Monday the 10th August

I have to say I am finding it incredibly hard to find time to update myself here. By the time I have downloaded photographs, updated 3 other sites and done everything else, the day is gone and I am ready for my bed.

Not to say there isn't a lot going on other than just computers. At the moment it is all about events and fund raising things. The 2nd of August was the pub olympics which was a lot of fun, organised by Tabby and Julie it started at 3pm but due to visit0rs that arrived at the farm and required a full tour, we didn't get there till nearly 5 and had to rush through our events. Am I proud to announce that Adrian and I would have got the booby prize for the worst score of the event? Well sort of. It was a great afternoon though, people were very supportive of the Trust and it makes you feel good.

Since then it has been lots of comings and goings in a way, a couple of horses have come in for remedial training etc and it seems like we have been out and about a lot lately though I would have to look at my other diary to tell you what we have been doing.

So having done that ....

We hosted a group called Interplay one day. They are a charity that integrates special needs children into activities round and about south Wales and we first met them at the Waterfront Museum in March. Adrian was day off really but we helped Tabby and another volunteer get sorted in time for Interplay's arrival before we had to shoot off into Llandeilo. The group of 15 had lunch then did some grooming and were so pleased at how the children reacted that they will bring another group up to us later this month. They would like to do more here but we lack the facilities really. Everybody ends up using my downstairs loo and the house is not our own when that happens.

I was thrilled when the sun finally came out, we had 5 whole days of sunshine. Unfortunately the grass is so long now that I couldn't cut it the first couple of days, then we were busy and now it has rained again. Always the way I am afraid.

We spent 3 days doing various events that meant we were out with a variety of animals. First was the Grandparent's Intergenerational Activities Day at the National Botanical Gardens and then 2 days at the Waterfront Museum in Swansea where the donkeys took part in a "Miner's Seaside Holiday" exhibition.

Bit of a rant coming so prepare yourselves.

Parents, please look after your children. Anybody who has anything at all to do with horses and donkeys can tell you they can be dangerous. We police our animals, don't expect us to police your children as well. The number of children that headed straight for the back end of the animals while their parents stood back watching them is not to be believed. All of us were having to say, "Don't stand at the back end, mind your feet, don't crowd the donkeys, watch yourselves." The doting parents stood idly by while we kept a fixed smile on our faces while thinking seriously about murder or at least ABH in a lot of cases. Poking a donkey with a walking stick is not a good idea, nor is stabbing my dog with a sharp stick either. We have to be polite and courteous, it is a shame so many young children aren't taught the basics as well. NO, it isn't a mule, it isn't a cow, it isn't a yak, it is a donkey but no she won't appreciate you stuffing your fingers in her ears.

It's no wonder we are tired at the end of an event.