Western Halt, Cornwall

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04/12/2024

I am sorry to report that Barry has died, so I will not be spending time on this site. Thank you all for your support over the years.

03/11/2024

Unfortunately I have to run the smallholding down due to ill-health of my partner.

28/11/2021

And here we go again. All poultry to be housed. Think I should set up permanent housing for the winter!!

22/07/2021

Sorry folks, I have been unable to get on my internet due to openreach removing my pole and line. All up and running again. It is so hot here that it is difficult to get anything done - the heat just saps your strength. My rare breed Croad Langshang chicks are full size now. Alpacas are sheared - bet they are grateful for that!!! The horse-flies are terrible at the moment and I get bitten, even in early morning before the sun warms everything up. I am having the conifers removed from the boundary, every time it rains and the wind blows some fall over and they are long enough to reach the house now. The guinea pigs had a lucky escape, earlier in the year, when one of the trees fell inches from their winter shed. I will replace them with an edible hedge for the birds and wildlife.

26/02/2021

As they say - what a difference a day makes! Mother nature may have stirred from her slumber but I am afraid that she just turned over, pulled the duvet back up to her ears and dozed off again. Meanwhile, Winter, one of her children, who should be going to bed is delaying, whilst Spring is still sleeping as Mother has not woken her yet. Mother's lay-in will soon be over and she will wake her daughter, who resplendent in her bright new dress, will come out to play. Today I was met with a white world and a nip in the air although the sun is trying his best to wake Mother. Not long now folks!!

25/02/2021

The sun was shining and my breath was gently wafting in the cool air as I made my way through the garden this morning. I looked into the distance and took a nice deep breath of the cool, pure air. Little birds twittered in the background, but rising above them all was the beautiful voice of a blackbird. Looking around I suddenly realised that the branches on the trees had a slight green hue, where buds were forming along them. I felt a certain joy and calm, as though a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders, although I had been unaware of the weight before. I took the 3 buckets of sow nuts down to the pigs - noticing that today the water was staying in the drainage ditches and not cascading down the paddocks. Although the mud was still sticky it was not mushy and slippery. The pigs greeted me and followed me to their troughs (each pig has its own trough). I went into the copse dropping handfuls of sow rolls and grass nuts in little mounds for the pigs to search out. The adjoining paddock looked resplendent with golden daffodils glowing in the early sun's rays. Returning to the top of the field, I fed the alpacas and let the goat out of his stall. Next the chickens, still in lockdown, but it was nice to open all the windows on their house wide to let the beautiful day into them. As I started back towards the house two pigeons cooed to each other - a real summery sound. So my friends, Mother Nature may not be awake yet, but today she showed me that she is stirring from her slumber. If you can go out in your garden, look into the distance and breath in a taste of the coming spring air.

This is borrowed, but I love it so thought I would share.
20/01/2021

This is borrowed, but I love it so thought I would share.

20/01/2021

Don't you just love our weather!! Gale force winds and rain. Standing today, being buffeted by the gusts of wind and trying to keep my hood up while holding 3 buckets, which were swinging around, I wondered just how many of the people who said to me that they would love to live here and have my life would feel now. Wadding and slipping down the water-logged fields to the pigs I can hardly remember those lovely sunny days. Finding the pigs' battery, for the electric fence, flashing red - a warning that it needs charging - and contemplating carrying it back up the slippery hill, made me wish I were anywhere else at that moment!! Because the hens are confined to their sheds all water has to be drawn and carried to them, yet another job that is made difficult by the conditions. Fresh hay and straw for the alpacas and goat - they have the sense to stay in their shelter. As a matter of fact, in my fields today there was only one idiot to be seen and that was the one in waterproof clothing, slipping and sliding in the mud, and fighting against the wind - ME!! Roll on spring, quickly please.

14/01/2021

It is strange to look out of the window and not see the hens pecking around, as per Defra instructions they are confined to their sheds - with the weather so wet they are probably better off in a nice warm shed anyway. They obviously think so as they have started to lay again. Now is the time of year when I look at the fields and wonder which one I can move the goat and alpacas into in February. There is not much grass around and the most suitable field has a waterlogged gateway, which they will not be keen to cross. I was wondering if I could make a pallet bridge with a rubber stable mat across so they would not have to wade through. I think this is the first time I have been glad to see the cold,frosty weather cos at least the ground is more solid to walk on. The pigs, meanwhile are having a good winter. Finally I seem to have found a way to stop them rooting - every morning I mix a bowl of sow rolls. grass pellets and pony carrots and while the are eating their breakfast I go through the copse and put handfuls of the mixture down in various places and they spend all morning finding them. After they have found them all they are so tired that they go back to their straw-filled sty to have a little snooze. Result, no great pits in the paddock this year (it has only taken me 10 years to perfect this lol!!!)

01/01/2021

What a morning. Everything was white and frozen, typical because I had to wheelbarrow the pig feed down to the store via the black ice on the drive!! A wheelbarrow of nice fresh hay was put into the ark and I am sure the piggies will be snug and warm tonight. They had a nice warm breakfast, with their food soaked in warm water. The alpacas and goat seemed reluctant to leave their shelter, even while I was cleaning it out, and didn't appear in the paddock until late morning, when they sun decided to make an appearance. All chicken drinkers were frozen so I had to make a trip up to the house to get some temporary bowls and warm water for them. Finally, frozen to the bone, I was able to go indoors and have a bowl of porridge and a nice hot cup of tea!!! Hope it is warmer tomorrow!

28/12/2020

Hi folks, sorry I have not been around lately, but have been working hard, taking down trees and having a general clean up, not finished but getting there slowly. 2020 has been a strange year for us all, probably not such a drag for me as life ticks on to the same timetable as usual. Let us hope that 2021 sees us turn a corner and beat this horrible virus. Unfortunately with avian flu going around the hens are also suffering with lockdown (they have to be kept indoors). TB testing on the alpacas and goat have to be done before the end of February (just something else to look forward to!). I go into 2021 one alpaca down, as my brain damaged lady (Thistledown Duchess - nickname Wobbly) died aged 14 years, we miss her dearly. The pigs, now aged 10 years still go on strongly, they do not like the wet weather but have a little copse to take shelter in. The alpacas and goat spend their days alternating between being in the paddocks (when not raining) and peering out of their shelter when it is raining! Anyway may I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

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PL113BZ

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