December 2023

17th

Some potatoes were rotten, and were of a weird shape.

Leonie's hand holding a strangely shaped, dirty-looking root vegetable. The main body of the vegetable is somewhat pear-shaped, and it has two smaller bulbous growths on either side of the top that resemble ears. A smaller, round growth protrudes from the centre, resembling a nose. The overall appearance is somewhat comical, resembling a cartoonist face or perhaps a small animal. The vegetable is dirty and appears to have been recently pulled from the ground. The background is blurry, showing a window with a view of a landscape, suggesting an outdoor or rural setting.
Single, unpeeled potato resting on a patterned cloth. The potato is off-white to pale yellow with numerous small brown spots and blemishes on its surface. There's also a noticeable, slightly darker reddish-brown scuff or cut along its side. The cloth below is colourful with an intricate design that includes text partially visible in a faded style, suggesting an illustrated book cover or similar printed fabric. The overall impression is one of simple, everyday subject matter presented in a straightforward, unadorned way.
Collection of approximately ten potatoes resting on a colourful cloth. The cloth features a festive, Christmas-themed design with illustrations and text including lines from Christmas carols. The potatoes vary slightly in size and shape, and their skin is a pale beige with some brown spots and blemishes, indicating they may be freshly harvested or recently cleaned. The overall impression is one of rustic simplicity and homely abundance. The contrast between the plain, natural potatoes and the vibrant, celebratory design of the cloth creates a visually interesting juxtaposition.

But others are revealled to be good enough to be eaten. This afternoon we fetched three ewe lambs from a small paddock near Denholm, the other, a mother were returned yesterday to the farmhouse bloated dead and thus awaits a lift from the knacker man.

Three sheep huddled together, foraging for food at the base of a large tree. The ground is covered in fallen leaves. A wooden fence is visible in the background. One sheep has a small blue marking on its fleece.
Charlie wearing a lime green high-visibility jacket, gently holding a sheep. The sheep appears calm, and Charlie seems to be comforting or caring for it. The setting appears to be outdoors, possibly a rural or farmland environment, with trees and a wooden fence visible in the background. The overall mood is one of quiet tenderness and care.
Charlie wearing a high-visibility jacket, gently holding a sheep. The sheep appears to be distressed, possibly injured or entangled, as evidenced by its posture and the presence of leaves and debris in its fleece. The setting appears to be rural, with trees and foliage in the background. The overall feel is one of care and possible rescue.
Three sheep inside a dark, enclosed space, possibly a trailer or transport vehicle. The sheep are light-coloured with thick, fluffy wool. Two of the sheep are positioned in the foreground prominently gazing at the camera, while a third sheep is partially visible in the background. The setting is dimly lit. The overall mood is one of confinement, yet the sheep appear calm and relatively undisturbed.
Dark grey Land Rover Freelander 1 parked on a muddy gravel driveway outside a stone building. The Land Rover is towing a small trailer. The background shows a grassy hillside under a cloudy sky. The overall mood is somewhat sombre due to the overcast lighting.
Three sheep standing in a wet gravel area outside a stone building. Charlie is partially visible inside a trailer behind the sheep, suggesting they have just been unloaded. The building has a lit window showing an interior, and various garden tools and equipment are visible.

The three ewe lambs were supposed to go into the polytunnel, but to our annoyance headed for the muddy calf creep.

Muddy farmyard scene at dusk or dawn. A large temporary shelter, made of black plastic sheeting, is illuminated from within. Near it are several sheep, an old horse trailer, other farm equipment, and what appears to be a water trough covered in plastic. The overall impression is one of rural life, perhaps during inclement weather, with a focus on the temporary and functional nature of the structures. Charlie is partially visible in the background, seemingly overseeing the scene. The muddy ground emphasises the wet conditions.
Three sheep walking towards a temporary shelter made of a large black tarp stretched over a wooden frame. The ground is muddy, and a rusty tractor and other farm equipment are visible in the background. The overall setting appears to be a farm, possibly during a gloomy or overcast day. The lighting in the shelter suggests an interior light source.

Charlie placed dead mother ewe legs outside the bag for the knacker man to easily find; I joked stating the ewe was hitchiking.

16th

Charlie harvested a handful of potatoes from our Kitchen garden.

Cardboard box filled with freshly harvested potatoes. The potatoes are covered in soil, indicating they were recently dug from the ground. The overall impression is one of rustic simplicity, highlighting the natural, unprocessed nature of the food.

We were too tired to wash them, tomorrow we'll see if there any good.

14th

Charlie received a phone call notifying him of a dead ewe lamb on our grass keep. This was one of the four ewe lambs moved on 9th of December, all were strong and in good health.

