Back again

Sorry chaps, I have been absent again I know but it was a manic week last week and some things got left. Don't give up on me.

As you all know last week was the sponsored ride undertaken by Tabby and Bethan, 135 miles over 6 days and not all of it went smoothly. At one point they got totally lost and without a map, luckily they had their GPS signal device so they could find out where they were by a phone call.

While they were away I was updating websites and facebook sites and keeping on top of my own e-mails, they seem to go on forever. And of course I am not ashamed to admit that at 9pm every evening last week I pulled the plug and watched Torchwood. As Dorcas would have said, "It's my one weakness." Actually it's not my only weakness, I am just a bit partial to single malt whisky and M & M's as well and last week I managed to slot in all 3 weaknesses. Oh well, never mind.

The return of the intrepid explorers coincided with a visit from our patron who played the part of Ianto in Torchwood. It is the first time he had visited and he was a very nice young man, he is now a keen supporter of the Trust and we hope to see him again soon. Once the girls came back and some photos were taken, we all stuffed ourselves on cake in the barn, a bit of a celebration was in order for their achievement. So we never really finished until gone 8.30 that evening and I was in bed and asleep by just gone 10. Shattered.

Sunday evening the people came and did their bat survey. There were 4 of them stationed at various places round and about the two barns and one of them was hooked up to some sound gear. It was a long evening for them, standing outside until gone 10.30. I found having people round here at that time quite off putting. I am not used to it at all now, once the last person leaves usually 4.30 or 5, we have the place to ourselves and all we have for company is the animals. Not a bad thing.

We think we may be at last coming out of our infectious period. No strangles now for nearly 4 weeks, the first infection has at last wandered off and the conjunctivitis is only hanging on to one horse and a donkey. Millie looks like she is beginning to heal up as well, she managed to tear a 6 inch length of skin off her face at one point but in fact that has helped in a way as there is nowhere for an infection to collect and she is starting to heal up even if she still looks a bit like something from "Thriller." How very topical of her.

We now have about 12 horses ready and waiting for the day when they can go out, someone has booked 3 of the shetlands and someone else is interested in Hamish, another shetland. Good news that is slightly dampened by the fact that another pony is to be returned, Champion, the palamino 12 hh pony is to be returned to us in a couple of weeks. His loan home have lost the grazing. They were quite upset by it all, Tabby could hear that in the background. Luckily he is a cracking first pony and assuming his fitness is up to scratch he will soon find another home I am sure.