January 2025

5th

Snow arrived yesterday, Charlie took me out for a drive along the road to Ashkirk. As we ascended the bank of an unpopulated valley the road was not gritted, vision became limited, I saw little reason to continue in view of taking photographs for this post. I enjoy staying at the farm, however anxiety manages to factor in cabin fever.

Snow-covered landscape with a small stream running through it. Bare, deciduous trees stand on the gently sloping banks of the stream. The sky is overcast and a light layer of snow blankets the ground, creating a serene, wintry scene. The overall mood is peaceful and quiet.
Panoramic view of a snow-covered landscape. A dark-coloured pickup truck is parked on a road that runs alongside a snow-covered field. A small stream meanders through the field, and several trees are visible in the background. The overall impression is one of serene winter countryside. Tire tracks are visible in the snow near the truck.
Snow-covered landscape. In the foreground is a field of low-lying vegetation partially covered in snow, crisscrossed with a wire fence and marked by small, light-coloured fence posts. Beyond the field stands a line of leafless, snow-laden trees against a backdrop of a distant, snow-dusted wood. The sky is a uniformly light grey, suggesting an overcast winter day, possibly with light snow falling. The overall impression is one of a cold, quiet, and somewhat desolate winter scene.
Snow-covered country road lined with leafless trees. The trees are bare, indicating it is winter. A thin layer of snow covers the ground and the road, creating a peaceful, somewhat desolate, winter scene. The perspective leads the eye down the road into the distance, emphasising the quiet solitude of the location. The scene is monochromatic, with various shades of white, grey and black, contributing to its sombre yet serene atmosphere.
Dark blue pickup truck parked on a snowy, narrow road lined with leafless trees covered in a light dusting of snow. The scene is quiet and wintry, with a muted colour palette dominated by whites, grays, and the dark blue of the vehicle. The road appears to lead into the distance, disappearing between the trees. The overall impression is one of peaceful solitude in a snowy landscape.
Snow-covered landscape with a single Passing Place sign. The sky is overcast and the overall atmosphere is bleak and cold. The sign stands alone in the snowy expanse, suggesting a sense of isolation or perhaps the anticipation of an encounter.
Snow-covered landscape, viewed from a slightly elevated position. The foreground consists of a snow-covered field with a wire fence. In the mid-ground and background, gently rolling hills are visible, also covered in snow. Sparsely distributed trees and patches of darker land are visible amidst the snow. The overall atmosphere is muted and tranquil, with a pale grey sky suggesting an overcast day. The scene evokes a sense of quiet solitude and the stark beauty of a winter landscape.

Sometimes I ask myself why I bother to update these pages, then I remind myself that is why I must update these pages. Ghostly memory of dejected person, lost somewhere about these here hills.

4th

Out and about collecting chaff today.

Panoramic view of a farmyard scene, possibly taken from inside a barn. A dark-coloured pickup truck with a canopy is parked in the foreground, inside a structure that appears to be a barn or shed. The truck bed contains some hay. Surrounding the truck are various farm implements, including large bags of what looks like feed or fertiliser, large tires, and other pieces of agricultural equipment. There are also several containers, some with grain or feed stuff. In the background, outside the structure, more farm machinery is visible. The setting appears to be rural, with fields and trees in the distance. The overall impression is one of a busy, working farm environment, with equipment and supplies stored both inside and outside a barn.

The dusty hopper was contaminated with rat droppings.

Charlie in a high-visibility jacket pouring grain from a red scoop into a white sack. Charlie is wearing a hat and rubber boots. The setting appears to be a farm or agricultural area, with farm machinery visible in the background. The overall impression is one of farm work or harvest.
Back of a dark-coloured pickup truck parked in a farmyard. The truck bed contains several large bags of Tarff feed, a type of animal feed as indicated by the branding on the bags. The farmyard setting is evident from the surrounding agricultural equipment and structures visible in the background. The overall impression is one of routine farm work or chores. There is no apparent narrative or deeper moral message; it is a straightforward depiction of a common agricultural task.

We used the sheep energy buckets for so many different things, here we are using the tubs as a measure. Charlie carefully mixes wheat with chaff, if the mixture is wrong it can kill the flock and also they have to be introduced to this diet slowly; once this resource has ran out, its £500 to find for ewe nuts.

Head and part of the body of a brown cow poking through a hole in a corrugated metal wall of a barn. The hole is at the base of the wall, below a section of brickwork. There's straw and loose bricks on the ground in front of the wall. The cow appears curious or perhaps trying to escape.

Leaving I noticed a young coo with her head appearing through a broken brick wall, this, for a moment reminded me of the Shinning film "Here's Johnny!" scene.

2nd

A sunset walk alone the Ale Water in Ancrum.

Panoramic view of a tranquil river scene at sunrise. A wooden footbridge crosses the river, which is flanked by frost-covered grassy banks. Bare, winter trees stand prominently in the foreground, and a small village or farmstead is visible in the distance. The sunrise casts a warm, golden light across the landscape.
Serene sunset scene over a gently flowing river. Bare, silhouetted trees stand prominently in the foreground on the riverbank, framing the vibrant, setting sun. The river reflects the colours of the sunset, creating a tranquil atmosphere. In the background, a faint line of houses or buildings is visible, adding a touch of human presence to the otherwise natural landscape. The overall mood is peaceful and contemplative.

This area of Ale water is often blustry cold .

Close-up selfie of a middle-aged woman with blonde hair. She's wearing a chunky knit beanie in shades of off-white and pink, a grey fuzzy jacket, and a dark top with an abstract pattern of off-white and blue shapes. The setting sun casts a warm, orange glow on her face and the wooden structure behind her, possibly a fence or railing. Her expression is somewhat ambiguous, a hint of a smile with a slightly quizzical look in her eyes.
Leafless tree silhouetted against a sunset. The tree stands on the bank of a calm river, with the setting sun appearing directly behind it, creating a bright orange orb visible through the branches. The sky is a blend of deep blue and pastel pink hues, reflecting on the water's surface. The overall mood is serene and peaceful, highlighting the beauty of nature at twilight.

Its took many years to look at photographs of myself.

1st

How pathetic.

The day was sopping wet, I faced off relentless rain to exercise a walk by a swollen Ale Water.

Happy New Year, EVERYONE .