In Exile

The Big Garden and Croft Posted on by  

Jonathan: Here I am in my old motorhome, on a caravan site at Welwyn Garden City (N of London).  This is where I work – well not the campsite, but in an office here in WGC! – designing maintenance and improvement works, mostly in Hertfordshire.  Three weeks away, one long week at home: that’s how its been for the past year and a week: Yup, we need the money! I’m supposed to be designing major works, but the little work that comes my way now is trivial.  Designing bypasses, upgrades to motorway, new tram systems, that’s what I’m used to: … Continue reading →

… wagging their tails behind them

The Big Garden and Croft Posted on by  

Jonathan: Further report from home.  Denise arrived at croft this morning to find ewe back with the rest – just her lamb still on the wrong side. Opposite of what I’d have expected, since gaps tend to favour the small and lithe, not the big and rotund.  Best not to dwell on that, not a good time for base assumptions to be challenged.  Anyway, Denise turned off the electrics, opened up all the ‘gates’ in the dividing electric fence – and the little one trotted meekly back to its Mum.  And to think this is my breeding stock – in … Continue reading →

Okay, the grass IS greener …

The Big Garden and Croft Posted on by  

Jonathan: Message from home: one of the ewes and her lamb has got into the ‘other’ half of the field. How is currently unknown, why is almost certainly beyond knowing.  Okay, yes, the grass is greener and longer. But that’s not what the draw appears to have been: they just stand there looking back at the rest of the flock, bleating to get back.  Not home for another five weeks (heaven help me) so can’t leave them like that.  If they do find their way back under (or was it somersaulting over?) the separating electric fence, then they may get … Continue reading →