Diary: November 23

Continued 2/2.

19th

Early afternoon we drove along the Roberton to Ashkirk road...

Strange fungi growing on the trees along the way.

to fetch the last remaining sheep grazing at Selkirk grass keep.

Charlie ushering eight ewes and one tup lamb into a multipurpose trailer; stronger but smaller than those expensive aluminium trailers that end their usefulness dented.

The lamb tup was segregated into the paddock, he gazed at his eight ewes for half an hour before forgetting about their departure to graze. He was prolifically bullied by an elder tup at grass keep, so much they had to seperated.

The polly tunnel is this year filled to half capacity, there are another thirteen ewes to transport here from grass keep, then we'll inject all of this flock with cydectin to erradicate and protect the flock from parasitic infestation. After recieving this cydectin injection the flock cannot be sold for four months!

All these ewes should be in lamb, were expecting the new-born lambs to be birthed between mid-Febuary to late March 2024. However our Zwartble could be earlier; Charlie doubts the Herdwick being in lamb this year and stated they'll be cade lambs to look after again.

21st

Installed a forum, user registration was not open as there was sendmail to configure on the hosting server I built in the early hours of this morning. In the afternoon the smtp relay was configered, so user registration is know open, I am debating the idea of letting users register to the form via social networks such as X, google etc.

The breed of these cattle is named Limousin, a French breed of beef cattle from the Limousin and Marche regions of France. I helped by moving hay from where they'd pushed the hay too far away whilst feeding. Arriving we found the coos were hungry and leaving it felt satisfying to know they were contented after being fed.

This tractor is over forty years old, and is coupled to a bedding machine loaded with a bale of straw; ready for the morning.

In the evening I went with Charlie to his work place as he had to feed the coos this evening. The contrast of the coo sheds was strange and somewhat eiry, so I decided to take and share some pictures via this here website.

23rd

Today I purchased and placed two glade air fresheners into my flat block stair well. The neighbour's visitor is clearing bin liners, some torn, stuffed full of ABDL soiled nappies from the neighbouring Adult Baby Diaper Lovers flat, into his car before returning to collect yet more bags; this loading has been happening for days. Her flat must have been filled from floor to roof with these soiled nappies; at first I thought she was dying, but I have recently learned she is mentally unwell.

The rank smell in the corridor is nauseating whilst her door is open during transportation of these black bin bags. I've made a verbal complaint to the Scottish Borders council, and my council officer has herself witnessed the problem today; stating it's not just an anti-social matter but is also a matter of health concern for her welfare. I have been living above this neighbour for a year now, and it churns my stomach to know the filth that has been steaming away underneath me.

I have been staying at my flat for a few days, as I've been spending too much time at the farmhouse. Tonight I visited the sheep, they peered over the horizon of the farmhouse paddock, lit up by moonlight reflecting from the overhanging clouds. Whilst my IPhone 14 takes OK pictures, I require an optical zoom, as digital zooms on mobile phone cameras just pixelate shots I choose to zoom in on.

24th

Optimising and formating pages on this website, between frequently visiting the toilet with diarrhea and attempting to rest with moderate to severe stomach cramps, because I still have a parasite infestation. Waiting on further test results to return, before the doctor will look into this matter further, been a week since another stool test and yet no result.

25th

We have cleared Nether Whitlaw of sheep, returning the flock to the farmhouse poly tunnel. Today we transported another nine sheep from Bowden, there is only four left now to transport from this grass keep before the tenancy finished on the 28th. We always get swarmed by passing cars at Bowden, so I am now taking pictures of them.

At the farmhouse the heating oil has decided to freeze, I've poured four kettles of hot water onto the pipes to no avail. An hour, for two hours in sub-zero temperatures, Charlie attempted to bypass the pipe but ran short of olives so left the job, at least for the evening, unfinished. Now the mud has frozen, I am awaiting the snow, winter is my favourite time in bonnie Alba, the land is so beautiful when complimented in snowy Whiteness.

The night has been very cold, a kind neighbour gifted us with two bags of logs, so at least we were inside a warm room. Whilst Charlie was outside, I persevered with the decorating job on the farmhouse hallway, this is now about 70% complete. I have not blogged about decorating much, as I wanted to keep inside the farmhouse private; this is Charlie's home that he lovingly shares with me.