Just thinking about Valentines Day...do you think the missus will appreciate my gesture of undying devotion...?
Besides my role as assistant skivvy to our daughter at our small holding (Mrs Remote is chief skivvy), I also have a role at our club trout fishery. I know the owner of the water, and he asked me and a couple of others to manage the club for him. The water is only 600yds from the small holding. Too convenient. A new membership year on 1st March so we're overhauling things, top to bottom. 10 boats spruced up (one out for serious refurbishment), a bit of work on the lodge, scraped the track to the lodge off (they only want me for my tractor), and myriad other tasks. Loads more to do, but baby steps. Half a day yesterday was spent on some work on the jetty to create 'berths' for the boats and to remove a tonne of floating weed from around the jetty and slipway. 225 trout getting stocked on Friday and wanted them to have a clear run to open water. No work there today. I'm fishing it shortly.
Funnily enough I was up at Slimbridge on Friday in the rain for a photography day as a Xmas present from Mrs Brizzle. Once I've downloaded the pics, deleted the dross and converted a few to JPEG from RAW I may post a couple. Nothing too interesting but just a lovely glimpse of moments in time with nature.
Nice prezzie. We spent many a happy day at Slimbridge when we lived in Bristol. Our daughter was a toddler and loved it. Since moving to Chesire we've been to Martin Mere a couple times. We get plenty birds on our fishery and in our fields, so don't feel inclined now. Various geese, ducks. Swans on the fishery. Moorhen. coot, dab chick, grebe, heron, oystercatcher, kingfisher and many others call our fishery home. Unfortunately, we also get visiting cormorants. They'll easily take trout up to 3lb and are actively 'discouraged'. Some permanently!
I used to enjoy Slimbridge except that you have walk through the zoo bit in order to get to the wild bits. Still breaks my heart to see wings clipped. While I understand that a lot of the work is extremely effective in protecting certain species, I can't help feeling sad for the individual birds. However, I've seen some amazing birds from the hides, a wide variety of waders especially.
When I "hide" in certain places I see some "amazing birds" as well. They really should switch off their bedroom lights and close the curtains....... or not.
The dark side of farming this morning. Literally. About 10 last night we get a message from daughter. Can you be at the small holding by 5.45 to load sheep for market. So, up at 5.20, dressed and out the door just after half past.
Unfortunately, sleep on the agenda again. Old age has been catching up with my mam, who us 94, for some time. Would like her to come live with us, but she's a Porth girl and has never lived anywhere else. Anyway, her memory has been shot for a while and she is becoming increasingly frail. Just nature taking its course sadly. Not great yesterday, ending with a slight fall. It wasn't the fall per se, thart concerned us, but the underlyingreasons. So, out with the paramedics, ambulance to Leighton Hospital in Crewe and a long wait resulting in no sleep for 30 hours. On the other hand, for hours, she slept like a baby. A good outcome, not necessarily for her short term health, but for the way forward. The only fly in the ointment is the disjointed nature of the NHS. United Kingdom? 80ll0cks it is. Wales and England NHS have their very own Offa's dyke through the middle of it. Never the twain shall speak. So, I'll have to de-register her from her surgery in Porth and register her here so I can move things forward. But then, if she goes home, there will be no continuity in service. Shocking! The hospital couldn't even see the medication she is on and her surgery is reluctant to share. Before even thinking about that, sleep is needed. I've managed a couple hour nap, which will give me the energy for a proper sleep.
Tough times remote. Hope it all comes together and turn out well for all concerned. Look after yourself too.
Thanks cling. A fact of life unfortunately. At her age, it's one way it'll go, just how quickly is the question. Yes, I'm conscious of that cling. Fortunately I have a supportive wife as well.
You tell your mam from all of us she needs to do as she's told (very unlikely of course) and be around here for a long time yet! And, yes, it's a ballache doing all this NHS jumping about....but it's worth it! Good on you!!!!
