. A process which aims to reduce the amount of scrub land – bracken, brambles, European gorse – that smothers huge areas preventing anything more interesting from growing, ultimately aiming to restore the waved heath and open up new areas for people to explore, each patch cleared revealing new archaeology and interesting geography.<br /><br />These people (and some of them really do need to cheer up a bit – you’re lucky enough to live in Paradise, at least try to enjoy it!) have a real vendetta against the Trust and whatever it tries to do, and some have even been known to growl at members of trust staff and their children in the street. Yes you did read that last sentence correctly. <br /><br />It’s not as though there isn’t real battles that need to be fought in the Scilly’s. There is a criminal lack of recycling and in a place as confined as this there is no way of hiding that fact. The huge disgusting mound of rubbish piled up on the outskirts of Hugh Town is a permanent stinking eyesore of a reminder. There is a totally unfit for purpose incinerator that intermittently nibbles away at the ever expanding mound, but unbelievably on the infrequent occasions when it does operate it just burns, this resource isn’t even used to generate electricity (The Scilly’s rely on power brought across from the mainland via undersea cables).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DbUeDerlNU9BZTxcEP5RdV0FiFHPfW5rXTY72L3-2ZWZ5PhW6lvBLs6MAGVGZ_1dLy_vqdxyArxI5-Eq0ENgg25Kvmk8_cD66-NnQd5Qgz5mN6RU-paBuIc4u8DKkt0O6GfSgoBx9j0/s1600/P2190039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DbUeDerlNU9BZTxcEP5RdV0FiFHPfW5rXTY72L3-2ZWZ5PhW6lvBLs6MAGVGZ_1dLy_vqdxyArxI5-Eq0ENgg25Kvmk8_cD66-NnQd5Qgz5mN6RU-paBuIc4u8DKkt0O6GfSgoBx9j0/s320/P2190039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202016476512930" /></a><br />As we walk around the coast, particularly on the uninhabited islands it’s the amount of plastic waste washed ashore from the Atlantic that really upsets me – great swathes of plastic bottles, netting and other detritus – rubbish from all over the world.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMimzTV0qJxKbDtt0bc1FZTUbLFsi3swD8Yjb5_v-8z1_SRkfZK24mviB8vgcigC-_byRSxK3AZuYBgxcYnnmE-6GpXoytfCBQscY3V7jSOsaF0DGzNWiiNnsUMfbB1I4sGuSZBVREx7Y/s1600/P2170014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMimzTV0qJxKbDtt0bc1FZTUbLFsi3swD8Yjb5_v-8z1_SRkfZK24mviB8vgcigC-_byRSxK3AZuYBgxcYnnmE-6GpXoytfCBQscY3V7jSOsaF0DGzNWiiNnsUMfbB1I4sGuSZBVREx7Y/s320/P2170014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202012412777778" /></a><br />And stopping to think that this can only be a tiny fraction of what is out there floating around is a thoroughly depressing thought. Sometimes there is so much plastic buried under the long grass that it is almost impossible to take a step unaccompanied by the crunch of crushed plastic. This waste is not just unsightly but potentially devastating to the marine wildlife that depends on theses seas for life. Scilly is also regarded as one of the poorest areas in the UK. 85% of the islands income is dependant on tourism, it’s already expensive to get here so the increasing fuel costs we are all having to cope with have an acute impact not just on the food prices here but will also affect the number of people able to afford to come here to spend their cash. And on the subject of food I find it particularly impressive that through the power of internet shopping Tesco has managed to bankrupt the island’s independently owned (and only) wholesaler without even having a physical presence here. Wonderful! And of course the craze that’s sweeping the nation for bagging your dog poo and proudly hanging it from a tree is just as popular here as anywhere…<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0GTor-ZOe_IsXY3nHD5ZldI6xHnNWI6My3Qaz0DdIbgJdc-UG3vMzpK5gK2KT-kxjAndPphGCWQSA5noqFsf72WxLJNXuZHVw3XTtABfHopAn9qQsSt9Vfua7mcmsjPQTYPVViAo_Sk/s1600/P2210068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0GTor-ZOe_IsXY3nHD5ZldI6xHnNWI6My3Qaz0DdIbgJdc-UG3vMzpK5gK2KT-kxjAndPphGCWQSA5noqFsf72WxLJNXuZHVw3XTtABfHopAn9qQsSt9Vfua7mcmsjPQTYPVViAo_Sk/s320/P2210068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202671548659634" /></a><br />Would you not want to prioritise doing something about that lot before you decided to devote your life to fighting the very existence of cows? I wonder what’s next on their hit list? Cuddly toys? Terry Wogan? Human history contains a long, long list of individuals and groups being prepared to lay down their lives in the name of fighting oppression in its numerous guises; be it murderous dictators, religious intolerance, racial and sexual discrimination, political tyranny, etc, etc – and there can be no more timely reminder of all this than what is currently happening in various states in the Middle East right now. Living here for a even a short time you get the definite feeling that some people really don’t realise just how lucky they are.<br /><br />Now, lets all skip outside together in the sunshine and pick some more daffodils shall we...