Down But Not Out

RIP Albert

Today I am feeling a bit down and flat, as yesterday we had to say goodbye to one of our cats. He was a special kind of lad, very demanding and very vocal if you didn't pay him the attention that he thought he deserved. Half the time he acted like a dog, as he used to trot round after me. He was a good mouser and rat catcher too, and sadly that was where the problem arose. At this time of year rats and mice start breeding, so the locals put down poison for them. Unfortunately it seems as though Albert caught himself one of these poisoned rats. He now resides in one of his favourite spots in the garden, next door to Razzy. I was working out this morning, that we have lost six cats since we have been here, two never returned home, two through poisoned rats and two were killed by a dog. We do live in the countryside so these things do happen, but it doesn't make things any easier. I will eventually get another cat, but maybe just not at the moment. It is Mini-Mog from the rest of the cats who will miss him the most, you would never guess that they weren't brother and sister from the way those two acted. So we now have four cats buried in the garden, and it might sound a bit daft but I always say hello to each of them as I pass.

Spring Blossom

Life has to go on and to stop myself from dwelling on things too much the garden has received some attention over the last couple of days. The weather has been wonderful, and even the Swallows have put in an early appearance this year. All round the village the wild plum trees are in full blossom, and the slightest breeze creates a miniature snow storm. At least this snow is welcome at this time of year. The bees are busy pollinating wherever you look. So hopefully there will be plenty of fruit about later this year. So the various flower beds have been dug and weeded, as has the vegetable patch. We are a lot further ahead than we normally are, but the milder winter and the lack of downpours has meant that it has been so much easier working the soil. From the sounds of things a lot of people in the village have also been doing the same. On the warm breeze you can hear the sound of rotorvators puttering around, now whether they are in fields and gardens, or being driven around the village is anyone's guess. I have to admit to smiling everytime that I see one of these ex-rotorvators that is now being put to use as a form of tractor tug, but it does make sense as it has been given a new lease of life.

The Vegetable Garden

So our 'lawns' have also been given their first trims of the year, and grass seed has been sown on the bald spots. With regards to our vegetable garden some years things grow and other years they don't. We have tried starting things off in the greenhouse and then transplanting them, and we have tried sowing them direct into trenches and then thinning them out. It all seems to be a bit hit and miss. This year we have gone for the sown directly in the trenches approach. These trenches make so much sense, it is easy to spot should be growing so anything else can be weeded out. Also when it comes to watering, just the trench is watered instead of the whole vegetable patch. The same goes with the craters that you can see in the photgraph. So far this year we have sown, parsnips, swede, carrots, beetroot, okra, cabbage, sprouts, peas, beans, leeks, onions, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, radishes, potatoes, spaghetti squash, butternut squash and watermelon. I am not saying that they will all come up, but we at least hope for plenty of variety. If we do get bumper crops then there are always people willing to help out with eating them. Last year we planted what said Watermelon seeds, and what grew? Bloody marrows, and neither Net nor myself like the things, and we had quite a good crop. So they were going here, there, and everywhere. At least by doing this, if other villagers have a surplus of something else then you could be of the receiving end of who knows what. It is a nice feeling that everyone seems to help out each other, an ethic that sadly seems to have disappeared from the British way of life.

Looking Towards The Barns

So we can safely say that we have had a busy couple of days, mostly supervised by Mr Cat. Mini did put in an appearance but that was mainly to show off the lizard that she caught for us, Billy just made sure that the couch didn't move. The dogs were in two minds whether to watch what we were doing, or to bark at Dencho in his field next door. Barking won.

I can remember about April showers from when I was growing up, and during April we normally get some cracking thunderstorms. At the moment we have one rumbling about overhead, and so far we haven't lost either the power, the internet or the TV signal. It will be Sod's Law that we go and lose all three together now.

Peach Blossom

Peach Blossom

So this weekend, for me, has been a bit bittersweet. The remaining cats, and the dogs, are getting extra attention so they don't mind too much. Things could be a lot worse, we could live in a town, or, heaven forbid, even a city. At least here we get to hear the birds singing, cockrells crowing and hens clucking, the odd dog barking, neighbours having 'conversations' over 100 yards all to the accompaniment of some dodgy music, but more of that another time.

Before I forget, once again, thank you all for taking the time to read these blogs. I hope that you enjoy them, and please feel free to share them with friends and family. Q9V9RASXNMYT 

Welcome To Spring 2013