do you remember the sudden arrival of Joe the pig?
saved from the sausage maker by my lovely guy?
given a home with us in the very North of Scotland when we are still living in the very South of England?
well.... he has done it again
sit back and i will tell all
i remember, some months ago Stephen saying how on earth are we going to keep all the grass down on our land.
i remember giving him the usual options of sheep, cows, geese - and quite frankly he looked dissapointed.
i then said - what about Alpacas?
i even took him to meet a huge herd of 300 Alpacas that are owned by an amazing couple i had met whilst working at the vets.
he seemed troubled.......
i then came up with the amazing idea of reindeer - relatively easy to manage, milkable, cuteness factor of ten, fantastic at Christmas......
think of the children we could show them to i said......
all those happy little faces full of wonder as we tell them the reindeer stories......
but he still looked unsure and quite frankly not thrilled.
so i gave up
i just thought that we would wait until we had built the house and studio, housed the pig, created our veg plot, erected a poly tunnel, decorated, settled, made new friends....
you know, the usual way of doing things.
but only a few days ago i noticed this faraway look in his eyes
i shrieked
he looked guilty
i threatened to sell his entire collection of cd's
he shrieked
and then said the infamous words.......... you will either be really pleased or really cross.
the colour drained from my face, i put down the chocolate bar i was eating and braced myself.......
we are now the proud keepers of not one but two DONKEYS.
he then babbled on for what felt like ages about the joy of donkeys.
throughout i kept quiet thinking only of the fact that
a. he has never even touched a donkey.
b. the cost of a very regular farrier.
c. the cost of a shelter.
d. he is incredibly scared of horses and donkeys are only smaller versions.
but then i remembered
a. growing up with holidays at Margate and donkey rides
b. the amazing smell and softness of their coats.
c. the way when they bray you can hear them from sooooo far away.
d. the kindness in their eyes and how they would hate to live alone
and i realised that the move to Scotland cannot happen quick enough x
but back to reality and the never ending packing and cleaning.
and the realisation of leaving friends and all that i have grown to love.
the need to visit Dungeness at least once more before i go, knowing that i will probably never feel its magic again.
so this week apart from the packing and cleaning and sorting i will be........
reading these
knitting this
ordering Christmas stock
yes CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
expanding my knowledge of this
packing up the precious things in our garden
and waiting for that strange look to appear again..........
t x
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29 comments:
Oh my goodness! With most men it's a "Honey, I got a new mobile". Well, donkeys are certainly mobile....
Good luck with the next few weeks. Are the donkeys fastened onto the gypsy caravan, or do you have to carry them?
You lucky thing, all I ever get from my man is a magazine once in a blue moon. Wow a pig and now 2 beautiful donkeys. You know what you'll have to do? Start a petting farm and B&B, with craft shop on you land lol
I'd come and stay with the girls, Would be just lovely.
Your going to have the most fantasic life in Scotland. Good luck Tracy.
Catherine x
Lucky lucky you I love Donkeys for the reason you do as well but mine was Yarmouth beach...good luck I am so jelous
Adopt a Donkey video from The Donkey Sanctuary was banned by my husband as I started crying and didn't stop when it ended....donkys just do it too me.
Photos ASAP.
Aw Tracy, what a lovely story! I love donkeys...you are so lucky. We went to Dungeness on Sunday...I thought of you the whole time. One of the little houses there is for rent!
Hugs x
i think that is the best decision i have heard of in a long time...Donkeys are just about perfect..and a pair, that's wonderful..just think if i were a donkey i couldn't think of a better place i would rather end up than with you...you care and love your animals so well..you are an example to us of how to look after creatures properly...gosh that did sound a little bit heavy, but it's the truth...they are very lucky donkeys...
we were thinking about adopting a pig and then our #4 came along instead, and there wasn't room for pig..i still think wistfully about the piggie that got away..one day when i have my piece of land, i will make it up to a piggie...
hope the packing and moving goes smoothly..speak to you soon :)
I am sooo envious. I love donkeys. They are gorgeous and so intelligent, much more so than horses. I dream of having a couple of donkeys one day and I also like alpacas but they are v expensive!