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxJBkqJ2hyjE9ApG21VIvl3Q8vy3XSyQCs5IQ26LbNSq1x6JLaSFYSorbiLwtk7apqO6BY_QOo5kCv5rt7FAHIi2tpPnvjtnqSOSF57uIRPmm2g-nxzhSrs3Dji39D9ETwTnv71R3TpE/s1600/P2190032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxJBkqJ2hyjE9ApG21VIvl3Q8vy3XSyQCs5IQ26LbNSq1x6JLaSFYSorbiLwtk7apqO6BY_QOo5kCv5rt7FAHIi2tpPnvjtnqSOSF57uIRPmm2g-nxzhSrs3Dji39D9ETwTnv71R3TpE/s320/P2190032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576202668841438018" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-68761090468566857032011-02-16T10:39:00.004+00:002011-02-16T10:50:02.515+00:00Wave PowerMum and Dad’s helicopter flight was delayed by only a few hours due to fog on Friday and it wasn’t long before we were having a drink in the dungeon bar of Star Castle. Mum wasn’t overly keen on the bar describing it as a bit too “dungeony” but the Liverpudlian barman (or was he a ghost?) kept our spirits high.<br /><br />For the first time since our arrival, a tourist boat was running so on Saturday we took up the opportunity and sailed to Tresco. There was a huge swell and the crossing, though fairly short, was pretty rocky. Once safely on the quay we walked clockwise around the island, first stopping at Cromwell’s Castle where we caught a glimpse of the huge waves crashing over the north of the island and Bryher. We walked on over the heathland and down to Piper’s Hole to watch the waves which were gigantic!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7QXa-hNJvwz0sblDx2SO10wd8UFE5LAxY050sop334sjAgWw9wpwsLZ83cUJt-nMFPOyIJj29vFrJBt-EuVIcbU4tUywsP_FRCEhyNbZRziWWZfqh3faFl_OrtOygxv61N6W93TiL-w/s1600/P2120091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7QXa-hNJvwz0sblDx2SO10wd8UFE5LAxY050sop334sjAgWw9wpwsLZ83cUJt-nMFPOyIJj29vFrJBt-EuVIcbU4tUywsP_FRCEhyNbZRziWWZfqh3faFl_OrtOygxv61N6W93TiL-w/s320/P2120091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236870396479250" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk5ngvhBdSNbKh9IO01OU29qR1m-cJBjqomMHnxBva76bglE1_o-qIYsI3VDHRVt8vgGfRkQKZAT7ugZx57cmoYBDAhKR2ufAoWfK1SigkhIKogfd03Pb1ZgmLbNxQkBp0kxb81twqIY/s1600/P2120095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk5ngvhBdSNbKh9IO01OU29qR1m-cJBjqomMHnxBva76bglE1_o-qIYsI3VDHRVt8vgGfRkQKZAT7ugZx57cmoYBDAhKR2ufAoWfK1SigkhIKogfd03Pb1ZgmLbNxQkBp0kxb81twqIY/s320/P2120095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236233767892754" border="0"></a><br />They’re what I would imagine the big Hawaii waves to look like but the idea of surfing on them was terrifying. Then they BOOMed as they hit the rocks in front of us, sending water vertically upwards into towering sprays. We spent quite some time just watching the water and gasping lots before we made our way down the East side of the island which very suddenly became sheltered and the sea gently lapped at the beautiful white sandy beaches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs5ykL9GXwVgo2q4iX9QYmkoogaeMy55xhptWeh3Kp4MjuEUk0Br0bKQ_kBEejATODyczH4pafLOHJf6rDAhYcxiqttbGufFFO4hrAVHlHST93DmnO2ybAr-VxLuGb8q6mP4xA_2XiAA/s1600/P2120100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs5ykL9GXwVgo2q4iX9QYmkoogaeMy55xhptWeh3Kp4MjuEUk0Br0bKQ_kBEejATODyczH4pafLOHJf6rDAhYcxiqttbGufFFO4hrAVHlHST93DmnO2ybAr-VxLuGb8q6mP4xA_2XiAA/s320/P2120100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236234315769474" border="0"></a><br />On Sunday we decided to explore St Mary’s and walked much of the way round the island enjoying the varied views and terrains. There was more wave-crashing watching at Peninnis and some seal spotting at Pelistry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5AvgKAbYxH4VneDAyH0rtqOSdkvfbjNmgZvx7jh_DfdLIJ4UhvrIOmef-HXKsXRCJyt7TaAtsurnqK-qK2fKPfuy7hBzMDeroxlgmzFAQF584zyK3OQeqxaKbF6Q7hrgi0eIZP9EdCU/s1600/P2130106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5AvgKAbYxH4VneDAyH0rtqOSdkvfbjNmgZvx7jh_DfdLIJ4UhvrIOmef-HXKsXRCJyt7TaAtsurnqK-qK2fKPfuy7hBzMDeroxlgmzFAQF584zyK3OQeqxaKbF6Q7hrgi0eIZP9EdCU/s320/P2130106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236228586606882" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00dtdpjBT63Vn3KQbeY7xjZC0vSAPYw2ZKWnrGqu6ayrMY7ico-z96mUS6NDjxWBJRLuEc086iKdfloszBVTk_-efN949hO3DS_apa_REE43Aq2b-Z7NogEE2bfyLprVAcgBBByNzsR8/s1600/P2130109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00dtdpjBT63Vn3KQbeY7xjZC0vSAPYw2ZKWnrGqu6ayrMY7ico-z96mUS6NDjxWBJRLuEc086iKdfloszBVTk_-efN949hO3DS_apa_REE43Aq2b-Z7NogEE2bfyLprVAcgBBByNzsR8/s320/P2130109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236220856632690" border="0"></a><br />In the evening we joined mum and dad again for their 5 course meal at Star Castle and ate delicious fish and scallops and we toasted marshmallows in the candle flame, before feeling mightily stuffed.<br /><br />We haven’t done a whole lot of work yet this week, but we have power-washed the Woolpack. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EHcp7u5xUHRYBzoKWoX4xrpziHZfk57NNs4ecFW1sGkuV6AnMK9HT1ewWQmyd-ieRIMRR36wntMCgI5XQcqlxWSCP4H4Sw5vTd1AHZtA0oLT2RNWngQfueLocOrx_zd9tNpixUmragY/s1600/P2140113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EHcp7u5xUHRYBzoKWoX4xrpziHZfk57NNs4ecFW1sGkuV6AnMK9HT1ewWQmyd-ieRIMRR36wntMCgI5XQcqlxWSCP4H4Sw5vTd1AHZtA0oLT2RNWngQfueLocOrx_zd9tNpixUmragY/s320/P2140113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574236217319180690" border="0"></a><br /><br />The wind picked up yesterday and the waves at Peninnis were even bigger!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysF_fAAgOjCdm6Z7YfbSLgNUKA79VchOKrSZV5Fg6zyQRLHkQD7qR4yNVGWnLrojO_Bg9AFZKNigVHpnHtFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-43687136896088466582011-02-10T18:10:00.002+00:002011-02-10T18:17:25.358+00:00Seals rockThe wind picked up at the weekend and we had some dramatic walks around the coast, watching the crashing waves and getting blasted by spray.