5 eggs in a basket

Had weird ears for a few days now (the ears themselves are the same as always *wink*), think I have an infection coming. I keep getting dizzy and No, I haven't been drinking. The room starts to spin and I have to hold on to something pretty quickly. Will see how it goes over the weekend.  Back to work on Monday for a 3 day trip.  The fiasco, aka Terminal 5, should be a laugh and I am not convinced I will be going anywhere, judging by the cancellations at the mo.  

Had friends over to stay last night and tried a new indian restaurant not far from us. Very good food and a lovely evening. Julia discovered my stash of homemade raspberry vodka and was regretting it this morning.

I am now officially calling our Village 'Tornado Valley'. It is so windy here again today. The girls are being blown around the run, ducking for cover during every gust. It can't be too bad for them as we have had 5 eggs today.

So pleased I cleaned out the runs yesterday, when it was dry. 5 compost bags full of the finest chicken muck you could want. Even though I don't want it. We have 3 compost bins full of the stuff. Took me 2 hours to move the eglus and scrape up the 'fertiliser' into bags, then disinfect the area and put it all back again. Its only done every 6 weeks or so, not too bad a job.

Jase is in Camberley having new contact lenses fitted, he has to walk around the town for 30 mins to get used to them. If you see a tall Scottish bloke walking into Dorothy Perkins, looking for wide screen tvs, you'll know its him! *hee hee*

Was going to make carrot and banana cake for tomorrow's hen course but running low on eggs, so it'll be scones and homemade hobnobs instead. I like to keep a selection of eggs to show the hen course 'attendees'.

I made Nigella's pistachio chocolate fudge the other day. Truly, the work of the devil, with the added bonus of being freezable. It comes out of the freezer soft, so can be eaten straight away. No hanging around waiting to defrost. Not that I would wait anyway. It will be made again for Christmas pressies I think.

Fire is stacked and loaded with coal. Have a feeling its going to be cold tonight. Yep, just checked and -1!!!

Off to catch up with Country Living mag and their 'chickens special' pull out. The world has gone chicken mad, can only be a good thing.

TTFN

C x

Is there chicken poo on my jumper??

Yesterdays course went well, but it was sooo cold. The snow/sleet started as we were going outside. After Winifred 'the demo' chicken had been passed around and the eglu dismantled and explained, we headed back indoors.

I popped into town after they had all left, forgetting it was Saturday. On Easter weekend. Can you imagine??? I shy away from weekend shopping at the best of times, but bank holiday weekends are an absolute nightmare. Every great unwashed person had left the comfort of their sofas and crap tv and headed into town. Children with painted faces greeted me as I walked into Waitrose. The cubs were helping at the tills. Bob-a-job week! Oh no!

The 'cubs', who were girls (?) helped me pack my bags and for once didn't put the tinned goods on top of the soft stuff! Emily, 'my personal helper' received a £2 coin, as that was all I had in my wallet. She was dead chuffed and called out to her friend Katy at the till next door!
"Pssst, Katy!! 2 quid!!!! Yeeessss"! Bless her

Had a lazy night watching TV and fell asleep on the sofa in front t'fire. Fire guard was up luckily. Its becoming a bit of a habit when Jase is away. So comfy and lovely watching the embers glowing.

Woke up at 6am with an awful pain in my back that clicked back into place when I stood up. Left a very fetching 'arse and thigh' groove in the sofa! Got ready early as had another hen course today.
A few pictures -

Me trying very hard to jump out of the way of the camera! *wink*








Dan holding Winifred with Gary

He was the only one who didn't get covered in 'essence of chicken', as she had wiped her feet clean on mine and Ros' tops.





Ros feeding the girls mixed corn -

(Stop admiring my muscular thighs)!! *wink*






Introducing the Debbie Mcgee of the chicken world!
(Notice the standard 'chicken poo down the front of fleece')





Lovely bunch of people! Had scones, cake and tea then the Q & A session!

Still cold here now, but it has stopped snowing and the sun is out. Mum and Dad are on their way over, so best get ready.

TTFN

C x

A hen course in a blizzard?

Up at 6.15 as Jason was going to work for a couple of days.

