Monthly Archives: September 2008

More lambs today:

• #403 had a stillborn ewe lamb
• #218 had triplets #812E, #813R, $814R
• #401 had a ram lamb #815R

Heather Hawkes visited (Guardian Trust financial advisor) explaining more about why the Guardian Trust had frozen the mortgage fund Karola has invested in. It sounds as if the only effect is that Karola will have to leave the money in that fund for up to five years instead of being able to withdraw it at the end of six months. Still, this is rather shocking behaviour for a conservative pillar of the establishment such as Guardian Trust. And Heather confirmed our opinion that we havent begun to see the real bad news from the USA financial meltdown yet.

We spent the afternoon on errands in Hastings. Late afternoon we deconstructed a netting fence that went through the bamboo so that we can do more mulching unimpeded tomorrow.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 2°C—19°C; no rain [82.9]

Cold night with a frost and the wind propellers and helicopters were whirring away loudly all night – beginning around 9:00 pm and at maximum volume around 4:00 am, stopping around 7:30 am. Mainly grapes at risk, or so the paper said.

More mulching. And today I accidentally dropped my pruning saw into the mulcher; I had been anticipating this for some time, trying to be sure to put the saw down before dropping bunches of bamboo into the mulcher maw; well eventually I forgot and dropped the saw while clinging to some of the bamboo. Luckily I did not grope round inside the mulcher trying to get it back; with barely a hiccup the mulcher cut the steel blade and rubber handle into small pieces and spat them out. I went down to Fruit Fed. in Stortford Lodge at mornng teatime and bought another one.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 5°C—20°C; no rain [83.6]

Lambs:

• #629 (aka #600) had ewe lamb #810E
• #623 had ram lamb #811R

Sunday morning Karola and I worked with the ewes with lambs.

We tagged all the lambs except #811 and vaccinated #801 – #808 with 5-in-1 vaccine for lambs. We examined the mothers teeth and trimmed their feet. Teeth were OK except for the Romneys #292 and #296 whose teeth were worn right down.

Karola continued with tidying around the oak tree and also emptied both trailers of their loads of mulching from yesterday.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 0°C—16°C; no rain [83.0]

Rain gauge shows 90 mm rain since last I emptied it.

Another 4 hours of mulching and we’ve cleared about 1/3rd of the main thicket now.

Lambs:

• ewe #613 had ram lamb #809R

Karola went out for lunch with the Federation of University Women, then visited Rowena and following that had a long chat to our orchardist, Alan Ladbrooke (but without discussing the contract).

Night of the long knives – we dispatched the three young cockerels leaving the patriarch to crow again another day – it’s kinder on the cockerels and the hens.

In the evening we went to Cinema Gold in Havelock North for a premier of the NZ film African Odyssey – we enjoyed it.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 8°C—18°C; 0.1 mm rain [83.4]

Another four hours bamboo mulching helped by Mark. Mulcher jammed a couple of times. I ran over my hard hat, visor and safety glasses with the tractor. The hat was dented but not crushed. I was not in the hat at the time.

In the afternoon Karola continued her massive tidying of the junk between the big oak and the bamboo.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—18°C; no rain [83.9]

GST posted this morning.

Began by mulching a small pile of casurina and oleander in the Front paddock and then Mark Hendery arrived at 8:30am to help with mulching the bamboo. We worked through till 1:00pm with 30 mins for morning tea – there’s a lot of bamboo to mulch and we essentially cleared a way through a big pile so that tomorrow we can begin on the standing bamboo in ernest.

In the afternoon Karola continued with cleaning up wire and posts and weeding under the big oak where we’d made inroads on the bamboo pile.

We both went to Havelock North to attend the 7:00pm book launch for Jonathan Milne’s large and expensive book on creativity, “Go! – The Art of Change”. We listened to his wife Muff (Alice) and one of their friends, a professor from JFK University in California, and then Jonathan.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 4°C—19°C; no rain [83.3]

Mary’s birthday today.