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jC84hC_P0WCQ2R-pCoDccLC1Ntfb5reDhPcY5HmIro_ST_aGWUK4diKZ24fF5ElgLynMN3QcvssE3Cr_nes-BpLPZEzhuE8NhcpSEZcKGxv8NT6vtGFg8Zl3sCEecaXpkC33UU2gd1s/s1600/P2050055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jC84hC_P0WCQ2R-pCoDccLC1Ntfb5reDhPcY5HmIro_ST_aGWUK4diKZ24fF5ElgLynMN3QcvssE3Cr_nes-BpLPZEzhuE8NhcpSEZcKGxv8NT6vtGFg8Zl3sCEecaXpkC33UU2gd1s/s320/P2050055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572125908748847618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyoFNgUN5dYvU2Hsoj-0WA7RC-M0j_Vctc7LnSLHiTQ_MQTm3WmSx7hU_3VEZcFFUjL87kvOMLmQ77M-Yc1wJX_Yr5Bub2976WQzPlKJ2TBS7x0HUnCESd7LlgeFri8ezk-6rVnOwzMw/s1600/P2050058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyoFNgUN5dYvU2Hsoj-0WA7RC-M0j_Vctc7LnSLHiTQ_MQTm3WmSx7hU_3VEZcFFUjL87kvOMLmQ77M-Yc1wJX_Yr5Bub2976WQzPlKJ2TBS7x0HUnCESd7LlgeFri8ezk-6rVnOwzMw/s320/P2050058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572125901146509426" /></a><br />Despite this, the daffodils and narcissi are all coming out and out of the wind you could mistake the season for mid spring.<br /><br />Us in some rocks:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GA537DuF_h313km6XBNRBMx19JYVjvbFFgGrVqbMe5rHvgTBeJSwnvuYOT2lwLWXM33Sb-qUfoifqVcxTfZXjZPOjG96Pq-VXyKzuW8JzGOZq3ZPlf14VY9HYHgSjIfCmF6J4eoQOhA/s1600/P2060065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GA537DuF_h313km6XBNRBMx19JYVjvbFFgGrVqbMe5rHvgTBeJSwnvuYOT2lwLWXM33Sb-qUfoifqVcxTfZXjZPOjG96Pq-VXyKzuW8JzGOZq3ZPlf14VY9HYHgSjIfCmF6J4eoQOhA/s320/P2060065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572125897354868610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEcA0O60v7TGYqvwQm4yxxmbM-nS_Ki6Swv_SHDarJVNe3m-6u0E2vjZ-md1AneLwAXn-0PVGYjuQV6aWqESUTidAI6TH932G05Ww7zu8EX6b6kNqoW0WswT6wD_b2ntGlPG_4O1ud6g/s1600/P2060064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEcA0O60v7TGYqvwQm4yxxmbM-nS_Ki6Swv_SHDarJVNe3m-6u0E2vjZ-md1AneLwAXn-0PVGYjuQV6aWqESUTidAI6TH932G05Ww7zu8EX6b6kNqoW0WswT6wD_b2ntGlPG_4O1ud6g/s320/P2060064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572125893693003170" /></a><br />Work this week has involved raking up brash down on the squares with Jim, cutting out some gorse with loppers around rocks, picking up litter washed up from sea (in amongst the usual mountains of plastic waste we found some beer cans with the old ring pull, they must have been there quite some time), moving some more cows with Darren up on the garrison. <br /><br />Today however was another rat baiting day and we went out on the Wildlife Trust boat with Dave, Darren and Patrick. It was a pretty hideous day, very foggy and damp, but exploring the uninhabited islands is so interesting you barely notice you’re soaked through! We started out on Northwethel, near Tresco – not too much evidence of rats, you’ll be pleased to know! Afterwards we went back out to the Eastern Isles, to Great Ganilly and Nornour. We crossed the former and someone spotted a seal on the beach. Then we suddenly realised that all those smooth spotted boulders on the beach were also seals, we counted about 90 of them! You’ll have to take my word for it I’m afraid because we didn’t take the camera. As soon as they spotted us they all flopped along the beach into the sea. All bar one huge male that is, who must’ve been having a lovely deep snooze and looked quite surprised when he finally roused himself about 5 minutes later to see none of his neighbours around him. A few of the rudely awakened seals then spent the next few hours following us around the coast (in the sea obviously!) watching what we were up to as we scrambled up rocks, along cliff edges and through brambles hunting for rat bait stations.<br /><br />Mum and Dad are coming out tomorrow for a long weekend, just hope the fog lifts or they may get stuck in Penzance…tune in next week to see if they made it out!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-67724459802776363132011-02-05T11:02:00.005+00:002011-02-05T11:20:38.321+00:00The Eastern IslesThe rain kept us on St Mary’s clearing brash on Wednesday, but by Thursday it was sunny again and the winds permitted us to get out to the Eastern Isles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8zXbHh9rZ8SVwW-EXhRnWXX8EwNNr0nT0VwtUQwW-YnoGpPdtZ-qwxT1akusnDqluxxKG6UzrsPVxW37RCKPqttjfSR0nOIhrEaGddP_FULH8hTnVveoXBpPCbKAq_WullB1Q7SGMNo/s1600/P2030045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8zXbHh9rZ8SVwW-EXhRnWXX8EwNNr0nT0VwtUQwW-YnoGpPdtZ-qwxT1akusnDqluxxKG6UzrsPVxW37RCKPqttjfSR0nOIhrEaGddP_FULH8hTnVveoXBpPCbKAq_WullB1Q7SGMNo/s320/P2030045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570159924276533858" /></a><br />We visited Menawethan which involved a very exciting landing; David rowing us ashore then waiting for just the right wave to pitch us on to a suitable rock – all the while watched by an audience of Seals and Fulmars. The trip back was almost as exciting – involving a leap from a wave covered rock back into the waiting dingy!