It's Official - It's Summer!

A week ago we thought Summer would never come (not to mention Spring which seemed to have passed us by), but sometime last week the temperature rose and the grass started growing. While we may moan at another wet day, it's what was needed and looking out last night across at Wellbank, we used a novel method to measure if there is enough grass to keep the cows going if we let them out - yes, we couldn't see the crows' legs!

So fences were checked, yard gates were closed and the Cattleplan doors opened and for the first time since last September the Dairy cows headed out to feel grass beneath their feet.

We're Back

In case you missed us Strickley and especially the Weather are back online.
Hopefully normal service will continue.

Where's the Weather?

Sorry - but our Strickley website (including the Weather) are unavailable. There is an issue with the hosting ISP, which hopefully will be resolved soon.

Self Service Water

At last the wind has moved round and the temperature is rising (but only slightly), so a few heifers can go outside. The first batch will be going into Whithrigg Moss and we've just installed a neat bit of Green Technology to provide fresh water. The common name is a Dyke Pump, and this model is a "Senior Pasture Pump". The green pipe goes down into the beck in the next field, and whenever a cow puts it's nose into the end to drink, the bar is pushed back and water is pumped up to fill the trough.

Needless to say this is an inexpensive outlay as it was bought at auction (maybe 25 years or more old, unused with original label, string and packaging).

Todays Bulletin

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Back Home!

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Todays Bulletin

New Hip Day 3

Yesterday the Zimmer Frame, today the crutches. No more shuffling like a old woman (apologies to all old women out there), but a more steady gait on his own two feet. Henry has reached the heady heights of getting dressed (with the aid of a long handled grabber), getting out of bed, going to the bathroom and best of all, exercising at the Ballet Bar.

Tomorrow? Maybe the stairs!

Daily Bulletin

New Hip Day 2

When I saw Henry yesterday afternoon he was lying on the bed after his operation. By this afternoon he was sitting up in bed (resting from having walked round the bed to the chair - with the aid of a Zimmer Frame), and by tonight he was back in the chair, having walked the length of the ward to the toilet and back again. So all is going well and the next step will be crutches. He's expecting to come home on Friday, then the real work will begin - adjusting to living in a house not really suited to part human/part Borg.

Another bulletin tomorrow

Wellies in Waiting

A sad sight - a lonely pair of wellies waiting on the step. Henry took them off yesterday before he went into hospital. By the time he comes to wear them again I hope it won't be as muddy - and they should both wear down evenly! Look at the tread on the right one - hardly used - showing how little weight has been put on it lately.
But now he is the owner of a shiny bright new hip. He walked down to the Operating Theatre this morning (WGH), was anaesthetised in his spine and then listened to Chris Rea and The Saw Doctors on his MP3 player while the surgeon did his magic. When I saw him about 2pm today he was lying comfortably in bed and managed a few of the obligatory grapes I had taken in. He gets today to lie back and rest then the learning to walk begins.

Many thanks for all the good wishes, by phone, text, post and email (and for the "Survival Kit"). He hopes to come home on Friday and visitors will be very welcome.

Absolutely Amazingly Wonderful!

We're just back from a very brief weekend (well, one day) break in Harrogate

Way back in Autumn we booked to see Chris Rea in concert and have just managed to fit it in before Henry's operation. We last saw him two years ago and thought the experience couldn't be bettered - wrong! It helped that we had seats in the middle of the third row of the stalls, with an uninterrupted view. But it's the sound that's so amazing. Chris sounds good on a recording, but that's amplified in sound and presence when he performs live. If ever you get the chance to see him live, grab it!

The overnight bag is unpacked and ready to be repacked for the hospital - loose fitting pyjamas, boxer shorts and trousers. New slippers and velcro-fastening trainers. Books, magazines and a small MP3 player (Chris Rea and other of Henry's favourites) - but will Henry have time for these in between being prodded and poked and learning to walk with the new bits of metal inside?

The photo doesn't really do justice to the concert. It's taken with my phone and a non too steady hand. If you want to see what all the fuss is about look at this site.