May 2025

8th

We woke early, as I made coffee Charlie herded sheep from holding inside our polytunnel, he walked the flock around for half an hour seperating mother ewes with their lambs. This proved difficult as their marker numbers had almost completely faded and lambs don't care so much about their mothers when almost three months old; there ready for weening.

Charlie in overalls loading sheep into a trailer. The sheep are being guided up a wooden ramp into the trailer, which is attached to a vehicle. The scene is set in a rural area with a grassy hill and some trees in the background. Another vehicle is parked nearby.
Charlie wearing grey work trousers, using pliers to tag a lamb through the ear. The lamb is partially hidden behind the person's leg. Other sheep are visible in the background within a rustic wooden pen filled with straw. The overall scene depicts a routine agricultural task.

Tagging is quick and painless, mind discomfort is from a clicking sound from the tag fastening together.

Interior of a sheep trailer. Several sheep, including at least one ewe and her lambs, are standing inside the trailer on a bed of straw. The trailer is old and has worn wooden walls and a metallic base. The overall tone is somewhat rustic.

All lambs by law are ear tagged and recorded in the sheep and goat movement book.

Charlie dressed in a work jacket and plaid shirt, seated at a wooden table. He's hunched over, meticulously filling out a pink invoice or order form with a blue pen. The setting appears to be a small, somewhat cluttered office or workshop, indicated by the yellow walls, a pot containing pens and other small items, and various papers on the table. The overall feeling is one of quiet concentration and possibly routine administrative work.

We drove through Ashkirk, then past our old grass keep at Bothendean (just outside Bowden, at the foot of the Eildon hills), surprised to see a flock of thirty sheep doing absolutely nothing. We travelled twice to the auction as lambs require space to move within our livestock trailer.

View from inside a car driving down a narrow, winding country road. The road is asphalt and appears somewhat damp. The roadside is lined with lush green grass and mature trees, some bare and others in leaf, suggesting it might be spring. A road sign indicating various directions and distances to different locations is visible on the left. The overall sky is overcast and slightly gloomy. The perspective is from the driver's seat, providing a first-person perspective of the journey.

We arrived to an empty loading bay, no drovers were to be seen anywhere, not even anybody else unloading.

Panoramic view of a livestock handling facility. A silver pickup truck with a trailer is parked in a gravel lot in the foreground. Behind the truck is a large, open-sided metal structure, divided into pens, presumably for holding cattle. The sky is mostly sunny with some clouds. The overall impression is of a rural agricultural setting.

After what seeming like half and hour a drover came, but did not seem to know what to do, two work colleages came and drove the sheep into their holding pen whilst Charlie handed the other our sheep and goat transit book paperwork.

Sheep pen in a livestock market or farm. Several sheep are visible within metal pens, with a larger, open-roofed shed providing shelter overhead. The foreground features rusty metal gates and fencing, suggesting age and wear. The overall impression is that of a working agricultural setting, perhaps a livestock auction or holding area.

Wooden sheep holding pens appear endless, capable of holding thousands of sheep.

Livestock auction yard or similar facility. The foreground is dominated by weathered wooden pens or partitions, while in the background, a group of people can be seen, possibly bidders or attendees. A large building, possibly a sales hall or storage area, is also visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky. The overall impression is of a rural, working environment, possibly related to agricultural trade.
Flock of sheep, mostly white with some gray flecks, standing within a wooden enclosure. Some sheep appear to have small blue markings on their wool. The ground is covered in small grey stones. The background includes lush green trees and a partially visible sky.

Life is creepy, some people / couples who come to where we arrive, repeating intrusive behavours to exploit social connections; been happening for years, since 2010.

Sheep auction taking place in a large, indoor arena. A group of people are gathered around a circular pen where a flock of sheep are being assessed. Auctioneers and potential buyers are visible, with some people observing the proceedings from a raised platform. The scene suggests a traditional agricultural setting, possibly in the UK, given the style of the building and attire of the individuals present.

The sheep, four ewes and five lambs, sold for £1400, a significant start to financing essential repairs to our truck.

7th

Woke early, from four hours sleep. We prepared ourselves for a two mile walk into Roberton to acquire advice from a local mechanic, however a neighbour offered us a lift.

Our neighbour driving a Ford Fiesta. The view is from the back passenger seat, looking forward at the driver. The car is travelling along a rural road, with green fields visible through the windscreen. The overall impression is one of a peaceful, countryside journey.

Two mechanics have stated our truck requiring a new radiator, engine and gearbox, it's going to cost thousands of pounds to repair our truck.

Interior of a car,specifically the passenger's side door and window. The side mirror reflects a view of a wooded area and two other vehicles parked or stopped along a road or driveway. A small building or house is partially visible in the background. The overall scene suggests a rural or wooded setting.
View from inside a car, looking through a somewhat dirty windshield at another vehicle ahead. The car in the foreground appears to be a pickup truck, and a similar model pickup truck is visible ahead, partially obscured. The background shows a rural or country setting with some trees and overcast sky.