<br /><br />View from the top towards St Martins with Great Innisvouls, Great Ganilly and the Wildlife Trust boat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjYRpsbxUuhyphenhypheno2tLxgKUes0A1az-a4ZAmDrKT5fegnQGSwpPMrfEuravxUteOVVq_AP0YqYx7BioGPPgJd375wPs7bIr74DYEWMGRwCAyLWRlkhPrx2HWLajnwDT1Pb-sRUlF1_WAb80/s1600/P2030015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjYRpsbxUuhyphenhypheno2tLxgKUes0A1az-a4ZAmDrKT5fegnQGSwpPMrfEuravxUteOVVq_AP0YqYx7BioGPPgJd375wPs7bIr74DYEWMGRwCAyLWRlkhPrx2HWLajnwDT1Pb-sRUlF1_WAb80/s320/P2030015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570159920634416786" /></a><br />And towards the Arthur’s with (left to right) St Mary’s, Samson and Tresco in the background:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWK-4Ar_Q0Fq4nFcBg_Xd6rnzOZjr7H7Fgm_YV7kxi9rZFHli2lrNGvJs2i-_mvxHeR3mHs81vYjbMMVh4lxZ66fo0ewi7NkCTbrLFMDyGPfoTdGnHvPpzO9et39aJRCDfIvLQVyzMYU/s1600/P2030014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWK-4Ar_Q0Fq4nFcBg_Xd6rnzOZjr7H7Fgm_YV7kxi9rZFHli2lrNGvJs2i-_mvxHeR3mHs81vYjbMMVh4lxZ66fo0ewi7NkCTbrLFMDyGPfoTdGnHvPpzO9et39aJRCDfIvLQVyzMYU/s320/P2030014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570159910086358434" /></a><br />Laura being rowed back to the boat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1ehFff4s_JD38DIvBPkWLdjzZFwi3cLOUBotq_n_QvmBiN5dtPshjZhvQcIqgm1TRdWhGYzVTb5mYpq3JKvYaWMXz0SmKg5g9wXl6LBtwD6Svk8nwLvI1Is5rQw5ky6eP-6ZaPayPE8/s1600/P2030017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1ehFff4s_JD38DIvBPkWLdjzZFwi3cLOUBotq_n_QvmBiN5dtPshjZhvQcIqgm1TRdWhGYzVTb5mYpq3JKvYaWMXz0SmKg5g9wXl6LBtwD6Svk8nwLvI1Is5rQw5ky6eP-6ZaPayPE8/s320/P2030017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570159906339789490" /></a><br />Next up Laura and I waited on the boat watching the seals as Darren and David visited Little Innisvouls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvjquzG61xIu756gLhAM0CFirEvD0bJZRksaC_j5tqH8IhVSof54enfzDna1E2ckr3W591Jgkvbq5X23LH7H30eBGZgn4oOKIO1jDvc9bJmElssggcPhnReOEDvYUcpaRQC-eBMYb98/s1600/P2030021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvjquzG61xIu756gLhAM0CFirEvD0bJZRksaC_j5tqH8IhVSof54enfzDna1E2ckr3W591Jgkvbq5X23LH7H30eBGZgn4oOKIO1jDvc9bJmElssggcPhnReOEDvYUcpaRQC-eBMYb98/s320/P2030021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570160760664087842" /></a><br />Laura with Fulmars above and seal heads bobbing in the water:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoE8g6a-__FASon4-89JBE_7UlBTVh5EyUJod0kJypTVG3y83DdT2L1dqreo8RAI36-tIyEpdtAbM1wU5y8gijpPOXwxYkFxeF8urAKhG0q8xIZo7VoSIA61K5MChg_ZHRlWWBP-7WN8/s1600/P2030027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoE8g6a-__FASon4-89JBE_7UlBTVh5EyUJod0kJypTVG3y83DdT2L1dqreo8RAI36-tIyEpdtAbM1wU5y8gijpPOXwxYkFxeF8urAKhG0q8xIZo7VoSIA61K5MChg_ZHRlWWBP-7WN8/s320/P2030027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570160759666747906" /></a><br />We then went ashore on to Great Innisvouls, not such a dramatic landing this time.<br />View towards St Mary’s in the far distance:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJfx-OOO1v-i08A4exhnZ00aPb8sHNzy17Rc9d_Ypa_pxvdPcDvw5XMKTI_Yzp5AUGt5h6SL47-Se3ewQGhLPIiKgmT1SlgEhltx4AvgQNoekPvD0M9b6mRpmFp-WSqWUFOVNweIk-W4/s1600/P2030034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJfx-OOO1v-i08A4exhnZ00aPb8sHNzy17Rc9d_Ypa_pxvdPcDvw5XMKTI_Yzp5AUGt5h6SL47-Se3ewQGhLPIiKgmT1SlgEhltx4AvgQNoekPvD0M9b6mRpmFp-WSqWUFOVNweIk-W4/s320/P2030034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570160753413217490" /></a><br />The Eastern Isles are covered in really interesting rock formations, nobbly, lichen covered towers shaped by the sea and the weather. It’s easy to imagine all sorts of images appearing out of the rock faces.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVip3of0cU01T0nxmFqt8ANfo9Uj0StlKppkX-sb1opS4Yb7L4oF24u8n094dNq90r8mBzCeuNItZCxir67H25QaWOhVd6P5oEyFCb05CQ2HzRDnVqSvyxWdw1bAjhBfA875TKDypjZNI/s1600/P2030036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVip3of0cU01T0nxmFqt8ANfo9Uj0StlKppkX-sb1opS4Yb7L4oF24u8n094dNq90r8mBzCeuNItZCxir67H25QaWOhVd6P5oEyFCb05CQ2HzRDnVqSvyxWdw1bAjhBfA875TKDypjZNI/s320/P2030036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570160750626240210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaYU-XAOjS67gUC1kIq42c3DNm09s95qIHy7JZHtO_c1vc_ERf17zlpLgY3j9qKmHFKDUM_Rk0MX509hYECcF1uhHlm86dlputjRAKKNpKXuG1Ez7UaDd68wdD09bXkUTWMZGVC2hhBA/s1600/P2030038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaYU-XAOjS67gUC1kIq42c3DNm09s95qIHy7JZHtO_c1vc_ERf17zlpLgY3j9qKmHFKDUM_Rk0MX509hYECcF1uhHlm86dlputjRAKKNpKXuG1Ez7UaDd68wdD09bXkUTWMZGVC2hhBA/s320/P2030038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570160751074733410" /></a><br />Next up was Little Ganinick and Great Ganinick, linked by a long rocky causeway at low tide. We scrambled between the two and left as the causeway began to cover.<br />The Ganinicks as we made our getaway:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoSAKacAmLBz9OQf1lPMyaz7tFGQUMfxb9Fme-bUTVqLTR5PBZdhVArj0-qCWpc2pGV0z9ykHCWOElmfacoasvJzGHZKwOaBaDYJY7WEEBT3XTWiaKERQnvybChOwAZCkRqNmIHPJ8xg/s1600/P2030041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoSAKacAmLBz9OQf1lPMyaz7tFGQUMfxb9Fme-bUTVqLTR5PBZdhVArj0-qCWpc2pGV0z9ykHCWOElmfacoasvJzGHZKwOaBaDYJY7WEEBT3XTWiaKERQnvybChOwAZCkRqNmIHPJ8xg/s320/P2030041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570161461422918962" /></a><br />We stayed on the boat as Darren and David visited Ragged