September 2023

24th

This morning we picked up sheep and took sheep back to the farmhouse. In the morning we did a welfare check on our flock at Denholm; the sheep come for food every time, food seems to take precedence over everything, including their lambs!

Later on, early afternoon, we went for a drive, twelve miles through a pine forest track. We came across a dead end, so had to return the way we came, bleak out there, sidewards rain, upon a wind swept Goat Hill.

Stopped in Langholm to fill up with diesel, but as predicted Charlie's credit card was rejected; the pump was card service only. With not enough diesel to return us to Hawick, North along the A7, we drove over the England border and filled up at Longtown.

We returned to the farmhouse via Eskdalemuir, passing through the Craik, we observed many wild animals including deer and hares.

20th

Had a visit from a friend at my flat, she stayed a couple of hours then left. Charlie is working late hours bringing in this years harvest, this has been successful notabaly the silage.

Returning to Hawick from the Farmhouse we slowed down for a young Roe deer; I wish the deer has more luck with other drivers if the deer decides not to leave the roadside.

19th

It's strange how the mind can be so troubled during none happening days, yet happening days can be calm, even restful. Today Charlie disinfected the poly tunnel with lime; he wore an improvised mask which concerned me greatly.

This will lower the incidence of wet mouth and other problems occurring with newborn lambs. In March we almost lost two cade lambs due to wet mouth. Using lime to disinfect is an old way, we took into consideration our kitchen garden in view of the water run down from the poly tunnel.

Seeing natural life in the now tempered farmhouse garden is somehow exhilarating, we have bees, attracted by a honeysuckle hedgerow and red admiral butterflies resting upon the farmhouse white wall, and green grass, that one day, been perceived, through dissipated clouds of dissociation, as nurturing home.

18th

Today I am feeling unwell, we arisen in the morning feeling drained, we stood in the pouring rain. pumping up a flat tyre on our 4x4. Arriving at my flat I released I'd left my keys at the farmhouse, Charlie drove twelve miles there and back so I could unlocked my front door and let myself into my flat.

I have with me my friend, Charlies sheep dog Sam; he is good company and encourges me to go outside for a walk for slimming exercise I require to retun to a healthy body weight. In my flat I was enamoured to find a huge flower on my ever growing Japanese peace lily, a result of tending to nurture.

17th

In the morning Charlie returned with a trailer loaded with a hay bale and chaff for the sheep.

The hay is to be layed on the floor of the poly tunnel, after the ground has been treated with lime.

16th

Today we visited Gray Mares Tail waterfall, there were many visitors here, we were followed by a Black BMW our friend, who was present, often complains about. The falls were gushing vigor from a recent heavy downpour of sopping rain.

I found wo beetles aligned together in opposing directions. Our friend descends from the waterfal, edgy with vertigo, finds a different path.

The contrast between heather and rock.

Sheep subjected to a celluar tower?

I love visiting the less frequented Megget water.

There is so much unspoiled peace here, I feel apprehension as I am writing a description.

After Charlie returned our friend to her home, I presented him with a delicious serving of Toad in the Hole.

15th

Our neighbour left a handwritten letter this morning, threatening to report our burning muck heap to the fire brigade. We attempted to put the heap out days ago, and thought it out after pouring gallons of water over the white and orange embers; but the heap has since relit. This morning we have spread out the muck heap and poured water over it; I get a sneaking suspicion that this has had a knock on effect some place else, ho-hum.

There is no measure of contempt with narcissists, stated in her letter dated 15th September she has already discussed the matter with all our neighbours, but she had already talked to the neighbours when the heap was smoking days ago. The smoke has no chemical, but repulsed she views the heap as "excrement", now I'm thinking about urban people moving their contempt to whiffs of the countryside. She accuses us of lighting the heap, which is untrue. We doused the flames, using full to the brim sheep energy buckets to carry and disperse the water. Smoke is annoying, she cannot open her windows, but to first take the issue to our neighbourhood instead of knocking our door is quite worrying as covert "non-direct complaint".

It seems the September, Scottish Borders heat wave we experienced several days ago has ended with fine rain, so hopefully social stability will return. Returning yesterday we noticed burning fires in the surrounding area, notably a barn, located on the Ashkirk to Roberton road, that had half melted with the heat of their fire, perhaps more muck fires we thought. Charlie is planning to complete the mucking out of the poly tunnel, I fear we're lucky the fire did not start in the poly tunnel as it could spread and possibly burned the farmhouse down, ho-hum. We like our neighbours and are formal with them, I hope these events have not lastingly impaired the mental health of our correspondence (locality consists mostly of farmers) and that of our troubled neighbour(s?).

Knock on effect of events have also made us self-aware of the farmhouse's smoky incinerator, although she has never complained our other neighbour (resident a thousand yards away) hangs out her washing regularly, this is not something countryside people of the Borders do but in hindsight of recent events our rusted incinerator (which is not located near any muck heaps) will not be relit but will be removed. Charlie is transporting muck to the paddock, this is becoming slippy wet making the job dangerous. Improvements to the poly tunnel include repairing the plastic trap, fortifying the structure and improving ventilation; there will also be fewer sheep this winter as we have halved the size of the flock, (than that of last years flock).

We drove into Hawick through pouring rain, this is forecast till Wednesday next week. Through a steamed window screen a figure eight appeared; this did not appear drawn by hand and the placement (lower right) was difficult to gain access to draw a near perfect circle. We've never seen this before, strange. After fetching our friend we drove towards Morrisons supermarket, by N-Bridge roundabout I witnessed a dark void from a black Mini car. The blonde, female driver tee-heed cultist madness at the source of darkness, a front seated passenger attempted to hide from view; but our dash cam recorded both of them and their number plate.

10th

Transported a hundred gallons of water over the paddock hill to extinguish a muck pile fire; the neighbour was very unhappy with being smoked. We had planned to muck out the poly tunnel, but the fire took all morning to put out.

In the afternoon we travelled into Hawick, did some shopping and picked up our friend. After half an hour at the farmhouse, we decided to go for a short walk in the Craik forest. Our friend had come with us on our first failed attempt to get to Wolfcleuch waterfall, on the second attempt me and Charlie got there, and on the third attempt we took our friend to the waterfall. The overcast sky was a heavy grey, rain commenced upon arrive, but we were not deterred, enamoured by the forest's beauty we proceeded unabated.

We noticed so many footprints in the woodland floor since our last visit, trees had been pushed over the burn and stepping stones formed; just how many people had arrived since our last visit here; this place is usually not frequented much at all. Charlie lent our friend his wellies and walked through the burn and the forest bare foot. He stopped at a picnic table and ushered me and our friend to go ahead towards the waterfall. Returning, he had laid some food and drink on the table for us. We returned to our 4x4 wet.

Returning to the farmhouse all the sheep presented themselves on the verge of the paddock. Charlie prepared a barbeque, then left me to cook the food. We also invited a friendly neighbour, who enjoyed a four pack of Tenants larger. We joked how British it is to enjoy a barbeque in the pouring rain. Charlie fed the sheep then took over cooking, he covered with tin foil, the food, from the downpour.