Landrover serviced and WOF.

Haircuts at 9:30am

I went to ear doctor for checkup.

GST in the evening.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 12°C—25°C; no rain [84.3]

I had another eye appointment, 4:30 pm Royston Hospital in Hastings. All three tests show same and a marked improvement – my eyes are normal for my age – and so the current eye drops are allegedly just what I need.

We took Landrover to garage for WOF etc tomorrow.

Lambs:

• ewe #292 lost her ram lamb twin but #808E is still OK

Hawkes Bay Weather: 10°C—25°C; no rain [?]

I had appointments for eye tests at 8:45 am and again at 11:15 am; Karola took me and waited in case I was unable to see afterwards; previous tests have included drops that made it quite hazardous to drive immediately afterwards because everything was so fuzzy. Unusually this time the tests were quick and there were no after effects.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—21°C; no rain [?]

Jenny Hendery came for morning tea while her cleric husband took a service or two nearby.

Kirsty and Bruce still with us and we went to the Hastings Farmer’s Market at the Show Grounds. I, as usual, had several free samples of meats and sausages and a venison burger. Kirsty and Bruce set off for home in Wellington after the market.

In the afternoon Karola unstuck the messy tails of lambs #801 and #802. Ewe #405, who had stilborn twins some weeks ago but was very full of milk, was put in with the other lambs and ewes; Karola was hopng for some sort of nursing cooperative I think.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 9°C—19°C; no rain [?]

Kirsty and Bruce had been on a four week boating holiday in New Caledonia but came back at the end of the first week because Bruce’s mother died. After the funeral and related discussions yesterday they came and stayed with us for the weekend.

Graham Harvey and Tracey Craig popped in after lunch, returning Bicka’s eye drops which we’d not retrieved when we picked up Bicka on Thursday.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 2°C—16°C; no rain [84.4]

Lots of shopping at New World and we dropped in on Laurie and Enid on the way home.

After my wrist x-ray I again saw our GP, Richard Jameson. No fracture, no lasting damage, just a mild spot of gout prompted by the wrist wrench back in July. A few days programme of steriods and a couple of weeks on anti-inflamatory pills and he thinks I’ll be right as rain.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—14°C; 0.6 mm rain [84.1]

The most important thing today was going to pick up Bicka from her winter camp 45 mins up the Taihape road at Touchwood Books. She was delighted to see us and, despite obviously enjoying playing with the other dogs, was enthusiastic to come with us in the car.

In the afternoon I saw our GP, Richard Jameson, about my aching wrist – which seemed to be improving almost as soon as we touched down in Auckland on Wednesday. He arranged for an x-ray tomorrow and for a blood test – we went to the clinic in Stortford Lodge on the way home and the tests took no more than 10 mins.

While we were away

Lambs:

• 16 Aug or before: ewe #405 miscarried (allegedly) – twins premature and stillborn (later events make us think this was actually Romney ewe #291)
• 18 Aug: Romney ewe #294 had twin lambs #801E and #802R – still very small and not getting much milk
• 24 Aug: Romney ewe #293 had ewe lamb #803
• 26 Aug: Old faithful #219 had twin ewe lambs, #804E and #805E, big and bouncy
• 27 Aug: Old faithful #203 had a ram lamb #806R, also big and bouncy
• 9 Sep: Romney #296 had a ram lamb #807R

The large heaps of uprooted apple trees have been burned and the area has been harrowed in preparation for John Flynn planting sweet corn there.

A lamb got caught in the old rusty iron railings around the lemon tree in the Front paddock despite Karola covering them with shade netting after a ewe got caught similarly with its head between the bars last autumn. Laurie freed the lamb before any harm was done – the mother calling alerted him to the problem.

A hogget got tangled up in hay bale twine – round its neck and between the toes of one of its back legs. Laurie extricated it. This has happened before; very odd; the same thing where a loop of twine has gone round the sheep’s neck and then caught inside the hoof of a hind leg. We try to pick up all twine we see now to avoid such tangles.