Later our neighbour gave Charlie a lift to Denholm to fetch a pickup allowing us to tow our pickup up a steep verge and onto the safety of our farmhouse driveway.

6th

Returning to Roberton from Bury St Edmunds our truck blew up on the A1 near Harrogate. Two attempts to ring for recovery assistance were thwarted with disconnection, and an additional request via the internet became broken, however a third call worked, and a recovery van came within fifteen minutes. The recovery man lifted the bonnet to find our radiator had blown, attempting to fill the radiator resulted in a flow of water; because our truck would not start after cooling he suspects the head gasket had blown.

Dark-coloured Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck stopped on the hard shoulder of a highway. The hood is open, suggesting a mechanical failure or breakdown. The truck appears to be leaking some fluid onto the road surface. The setting is a multi-lane highway with green vegetation visible beyond the road. The overall impression is one of a roadside emergency.

Charlie searched a nearby field for five minutes to find a water trough to refill our radiator with water, to discover where the radiator was leaking. The truck did not steam much because by the time we stopped as the water had near evaporated, so large was the hole.

Charlie standing beside his broken-down dark-coloured SUV on the shoulder of a highway. The hood of the vehicle is up, and the passenger side door is open. Charlie appears to be inspecting the engine. The scene is set on a multi-lane highway with other vehicles visible in the distance. The sky is overcast. The overall impression is one of roadside vehicle trouble.

Darkness fell, outside there was something rumaging around in the bushes; Charlie requested I lock my door as two or three cars had briefly pulled onto the hard shoulder ahead of us.

Nighttime shot from inside a our truck. The windshield is misty, and the headlights of other vehicles are visible in the distance. The interior of the car is dimly lit, with the dashboard and instrument panel illuminated. The overall mood is dark, somewhat moody.
Nighttime scene on a highway. A recovery worker in an orange high-visibility jacket is attending to a dark-colored Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck that appears to be broken down. The truck's license plate is visible. The worker is near the front of the truck, and a flatbed tow truck is partially visible in the foreground. In the background, the headlights of other vehicles on the highway are dimly visible. The overall impression is one of roadside assistance at night.

This was completely unexpected, hoping it is not sabotage committed by those who gain satisfaction from observing us suffering and struggling. But this is different, spending an hour broken down stuck to the hard shoulder, with no protective barrier to stand ourselves behind endangered our life.

Our truck being tow relayed at Scotch Corner.

Close-up of a rose plant's leaves. The leaves exhibit discoloration and dark blotches, suggesting a fungal infection or disease. The leaves are a mix of dark reddish-brown and yellow-green hues, with the dark spots concentrated on some leaves more than others. The overall impression is one of plant distress.

His small van could not tow our truck, so he relayed our truck's recovery. Our first tow took us to Scottish Corner, our second and final tow ended with our truck packed outside our farmhouse at 2:30am; the relay times were quick, and our drivers were of good character, TBH we were relived to be off the hard shoulder, then relieved to be returned, with our truck to the farmhouse; it was a very, very long day. We grabbed a handful of items from the truck, entered the farmhouse and retired to bed, comforted by a warm electric blanket.

5th

Charlie had filled the truck with a full tank of diesel the day before, enabling us to leave Roberton for Cambridge early; passing through Bonnington Bridge, over Carter Bar into England, down the A68 to Scotch Corner, then along the A1 to Huntingdon, turning left towards Cambridge travelling east over A604.

I got upset with Charlie getting anal with map reading, he can be so intense with route planning, triggering anxiety; he doesn't seem to trust me with directions; despite me hitchhiking all over the country for thirty years. Overall the journey to Cambridge was quite pleasant, we booked into a comfomy room within a hotel named The Clayton.

Pint glass of amber-coloured beer. The glass is decorated with a stylised, abstract design in white. The background is blurry but suggests a pub or bar setting. The focus is sharply on the beer glass itself.
Dimly lit pub interior. Charlie, with grey hair sits at a wooden table with a pint of beer in front of him. The pub has string lights, a rustic aesthetic, and other patrons are visible in the background. The overall mood is relaxed and somewhat contemplative.
Pint glass of dark beer on a wooden table. The glass has a design printed on it, featuring stylised graphics and the word BREW partially visible. The background is blurred, suggesting a pub or bar setting. The focus is primarily on the beer glass.

Our room was quiet, and well furnished, we enjoyed the large shower, and I was impressed that the spotlessly clean mirrors. We found alternative parking, the station wanted to charge us two days overnight parking (beginning a day at 4am) at over thirty-six pounds, but at Queen Anne car park overight car parking was free. We enjoyed fine ale in the Salisbury Arms.

4th

The dreaded black spot has appeared on the leaves of both my rose bushes in Ancrum, maybe a merciless job for pruning shears and coverage with an antifungal spray.

Close-up of a rose plant's leaves. The leaves exhibit discoloration and dark blotches, suggesting a fungal infection or disease. The leaves are a mix of dark reddish-brown and yellow-green hues, with the dark spots concentrated on some leaves more than others. The overall impression is one of plant distress.

