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[timon]

@Yorkshire Coop I have been busy washing eggs.... production is starting to take off! Still trying to chase down this part for my car. Thought I had found one at a reasonable price but it's the wrong model. Spending too much time at this infernal machine doing searches when the weather is fine and I have a poly tunnel to finish, but time is ticking for car to get MOTd. Best wishes Barbara

Those egg boxes look amazing. What a great mixture. That's certainly a goal of mine, but I'm currently trying to coax ex-battery hens to survive through the winter under stressful entrapment policies first and then hopefully spring will come soon and I can diversify a little. I'd love a couple of Marans...

 

[rebrascora]

@timon

Thanks. I too like the marans' eggs and the fact that they are pretty docile but bold (one of the hens will not share the garden with the cats and will chase off even my big tom cat who catches rabbits) and they are coping better with confinement than the leghorns that's for sure and I'm getting at least 5 eggs a week each from them, so pretty good layers so far, but then they are still pullets. I would definitely recommend them from my limited experience.
It's funny but last year I was worried that I had too many blue/green and white eggs and not enough brown and now I've got plenty of brown and green eggs but think I need more white....I've had no more white eggs since I washed those in the photo. I may need to set up a breeding pen for my exchequer leghorns once this bird flu threat is over, if I can nurse my poor beaten up old leghorn rooster back to health....he's a tough boy though, so I'm optimistic he'll come good. He is starting to lift his tail and crow again so that's a positive sign.

 

[rebrascora]

@Yorkshire Coop

Can you believe it Kim, they sent the wrong part

After all the information I gave them, which they obviously didn't read....and from the attitude of the guy I spoke to, who clearly thought he knew more than a mere woman about the subject! Boy was I mad when I opened the package and saw it. If they had sent me a photo of it as I asked, I could have told him it was the wrong one immediately, but no, he was so confident he was right!

They are stripping two more out tomorrow and I have to ring before lunchtime to see if either are the right one, otherwise it is back to the drawing board!

Hope you have a less frustrating weekend than is on the cards for me right now.....OK that's not exactly a generous wish, but you know what I mean! Have a relaxing one and hope you get out on Harry whilst we have reasonable weather.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Oh no Barbara, how frustrating for you Goodness I bet that's so frustrating and pretty poor on the guys part that assured you it was the right part. As you say in this day an age it's so easy to send a picture of the item and would have saved you time an awful lot of frustration. I do so hope they get the other two stripped and you get the right one next time

I sure will try to have a less frustrating one than you but remember things have a way to work out ok so try not to be too stressed
I will do you a deal, you try and get out riding and so will I. A good ride to blow the cobwebs off will do us both good!

Catch you soon

Kim xx

 

[rebrascora]

@Yorkshire Coop

Kim, what are you doing out of bed and online at this time of night! I'm the night owl, you are supposed to be the morning lark!

Afraid there is no chance of me riding whatsoever this weekend. It would be too dangerous with them not being out for months and too many people out and about using the railway lines and bridleways who might get hurt when my horses spooked or acted up. I also can't afford to get injured myself right now, particularly with the bird flu lockdown as it creates so much extra work that others would have to cover as well as the horses. I will however do my best to take one out in hand...probably MeMe...being the safest option. It will get me some good exercise as she will be keen to go and it's all hilly here so good cardiovascular for both of us, and it will definitely blow some cobwebs....what it won't be is relaxing....but then I can do all the relaxing I like when I am dead!

Is that a reasonable compromise?

Thanks for your words of wisdom re not getting too stressed and things working out. I know you are right, I just get panicky when I have a timescale to work to and things are starting to get tight for getting it sorted before the MOT runs out. I was just starting to think I was getting back on top of things and now I feel like I'm sinking again. AND I really hate men being patronising to me because I'm a woman! Anyway, rant over. Many thanks for listening (reading) and letting me vent!..... Like you have much choice!!

Hope you have headed off to bed now and are giving it zzzzs.

Catch you again soon

Barbara

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara

I know it should be you being the night owl but I just couldn't sleep last night I made the foolish mistake of nodding off in my chair early on so I was wide awake then in the night. I don't usually get on here when I can't sleep as it wakes me up even more but I couldn't find anything to watch on the TV so I popped on here for a bit of reading. Was 3 o'clock before I nodded off but I slept until 5.45 which is a lay in for me really.

It sure is a reasonable compromise Did you get MeMe out for a walk? If so I hope it all went well I didn't get out on Harry today as I got field jobs done and I had to tidy the haylage area up before the new bale arrived but I have a victim friend lined up for the morning to come out with me and Harry
Not sure what's clicked in his head but he was so back to his old self this morning going out to the field. Jig jogging sidewards, pulling and raring to go! His field buddy was the same so my arms felt they were coming out of the sockets by the time I got to the gate as I take them down together. They set off round the field at 90 MPH kicking, bucking and farting away! Don't know what had gotten into them but it was nice to see a bit of the life in both of the old boys.
I hope he does have ideas of that kind of behaviour in the morning!

