26-Feb to 03-Mar 2012

Sun 26-Feb: Look what I found in the chicken coop this morning... a hedgehog! The manure rearrangement yesterday involved a big pile of soil and twigs I'd been building up in the hope of encouraging grass snakes. No sign of any snakes, so I moved the pile into the chicken pen for them to have a good scratch around. Must have moved the hedgehog in as well and, finding himself disturbed by the chickens' attentions, he headed for the nearest sanctuary. They appear to have spent the night together! Moved Spike to a new pile of twigs in a safer spot. The chickens took back possession of the coop, loudly declaring what they thought of the whole unsettling affair.

Mon 27-Feb: With the weather warming up there's lots of 'Firsts of the Year' at present. This morning it was a walk around Hemingford Meadow. None of the butterflies, bees or dragonflies so plentiful in Summer, no wildflowers, no blackberries. Also fortunately no sign of the ice that two years ago made the meadow the biggest ice rink in England, to see an image of that click here.

Tue 28-Feb: With Becky whisking Linda off for shopping in Huntingdon I suddenly found myself with a morning to myself! Not enough time for a long walk so another First of the Year... cycled to the allotment on the Pashley. Bliss! Here's the transport loaded up with about 60 chitted spuds, a flask of tea, McVities digestives, water and spaghetti for the chickens. Wobbled my way up for a spud planting session.

Wed 29-Feb: New game at squash with the grandsons... knock the ball from the ceiling lights. Loads of squash balls stuck in the grids and this seems to fascinate them both. Very little squash played... squeezed between the new game and a mad rush to the vending machine.

Thu 01-Mar: After the kitchen man came to measure up, with it really feeling like the first day of Spring we did the Somersham walk and part of the walk to Colne this morning, stopping off half way for lunch at Marys tea rooms. Here's my lunch, a delicious lasagne with new potatoes and peas. No surprise for Linda... baked potato and cheese. Followed up with apple pie and ice cream for me, chocolate cheese cake for Linda. Second half of the walk done at a somewhat more leisurely pace!

Fri 02-Mar: Great excitement this morning... the Ercol dining suite was delivered after a wait of only four months. Here's the result, and it co-ordinates just right with the walls, carpet and curtains all renewed in December. So off we shot to Cambridge on the guided bus to buy the remaining stuff needed to complete the room... paintings for the walls, place mats and coasters, and fruit bowl and another decoration for the table and sideboard. Returned with... a pair of trousers for me! Just couldn't find things that inspired so will be searching on line.

Sat 03-Mar: First meal on the new dining room table, and Linda decides to have grapefruit. Cue much wiping throughout as each time she plunged a spoon into the fruit, juice squirted everywhere!