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April 30 Herb Garden
 My herbs grow in a big, heavy stoneware trough and never need much tending. The chives, mint and thyme just keep on growing and flowering, coming back nice and strong each spring. The basil always needs replacing because I use it too fast and it doesn’t get chance to grow properly. And for some reason my rosemary has died off.
  I left them in peace because they don’t harm my plants and probably do me a service by keeping down the small flies that might damage the herbs. The only thing is that Louis is very sensitive to things like ants and flies, and they seem to like the taste of him. But I think that if the ants are left alone there is no reason he should get bitten and at least they aren’t in the house or even all over the yard. I shall have to go to a garden centre soon to get some more herbs to fill up the empty spaces in my trough; it should be brimming with colours, textures and scents. I suppose the children will have to come with me to approve each one… April 29 Teacher TroubleLouis came out of nursery yesterday and immediately asked if he could see Nannan. No, he could not go and see Nannan, as per our agreement that he needs to behave at bedtime before he can visit his favourite people.
So he turned on the tears, hoping it would get him his own way. He tries it everytime I say no, and it has never worked yet. However, he never cries at nursery so his teacher noticed and asked what was the matter. I explained that he wanted to see Nannan, but he wasn't allowed because he hasn't been behaving.
Her answer? "Oh, but he's been so good today!".
If looks could kill, I'd be going down for murder.
I did manage to be polite and tell her that he had been particularly naughty the night before and nothing was going to change my mind. I was so angry, it was not her place to say that, especially not in front of Lou! I know he behaves at nursery, buthe needs to be good at home too.
On a similar note, a friend who has older children in the same school was told by her 10 year old that her teacher had said she must persuade Mum to let her stay up later, as she goes to bed the earliest out of the class (7.30 ish) and she should be going to bed between 8 and 8.30pm.
How is it any business of the school what time their pupils go to bed, unless it is affecting their schoolwork in a negative way?
And Wendy, similar issues with Jesus! April 20 Animal Catch UpWell, it seems that I don't have much choice in whether or not to breed the ferrets this year. I wasn't going to try again with Istnofret as she has never successfully reared a litter, but Louis has just stampeded into the house in a panic, shouting that one of the ferrets is going to die because the other one is chewing it. I knew immediately that this was the mating ritual, and lo and behold, busy ferrets!
Louis is soothed by the fact that I have checked on the ferrets and informed him that they are merely playing.
Although I didn't want to breed her, Istnofret is in really good condition and more than up to the job of having a litter. Maybe this year I can do something to help her actually rear them.
The ponies are doing well, Winston is looking rather rotund, but very healthy. Alf looks a mess but that is because his winter coat is coming off in handfuls but he won't let me groom him. Miserable old man!
Ben, the latest foster dog, is settling in well. He loves to sleep on the settee, laze around in the sun and socialise with the other dogs (Jasper and Taggy, when she's around). I have also just discovered that he loves to play with the hose pipe. I turned it on to hose down the decking, and Ben leapt straight in . He is now wet through and making a horrible noise licking himself dry.
So that just leaves Mehitabel, who is rarely in. She is off catching rats and annoying the neighbours, except at night when she can be found asleep on someones bed. She's not fussy, as long as it's soft and warm, anyone's bed will do! April 18 Not So FastI had a grooming job at Thornberry Sanctuary this morning and decided that today would be the day that I took my first real solo rode on my motorbike. However, I chickened out and took Momma and Jim along for moral support!
The dog I was grooming was a Yorkshire terrier called Buster. I have groomed him before and he has not changed since I last saw him. He is an evil little thing, although this is caused by whatever has happened in his past. Buster has to be muzzled and needs lots of careful handling. I managed to get him sorted; bathed, clipped and then we did a flea treatment on hm; it pays to get it all done in one go!
While I was at the sanctuary I met a little pony, a foal, who is looking for a new home. He is a lovely little thing, a native pony, probably Exmoor although at just a few months old there is a lot of work to do with him, after he is castrated of course! He is just Hannah-sized though...
After I finished there we rode the bikes down to our local bike shop where test rides were taking place. People were taking out very expensive new bikes to see if they wanted to buy one; I don't suppose many really did!
I enjoyed the ride, I need all the experience I can get. Although I did discover that my bargain purchase of new gloves for just £12 was absolute rubbish; I couldn't feel a thing through them and my hands were still freezing. So it's back to borrowing Momma's gloves until I get some better ones.
Tomorrow I should be going out on a ride with the 'Not So Fast' group, owners of 50cc and 125cc bikes and scooters. We can't keep up with the big'uns so a ride out of our own seemd the way to go. If I survive the trip to Leeds and back I'll let you know how it went! April 10 Seeking HomesAnimal charity the RSPCA is seeking homes for 100 St Bernards which were taken from kennels in Northamptonshire. The dogs were removed in December 2008 after they found the owners could "no longer cope" with them, said the RSPCA. Since then the dogs have been cared for in private boarding kennels on behalf of the RSPCA. Now ownership of the St Bernards has been signed over to the RSPCA and and the charity wants to find new owners for each dog in the east of England. The dogs are being rehomed in small groups through various RSPCA animal centres. Priority will be given to potential owners who live nearest to where the dogs are currently being cared for to limit how far they will have to travel to their new homes.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "Priority will be given to people living in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire. "However, enquiries from other areas will still be taken." The RSPCA added that St Bernards were large dogs and, as these particular animals had lived in kennels all their lives, they were not used to walking on leads and had not been house trained.