There was a period of torrential rain where most of the paddocks were under water for a few hours. Romney ewe #297 died as if drowned near the little shed in the Island paddock during the flooding.

Feed was short in Hawkes Bay this winter but we had just enough grass to keep our flock going. Laurie, seeing our 50 or so bales of very old hay – most of it 2 years old and some 3 years old – sold it to a grateful nephew for $6 a bale, musty and horrid. Good hay was fetching $15 instead of the usual $5 at the time. So Laurie made us $330 for hay I thought we have to use as compost.

Once the hay was removed it exposed the base of old round fence posts I’d put the hay on and two ewes straddled the posts and had to be rescued by Laurie.

A bantam got an infected leg and, despite Enid trying to save it, it died. It was probably a cockerel that had been fighting.

Laurie and Enid obviously enjoyed being the smallholding caretakers, Enid weeded round the back door and Laurie cut a lot of thistles and released about 40 of the manuka trees in the western planting area.

The security alarm went off 10 times while we were away – mice or birds pecking the windows, or even a cockroach will do it sometimes.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 7°C—16°C; 5.3 mm rain [83.3]

Got into Auckland airport on time from Hong Kong; despite being very overweight we were accepted on the Auckland-Napier flight without extra charges. We spent 90 mins in the Koru Club (me as Karola’s guest) and both had showers – very relaxing.

Laurie and Enid picked us up from Napier airport – really excellent views of Taupo, Ruapehu etc on the way down – lots of snow. Enid also gave us scones and tea once we got back to Karamu. The reckoning can wait till tomorrow.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 4°C—17°C; 6.2 mm rain [?]

Horray, it’ll be so nice to get home to Karamu, to Bicka, and the smallholding. Good stop at Hong Kong – nice clean quiet lounge and only 90 minutes until we took off again.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 5°C—17°C; no rain [?]

One heavy, large parcel of books and clothes has been sent; today another three parcels were posted so that our baggage weight wasn’t too far outside what we were supposed to take. Each parcel cost over 50 pounds sterling to send.

Anna kindly booked us her favorite minicab and we got to the airport in plenty of time, enough time to enjoy the hospitality of the Air New Zealand airline lounge, shared with United Airlines, and eat too many nibbles. The plane left on time; we had excellent seats upstairs in “the bubble”.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 4°C—17°C; 0.2 mm rain [?]

Gill Doyle drove over mid morning and stayed with us all until after dinner. We all had lunch at a small but very pleasant Mediterranean restaurant about 50 metres from Anna’s house. This was preceded by a long walk along the river Thames from Kew towards Richmond; we got about half way there before Anna sensibly decided the boys had had enough.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 2°C—18°C; no rain [?]

The boys went to organised soccer games at a playing field in Chiswick. Karola drove the “yellow bus” – the Citroen loaner people-mover – and we picked them up afterwards.

In the evening Karola again drove the “yellow bus”, this time to Richmond where we walked along the bank of the Thames and met Tom and Norma for a very nice meal at Chez Lindsay.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—19°C; no rain [?]

Karola is still accompanying the boys to and from school and making them high tea when they get home.

I lost a screw out of my prescription glasses but it was fixed promptly with a smile for five pounds on Ealing Broadway.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—19°C; 0.2 mm rain [?]

Karola and I had a walk and lunch in Osterley Park – somethng we seem to do each time we come to London.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 5°C—19°C; 0.8 mm rain [?]

Karola took Anna’s Mercedes truck in for panel beating; jst one more expense of a holiday in France. She returned with a bright metallic yellow Citroen people mover; the latest model and very electronic – all “fly-by-wire” including the parking brake.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 7°C—19°C; 0.3 mm rain [?]

