Mrs Remote sat with mam while I've been sent out to do some chores. Call from daughter earlier. 90 sheep not where they should be. All sorted. Back to base and spring has sprung. Plenty more all along the hedgerow.
I buy bags of bulbs when they're selling them off. Usually too late for them to flower the year I plant them, but they flower the year after. Planted some bluebells under the hedge on the verge that I dug up at mam's a couple years ago. They've established themselves. Will get some more next time I'm there.
Anyone else watching Breathtaking, the drama on the Covid crisis? I missed last night as at the football but catching up on ITV X now. Final episode tonight. Very well done. Its hard to believe we went through that and all that followed 4 years ago. The soundbites from Boris show what an ar$ehole he was and probably still is. Full of meaningless public school platitudes. How would cope in a new pandemic now?
It emphasises the incredible work done by NHS staff under conditions few of us can imagine. I can't think of any comparison that does them justice.
I was in hospital when COVID peaked. The pressure on those selfless individuals was incredible. Nurses, HCAs (underpaid), student nurses (not paid), junior doctors and all medical staff working ridiculous hours and putting themselves at risk to look after others.
Makes me feel very humble and thankful that it didn't get to me and my wife until a year later when we had jab protection. It was no worse than a mild cold.
I know it's full on, bloody hard work for those involved but I love the lambing season. All that innocence and energy bouncing around the fields. I saw some yesterday for the first time this year. Seems later this year. When my parents were alive and living in Caldicot we used to see lambs in one or two fields near Rogiet in January. Specialised breed maybe?
I think I've mentioned it before, but you can lamb 12 months of the year. We've lambed in January before now, and those with show animals will lamb in late Dec / early Jan so they have big lambs for the early shows / sales. You quite often see lambs on the beacons or cambrian mountains early. We lamb a bit later so they can go straight out on grass. Those that lamb outdoors often run big flocks and play the numbers game, accepting they'll lose a few. It does also come down to breed. We have texel / texel crosses. They tend to be a bit softer than things like Welsh Mountain sheep. You certainly wouldn't turn them out on the hills early. They're a lowland breed. There will be people already with texel lambs, but they'll often keep them inside in the early days.
Thanks Remote. Good explanation. Rogiet is very close to the Severn so the weather there tends to be milder than the hills further inland.
Not away from football other than a different time. 10 years ago at Goodison. I went with a mate and his son. I was behind the goal with Everton fans. You can see the traveling Bluebirds behind me. Wouldn't fancy tackling my mates son now, he's a unit. I was the only one where I was off my seat when we scored. Found out there was another Bluebird sat in front of me, but he was a bit more restrained and didnt let on.
Been getting busy with the bake stone late this afternoon.... Mrs Brizzle a very happy lady, she just loves a bit of something warm, Welsh and sweet inside her