I have a hen course at 10am this morning and need to get a few bits done before everyone arrives. It's 1.5 degrees and snowing outside. Perfect weather to stand around talking chickens. Not. Will rig up the patio umbrella and hand out all weather gear as they arrive. The wind is coming from the Arctic, so that should stop them all from falling asleep!

Scones, biscuits and banana cake are made. Eglus relatively clean, so not too much to do outside. Still need to brave the weather and hang up signs outside. I get at least one call every time saying they are lost!

Think i will build the fire just in case we are all frozen when we come back inside.

More later if my fingers aren't numb.

C x

Thunder storms and flash floods!

Here I am, back at work. One flight out to Barcelona.
Been shopping for a few bits and pieces from my favourite stationary shop. I refuse to pay £15 connection for the internet in the hotel, so will write this now and ‘publish’ it when I get home on Monday. Hate not having access to the internet, just shows how much I rely on it. What did I do before I had it? Spoke to people and wrote letters I suppose.

Have my book and a couple of cans of diet coke. Will have to settle for this month’s Grow Your Own magazine, a cheese sandwich and a bag of quavers. I know how to live.

Jase is back to work on Monday for 2 days then off again. Ease him in gradually. I have just started a 6 day block. Yuck. For some reason, they have cancelled my Terminal 5 tour at work on Tuesday. Would have been nice to see the terminal now it is nearly finished. Never mind, I will see it when we start checking in there in May.

From what I have heard it is too small. The crew report centre that is. The terminal is huge. Passengers should be advised to bring a small scooter with them. Or a pair of roller boots.

I picked up a copy of the crew magazine today as it included the new announcement booklet for Terminal 5.

‘Welcome to Terminal 5, the new home of British Airways’ as if I am ever going to say that. Its cheeserama. Whoever thinks of these things? I bet some manager received a huge bonus for that little gem.

The hotel room is hermetically sealed. Reflective glass windows that I can’t open. After spending time on a plane, i long for some air and its just not possible. Can’t abide the air conditioning. At least spring has appeared here, its quite warm outside. Not that the Spanish think its warm judging by the thick winter coats they are all wearing!!

Off to enjiy my sandwich and book now, will update you all from Milan if I get a chance.

C x x

In Milan now and finally connected to the internet!!! Had to pay, but couldn't take it any longer. I got to my room and the heavens opened. Thunder and lightning, very very frightening! The rain drops are massive and bouncing off my window sill. Glad I didn't go out for dinner now.

In a weird mood, bit grumpy. Want to get home asap. 3 flights until i'm there. Only day 3 of 6 tomorrow. Ho hum. Half way there I suppose.

Night all!

C x x (again)

Busy week

Jase had his gall bladder surgery, his Mum came down from Scotland and I was working in between.

Jase is doing well, sore, but ok.  He has 4 small cuts in his stomach with a few stitches but they are healing nicely.  He is only taking pain killers at night, so he sleeps through.  The surgeon said it was a 'nasty gall bladder'.  That is the experienced medical term for a bag full of stones!

When we visited him in his room after the op, he was awake and groggy but fine.  He started doing James Bond impressions, so the pain killers were clearly doing their job, hee hee.

He has been signed off work for 2 weeks and will see how he feels after that.  

It was lovely to have his Mum down for the week.  She pottered around and did some cleaning. We went out a couple of times, just the two of us, did some shopping etc  

I got back from a 2 day trip this morning and am off now for 3 days.  My flight was delayed a couple of hours last night and we swayed down the runway like an albatross attempting to lift off!  Luckily it was a big plane.  I wouldn't have fancied sitting at the back of the smaller things I normally fly on.  

Slept for 5 hours when I got home, so must have needed it.  The wind is horrendous.  The rain is worse.  We have been lucky to escape any damage so far.  

No power cuts as yet *touch wood*, but the gas camping stove is on stand by for emergency cups of tea.  The fire basket is stacked ready for the power outage.

Jase has finally relented.  We had beef olives for dinner with roast potatoes cooked in GOOSE FAT!  They tasted so good!  I haven't had any since Christmas day.  Had a slice of white bread afterwards to mop up the gravy. Delish.

3 eggs today and looks of disgust as the weather has been so pants!  The girls really aren't enjoying the wind and rain and spend most of their time huddled together in the run.  

Laverne has finally started squatting again after not doing so for months and Shirley has become more interested in being stroked.  Maybe they will become 'demo' chickens too?? They are clearly jealous of Winifred always being picked up and passed around!

