bluebells – Uppedsticks with Pigs

I seem to have lost interest in writing lately. Not sure why. Maybe it’s since I finished my book and published it. It took a huge amount of effort and time to get it over the finish line. It’s almost a year since she (Honky) left now. I don’t think a day has gone by since that I haven’t thought about her and it’s still like a punch in the gut.

I finally got around to planting a tree for her. It’s a Betula jackmontii (the white barked birch). It’s a small ornamental tree. I was going to plant a tree out where she loved to lie in summer but the goats…….

So I settled for the garden and now I can look at it every day and hopefully think about her in happier times. So here’s to your life Honky and I hope your book will make people think about how we treat pigs and maybe make a small effort to source pork from pigs that had a good life. It’s called Honky and Hugo and the Great Big Pig Heist.

My first Workaway of the year was a German (Monika) who was here for 3 weeks. She was an enthusiastic photographer especially interested in birds and absolutely relished being so close to the sea here. She set off most afternoons on my bike and cycled to the beach to walk, read, birdwatch. The nearest sea to where she was from in Germany was 600kms!

She loved my dogs and cats and they her which was remarkable because she had never even had a pet as a child. She asked for a cat but was told no. I can’t get my head around not allowing a child a pet. Responsibility for animals makes them into a more decent human being.

I have a new Workaway now from Finland. She stays until the end of the month then I have a French girl for June followed by a French lad for July. And one of my German Workaways from late last year recommended my place to her friend, so she arrives for the month of August.

I took the Finn to walk in the woods in Tintern and to see the abbey yesterday. The bluebells were in full bloom and I thought about Monika who had missed them. They were just beginning to appear towards the end of her stay. I took a few photos thinking I would send them to her. Just as that thought went through my mind, my phone beeped and it was her sending her photos. Telepathy or what?

She took some of the animals and some of the various scenic spots I took her to.

Some lovely photos and it was great to get them. I particularly love the one of the cliff walk at Arthurstown. It’s a really stunning walk.

And finally to end, I took the plunge and changed the yellow door. After almost 5 years (and probably at least 2 before that) it was beginning to fade, as it faces due south and there is a lot of sun here. There is more sun and less rain here than anywhere else in the country. Another reason to love it.

I haven’t quite decided if I like it. What do you think?

Today we renamed the third paddock (which up to this had been referred to as the hayfield). We planted seven oaks and two beech in it. As we were trundling up with the empty wheel barrow trying to work out how many of each tree we’d planted, I said “we planted seven oaks, we’ve got to call this field Sevenoaks now. “

Cue confused stare from Gaëlle, the Workaway student. I then had to explain how and why fields are named here.

I’ve already planted willow, alder, birch, crap apple and hornbeam as well as a hawthorn hedge. I had to make sure that the big tractors and balers could still get in to cut and bale so they’re all planted at the end of the paddock bordering the massive intensive field where all the hedges and trees have been ripped out. This means the south west wind comes barreling down until it meets my small hawthorn barrier between Sevenoaks and the Pig Field wherupon it laughs and high tails it through and barges into my hay shed.

The polytunnel is finally up but the ground within is so wet and sticky, it’s virtually a no go area. The rain the night before they came to put it up didn’t help and the tractor putting in the posts a few days before made massive ruts now filled with water.

Today the fencing was finished beside it, just on time before Storm Jorge arrived.

I planted the peach tree, the vine and the salad seedlings just inside the door because for now it gets the most sun until the sun gets a bit higher and reaches over the hay shed roof, and yesterday I noticed the buds beginning to unfurl on the peach so happy days.

The wind here is a bastard. It is relentless and damaging. Every gate has been reefed off its hinges. The front gates which are massive heavy yokes have been wrenched out of the wall twice. The most recent time during Storm Dennis. Today I discovered the little green door into the hen shed has been pulled off its bottom hinge. And this was despite being wedged with heavy stones and lumps of wood which every door in the place has to be.

Now hopefully the last of the winter storms is causing havoc outside. The poor newly planted trees have been getting a right battering. But there was evidence of spring this morning in the woods at Tintern and some lesser celandine peeping through the newly emerging wild garlic and bluebells.

Last week I collected the lamb from the butcher and tasted it and have to say it was delicious but surprisingly lean. I still miss the sheep and am already looking forward to getting more, this time at least one female to keep.

The goats have been curiously subdued since they left and have been hanging around their shed most of the day only venturing out into the pig field when the pigs do. Have to say I’ve been surprised by this as they seemed to just “argue” all the time with the sheep.

My new Workaway helper is great. I decided to switch from Wwoof as was advised the people coming through Workaway are generally older and more useful. It’s just a shame the weather has been so abominable since she arrived, it’s made working outside virtually impossible. But we’ve had a few good days and last Sunday actually lay in the sun up on Baginbun and inhaled the glorious salty air.

It’s right about this time every year when the days begin to lengthen that you long for spring and warm summer days. They can’t come quick enough this year.

Tag: bluebells

The New Season

The New Name