13th

Today I received, by post, a Yule tide card of a woman holding a lamb; warmed and consoled me to know a friend, whom I've not seen for one and a half years, remembers and cares.

12th

The sheep in the polytunnel have finished their hay bale, so this morning we travelled to the other farm.

Green telehandler lifting a large round bale of hay in a farmyard. Two more round bales of hay are stacked beside a stone building. A corrugated metal barn is in the background along with several large black trash containers. The scene is overcast and damp. The overall impression is one of agricultural work and storage.

Charlie working the loader.

Green Merlo TurboFarmer telehandler lifting a large round bale of hay and placing it onto a small blue trailer towed by a dark-grey Land Rover. The scene takes place in a farmyard, with farm buildings and a hillside in the background under an overcast sky. The overall impression is one of routine farm work.

Hungry sheep await their hay inside the polytunnel.

Farmyard scene on an overcast day. A dark-coloured Land Rover is parked partially obscured by a large round bale of hay. In the background, there is a livestock trailer, a structure covered with a tarp, and various farm implements.

We rolled the bale to the polytunnel and then tipped it over into the empty ring feeder.

Flock of sheep sheltered inside a temporary structure, possibly a barn or shed, with a large round bale of hay nearby. The structure appears rustic and temporary, possibly made of tarpaulins and wood. A security camera is visible on the ceiling.

Hungry sheep no more, happy as... Larry!

Flock of sheep gathered around a round hay feeder inside what appears to be a barn or covered shelter. The sheep are various shades of light brown and tan, with one darker brown sheep partially visible at the bottom. A large pile of hay is visible in the background, providing the sheep with their food. The overall setting suggests a typical farm animal enclosure focused on feeding.

Very angry tonight, second time 02 has not properly sorted out my internet, happened with my previous SIM using Giff Gaff; three times I spoke to foreign call centres.

11th

Tonight I won carpet bowls with a neighbour at the local village hall, as a prize we both received a box of chocolates; I've only played the game three times! Beginning to tire towards the end, we played three games, there was not enough time for a final, so we were selected as winners by a total of scored points.

10th

Stressed at this recurrence carving up what driveway we have left, from the continuing paddock land slide at the farmhouse.

I'm wondering if we'd have this problem if we had disk breaks at the back as there are at the front of this 4x4.

9th

The Borthwick water is flooding, I've taken many photographs at this location.

Wide, fast-flowing river in spate. The water is brown and muddy, indicating recent heavy rainfall. Bare winter trees stand on the banks, and in the distance, a flock of sheep can be seen on a relatively calm patch of land bordering the river. The overall mood is one of wild, powerful nature.

In the afternoon we fetched some firewood.

Charlie splitting a large log with a maul and wedge. He is wearing work clothes and a cap. The log is resting on a stump, surrounded by a pile of other logs and wood debris. The setting appears to be outdoors, possibly in a wooded area or lumber yard. The overall impression is one of manual labour and possibly wood preparation.

Weird finding acorns inside a beech tree, Charlie washing his hands, farmyard style.

Large, dark-coloured log with a metal wedge driven into it. A knot or hole in the wood is visible, from which a dark, wet substance is seeping. Several small, brown objects, possibly acorns or seeds, are scattered around the base of the log. The setting appears to be outdoors, in a grassy area.
Charlie wearing a hat and blue overalls, hosing down a muddy area covered with black plastic sheeting. The setting appears to be a farmyard, with a wooden fence and hay bales visible in the background. The overall impression is one of routine farm work.

Trailer not full enough, yet.

Charlie in work overalls sorting through a large pile of cut logs. He is using a tool to move the logs, which vary in size and type of wood. The setting appears to be an outdoor rural area with a background of fields. Part of a dark-coloured vehicle is visible on the right.

About to depart with a trailer full of logs.

Blue trailer loaded with a pile of chopped wood logs. The trailer is attached to a dark-coloured vehicle, and a portion of a large green agricultural machine is visible in the background. The scene appears to be set in a rural or agricultural setting, possibly a farm or yard, on a wet, muddy day.

And moved four ewe lambs into another field, when they are hungry, you get there attention.

Four sheep standing in a grassy field, looking directly at the camera. They appear to be light-coloured, possibly white or light tan, and somewhat scruffy. The sheep are standing in a row, and each one has a small, noticeable blue marking on their wool. The background shows a line of trees and a cloudy sky.

Greener pasture awaits, fresh salad!

Four sheep grazing in a grassy field. The sheep appear to be marked with small blue paint markings on their backs. The field is partially covered with fallen leaves and is bordered by a wooden fence and a path beyond it, leading to a wooded area. The overall mood is peaceful and pastoral.

When they are feeding, and have a supply food, they couldn't care less so we care about them.