Island<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfFDXo4gmVZJxKXLz_136_bI_9Jcx5PE0Znsp5s9uVb_KV12V9CXye5zlok9ENnrfQnswlwCtZpzrJi5n_vL-3VKMd-jRaQcPcnxs_SnhbrHQ5tyXoumtFXWdJ-Gf0-plB7qD8zGDlRo/s1600/P2030043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfFDXo4gmVZJxKXLz_136_bI_9Jcx5PE0Znsp5s9uVb_KV12V9CXye5zlok9ENnrfQnswlwCtZpzrJi5n_vL-3VKMd-jRaQcPcnxs_SnhbrHQ5tyXoumtFXWdJ-Gf0-plB7qD8zGDlRo/s320/P2030043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570161459464275442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aMei6gKviq88jBDabYZCzBEHZ8Wv4tYGjpCgYuKTJeeT9TPdBagZnzuwCklUOAPPJIdRJfIc2i_dm7FOrTtNoBcKfY9hZu0DLAKuXhh5EmkE_6eehk1iyUdpPx1C66TsM2fd-bgHocs/s1600/P2030044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aMei6gKviq88jBDabYZCzBEHZ8Wv4tYGjpCgYuKTJeeT9TPdBagZnzuwCklUOAPPJIdRJfIc2i_dm7FOrTtNoBcKfY9hZu0DLAKuXhh5EmkE_6eehk1iyUdpPx1C66TsM2fd-bgHocs/s320/P2030044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570161452756793570" /></a><br />and finally an attempt was made to land us all on Little Ganilly, but the weather was on the turn – the wind and the swell increasing and after a failed attempt to row us on to the rocks (Me taking a wave full of spray in the face in the process) David decided that with the changing conditions landing here could turn into a bad idea, so turned us round and rowed us back to the boat. A very bouncy and wet ride back to St Mary’s ended what had been a very exciting day!<br /><br />Yesterday the wind increased further, and the waves are picking up - looking forward to seeing some dramatic seas over the weekend...LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-40886750960513101012011-02-01T17:50:00.002+00:002011-02-01T17:54:39.651+00:00FIRE!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY5rzEJBOxk32liq1t54nR5CkH_7Hqie0xhl6I956gOY6GnVKncshXxNKbWVS81KlvUVUn-G_WZTLUqcUzzg7wB-v6dOxmSfZL7l1oEJIbLhPULdTrtbAFjLKc7VSVqiVhEM4Q6x7nq0/s1600/P1310168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY5rzEJBOxk32liq1t54nR5CkH_7Hqie0xhl6I956gOY6GnVKncshXxNKbWVS81KlvUVUn-G_WZTLUqcUzzg7wB-v6dOxmSfZL7l1oEJIbLhPULdTrtbAFjLKc7VSVqiVhEM4Q6x7nq0/s320/P1310168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568780830232667874" /></a><br />This week so far we have been making FIRE! Helping to regenerate a few areas around St Mary’s where European gorse and bracken have taken a strong hold, hopefully allowing for a greater variety of grasses and wild flowers to flourish later in the year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZPLVabsBZpuH8RuMFk1enDh7FWngjvNDWgPY8XZ-ub146O54sljVk2fWIKPm39RnwysScrXeJsl1zGF3_fPz3ZPm9uMylrwf9JZ_OIn9mLtZ4VUGT_fSsqJdBlqutqh9ZoCVqlaxkZY/s1600/P1310171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZPLVabsBZpuH8RuMFk1enDh7FWngjvNDWgPY8XZ-ub146O54sljVk2fWIKPm39RnwysScrXeJsl1zGF3_fPz3ZPm9uMylrwf9JZ_OIn9mLtZ4VUGT_fSsqJdBlqutqh9ZoCVqlaxkZY/s320/P1310171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568780826919023170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zoLVYf6VmIUi7XT7fa79n091zyXrVSyt7UUWgttuW0WCkht-Ifg9gZ22TDqnIhn9mE9Tky_Pc83bOC6igvLNV0hGOjzUFXnbXvrPbCTRJIQd17VMrYHBTpfX6g8v-Mj-OdrqdRw8Mys/s1600/P1310173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zoLVYf6VmIUi7XT7fa79n091zyXrVSyt7UUWgttuW0WCkht-Ifg9gZ22TDqnIhn9mE9Tky_Pc83bOC6igvLNV0hGOjzUFXnbXvrPbCTRJIQd17VMrYHBTpfX6g8v-Mj-OdrqdRw8Mys/s320/P1310173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568780817807941586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8QdmzeZT9boPXrXWlDm_SFNxs4CS3D5eW5KwT2P_I3WdbN3QaA7swbRG_8RLWQ0OPilUVyAuSUWI1qKFDRcNJjS9CJblLISoOYTPltTHG6GBxYpdxWGd5AE6aAEbPvlWHRwWdYTeGvs/s1600/P1310177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8QdmzeZT9boPXrXWlDm_SFNxs4CS3D5eW5KwT2P_I3WdbN3QaA7swbRG_8RLWQ0OPilUVyAuSUWI1qKFDRcNJjS9CJblLISoOYTPltTHG6GBxYpdxWGd5AE6aAEbPvlWHRwWdYTeGvs/s320/P1310177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568780809387070562" /></a><br /><br />And we have also been helping to move some of the Devon Ruby Red cows to a new patch of grazing. The cows are also playing a vital part in the conservation of diversity, and opening up areas that were previously inaccessible for people to walk in and explore. At the same time they hark back to times when many areas around the islands would have been grazed and maintained (perhaps unintentionally!) by local farmers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmDAmDt0SmafXDtMYAhf5w17Ela9G3ZJZ-MsJUhqqqUycX68gXjR0vt4D3z3ims9KETZeJqktKB6DI4x_OlEtEGYduvfJ-1qtRISS0vTI4a6-2N7pooXgquz6Mpai91TONzqNzuyZMsM/s1600/P2010001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmDAmDt0SmafXDtMYAhf5w17Ela9G3ZJZ-MsJUhqqqUycX68gXjR0vt4D3z3ims9KETZeJqktKB6DI4x_OlEtEGYduvfJ-1qtRISS0vTI4a6-2N7pooXgquz6Mpai91TONzqNzuyZMsM/s320/P2010001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568780807036936898" /></a><br /><br />The weather continues to impress, another day today where we found it hard to believe it’s only just February as we bathed in the sun eating our lunch overlooking the ocean at Deep Point. Beautiful!<br /><br />Tomorrow and Thursday (weather and winds permitting) we will be out and about rat baiting again on the uninhabited Eastern Isles.LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-11625152032292545452011-01-29T11:59:00.003+00:002011-01-29T12:12:13.087+00:00He’s behind you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WCCpfhKqPyOQNgtBk0yjsk0j9ilQqRAIurUb-nFPgjy_E3Ujuklzedf3QDg2hfd3Yf0xFGLY6uosw_9Tp2RnLiKBGz4YodEmxkOAQa_Hh7HepTyTR-5AMwxhNq6e7p4abW75rfVgbso/s1600/P1270147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WCCpfhKqPyOQNgtBk0yjsk0j9ilQqRAIurUb-nFPgjy_E3Ujuklzedf3QDg2hfd3Yf0xFGLY6uosw_9Tp2RnLiKBGz4YodEmxkOAQa_Hh7HepTyTR-5AMwxhNq6e7p4abW75rfVgbso/s320/P1270147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567578912914393522" /></a><br />Matt’s been putting in his table tennis practise and as a result has started