I have 3 course dates on the Omlet forum still available which are filling up slowly.  3 or 4 courses fully booked, so that'll keep me busy for now.

Jamie Oliver's hot cross buns and marmalade with custard in the oven as I type (hope he doesn't mind) and a roaring fire.  

Nice to be home again.

Pinch, punch, first day of the month!

Evening all!

After a gusty night with little sleep and the occasional power cut, I woke up early and started to prepare for the day.  Hen course at 10am and a few bits to do.  Signs went up down the lane, thank goodness for my trusty staple gun! 

Let the girls out at 6.45 and was greeted with 2 eggs!  Winifred was the first out, as always, and squatted for me to pick her up.  Well she squatted for something else, but we won't go there! I gave her a cuddle and watched the sun rise over the long field.  Lovely day.  

We suffered very minor damage with the gales last night.  Only losing a potted conifer pot on the drive, that I was never very keen on anyway. 

Pam and her daughter from the Omlet forum, arrived at 9.45.  We chatted briefly before the others arrived at 10.  Nice bunch and they seemed to enjoy it.

Pam brought me a goody bag containing chicken poop lip balm, a jar of home made apple and pear chutney and some pistachio dark chocolate fudge.  Absolutely delicious!  That is a definite addition to my repertoire.  She also emailed links to a few gorgeous websites, naughty lady.  One that sell lovely little paper bags.   Thinking Christmas pressies already, sorry!

Jase is mega delayed from Prague and won't be home until at least 11pm tonight.  I have managed to swap my 8.10am stand by tomorrow for 5.05am Paris and back......regretting that now!  So tired and have to be up at 2.45am!  At least I will be back in time to pick his Mum up from Southampton airport.  

House is blitzed and looking good.  Fire is stacked and ready to light, beds made, bathrooms cleaned and the eternal cob webs removed.  We have millions of the bloody things.  I spend ages getting rid of them, normally as I walk through them *rolls eyes*

Jase's operation is on Monday and I am starting to worry now.  What am I talking about, I am always worried.   Surgery in the afternoon and should be out by Tuesday morning.  What happened to 3-4 days in to recover???  Even with Bupa, they want you in and out as quickly as possible.  

I went to a private hospital a few years ago to have my wisdom teeth out.  Only in for a day, even after a general anesthetic.  Shame, as the menu looked lovely!  Wouldn't have been able to eat anything anyway as it hurt to swallow.  Hamster cheeks aren't a look.  

Luckily I have a few very quick day trips this week, so will be home to 'tend' to the boy.  Must get him a little bell to ring!  As if.  

I'm rambling now as the sleep deprivation has finally kicked in.  

Cup of tea and a quick ciggie and i'm off to bed.   Don't preach.  I know, I know!

C x x x  

Village news

Rapidly approaching the end of my part time week off and feel like I have done very little.  

Jason's Mum is coming 'doon' from Scotland on Sunday to stay for a few days.  He has his gall bladder operation booked for Monday at 12.30.  I am at work until 12, so can't take him to hospital.  Bloody work.  Couldn't get the day off.  

Anyway, the girls are fine and laying well.  Tucked them up earlier and read them a story.  I am joking.  They seem to be free from worms for now and Pru is looking perkier.  Shirley's feathers are nearly back to the original colour again and the rest are content with the bunch of spinach hanging from the gate.  

I am hosting another hen party this Saturday, 7 booked and should be a nice day.  Someone from the Omlet forum who is also running courses is coming to see how I do them.  Ooooh the pressure.  Tempted to get some cards laminated to look professional.  Then again, how professional can you look in wellies with chicken poo all down your front?  I have warned her to leave the red markers at home.  

Baked some 'hobnobs style'* biscuits for the party today and will bake some scones tomorrow.  All organised, just the house to vacuum and eglus to blitz in the morning.

* not Hobnobs, due to copyright law *wink*

Jason has been on the union forum and is getting worked up about people's English.  Lose and loose and his personal favourites!!!  "I can't afford to loose a trip this month" Its lose you moron!!!!  He gets so worked up its so funny.  I have to admit I am a stickler too.  Don't get me wrong, my spelling can be awful and I wouldn't leave home without a dictionary, but at least I try to spell correctly.  You have no idea how many times I proof read things before  I post.  