They will need experienced homes where there is a reasonably large amount of space and will also need regular grooming. Paul Williams, animal welfare manager in the RSPCA's east region, said: "These dogs will need special care and patience. "They all have good temperaments but their kennel background means that they will need owners with the knowledge and time to help them settle into their new homes. "So far caring for these St Bernards has cost the RSPCA around £100,000 and all donations, however big or small, will be gratefully received." The majority of the dogs range in age from two years to eight years and older. Anyone who wants to rehouse one of the dogs should contact the RSPCA. Meet BenFirstly a quick catch up of our 50's night out last week. We had a great night, a lovely Chinese meal So, onto this week. More accurately, yesterday. i went to Thornberry Sanctuary to have a chat as I hadn’t spoken to the staff since I had Reggie put down. I was immediately offered another dog, but asked to bring Jasper to meet him today. The meeting went well, and now we have a great, ugly four-legged lump in the house. He is about 10 years old with a wobbly back end and a lovely nature. He has already screamed at Jasper because he wanted a toy and tried ‘hugging’ the children. Oops…
Oh, and one last thing. I dyed my hair blue. Now it matches my bike leathers! April 05 Grand National40 horses, 4 and a half miles, 30 jumps, 2 false starts, 17 finishers.
1 winner, and this year, only 1 fatality.
ONLY???
Is this what people expect now? If this race was run by humans and claimed lives year after year, it would be changed. I know that jockeys are injured and sometimes killed during these races but it seems almost acceptable that horses die each year.
This year, Hear The Echo collapsed and died of a massive heart attack, in full view of spectators. Vets were rushing to erect screens around him, but maybe the watching public should see the reality of this race? Butler's Cabin also collapsed, but was revived with oxygen. He has collapsed in similar circumstances after other long distance races but 'there is no reason to believe he will not return next year' to run the Grand National again. Will they just keep running the horse in unsuitable races until one of them does kill him?
I detest any sort of horse racing, and dog racing. Yes, these animals were born to run, but not to be pushed so hard over such distance and such a difficult course. I have seen the aftermath of racing, the animals ruined; old before their time, in pain caused by minute fractures that have never been given chance to heal.
It is time some changes were brought about.
RIP, Hear The Echo.
 April 03 ReggieReggie didn't want to get out of bed this morning, even after his pain medication. So I knew it was time.
I haven't had him very long at all, hardly enough time to get to know him. But we managed to give him the love and comfort that he needed, and most importantly, the dignified end that he deserved.
Goodbye Reggie, enjoy the rainbow.
XXX
Meet Molly She's a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Katrina hit southern Louisiana, USA . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier, and almost died. Molly's most recent prosthesis has a smiley face embossed in it.. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind. April 02 Yay!Woo Hoo!
Passed my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) today so can now ride my little motorbike with 'L' plates.
Looking forward to my maiden voyage this weekend!
April 01 My eBayHave a look at these, not long left, see if you want to grab a bargain!
Leather look biker style jacket, size 14
Blue/grey suede jacket and matching skirt size 10
Gorgeous summer dress, white Broderie Anglias
Not Happy...I promised a blog about why the Hubs was looking for a new job and here it is. Sorry if it's long and ranting!
When the Hubs went to work for his current employer, the boss was full of ideas and ways of improving the business. Things went steadily downhill, with none of the ideas being carried out, little or no work in most days (the Hubs is a mechanic) and the boss wanting corners cut on jobs to keep costs down. He bought knackered old cars and expected the Hubs to make them into something shiny and lovely that could be sold in a matter of days. He wanted the work done as quickly and cheaply as possible but of course this resulted in jobs having to be redone several times because it wasn't right in the first place. This then cost the garage more money. Which was blamed on the Hubs.
Apart from that, the boss suffers PMT. Only in his case, it's Paid Monthly Tension. As payday approached each month he got nasty, bad tempered and showed up at work less and less. He often paid well after the due date and even made us change the dates of our direct debits so that we didn't get into bother with the bank.
The Hubs booked a week off work, but the boss called him back in to get some jobs finished. He offered 3 days for the two the Hubs had to work, but didn't want him to take them all together. I think he had an inkling the Hubs was on the lookout for a job and wanted to make it as difficult as possible for him.
Now we have found out that the boss is selling the business, but hasn't told his staff (which consists of the Hubs and a trainee). The Hubs wanted to get his last wage package, due yesterday and just walk. And since the boss never bothered making an employment contract, the Hubs is well within his rights to just up and leave.
Problem then was that the boss only paid a third of what he owed the Hubs, with the promise of the rest this morning. The Hubs said he would call me when the boss paid so I could go and pick him up with his toolbox etc. At around 10am, the phone rang. 'Stand down!' the boss isn't coming in until this afternoon, Hubs will call again when he gets in. So I did my jobs, took the littlies to toddler group and the phone rang again. No, the boss still isn't in, but he has been in touch. He doesn't have all the Hubs' wages today. I was furious. I was shaking and had to leave toddler group because I was shouting into the phone. Which wasn't fair because it shouldn't be directed at the Hubs.
One way or another, that last wage packet is going to be paid today. In full. I am not a happy bunny. And you won't like me when I'm angry... |
So far caring for these St Bernards has cost the RSPCA around £100,000 
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