Ancrum, 2nd July 2024
July 2024
20th
Woodburn farmhouse is requiring some TLC after spending so much time at my house in Ancrum.






Sheepdog Sam.

Lambs.


In the afternoon we drove into the Craik Forest to shear, worm and spray several ewes and lambs; swarms of large flies were feisty.

Three horrible goats, they hate our flock and am sure the feeling is mutual.


I carry hurdles also.


The flock were very agile with hyper-vigilance, shepherding in the forest is much harder.
After a few more attempts we herded all the sheep into the pen.
Firstly we drench treated the lambs for worms.

Charlie dagged the lambs whilst checking for maggots.

This is the last mother ewe to be sheared, all sheep have been hand sheared this year.

Charlie thinks we missed this ewe last year, the fleece was in too poor condition to spin.


We drove out of the Craik forest for Woodburn.

Driving along the forest track is no longer a problem as I know where all the pot holes are. Whilst editing this web page through a side window I photographed a bird outside.


Isn't photography great, snapped about 9000 pictures with this bridge camera.
19th
At my house I'm busy with gardening, relocating bushes, planting box hedging and digging up putrid smelling lillies.

Today I received a phone call from the nurse who took my bloods a few days ago; she reported my liver having "long term" problems, that the count was elevated at 247, with the normal range being between 16 and 36. The blood test is being redone, depending on results from my stool tests; if the result is the same I'll be called in for an ultrasound.

Keeping myself busy with gardening and house decorating. Later Charlie will drive me to Roberton for quiet weekend away at Woodburn Farm; I've healed so much from him and his sheep being present in my life; often I pinch myself, wipe a tear from eye, how wonderful it is to believe I have a home.



Charlie came, slept for an hour and a half after taking a shower. We drove to Hawick, picked up some supplies at Sainsbury supermarket, I'm so angry that this town completely shunned me for 18 months I barely acknowledge its existence. Whilst in transit I checked my voice mail and was happy to hear my homelessness case has now been closed by Scottish Borders Council; officially I am no longer homeless. I am ending the evening at Woodburn Farm, the open fire is lit, I've eaten, and will soon be to bed.
18th
After watching two episodes of X-files, leaving my house in Ancrum, Charlie drove our truck to a field beside Timpendean Tower. From the truck we walked through a long grass field, dodging large cow pats along the way. Charlie was weary about the presence of Galloway coos but I kept my mind on getting to the tower; not wanting to envision a problem before us.

We noticed earthwork fortifications behind us.

Outside.

Inside.


We arrived at dusk, insufficient daylight effected the quality of these pictures.

Fire place, Charlie admires the view.


Fatlips Tower, the Waterloo Monument and the village of Ancrum were visible from Tipendean tower. My bridge camera was missed.

Waterloo tower.

Timpendean tower.

We were alone at the tower, there was no litter and access was not prohibited in any way. Charlie was stressed at the coos, attempting to negotiate around them; I refused to give coos fear space in my head. Visiting passed quickly, holding onto only a memory.
16th
Received a message requesting I go to the doctors to do blood samples; as I waited inside Ancrum's only bus shelter I noticed a nest.

The weather was mild, and I noticed gypsies had parked caravans in a wagon train formation inside Jedburgh's car park. I assumed they had arrived for St Boswells gypsy gathering. Its warming to know they are tolerated, after all I was a traveller for three decades.

I visited a few shops and presented to them my plans; found a baguette shop and enjoyed lunch in beautiful grounds of Mary Queen Of Scots house.

Lavender.

Buddleja.

My family, long, long ago were kings and queens before English speaking Scotland, when people spoke Gaelic, within a country named Alba; before the Denbur.


Today we are enduring a hereditary pathocracy that despises our humanity utterly inconsolable, into murky depths of haplessness. Could this guy be a victim, maybe.

Rose, a yellow rose and a poppy.


And a bee.

Charlie came to collect me, he drove me home, then to the garden centre, purchased six box hedge plants and three bags of compost.

In the evening Charlie returned from shearing three ewes at grass keep; in a few more months the flock will be returning to Woodburn Farm. This evening we enjoyed cauliflower cheese from shopping Charlie returned with.
14th
As I put on my boots and stepped outside the rain started; I gritted my teeth, entered Woodburn Farmhouse kitchen garden and began to weed.



Potatoes are easy to grow here in the Scottish Borders.

However our bean plants have been pecked by birds, although some plants have begun to climb the cane tripod; an improvement on last year when they were eaten as they sprouted through the soil.




Our beetroot and onions over been smothered with nettles, thistles and dock leaves.


After my tolerance to being stung wore thin, I took off my gloves and fetched a spade from the truck, then began to dig a trench for the wire mesh bordering,

Sam, I want to return to the garden. Charlie helped finish inserting wire mesh.

We do not visit the garden after 4pm, because at this time the midges are horrific.

Charlie jump started his tractor.
We needed to check the blade underneath the topper, the bolt needs welding.



Look at our glorious rhubarb plant, I'd cook a crumble but I don't eat it.

We do not apply chemicals to our kitchen garden, however other areas are treated against dock leaves and stinging nettles.

Later Charlie dug up some potatoes from our Kitchen Garden for our Sunday dinner. I enjoy gardening, something I could not do whilst surviving homelessness. Whilst Charlie was work I've been taking pictures, with my bridge camera of fauna about the surrounding area of the farmhouse.

Woodburn is rich in wildlife, notably birds, badgers, owls, and frogs!

And rabbits.


Bird below moved its head so fast!



I seen around twenty types of birds here at Woodburn, the dominant rooks and jackdaws when nesting dominate the area but now they are gone these birds are returning. Late afternoon we took Sam a walk down the lane to Borthwick Water and noticed a bird has nested in our chimney pot.

Meadowsweet and Cornflowers decorate the roadside.

Wondering Sam, called to break curiosity and return.

Vetch.

Returning to the farmhouse we were attacked by midgeys, after 4pm out and about!