November 2023

29th

Baked a fruit cake.

Oven was slightly too hot.

26th

Rounding up the sheep at Bothendean, they HAVE TO RETURN TO WOODBURN TODAY.

Looked simple, however it wasn't that easy.

Gotcha!

Hurdles had to be returned also.

It was late, we were both tired but glad to be resting back at the farmhouse.

25th

We have cleared Nether Whitlaw of sheep, returning the flock to the farmhouse poly tunnel. Today we transported another nine sheep from Bowden, there is only four left now to transport from this grass keep before the tenancy finished on the 28th. We always get swarmed by passing cars at Bowden, so I am now taking pictures of them.

At the farmhouse the heating oil has decided to freeze, I've poured four kettles of hot water onto the pipes to no avail. An hour, for two hours in sub-zero temperatures, Charlie attempted to bypass the pipe but ran short of olives so left the job, at least for the evening, unfinished. Now the mud has frozen, I am awaiting the snow, winter is my favourite time, the land is so beautiful when complimented in snowy Whiteness.

The night has been very cold, a kind neighbour gifted us with two bags of logs, so at least we were inside a warm room. Whilst Charlie was outside, I persevered with the decorating job on the farmhouse hallway, this is now about 70% complete. I have not blogged about decorating much, as I wanted to keep inside the farmhouse private; this is Charlie's home that he lovingly shares with me.

24th

Optimising and formating pages on this website, between frequently visiting the toilet with diarrhea and attempting to rest with moderate to severe stomach cramps, because I still have a parasite infestation. Waiting on further test results to return, before the doctor will look into this matter further, been a week since another stool test and yet no result.

23rd

Today I purchased and placed two glade air fresheners into my flat block stair well. The neighbour's visitor is clearing bin liners, some torn, stuffed full of ABDL soiled nappies from the neighbouring Adult Baby Diaper Lovers flat, into his car before returning to collect yet more bags; this loading has been happening for days. Her flat must have been filled from floor to roof with these soiled nappies; at first I thought she was dying, but I have recently learned she is mentally unwell.

The rank smell in the corridor is nauseating whilst her door is open during transportation of these black bin bags. I've made a verbal complaint to the Scottish Borders council, and my council officer has herself witnessed the problem today; stating it's not just an anti-social matter but is also a matter of health concern for her welfare. I have been living above this neighbour for a year now, and it churns my stomach to know the filth that has been steaming away underneath me.

21st

Charlie works with Limousin cattle.

Sometimes I join him at work feeding the cattle.

19th

Early afternoon we drove along the Roberton to Ashkirk road.

Strange fungi growing on the trees along the way.

To fetch the last remaining sheep grazing at Selkirk grass keep.

Charlie ushering eight ewes and one tup lamb into a multipurpose trailer; stronger but smaller than those expensive aluminium trailers that end their usefulness dented.

The lamb tup was segregated into the paddock, he gazed at his eight ewes for half an hour before forgetting about their departure to graze. He was prolifically bullied by an elder tup at grass keep, so much they had to seperated.

The polly tunnel is this year filled to half capacity, there are another thirteen ewes to transport here from grass keep, then we'll inject all of this flock with cydectin to erradicate and protect the flock from parasitic infestation. After recieving this cydectin injection the flock cannot be sold for four months!

All these ewes should be in lamb, were expecting the new-born lambs to be birthed between mid-Febuary to late March 2024. However our Zwartble could be earlier; Charlie doubts the Herdwick being in lamb this year and stated they'll be cade lambs to look after again.

18th

Pheasants and Jackdaws gather in the farm yard and peck at spilt chaff.

Later we visited a small, quiet pub in Denholm, and enjoyed a game of pool.

12th

Today I have quit smoking; tired with coughing my lungs up. Early morning the temperature dropped to -7c; everywhere is coated in whiteness, my favourite time of the year in bonnie Scotland. Symptoms of sickness linked to a parasite infestation I suffered a month ago has returned, forcing another visit to the doctors, fearing these parasites may have evolved to be anti-biotic resistant. Tonight we watched a folk duo named Winter Wilson, the singer boring us with her family history said she were originally from the hermit Isle of Lewis, ugh.

They performed songs written about their life, themed on with and without disparity, displacement, were interesting, but I could not believe they had not of written about anybody, somebody they'd met along their long winding road. As we enjoyed a bottle of white wine, our glasses incurred comment, against a plastic glass "Winter" held in her hand. I thought: my partner is a grafting farm hand; he feeds you whilst you pick up an instrument and play music to us. Marxists alienate themselves from workers because Marx never worked.

11th

Midday we drove to the Eskdalemuir forest, from the north turning west before the village we followed the Roman and Reivers footpath towards Loch fell.

Alemoor Loch, displeased with a large amount of firework litter I discovered here.

Driving through Eskdalemuir forest.

We refuelled in Lockerbie, purchased sandwiches and Langholm, then arrived back at the farmhouse sleepy tired, and slept early for a duration of twelve hours!