Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Well, we have an unfortunate update to the hedgehog saga. Hopefully everything will be ok in the end, but... after lunch we noticed both hoglets were out, but moving rather slowly. I gave them food and water but they weren't interested, and one of them curled up at the edge of the garden path. The other one was a bit more lively, but not like it was yesterday, when it ate a slug and explored at the gravel edge. I rang Bev, the lady who runs Hogsprickle (I'd spoken to her a couple of days earlier, for reassurance that it was ok for the hoglets to be out during the day), and she encouraged me to bring them to her for assessment.

She identified that the very lethargic one (a female) had a skin infection, and that both she and her brother were under weight and dehydrated, even though I've been supplying extra food and water. She was suggesting that the mum hadn't been nursing them enough, and - since they're only 4 weeks or so old - that she shouldn't have let them out on their own. Perhaps it's her first litter and she needs more practice... anyway, they are both staying at Hogsprickle and being given appropriate treatment and TLC, maybe for as much as 6 weeks. There are no guarantees that they'll make it, but we have our fingers crossed. Bev has nearly 50 years experience so we trust her.

 

It’s been a lovely day today, not too hot and not too breezy. I managed to get out and prune back the jasmine, which had really taken off. It needed a good haircut.

Nice to see you @PatE. I hope that spring is on its way.

Hope all is well with you, too @Ante1 - not heard from you for a while. I imagine you’ve been busy at your cottage - you must update us.

Just been watching Beechgrove, which I really like, and now got an eye on Gardener's World, whilst being on here “talking” to you.

Enjoy what’s left of the evening.

 

Nope, not my gateposts. I'd have something more castley, if I had my way.

 

Sorry to hear your news about the hoglets @Liriodendron, but I hope that now they are at Hogsprickle, they will recover and soon be ready to go back into the wild. How is their Mother? Is she still in your garden?

 

As far as I know, @Blue arbour , the hedgehog mum is still around. She appeared on camera last night, eating the kitten food. We are advised that she won't care that her hoglets have disappeared...

 

I suppose we have a tendency to put human emotions onto other animals, when, in fact, she’ll just get on with doing what she needs to do and perhaps next year, will have a more successful time rearing her young.
I’m glad, though, that she seems to be ok.

 

Good evening all. Thank you for thinking on my @Blue arbour . Lets say I'm well. It's unbearably hot last ten days, every day between 35 and 40℃. We might have rain at Sunday night and Monday, but high temperatures stays for while. Watering and harvesting at cottage take my so many time, and in addition, next week schools starts for us teachers. But enough with complains, I'll have some ice-cream and go to sleep. Hope you all are well. See you tomorrow.

 

Good to see you posting again @Ante1. Glad you’re well. Wow, those temperatures are hot - too high for me. I remember well those days of school re-starting, and I’m happy that I no longer have to face them, but sorry for all of you who do have to. Once that first day back is over, though, it’s not so bad.
Enjoy the ice cream .

 

A very good morning one and all. Apologies for not dropping in to say goodnight last night but I was absolutely shattered after an absolutely fantastic day at the show yesterday. Once I have uploaded and resized my pictures I will be posting them later today. Now I'll have a read back and catch up with all you have been up to.

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@Liriodendron, I was so glad that your careful observation and intervention has at least given the hoglets a chance and fingers crossed that Bev at Hogsprickle can work her magic. If the little ones make it, I assume they will be returned to you and their home territory?
Love the owl statues @RowlandsCastle!
Glad you and Possum are enjoying your time together @Obelix-Vendée. People watching is one of my favourite occupations. I don't think I would enjoy driving in Italy though all the times I have driven in France have been easy. Admittedly, I have only driven through Paris once, and that was a bit hairy!
@Ante1, I keep thinking about you and all the hard work you have watering your crops at the cottage. Good to see you!

 

Yesterday started off with some sad news that in the early hours of yesterday morning the police had been informed about a worry as to the safety of a woman and they went to the Junction of the M6 near me and a woman's body was found. I didn't go this way to get to Bestie's but because the southbound carriageway was closed for the necessary police investigations, it meant that all motorists were diverted the way I was going. I picked up my Bestie and her daughter and drove to the large park and ride on the outskirts of Southport, where we were able to pick up the bus that took us to the show. We got there just after it opened at 10:00 and it was relatively quiet.

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The huge Victoria park where the show is held certainly proved just how much rain our area has had this year as the ground was waterlogged and squelched alarmingly in areas. The organisers had put down large bark chippings in the worst areaa and some of the marquees had those clever large rubberised 'jigsaw' type pieces connected and set down in the walkways to assist dry walking.

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There were the usual Arts and Crafts marquees. clothing, food and drink stalls and demonstrations of dog handling, birds of prey and a 'meet Orinoco' session.

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