It has become an obsession, even asking Jase to read things before 'publication'.  I suppose some people don't care, but I like to take time with my writing and try to use correct grammar and punctuation.  

Oh and please no messages  if you spot something on my blog, okay?? Hee hee.

My back is so sore and I need to go to the doctors for more pain killers.  I find it hurts more when I stop.  If I keep busy it's alright.  I have visions of me in a back brace if I don't take it easier. *Yikes* 

Made several batches of chilli and beef olives for the freezer today.  Ready to defrost when Jennifer comes to stay.  Managed to get day trips when Jason is in hospital so I can at least visit and take the obligatory grapes and car magazine.  

I can't tell you how nice it is to have oil.  The satisfying click as I crank up the thermostat!!  We had cavity wall insulation done not long after moving in, so I dread to think how cold this house would have been without it.  Roll on summer.  

The sweet pea and tomato seeds I planted are doing well.  The little green house that next door gave me is wonderful, now that it is 'bungee'd' to the house.  No more flying seed trays!!  

I have started off some extra marigold seeds to take to the village fair in June.  It isn't our village (we have 8 houses) but a little way down the lane.  

The plant stand was a sorry affair last year.  A couple of straggly green things in pots and a 2 foot high runner bean plant!  Who buys one runner bean plant???  I might even grow some veggie plants for them.  The organisers are all very well to do.  Double barreled names and wax jackets.  They mean well.

The headline on last months newsletter was 'Bus shelter receives new thatch'.  Its a fast moving world, isn't it???

Off to bed soon.  Hot water bottle at the ready!!

Night night all

C x x x 

We have oil!!!!!!!

Back home and only one more day to go before my week off.  Sat here with a wild berry Lemsip and the sniffles.  The good news is that we have oil!!!!!  The delivery came a couple of days ago and I now have the thermostat cranked up.  Just for a little while to thaw out my body.

The girls are on a weeks course of wormer.  Its mixed in with their feed.  I gave the eglus a thorough scrub today as I have a hen party on Sunday.  The poo trays were filled with errr, poo and also a couple of dead worms.  *Runs off to be sick*

They do seem happy though, clucking away gently as I pegged out the washing.  I moved an old log in the run and they all scrambled to get to the woodlice underneath.  

I'm sure Winifred is getting bigger.  As she is my 'demo' chicken for the hen parties, she squats to be picked up every time I go near her.  She does enjoy a cuddle.  Pru still has mucky knicker feathers so will be having a bath soon.  If you have never bathed a chicken you haven't lived. Which reminds me, I need to get the wet suit out and prepare!!!   

They are getting used to being separated when we are both away.  Tonight they were even in the correct eglus for bedtime.  Bless them.  

Laverne laid a stonker of an egg today.  It is huge!  Beautiful pale cream.  She is looking gorgeous, especially when the sun hits her feathers.  Shirley is nearly over her moult and the egg laying is picking up.  Elsbeth is still laying like a trooper, maybe missing one day in every 14.  

A nice little Frankfurt and back today.  Not too taxing but delays both ends.  Nice crew though.

4 flights tomorrow, so praying for fog.  That should make Heathrow grind to a halt.  Shame if I had to come home early.  Hee hee.  Unlikely though.  Ho hum, only one more day.  Then its playtime!!

Chickens and the veggie plot....

Back home after an exhausting 2 day 2 sector trip to Geneva.  One flight out yesterday morning, all day there and a flight home today.  Quite full yesterday but empty today.  Had room service, a chill out and managed to finish part 2 of the Philip Pullman books.  Have the last book ready to read......!

On my way home, I picked up the chicken food that I ordered.  3 bags should last them a while. I raced straight out to see the girls.  They were confined to their run yesterday and even though they have enough room, I like to let them out asap.  I could hear their excited clucking as I pulled up on the drive.  

7 eggs this morning (well 7 since yesterday as it was too early to collect when I left for work). Still think Prudence will lay today as she was straight back in the nest box once she had said hello.

Picked up a copy of Country Living at the petrol station.  Filled up with liquid gold, sorry petrol.  £48.30 to fill my Mini!!!  I'm still in shock.  Mind you, I was on fumes.  Will light the fire this evening as its freezing again and we still haven't got any oil.  Trying to preserve the last few precious drops before the delivery arrives.  