to beat me, which is a bit annoying! We’ve had a pretty tiring but excellent week of work. As well as Tean, we have also been rat baiting on the uninhabited islands of St Helen’s and Samson. It’s interesting how each island has a different “personality” and different archaeological history to accompany it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ue9CiL8EZQDMQkF3i28pSbqFe4pmPSGcvZiss2CSI4Ys4ArmcbNc6wYUW7nwCE0j_hgTkP50V_qKCg4lBhmb1GKjjb5UJftaDYkYhQLhZ4V2dRMzLRcXdwdmvFOiIdb_8dS4QvXN7vo/s1600/P1260104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ue9CiL8EZQDMQkF3i28pSbqFe4pmPSGcvZiss2CSI4Ys4ArmcbNc6wYUW7nwCE0j_hgTkP50V_qKCg4lBhmb1GKjjb5UJftaDYkYhQLhZ4V2dRMzLRcXdwdmvFOiIdb_8dS4QvXN7vo/s320/P1260104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567578900985385746" /></a><br />Matt, Daren and I went to St Helen’s on Wednesday. On the island is a ruined building, known as the “Pest House” which was used to quarantine sick sailors in the eighteenth century. Skeletons have been found of the buried dead but we managed to avoid finding any of them! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GiPS_ukXU_Rbm3YPhZtxoxxjj4GqoFJY5fF88QuLNGcxX5bAm4eBf2iml8dRyMp1YOP-Hp1PrcFBVFtMcdoP97k6eEI8NWETRGd6pRDu-jBqUvrqbAC7YRoLZFYAF2f0WtpLLUX0Vlo/s1600/P1260090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GiPS_ukXU_Rbm3YPhZtxoxxjj4GqoFJY5fF88QuLNGcxX5bAm4eBf2iml8dRyMp1YOP-Hp1PrcFBVFtMcdoP97k6eEI8NWETRGd6pRDu-jBqUvrqbAC7YRoLZFYAF2f0WtpLLUX0Vlo/s320/P1260090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567578887965120754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xwaz-SQxa9Bo1kLidMd6i4I-xljjbDnPfiHlV4k0c3cznFrCfVW5ssTV7i8ug1VZtd1HM8JFSshbWROfG9hbDj-T0CwpVaaMTve273KFvWcmOPNTAeQ3eWRMn5HOTvYmf7u6DTB2-3k/s1600/P1260092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xwaz-SQxa9Bo1kLidMd6i4I-xljjbDnPfiHlV4k0c3cznFrCfVW5ssTV7i8ug1VZtd1HM8JFSshbWROfG9hbDj-T0CwpVaaMTve273KFvWcmOPNTAeQ3eWRMn5HOTvYmf7u6DTB2-3k/s320/P1260092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567578883591280642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDH3jwsT3pGTdQ5LqCkDZVlIUsaSkr3ZafYZDNRPJwcfSmGemBMsyZdhncOGxmRy-flXSvoOvudaNjhMnT1osnOLj0SMEpifFl3qkGW5RQhNLMtycIZgBnDjyhkreLAAym5fq9N4KBtI/s1600/P1260116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDH3jwsT3pGTdQ5LqCkDZVlIUsaSkr3ZafYZDNRPJwcfSmGemBMsyZdhncOGxmRy-flXSvoOvudaNjhMnT1osnOLj0SMEpifFl3qkGW5RQhNLMtycIZgBnDjyhkreLAAym5fq9N4KBtI/s320/P1260116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567578875603758546" /></a><br />It really was quite tiring walking around and over the island as there are few well-trodden paths so we were scrambling over bracken and brambles and have the scratches to prove it. We were treated to a beautiful rainbow over Round Island though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdhpNGxfPI5_xDZlbD3RkG-1ewHpV3GsYEMZrvswsYDUXeoVlkySt1XehMx9ZdDOYGbNshp5wXxkc8JzFqDyP7aVsR_xSaZ3EHnudZzx6L7Sfg9SD56_-lEXtFhJzAeuqzLZptT24z84/s1600/P1260096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdhpNGxfPI5_xDZlbD3RkG-1ewHpV3GsYEMZrvswsYDUXeoVlkySt1XehMx9ZdDOYGbNshp5wXxkc8JzFqDyP7aVsR_xSaZ3EHnudZzx6L7Sfg9SD56_-lEXtFhJzAeuqzLZptT24z84/s320/P1260096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567577501978139330" /></a><br />On Thursday we went to Samson which Matt has visited before, some 15/20 years ago! Not much evidence of rats but we did get up close to a dolphin, unfortunately dead. Samson is the most recent island to become uninhabited and there are many ruins around the island, including an old deer fence. Apparently the deer jumped over it the first night they were put there and swam away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn8clj3tpirvCZgD-4al_Qt7LfH-u6JnILhOGFPV2We5rl2roBZB_KLVqeJ6nAGciWUPxPgJRjiBPPdRKDUGmtIVdrNvbvTq9QAt34q0d5K7LdA4e-n2v3CjRLinBnkjuM_5Jk25G3q0/s1600/P1270134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn8clj3tpirvCZgD-4al_Qt7LfH-u6JnILhOGFPV2We5rl2roBZB_KLVqeJ6nAGciWUPxPgJRjiBPPdRKDUGmtIVdrNvbvTq9QAt34q0d5K7LdA4e-n2v3CjRLinBnkjuM_5Jk25G3q0/s320/P1270134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567577498873603362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU360RU6a3tASbw6Ca1wiuRJ3OBeBlM-ihLl2mx_ZTt-V7mlSmmEyrRu6sHBR3susOe5_kpEhJ5v1wIsFL5dyIQ1w3tQ0P34TN00EFrF4njiKkLq5SsGnLOBqKegsR8r1PBV3yVssIdvM/s1600/P1270135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU360RU6a3tASbw6Ca1wiuRJ3OBeBlM-ihLl2mx_ZTt-V7mlSmmEyrRu6sHBR3susOe5_kpEhJ5v1wIsFL5dyIQ1w3tQ0P34TN00EFrF4njiKkLq5SsGnLOBqKegsR8r1PBV3yVssIdvM/s320/P1270135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567577491687082866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8WIe_6QaoQ-h_ajsnK0svkcZ17Jq_G3ovA1kLZ0uN8jojEp2hsSFC-KWPoUqRQLxtJU5nKQcnpSgL5Veck70DNv6viCHmoosy1nDGKnC6ZXtdRs5yDTKyT5hqKyyQGfBLIcfCB1XwEc/s1600/P1270138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8WIe_6QaoQ-h_ajsnK0svkcZ17Jq_G3ovA1kLZ0uN8jojEp2hsSFC-KWPoUqRQLxtJU5nKQcnpSgL5Veck70DNv6viCHmoosy1nDGKnC6ZXtdRs5yDTKyT5hqKyyQGfBLIcfCB1XwEc/s320/P1270138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567577477890494850" /></a><br />Yesterday we were back clearing the squares which we started on Monday, which was a nice sheltered spot to be out of the freezing wind that is blowing over the islands. We’ve also been joining in island life and have been wine-tasting (luckily we weren’t the only ones to score 2 out of 10 in the wine quiz!) and last night went to the panto, “oh yes we did”.