You are most welcome so rant away and get it out. Men being patronising sure deserves a good rant! I hope he felt foolish when you pointed out to him that it was the wrong the part

Hope today has been ok for you and that your not stressed

Catch you soon

Kim xx

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kim

Sorry to hear you couldn't sleep. I didn't doo much better than you. I used to be able to sleep like the Martini advert....."Anytime anyplace anywhere" and I so took it for granted. Now I wake up every couple of hours and sometimes I just can't be bothered to even try. I went up to the yard at 4am this morning and it was a glorious starry moonlight night. I am most happy out in the dark on my own which I know is odd, but it would be boring if we were all alike. I even walked up to the oldies field (half a mile up hill) with a bag of haylage on my back for them because I didn't want to disturb the peace and tranquillity by taking the pick up.
I am hoping to get MeMe out tomorrow. Pleased I didn't even try today as there were loads of people out and a couple of groups with toddlers in those little electric cars on the old railway line. Not sure about the legality of them on footpaths/bridleways, but pretty certain my GGs would either freak out or more likely use them as an excuse to be stupid, especially as they make that electric motor whirring noise, and you just can't trust kids that age to be careful or realise the risks with horses. One of the adults with them was cleaning dog poop off the wheels before putting it back in their car as I was up there feeding my oldies. Hopefully that will sicken them from coming back onto the railway line tomorrow

.
So good to hear that Harry is back to his old self and feeling full of it! I know it makes them a little harder to handle but at least it's better than that horrid niggling worry that there is something seriously wrong, when they are down in the mouth and lacklustre. Pleased you have managed to twist someone's arm to hack out with you tomorrow. Hope you have a lovely ride.

Have a great evening and hope you sleep better tonight.

Barbara

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara

It sure does sound like it was a good job that you didn't head out with MeMe with all that was going on! Sounds like it gets busy there but hopefully they will all be staying indoors today and you can get out for a walk with her. Is it chilly up there like down here? That might keep a few inside if it is.
Wow 4am is early to be heading off to the yard. I think if I had my own place at home to keep Harry I would be the same. Not sure I would get any brownie points for heading to the yard now at 4

My victim was all ready to go this morning and we had a lovely steady ride It was a bit icy in places but we managed to get around them. As we were just out of the yard she got a txt from the yard owner asking where her hi vis vest was! Chel who owns the place is great and really does look out for us all and both me and my friend have known her all our lives, pretty much growing up on the yard when we were kids. My friend has been told time and again to remember her vest so she got it in the neck this morning for not having one. She tried to appease the situation by sending Chel a pic saying I had one on, didn't really work as she still got it when we got back in the yard. Had to get wrapped up this morning as it was chilly willy out there, brrrr..... I was kind to Harry and put him his sheet on. I could have done with one to get wrapped up in too.....

Hope today is going good for you and that your new part arrives really soon and you get the car through its test.

Kim xxx

 

[rebrascora]

@Yorkshire Coop

Hi Kim

I like that you sent me proof of your ride out. Afraid I won't be able to reciprocate as I will have my hands full with carrot stick in one hand and bouncing GG in the other and probably gasping for breath as she drags me up the hill, so you will just have to take my word for it when I report back. My sister is getting me into the habit of hi vis, but Ian absolutely hates them.... he's a traditionalist. I used to ride without a hat too for a lot of years and still sometimes forget. The last time my sis and I rode out together, we were out of the gate and 20 yards up the road on bouncing GGs when she realised I wasn't wearing my hat. It's funny because I was totally unaware I had forgotten it and yet if I get in the car and don't have my seat belt on, I'm conscious of it straight away.....maybe says a lot about how often I drive compared to ride. Anyway, pleased you had a good ride out and hopefully I will be able to report a similar outcome with MeMe later.

Not too cold here this morning as overcast, so I don't have ice to worry about. Must crack on now, but will hopefully check In later tonight with positive result.

Wish me luck

Barbara

 

[rebrascora]

@Yorkshire Coop

Hi Kim

Well, I'm a miserable failure, I'm afraid. Didn't get MeMe out yet again! Probably just as well though as there were kids out on quads this afternoon tearing around on the playing field at the back of the village that I have to cross to get onto the railway line. Weekdays are better for me to be honest as kids are at school and most people at work, so the back roads and railway lines are quieter.

On a positive note though, I nearly finished my poly tunnel. Would have finished it but was two bolts short....actually the correct number of bolts were there but 2 of them are the wrong length. Will have to get some at the hardware shop tomorrow. It is absolutely huge though! You could park 2 cars end to end in it. In fact it has set Ian thinking about using one for storage of his vintage cars and or carriages.....I hope he is contemplating getting his own and not commandeering mine once the chickens are out because I'm quite excited about gardening in it.

Have to do battle with the scrap yard tomorrow again to see if I can get the correct part for the car so keeping fingers crossed for that.

Hope you have a lovely evening and sorry to renege on our deal. Will hopefully redeem myself in the next couple of days!

Best wishes

Barbara