July 2024

6th

After worming ewes and lambs we returned to Woodburn Farm. Charlie lifted the head block from his David Brown International tractor, he's fixing the head gasket after the engine leaked water everywhere. We left my house in Acrum late morning, arriving at Selkirk grasskeep at midday. Charlie ushered ewes and lambs into the race.

Are a few minutes the ewes and lambs where together and penned.

Charlie began worming the ewes and lambs, then letting them out of the pen one by one.

Returning to Woodburn along the Ashkirk to Roberton road I requested Charlie stop so I could take some pictures of the wonderful foxgloves at Borthwickbrae.

Returned to Woodburn Farmhouse I put on my gardening gloves and weeded the front garden, so many flowers, I photographed them.

The honeysuckle hedgerow is look beautiful.

Our Quince tree has fruits.

Majority of weeds were nettles and cleavers, I piled them onto the driveway, for pick up via the pink wheelbarrow.

In between weeding I've been helping Charlie with his tractor; the head gasket is gone, he needs the tractor working to finish mucking out the poly tunnel.

Off with the rocker cover.

The block was stuck fast and took an hour of plying to release; Charlie showed me the damage to the head gasket.

And so the new head gasket was fitted.

The head block was heavy, Charlie being sensible asked for help lifting it into position.

The tractor battery was almost flat, barely turning the transmission over so the 4x4 truck was used as a jump start.

The tractor engine chuffed like a steam locomotive for a few minutes before growling into power; alas the problem appears to be fixed.

3rd

We anticipated rabbits sliding underneath the perimeter fencing of our kitchen garden. I have begun the second part of our defences, burying thick mesh a foot into the earth.

The spade handle has broken, sharp splinters have pieced my palm but this is the only spade we have. I dug in through half foot of soft compost, before reaching manure, then I found what appears to be clay; most of our kitchen garden manure has now degraded.

The spade plunged into the ground with ease, but the soil was sticky and refused to leave the spade. There were stones wedged under the fence, placed to block rabbits.

Had coffee break then completed another length; a marathon, not a sprint Charlie said.

We chose preventative measures rather than eradicate the rabbits by applying to the police for a firearms licence and purchasing an air gun. I buried one section of wire mesh and had to rest, my health isn't what it used to be. If rabbits dig under, we'll go two foot deeper, extermination is a last resort measure; due to wildlife we'll not be using poison.

2nd

Its taking a while to realise I now have a home, after decades of homelessness. A warm, safe place to rest my head, a sanctuary whilst awake and asleep. What is contentment, does satisfaction exist? This morning I opened my door to find our new milkman had visited; placed onto my doorstep were three pints of bottled milk; its been years since I seen this, how awesome.

Charlie gave me a lift into Galashiels, I purchased drainpipe clips, doormats and poly-filler, essential repairs for my house. Early afternoon we did a welfare check on our flock in the Craik Forest, then arriving back a Woodburn, bought the flock from the paddock, penned them onto the driveway then wormed and dagged them.

Lambs are weary of being penned, but I think some know that we look after them.

The flock have begun to ex-spell their tapeworm infestation; mucky bums are not usually this bad.

We were relieved to find no maggots.

We use a drench to deliver doses of wormer.

Our herdwick teg had an sub-dermal injection in the neck and antibiotic spray applied to her sore hooves, all ewes and lambs were wormed and then sprayed against fly strike with Cydectin.Whilst tending to the sheep we were attacked by a huge swarm of midges; Charlie later cut wire gauze to protect or kitchen garden from wild rabbits.

1st

In need of exercise I took my mountain bike around the path of the North East side of Ancrum, following Ale Water north. I rode from my house towards the A68 following a footpath just over Ancrum bridge. The footpath was narrow, and broken with fallen trees.

There were many ruined buildings here, I stopped, gazed wondering who must of lived in them.

These huge leaves, I believe they are named "elephant ears" and are believed to be invasive. I've also found Balsam here, on the banks of the River Teviot, near Monteviot.

The path was narrow all the way through, but the incline to the left grew steep; clinging on to abrupt right side corners.

In places the bracken was so thick I could not see my body or feet, but was passable.

This hill became steep, but from the photo you can't tell; the purple of this flower against the green is a favourite observance of mine.

Before leaving the woodland I found this old yew tree.

We've (me and Charlie) have seen this countryside passing by many times from the A68.

The journey here was full of obstructions, gorse, huge puddles, mud and stones.

The short but steep hill climbs were exhausting but exercise is needed. I had to push my bike three quarters of the way; lifting the bikes heavy frame over styles and wire fencing.

Many stones in line together, appear to be strategic fortifications.

Murky dank by the bank of Ale water, hung out stagnant, thus became parched of flow. Even here I am socially marginalised, stigmatised and isolated as though I don't exist.