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxFWIOdbn5KzSfis5pVgteUj-IMncXM6uLZ-8isnZ_tWtLh_1MxLjCwMshOw985qk5V8wWfGZJrvvmaeMY6OU7fgbMUM8raaEIOG0mRIoTpKBuD2kAyiIKY13Cbw9aZAz8KfRjrGD6p8/s1600/P1280152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxFWIOdbn5KzSfis5pVgteUj-IMncXM6uLZ-8isnZ_tWtLh_1MxLjCwMshOw985qk5V8wWfGZJrvvmaeMY6OU7fgbMUM8raaEIOG0mRIoTpKBuD2kAyiIKY13Cbw9aZAz8KfRjrGD6p8/s320/P1280152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567577474162566482" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-24824038965636537012011-01-25T18:25:00.004+00:002011-01-25T18:34:34.027+00:00Scilly sunshine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivziVAIB7Wy55tiuWKuYBX1sbMUQUdRCNpQ-tzjsl1uMsYfv4PZE8ix5SXF1MG8VJp6bMD4S3NG76bdNov85-fw-1Z4TDhwdWoAjvc5F_vIrdcO1LbjhiPUkhfn1H1zBRbNt2K38HdlzI/s1600/P1230067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivziVAIB7Wy55tiuWKuYBX1sbMUQUdRCNpQ-tzjsl1uMsYfv4PZE8ix5SXF1MG8VJp6bMD4S3NG76bdNov85-fw-1Z4TDhwdWoAjvc5F_vIrdcO1LbjhiPUkhfn1H1zBRbNt2K38HdlzI/s320/P1230067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192116266216418" /></a><br /><br />Our first week in Scilly has gone very quickly and we’ve certainly been spoilt by the weather – everyday until today has seen lots of sunshine and even felt warm and spring-like at times. A great antidote to all that freezing weather on the mainland in December! Today however has seen more in the way of grey skies, cool winds and slight drizzle, probably because we put our washing on the line to dry…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JcKQ9Rio8Zq4t6CkFe44XZXH59CrUJbM-SL7jtDP3JCzaURS5VRyB1Fnf4tZpHmGvJ70NWL3UIQAoLufGDcuoEyRudVylahOyonLZWXzPZTWSfLZtWXJUfVlubRFH45VM6E68NMQJwc/s1600/P1220066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JcKQ9Rio8Zq4t6CkFe44XZXH59CrUJbM-SL7jtDP3JCzaURS5VRyB1Fnf4tZpHmGvJ70NWL3UIQAoLufGDcuoEyRudVylahOyonLZWXzPZTWSfLZtWXJUfVlubRFH45VM6E68NMQJwc/s320/P1220066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192114038911730" /></a><br /><br />We are living in the ‘Woolpack Battery’, an interesting semi underground building built around 1900 on the Garrison to protect St Mary’s from a perceived threat of invasion by the French. It’s now been converted into the Wildlife Trust’s volunteer accommodation and as it’s currently only us staying here at the moment we’ve been enjoying having our own home again. We have great views from on top of the Woolpack across to St Agnes, the Western rocks and the Bishop Rock Lighthouse and have been treated to several stunning sunsets already. We’ve also been playing lots of table tennis, and I need lots of practice as Laura keeps beating me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzT-fXCfbEXTTWOaP6symXqNezrGbDsSFq2OhvTwrWhbA-GnW81_lfmZEYMBH_WnOfK1BBK3IVn4zmEpRSxwSIx4T-vILvy3_612kP_AxRYCaBhCoeU3hIEt8e4kB1m4d10ftb7KvmgM/s1600/P1220062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzT-fXCfbEXTTWOaP6symXqNezrGbDsSFq2OhvTwrWhbA-GnW81_lfmZEYMBH_WnOfK1BBK3IVn4zmEpRSxwSIx4T-vILvy3_612kP_AxRYCaBhCoeU3hIEt8e4kB1m4d10ftb7KvmgM/s320/P1220062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192104073960930" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLAs0Mg5aUBXjGsqeTqvQ8v2-pdZtSngcFqoLk7gxsyfJbmKbl1_-zkajQdhYpzi6eMrZzUSL93ER05WdcjWKBKsx6JsA8qbv8bJJaRNXjKExVYAKLRuejgEBI-hB1ugyawY-4jV4Sek/s1600/P1220056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLAs0Mg5aUBXjGsqeTqvQ8v2-pdZtSngcFqoLk7gxsyfJbmKbl1_-zkajQdhYpzi6eMrZzUSL93ER05WdcjWKBKsx6JsA8qbv8bJJaRNXjKExVYAKLRuejgEBI-hB1ugyawY-4jV4Sek/s320/P1220056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192102513034562" /></a><br /><br />We were eased in with only one and a half days work last week before the weekend. This gave us the chance to make the most of the weather and gave us a few days to explore St Mary’s. We’ve been doing lots of walking and have already covered most of the footpaths and coastal walking on the island. I also managed to find the graves of my Great Great Great and Great Great Grandparents in the Churchyard at Old Town. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAeo7WOVa18n-vZX17LIfeFhXn2E3z4iCHT3apxdKVbplxXXtD7AiWQkZB8X_jt80Zq0LG2WzZYjWoKPRCQCNwfPHorEUY0uW4Wg3t2DemgmoRjLOdRWgGJlqXHLlkr6nW9A00hpE-eQ/s1600/P1200009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAeo7WOVa18n-vZX17LIfeFhXn2E3z4iCHT3apxdKVbplxXXtD7AiWQkZB8X_jt80Zq0LG2WzZYjWoKPRCQCNwfPHorEUY0uW4Wg3t2DemgmoRjLOdRWgGJlqXHLlkr6nW9A00hpE-eQ/s320/P1200009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192931160269330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrDP74shbRpPYQsXbd1Sz4XBvdOFsBuOKns3WLQ8kT9_B6zA-dzuLVpZhmh7xBkY7nccljrONM7_beBiYDWaTaF4gVQj_iK5wUk2cy9XNjpgxLnF6ZTVfqv7iTkICiyDXiBsaSGH3ZzM/s1600/P1200019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrDP74shbRpPYQsXbd1Sz4XBvdOFsBuOKns3WLQ8kT9_B6zA-dzuLVpZhmh7xBkY7nccljrONM7_beBiYDWaTaF4gVQj_iK5wUk2cy9XNjpgxLnF6ZTVfqv7iTkICiyDXiBsaSGH3ZzM/s320/P1200019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192924418753186" /></a><br /><br />Despite the fact we didn’t know many people here when we first arrived we’ve soon got to know several people and it seems nearly impossible to head into Hugh Town without meeting someone we know on our way! We’ve soon settled into ‘island life’ and have been enjoying trying out the pubs and cafes and with the help of Jim (who volunteers full time for the Wildlife Trust) we even managed to come third in the weekly quiz at the Scillonian Club on Sunday night.