Choice between spray applicator (£7.99) and non-applicator spray combined with food (£18.99); I purchased:

Bottle of Fungus Clear Ultra 2 fungicide for flowering plants, sitting on a dark-colored outdoor table. The background is a blurred but pleasant view of a garden and a residential area with houses visible in the distance under a partly sunny sky. The overall impression is one of garden care and maintenance. The product label highlights the fungicide's effectiveness against various plant diseases like Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust. Therefore, the image conveys a message related to plant health and care in a domestic setting.

Spray is potentially damaging to bees, so I'm contemplating replacing with fungal resistant varieties such as Rosa 'Charles de Mills' and Rosa 'Mortimer Sackler'.

Charlie, as promised took me for a drive to help relieve my tension, he drove a long way enabling me to take some photographs to share with you.

3rd

Charlie took me to Woodside garden centre and purchased an Oak Green man as an early birthday present (51 years old on the 13th); masculine energy is welcomed into our garden.

Charlie using a screwdriver to fix something on the exterior wall of a house. He's wearing a plaid shirt, jeans, and boots. He appears to be working on the wall next to a window. The background shows a residential street.
Green Man sculpture affixed to a textured exterior wall of a building. The Green Man's face is partially obscured by foliage sculpted into the design. The building features a dark brown window and a section of exterior wall with a light fixture. A portion of a second wall and a doorway are also visible. The sky is visible and clear blue. The overall impression is one of a subtle, decorative accent on the building's exterior.

We visited Jedburgh to purchase Charlie a pair of trousers, then visited TROC antiques. I returned to Woodburn farmhouse to help Charlie load a generator.

Lowering quince bush (Chaenomeles japonica) overflowing with vibrant red blossoms. The bush is somewhat wild and untamed, spilling over into surrounding greenery, which includes grass and other low-lying vegetation. Some of the branches appear older or dead, contrasting with the bright red flowers. The background hints at a wooden fence partially obscured by ivy. The overall impression is one of untamed, vibrant natural beauty.

Charlies quince bush has bloomed many flowers this year.

Close-up view of a vibrant red flower, possibly a quince blossom, in full bloom. The flower is the central focus, sharply in focus against a softly blurred background of greenery and a partially visible wooden fence. The background suggests a natural, outdoor setting. The image's composition emphasises the flower's rich colour and delicate details.

Bluebells.

Cluster of Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) in full bloom. They are a vibrant purplish-blue, growing close together against a textured, light grey wall. Some other greenery and a wooden post are visible in the background.

We've purchased wood locally to edge our kitchen garden path, pleased to see weeds have not returned in the area of soil I dug over.

Newly constructed raised garden bed in a rural setting. Wooden planks form the perimeter of the bed, which is partially filled with a green ground cover. Gardening tools, including a spade and a trowel, are leaning nearby. The background shows a stone wall, a field, and a large black tarp, possibly a temporary shelter or cover for plants. The overall impression is one of preparation for planting in a small, possibly allotment, garden.

Called in on Charlies elderly neighbour, his brother is away so we wanted to know he's doing OK for things. Took some photographs of the flowers around the farmhouse.

2nd

I don't ride my mountain bike enough, so peddled to Woodside garden centre to purchase a climbing Jasmine plant for my new trellis.

Vibrant yellow rapeseed field stretching across a gently rolling landscape under a partly cloudy sky. A power line pole stands prominently on the right, and a line of trees and shrubs is visible in the distance. Wild grasses and vegetation partially obscure the view of the field in the foreground. A hint of a structure or monument can be seen in the far distance on the hill.

This yellow rapeseed is awful, to me it's such an allergen, the pollen makes my chest wheeze.

Leonie's hand holding an ice cream cone at a table outside a stone building. The building looks like a converted house or small business, perhaps a craft centre, as indicated by the Craft Courtyard sign. A bicycle is visible in the background, and the overall setting appears to be a peaceful, possibly rural location on a somewhat cloudy day. The scene suggests a moment of simple pleasure and relaxation.

Over the road is Harestanes, there is a restuarant and a ice cream parlor; I enjoyed Strawberry icecream before returning to Ancrum.

Dense carpet of ransoms (wild garlic) in bloom, blanketing the forest floor at the base of a large tree. The ramsons have small, white, star-shaped flowers. The background is a lush, green deciduous woodland with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The overall impression is one of springtime abundance and natural beauty within a woodland setting.
Close-up view of a Hawthorn bush (Crataegus) in full bloom. Numerous clusters of small, delicate white flowers with hints of pink in the centers densely cover the green foliage of the bush. The overall impression is one of springtime abundance and natural beauty.

Loving the wild garlic and also the mayflower along the A68. Charlie returned to Ancrum after work, and put up my new trellis near a drain pipe, covering over a CCTV tube.

1st

I have chosen a photograph of Honesty for this months diary; yet another virtue wrongfuly despised as a privilege. A very quiet and solitary May Day for me this year, although I watched many festive celebrations webcast over the internet. A miss over which images to use for this months diary, maybe I'll change them later.