Kensmyth

Well the weather has been weird to say the least. I always say we get a heatwave before serious snow and then Spring historically but the wet weather has been odd but so have the forecasts..

what was forecast..                            what we actually got here ..

and as we move towards the end of the wettest month of February with endless floods towards March..

so glad all our alpaca have great fields to move onto and we did not cut too low too late last year!

Well most of you will recall that I am not a car person. I have driven the same car for over 15 years and completed around 300 kilometres in the same old Toyota imported Prado Landcruiser. I have attempted to replace her when she stopped on several occasions but always reverted to the old favourite.

Not so this time sadly, after being left by the RAC blocking the Siddington to Cirencester road from 11 am to 6pm when the Police finally intervened, it was time for her to go.

I have to say a big thank you to those who stopped and offered me food and coffee from the villages as they passed me to and from their journeys on this road, it was very welcoming.

The communications were diabolical and twice the RAC sent out a small van to tow a vehicle bigger than their own which could not be towed as automatic before finally the Police intervened and did a Force Recovery which ensured the RAC got a low loader out before dark. Thank you too for the Police who stayed with the vehicle as it went dark on this single lane road before the car was eventually towed away. Not a great day for anyone!

However, the sad end to this car was being stored at a garage, many days and calls to see if a new gearbox could be sorted quickly and when quotes came in for months ahead, she was sold to a company who will break her up for parts for a lot more money than I sold her for!

Sad day to see her go and a wait for a new vehicle.. she had carried many children on many trips, dogs, sheep, alpaca cria, three house moves, you name it!

The final goodbye..

Well we did manage a quick lunch near the date at the All you can eat in Swindon en route for a new mattress and my card to hubby is small compared to his lovey dovey one – he must be up to something!

Well as we look towards the Valentines Day ahead, we never go out on that day because of all the hiked restaurant prices!  So we really enjoyed a meal out at a totally new venue with friends at the Six Bells near Hungerford in Berkshire. Lovely toasty log fire, great choice of beers and friendly service and good pub grub..

in no particular order: Fruit Crumble, Sticky Toffee pudding, Burger and Chips, steak and chips, cheesy chips, chilli spaghetti, beef goujons, pate and toast all homemade folks!

I can never remember which months creeps in softly and which is the lion but I have to say with the promise of snow shortly following rain, wind and freezing temperatures in January the weather has gone a bit bonkers. First we have minus temps (-4) and then we have 11 degrees the next day!

What a joy that the alpaca are in full fleece so do not get cold, they love it but do not forget that means the cold!

Alpaca do not have lanolin in their fleece and have pads like dogs so wet ground and wet backs are invitations for infected cuts in the feet and hypothermia.. shelters and dry ground please folks!

Well we are not faring so badly here on our hill despite the winds, many friends have had field shelters blow over and stables lost.. you have to have windows open and solid frames!

Ironic that the shelters all stay solidly put but a pretty solid hay rack gets upturned!

Well I like to add to this blog some of the things we get up to as farming life continues daily 24/7 for 365 days a year. It is something people forget when the weather is cold, wet, windy and they stay indoors by a warm fire with a glass of wine and do not have to go out!

A quick trip to see friends in Weymouth and a drive by the beach, sorry we did not get out but folk were still out walking on the beach !

We not often eat Indian food because we usually prefer Thai but a quick trip to the Rajdoot in Cirencester was a lovely meal and great service. Small interior though, as we were leaving a large party very rowdy came in and I felt sorry for the couples on the tables adjacent but great food. Their keema nan was amazing!

So glad we are on a hill.. flooding around Pool Keynes, South Cerney and Cirencester respectively folks!

We managed a sneak meal out to The Greyhound at Siddington amongst all the festivities but I was disappointed to be honest. Salt on a fish that was not wanted, salty rice under chicken and very small Sticky Toffee Pudding now..