the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

Yes thanks, choille, the ram seems better. His owner visited, dropped off more haylage but didn't call. I wasn't too sad, as I owe him over £500 and I still havent raised all the cash, but I suppose it also shows he trusts me, in both senses!

The sheep have a lick, but they'll need a new one soon.

Off to top up. They've eaten the lot that I put out at 8am!

ukmaggie45

choille wrote: »

Well I haven't attempted to get the ebay stuff away - so It'll be black marks for me from the start off.

I wouldn't worry too much, provided you contact your buyers and let them know about your problems with the weather I'm sure they won't hold it against you. I was horribly worried when I started buying on eBay as the first thing I bought we had a postal strike in Liverpool (but not nationwide) so couldn't post off my cheque. But I contacted the seller and he was fine about it, I think it ended up being a couple of weeks before I could send it off (there was such a backlog of mail I waited a few days to be sure it was likely to get through). He not only gave me positive feedback, but good points for communication!

The main thing with eBay is to stay in contact with your buyer or seller if there are problems. And I hardly think people will be surprised that you can't get out to the PO given the weather we're having.

Actually we haven't had a lot of snow here, but it was bitter last night (-11) for Liverpool, we tend to have mild winters usually. Roads very icy. And when we went to the house yesterday we found both the bifold doors frozen shut. Ice on the inside of them too. It's very damp in the house still as plaster still drying out, but we'll be going up and opening what windows we can on Wed when OH is off work. He's working Friday instead of Wed this week so one of his colleagues can get off in time to travel home for Christmas. Though heaven only knows if it will be fit for him to travel then. :eek:

DD1 is due to travel up from London on Wednesday, so I'm crossing my fingers she'll make it. DD2 and SiL and Twins were supposed to be driving to Kent on Saturday, but they decided best not to go. So I'm sad since my Favourite Visitor (Brodie Cat) isn't visiting after all! Oh well, will just have to go and visit him instead!


Brodie sleeps on the bed by ukmaggie45, on Flickr

choille

Well Oh went down to give out the porridge & found a hen wedged betwen two hen houses. We've had to disamntle one partly to get at it.
It wouldn't move - still alive & looking quite perky but I've brought it in, in a box & put feed down.
My fault as I put them in last night. I think this one had sloped off somewhere & then decided it was too lonley,cold? But I can't believe that it was out all night.
The cats aren't looking too chuffed about this.

lostinrates

hehehe, I can imagine the cats looking indignant: thats what mine do too.

Smallblessing,hunting been called off, one less drama!

rhiwfield

Still snowing, could be worse, had about 6cm, just enough to form a new layer over the ice and frozen snow. Hens not impressed, still laying but down to 2 eggs a day. Threaded a string rope of brussel sprouts as a treat, totally confused them for a while!

With all the weather problems last two winters we'd stocked up on all essentials this year (notably fuel, food and feed), never expecting to need them, but very glad we did. Not sure I like the potential of a trend to more severe winters but I guess two things are likely to come out of it:

1. The just in time philosophy will give way in part to stocking up in advance
2. People will become more risk averse at travelling at times of weather uncertainty.

Anyhow, due to the weather DD2 and family are going to the inlaws instead of here so its going to be a quiet (ish) Christmas. Makes DS1's return from NZ in January (weather permitting!) a real excuse for a second crimbo do

lostinrates

rhiwfield wrote: »

Not sure I like the potential of a trend to more severe winters but I guess two things are likely to come out of it:

Every time I feel grumpy or weighed down by carrying buckets of water out I think of the alternative: mud. I'll take a shorter mud season anyday. I hate mud: it damages the ground,makes every single job harder...outside, and then you have to fight against its approach of the house too.

alfie_1

choille wrote: »

LIR - Sorry to hear about your horse - hope it pulls through.
Hope you manage to shake off the cold - I take vit C but had a cracker a couple of months ago. OH just had it similar.

Snowing heavy here, well just stopped - so that's everything totally jiggered now. Just watched the weather forecast & they are going on about poor Portsmouth & how it's a nice day in the North - WWHHHHAaaaaattttttttt!
At least it feels milder - goodness knows what it was yesterday but I aint felt cold like that.

Dave - Do the sheep have a lick? Did the ram rest up - is it's limp better? Sheep will eat owt when it's like this. All that's visible in the field is the tips of reeds & they're eating them - normally spilt hay they leave, pull out more etc but they're eating the lot.

Well I haven't attempted to get the ebay stuff away - so It'll be black marks for me from the start off.

The Scot's Greys are looking pretty ropey - which is odd as they are generally really, really hardy - hope I don't lose anymore.

Well we never got another load of wood - so that'll be today's panic & no chance of getting any client's paying their overdue bills - grrrrrrrr.

Keep cosy all & stay off the roads.

1stly i hope you are safe and warm for xmas, sounds like the odds are stacking up !!
just put a message to each purchaser of your ebay items telling them that unfortunatly due to snow u cant post yet and they are then NOT ALLOWED to leave poor feedback...
poor old portsmouth is not worthy of sympathy as its a b*****rd of a place to get in and out of in the middle of summer let alone now... i hate the place. im sure there is some nice spots, iv not seen/heard of em tho !!
the snow has been replaced with rain now so if it freezes it will be an ice rink tmorow!!
i have put a deep bed of wood shavings in my chook shed, seems to insulate better.. had to laugh tho the little pekin bantys all sit under the big hens when they are on the low perches !! like having a duvet!... dont seem bothered by the odd "missile" !!
iv put out a stack of hay for hoss, minis and sheep and they all tucked in.. MAY need to get more in as im half way through a large "round"..
iv done all my jobs for the day now and am sat by the fire till shutting in time...
i relly do not envy you ,choille, being where you are. but im sure it has its compensations.[dont expect you think that at this mo tho!]
take care and be safe

alfie_1

So cold. Troughs all frozen again, and one of the old horses is really struggling. I have a terrible feeling its her last winter....I just hope she makes it through to spring.

so sorry to hear your poor old horse is not doing so well. may be just the cold and will pick up when it warms up. i lost my old pony at 30 last year, had him from a foal and was very upset but i knew he had a good,long,loved life .

alfie_1

Davesnave wrote: »

Yes thanks, choille, the ram seems better. His owner visited, dropped off more haylage but didn't call. I wasn't too sad, as I owe him over £500 and I still havent raised all the cash, but I suppose it also shows he trusts me, in both senses!

The sheep have a lick, but they'll need a new one soon.

Off to top up. They've eaten the lot that I put out at 8am!

what sort of lick do you give your sheep?? whats it for and can i put one out when they are in with the ponies?

lostinrates

Came up with a brilliant solution for the old horse today, my clever friend thought of it. Have left a message for the new vet for approval (its iffy legal ground otherwise, but with approval I'm ''qualified'' to do it) and I'm sure vet will agree to it as a short term solution for this weather if we need to.

Though we had quite a bit more snow today....nice fresh crunch underfoot, the horses are choosing to snuffle it away to find grass to augment their hay. The chickens haven't bothered even trying going out today. I'm feeling a lot perkier this evening so the news that DH is staying at work was not so bad...I feel able to cope well.