Having extended the rental of the little Pugeot for another week it was time to return it. The nearest depot was in Park Royal; web maps gave us directions and driving time, it is about 15 minutes away if not rush hour. We returned it and then, thanks to advice from a smart helpful young lady, we tok a bus back along the North Circular and right into Ealing Broadway.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 3°C—18°C; 6.7 mm rain [?]

Karola and I went to Kew Gardens; after much debate about the merits of season tickets and so on I finally bought a ticket despite the expense. We wlaked through the treetops on the new treetop walk and had afternoon tea in the Orangery.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 10°C—16°C; 4.6 mm rain [?]

Karola and I went to Sion Park garden centre; Karola bought two potted pittisporum shrubs for either side of Anna’s front door.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 5°C—13°C; no rain [?]

Week in Ealing – 2 days with Bridget and Chris and Natalie and Alex(andra) , Barnaby’s birthday party – oh and last week, Anna’s boys start at their new school. Durston, which is within walking distance and is very disciplined and organised.

PARTY FOR ANNA AND BRIDGET’S FAMILIES AT ANNA’S PLACE IN EALING

BOTH FAMILIES VISIT THE GHASTLY EXPENSIVE LEGGOLAND AND SEEM TO ENJOY IT – BARNEY AND NATALIE SHOWN HERE

BARNEY – ONE OF HIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT HOME IN EALING

BARNEY – ONE OF HIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES – AT “PIZZA ON THE GREEN”

A BIT OF BIRTHDAY FOOTIE IN WALPOLE PARK

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]

THE FRENCH CONNECTION – EUROTUNNEL AND DOWN TO SOUTH OF FRANCE – 1 WEEK IN UZES NEAR NIME, 1 WEEK IN DORDOGNE.

ONE OF MANY DINNERS IN THE TOWN OF UZES – ONE OF THE BRILLIANT TASTING MEALS – THERE WERE ONLY A FEW OF THOSE

AT ANNA’S FRIEND’S WEDDING PARTY AT THEIR HOUSE NEAR UZES

THE ABSOLUTELY SPELLBINDING ROMAN AQUADUCK AT PONT DU GARD – 48 METRES HIGH BUILT IN 1ST CENTRY AD

FELIX OUTSIDE A BAKERY OF SWEET DELIGHTS IN SALAT-SUR-CANADA – DORDOGNE

DORDOGNE PREHISTORIC CAVE DWELLINGS

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]

A TRANQUIL WEEK IN NORTHERN IRELAND

A VIEW FROM SCRABO TOWER – 122 STEPS UP FROM THE BASE

BLUEFACED LEICESTER LAMBS ON THE CAUSEWAY COASTAL ROUTE NORTH OF BELFAST

GIANTS CAUSEWAY

VIEW FROM A COASGUARD BUNKER HIGH ON CLIFFS – ABOUT 12 MILES FROM SCOTLAND (BY BOAT)

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]

SUFFOLK / NORFOLK WEEKEND

PEUGEOT 307 CONVERTIBLE MANUAL 200 pounds for a week. – THE WAY THE TOP COMES DOWN IS INTERESTING

IKWORTH IS WELL WORTH A DAY OUTING (I’D SKIP THE RURAL FARM/WORKHOUSE MUSEUM IN FAREHAM)

A SKEIN OF WHIPPETS OUT FOR A WALK AT IKWORTH

A FAMILY OF BASSET HOUNDS AND A FOXIE OUT FOR A WALK AT IKWORTH

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]

Last week, at the beginning of September, Anna’s two boys, Felix (8 yrs) and Barnaby (6 yrs) start at a new school, Durston.

FIRST DAY AT DURSTON – LEAVING 2 ST MARY’S

FIRST DAY AT DURSTON – ON THE WAY

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]

Hawkes Bay Weather: 0°C—12°C; 0.5 mm rain [?]

Third day of school.

Karola and I went to Chiswick high street searching for a particular book for Barnaby on the romans but no joy.

Hawkes Bay Weather: 9°C—13°C; 3.8 mm rain [?]