Purple Dragon

This is written by the bloke who does Jimmy's Farm on the telly.

I really enjoyed the programme and when a friend said she could get his book for a good price, I jumped at the chance, and I'm glad I did.

I have read the book cover to cover and although I probably wouldn't try more than one or two recipes from the end chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope he writes another one.

The pictures were great, although I would have liked a bit more explanation of what I was looking at, his enthusiasm shines through, but I think he rather glossed over the really hard grind.

Worth a read though, for sure

Well, we went out this morning to feed the rabbits and found that Noodle had slipped away to the great big haybale in the sky during the night.

He was about 4 years old - not old for a rabbit - Dutch are supposed to live for 5 or more years, but he was a bit poorly. He had some sort of illness that made him really thirsty all the time, but the vet didn't know what was wrong with him.

He was my favorite rabbit (of course), the first one we had and he used to come to greet me. He would eat out of my hand, and was always very friendly.

It is snowing hard here, and I have to try and bury him. I hope the ground isn't too hard.

Sigh.

because I have had a really sore hip/back and haven't really been up to sitting on the machine/at my desk.

I was in agony on Wednesday evening. We drove into Aberdeen to have a look at a car. It was brilliant - excellent bodywork, lovely interior, 4WD, plenty room for the kids, their paraphanalia and the dog. Well within our price range (scarily so actually). Drove thru, collected Himself, found where the car was, and the blessed thing wouldn't start. The bloke reckoned it was the plugs, so we went away to get a cuppa and came back later - still non starter. So he said he would sort it out and give us a call. Well, we've heard nothing from him, so I guess it still hasn't started Now we know why is was so cheap!

Anyway, the drive did my hip in completely and when I got back from Aberdeen I could barely walk. Poor Boy had to help me into the house. I was up most of the night, in the bath at 2am trying to ease the pain.

Got a Dr appt on Thursday morniing, and he examined me, made me cry manipulating my left leg, and gave me some mega painkillers and anti inflammatories. Booked an appt for x-rays on Friday morning, and I spent the rest of Thursday totally spaced out of my mind on painkillers ... and I had only taken two! Man, I could sell the things on the black market

Went to get my x-rays on Friday morning, and discovered that I have an extra vertebra. The wifey wondered if the extra one was pressing on something and causing the pain. We shall have to see. I hope it is s simple as that. I had a look at the x-rays as well, and they were fascinating. Made no sense to me at all, of course, but fascinating nevertheless! Anyway, I get the results for that a week today.

Well, I went to bed last night thinking I would do some planting today if the weather co operated. And it has. It is a glorious day here today - the temperature is 12.9 right now, and it is less warm that is has been (hence the blog, cup of tea, fruit bar).

However, when I got up this morning to take the dog out, I fell down the stairs so I thought today's plans would be out the window. I was quite sore this morning, so a couple of max strength ibuprofen later and I feel a lot better. Just took another one coz I was starting to feel a bit sore

So - what have I planted today? Whitecurrants, redcurrants, blackcurrants and blackberries, and I put 8 strawberry plants in the poly. Yeah, I know - a bit late for the strawbs, but hopefully they will catch. I would hate not to have my own after the strawbfest of last year - they were SO yummy!

The currants won't produce fruit this year, unfortunately, but next year I hope to have lots of yummy makings for jam YUM!

Gosh, how long has it been since I updated this blog? Gosh, I've been neglecting you guys something shameful - sorry.

So - what has happened since? Well, I've been heavily involved in posting on a new local forum called NEEPS - North East Environmentally Friendly People's Site. it is great to have access to a forum where there is a good chance to will meet a fellow NEEPster in the local veg shop. Aberdeenshire is a heck of a big shire, but there aren't that many of us, and those of us that are interesting in the 'green' side of life tend to have busy lives (hence the non posting) and we don't get out a lot (world!). We tend to get all excited about a new breed of carrot (did you know there is one called 'Purple Dragon'? ) and we talk about poultry an awful lot. Generally, though, we are an interesting lot with lots of different things going on in our lives, and it is great to be able to discuss building a new house with a green philosophy and then go visit said house that is mid-build.

I have 5 new hens, which takes my total hennage up to 10, plus one rooster. I had to put Penny out of her misery (my bantam) because after a mad attack by the rest of the flock, she was in a bad way. I am starting to get eggs, god 6 today, and am hoping to be able to start selling them at the gate. I would love some more, actually - i find poultry fascinating, but I think I need to see how well the gate-sales do before I get any more.

We also got a dog. Well, he's a puppy. We got him at 8 weeks old, and he will be11 weeks old tomorrow. Unbelievable we've had him so long! He is a border collie, black and white, with one blue eye and one brown. He's a little cutie, and we have called him Archie. He's a cheeky beggar though. Full of mischief, but bright as a button. Wookie tolerates him but Yoda seems to think he is the spawn of the devil and hisses accordingly whenever he seems him.

I've been doing some gardening, but not been getting on very well. It is so frustrating. My back is killing me (more on that in a minute) and I can't weed for very long because my hands seize up. It is worse this year than last, and I don't see they will get any better. I've been given creams and potions, told to take this pill or that, this supplement and that vitamin, to no avail. Anyway, my early tatties are out in the polytunnel chitting and yesterday I planted some tomatoes to start indoors. Oh, also half a dozen onion sets as well for starting off indoors. I am trying a couple of different ways of getting the onions because I've never done them before.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I shall be (finally) planting strawberry plants (yeah, yeah, I know), and all my berries - blackcurrant, blackberry, whiteberry, redcurrant. My blueberry went in end of last year - November? - and seems to be doing well.

We have planted the willow tipi (although it is more of a roundhouse) and I was down there yesterday and it is already budding. There are loads of buds and they all look really healthy, so I have high hopes of them.

The biggest news is that No1Child has been diagnosed dyslexic. Fortunately he is in a really good school that has a great support system and he is already in a programme. It has made a difference to me to know that he has a diagnosis, because now I know he isn't just being lazy and can deal with him accordingly. Having researched it a wee bit, I have such a greater understanding of where he is coming from, and with understanding comes closeness.

Oh, yes, my back. Nearly forgot. As I have mentioned before, I have pelvic instability which is causing the backache. It has gotten worse, mainly because after Dad died I didn't continue with the exercises and have allowed things to get worse. Serves me right I guess. I have now managed to damage my hip because of it, and I am in constant pain. I take ibuprofen 3 times a day to be able to function and on the days I think I can manage without - I realise I can't. It is so frustrating - I struggle to carry stupid things like a 25kg bag of chicken feed, whereas last year it was a doddle. Anyway, I am going to weekly physiotherapy and getting exercises to do. It is helping somewhat and some of the problems I have been experiencing have improved, but the pain is constant. Oh, well, could be worse!