<br /><br />Yesterday we spent the day working with Jim on the ‘squares’ (old allotment sites) on the Garrison just down from the Woolpack. We were helping to clear back overgrown brash and trimming back the hedges where they were overgrowing the path.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWlkBxINHDY_moqg-aWgwhuEL7OVybVx58nvWtmLZCZvo_lw1jZlgpNDfxEhLp6CDfIhACM5osNgFBF6fGifSzExtJ1xvB741bgOeXNSBYUx1LQ_PBXBOhGZDDkeSE4rd6GZiKiupco/s1600/P1240072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hWlkBxINHDY_moqg-aWgwhuEL7OVybVx58nvWtmLZCZvo_lw1jZlgpNDfxEhLp6CDfIhACM5osNgFBF6fGifSzExtJ1xvB741bgOeXNSBYUx1LQ_PBXBOhGZDDkeSE4rd6GZiKiupco/s320/P1240072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192922114914770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9xi9-n4Tnz4-4w82_q2DIh7a8H8z2J0juOOVDl8bgr8Qnl_u7HKxH9eC2wufbIgFS5KTZEGUoLl_r-xvI_kGeIt6Ec9dK_bEpd7R_3JISqAy_f8T7sn6UlR3-rVOjne3-EgQQyi_V0s/s1600/P1240075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9xi9-n4Tnz4-4w82_q2DIh7a8H8z2J0juOOVDl8bgr8Qnl_u7HKxH9eC2wufbIgFS5KTZEGUoLl_r-xvI_kGeIt6Ec9dK_bEpd7R_3JISqAy_f8T7sn6UlR3-rVOjne3-EgQQyi_V0s/s320/P1240075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566192913510293202" /></a><br /><br />Today we had a fantastic day as we had the opportunity to visit one of the uninhabited islands, ‘Tean’ with Darren (warden), Jim and Patrick (another local volunteer). We spent the whole day fighting our way through bracken and brambles, bouncing across tufts of thrift and also scrambling over rocks at low tide to ‘Old Man’ and ‘Pednbrose’ all in the name of checking on rat bait stations. The bait is left at various places on the island in an attempt to eradicate any rats as they have a damaging effect on the bird population. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyjrpHopPMyX-un_jhC1v8LxL2fHteqkqstDBK4TR4E76FLF7i0Q9Pf4xyLl4VPr30lf_Nd2Hhsi9T53SNQpEjZq3Ih_WwYwpsmrr9IvLHRxkYarYEGaEaH2v1c5x9SURyj6SzLJAXKI/s1600/P1250078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyjrpHopPMyX-un_jhC1v8LxL2fHteqkqstDBK4TR4E76FLF7i0Q9Pf4xyLl4VPr30lf_Nd2Hhsi9T53SNQpEjZq3Ih_WwYwpsmrr9IvLHRxkYarYEGaEaH2v1c5x9SURyj6SzLJAXKI/s320/P1250078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566193513060665074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uh1JTfdExVPrjXx_fX9_3VVFIHK6tH-Xy5_n3w5I9RzBCMg-a9HV69_3RBlFA7lIMqMEg4simrvysq7fW7s1XXLOiVXE4TxiBDmg9NYfXIL9jaebPIcuhn4y5OSzpMJkD_nph52u6sY/s1600/P1250079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uh1JTfdExVPrjXx_fX9_3VVFIHK6tH-Xy5_n3w5I9RzBCMg-a9HV69_3RBlFA7lIMqMEg4simrvysq7fW7s1XXLOiVXE4TxiBDmg9NYfXIL9jaebPIcuhn4y5OSzpMJkD_nph52u6sY/s320/P1250079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566193509355572162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8QGMIJ1OGerBT5eotq3i3RRjoscoSUss3dkjlyJqZ_dGs1f71drVFue4KHqeur3A0qpDk7WiJpO12AKs5ZHtcRiXNI8B-CS_90FNA-jqDQxWOcdhpkZnItjYK_PLSP0indw-R0xmo68/s1600/P1250081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8QGMIJ1OGerBT5eotq3i3RRjoscoSUss3dkjlyJqZ_dGs1f71drVFue4KHqeur3A0qpDk7WiJpO12AKs5ZHtcRiXNI8B-CS_90FNA-jqDQxWOcdhpkZnItjYK_PLSP0indw-R0xmo68/s320/P1250081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566193501591605266" /></a>LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871029692170289438.post-33578154595200106652011-01-07T21:18:00.004+00:002011-01-07T21:25:54.715+00:00Don't be Scilly!Happy New Year to you all<br /><br />After MUCH deliberation with what feels like hundreds of you, we have finally decided upon where to spend the next few months. And the answer is…drum roll…..the Isles of Scilly!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqotDcOJ39MwELVojoRQty8vl8rrhJvgT3zSGt4w_1zBGi7bAQV-h8FkpJfJNgwZ0l-3tf8_9egyuvq8km-WDXaQ3qChm98OkkNOdTiQHVZyucxoSIUYElhRbQ8XPKyCJswaUCAgmaSs/s1600/Tresco+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqotDcOJ39MwELVojoRQty8vl8rrhJvgT3zSGt4w_1zBGi7bAQV-h8FkpJfJNgwZ0l-3tf8_9egyuvq8km-WDXaQ3qChm98OkkNOdTiQHVZyucxoSIUYElhRbQ8XPKyCJswaUCAgmaSs/s320/Tresco+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559557073321699490" /></a><br />So it’s not <span style="font-style:italic;">quite</span> as exotic a location as India, Argentina, Panama, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cape Verde or Israel (just a few of the places that have been real contenders), neither will we probably pick up a suntan and the snorkelling that Matt was hoping to do might be put on hold, however it definitely feels like the right thing to do. As much as we feel like we’ve “done” the UK’s winter now, something felt a bit hypocritical about purposefully exploring and travelling around the UK to get to know it better, only to bugger off once the bad weather came. Besides the Isles of Scilly is one of the warmest parts of the UK and through the recent “Big Freeze”, reached highs of 10 degrees, woooo! I take back that statement about the suntan!<br /><br />So, we will be volunteering for the Wildlife Trust on St Mary’s where we get free accommodation in a one hundred year old gun battery. We’ve been told that in bad weather the food supplies boat may not get through, but the booze never runs out. So I think we’ll be just fine.<br /><br />We apologise profusely to those of you whom we discussed at great length potential locations, only to ignore all suggestions!LMD / MDEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735491314223847464noreply@blogger.com1