Went slightly overboard at the local garden centre the other day.  Bought 5 beech hedges, 14 perennials, including foxgloves, lupins, poppies and scabies.  No, not scabies but something similar.  Light blue flowers that look very 'country cottage'.  Funnily enough, they are for the country cottage garden that still needs work.  

I planted up the black currant bushes that I got in Lidl and repotted the gooseberry bush. Planted some more marigolds as companion planting for the tomatoes and started off some free tomato seeds I had.  Bit early but will give it a go.  

The garden centre also had seed potatoes for £1.25 a kilo.  Bargain.  Bought King Edward as they store well.  Hoping for a better crop than last year.  

We let the girls out of their area in the veggie garden earlier in the week.  I fenced off the spinach and chard beds before they could decimate the lot.  Laverne and Shirley were old hands at the veggie garden, but the 'newbies' took some persuading.  Once they saw Shirley demolish a few strawberry leaves, they were out like a shot.

Sod it, I'm putting the heating on.  My fingers are numb and I can't type (thats my excuse anyway).  

One day off and then my annual check at work on Sat/Sun.  Pretending to evacuate an aircraft, smoke filled chambers and lots of bored looking crew wandering around the training centre. Should be fun!!  The 'exam' is now done at the end of day 2 when you have completely lost the will to live.  Lets hope I pass.

*clicks up thermostat*

Right, off to unload the chicken food and stack the fire.

TTFN

C x x   

 

Winter has arrived.

Christ, you can tell its February!  Funny what a difference a couple of days makes.  Its bloomin' brass monkeys out there.

Where have my days off gone?  I had 9 days off and now I am back to work on Tuesday!!  Haven't got much done really.  Bit hacked off at how little I have achieved this week.  There is always next month.

The log man didn't show up as planned as he couldn't find the house.  Understandable really, it was pitch black out there.  Anywho, he delivered on Friday night, so after my Hen Party on Saturday morning, Jase and I stacked the load into the

log store.

He loaded them onto the wheel barrow from the driveway and dumped them infront of me, whilst i stacked them up.  Bent over double to get to the back of the store, my back held up really well.  15 barrow loads!  They are now 3 deep in the store and look lovely.  There is something about it being full that makes me feel content.  Like having a full fridge!!

We plan to get a couple more loads this spring and that will hopefully last all winter (unlikely the way we always have the fire lit)!

Had to take an anti inflammatory this morning as my back has seized up.  At least I'm not hobbling around the house Mrs Overall style.

The hen party went well and 3 couples left with a good idea that they were definitely getting chickens!!!!  It was freezing cold but at least the rain held off.  Hope I didn't bore them with all my 'chicken chat'.  Thats always a worry when I start going on and on and on........!

The tea and scones went done well as always.  

I received a lovely email from one of the 'attendees' to say her husband said 'inspirational' twice in the car on the way home!!!  Think he was talking about the scones.  Or the jam.

The girls are fine, braving the freezing cold north wind that is buffeting the house.  They recognise their blue treat bowl and come running to the gate every evening, expecting a warming pellet porridge with sweetcorn.  Spoilt rotten. 

 

Here are Winifred and Elsbeth tucking in!

And a decent picture of Prudence!

Laverne and Shirley were hiding behind the orange eglu with their own special bowl of porridge.  Greedy guts Winifred 'the dustbin'  wouldn't let them have a beakful otherwise.  

They are still sleeping in one eglu at night, all cosy.  Shirley the bed wetter is getting better at not fowling the nest at night.  Do they do pyjama pants for chickens?

The garden is looking bare, but daffodils are out and already picked a couple for the house.  The hellebores I planted last year are flowering too.  Much needed colour at this time of year.

Mum and Dad came over with the rest of the clan.  Jase made a couple of salads and pizzas for the hungry hoards. 

 They left with 18 eggs to sell at work.  We are now up to £14 in egg money!  Enough for a couple of bags of layers mash.  Not bad considering we only started selling them a few of weeks ago.  Don't think I will be leaving work just yet though.

Off to lock the girls in for the night and light the fire.  Its 4 degrees C at the moment and plummeting quickly.  No snow forecast but it looks that way.