You must do a road trip of the actual move. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know how you are going to get your menagerie all the way up to North Scotland. I'm imagining a slow caravan of vehicles moving up the M1, headed by a green Ford Anglia . . . and imagine the looks on peoples faces as you stop at the services. Priceless!
You made me laugh out loud -- Donkeys! Definitely not the expected lawnmower of choice. How fun. You'll definitely have to post pics of all the animals -- together!
Oh could have done with those donkeys for my party! Two donkeys, how fantastic! They do have the most beautiful eyes. Life is going to be fun for you in Scotland.
Kim x
Oh donkeys! How lovely. When George gets that look in his eyes it's always boats! Really looking forward to the pictures of your new animals. I wonder what Tallula and Bean will think of donkeys?!
Congrats donkeys are wonderful creatures, wonderful companions and endlessly amusing. www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk is a great site that you might find helpful.
You lucky thing - Donkeys are such lovely animals, gentle, sweet-natured and they'll definitely keep your grass neatly cropped. You really are going to have a wonderful time up there!
My Favourite B&B (Chipperkyle in Dumfries & Galloway) has 2 donkeys - presents for birthday and christmas respectively - they are very lovely.
Our piglets arrive tomorrow - very very excited.
J
x
Your move Tracy is getting more and more exciting!Please do B&B, we are on our way!!!!!!!
My goodness - that husband of yours is lethal!
But they are adorable
How great to have two donkeys - I love them, though admittedly I've never actually owned one:)I've adopted one though.
Looks as though you are going to be busy this week - I imagine you'll be glad to actually go now, all those 'last times' are so sad, better to concentrate on the adventures and wonderful things waiting for you in Scotland
Oh, I am just sooooo jealous!! My dream is to have a house with some land and have lots of different animals!! My husband moans about having one old Labrador! Enjoy them all!! Andrea x
Oh my goodness, donkeys! Lucky you, you've not even got there yet and there's already a menagerie in the making.Wjat's next? A couple of Emus??
Hope the packing goes well
Wow, he certainly knows how to surprise you! Good Luck with your move and I hope that you and your menagerie are soon settled in at your new home.
Marie x
Are you sure you can't sneak in a herd of alpacas? They're the most gorgeous creatures, aren't they. I'm sure they'd be happy with all the other 4-legged friends they'll meet in Scotland!
Donkeys! Oh how I love donkeys! They have the sweetest faces! A neighbor of my parents used to have a donkey on their small farm - always reliable and precious.
I love it!! Donkeys!! They really are just the cutest!! Hope all the packing goes well!!
Donkeys are so lovely, I want one! (or two). My grandmother, Margaret, just had a donkey foal named after her - Maggie, because she was born on her field where she had let the mother graze, she was just so cute!
Good luck with the move, and I hope you and your lovely animals settle in quickly.
Jessx
Donkeys! How lovely. Pebble rode a donkey called Pebbles last week - oh how we laughed.
Can't wait to see your precious new pets.
Victoria x
Hahahahahahaha! That's hilarious. You are a saint, although the donkeys do sound like the most fun.
Cherry xx
How fabulous!! A friend of ours rescued a donkey from a sad fate and it lived in her garden. One day she came home from work and the donkey was staggering all over the place and she thought the worst...vet was called...and lo and behold the donkey was found to have been eating all the apples that had fallen from the tree (rotten & fermenting) and was a tad tipsy.
Have fun with your new pets xx
Oh it's going to be fab in Scotland!!! Donkeys are so kind looking aren't they? How I laughed when I read your Bob comment- we are not alone in our strangeness....!!!
Oh my goodness - Donkeys and a pig, I'm so excited and it's nothing to do with me! How soon do you get up here? Have to admit though the rainyness is quite non stop in Scotland just now - wouldn't want it to put you off with Scotland's reputation, it is raining everywhere else to at the moment. You really need a couple of Highland Cattle (or woollie cooows) to complete the picture!
A few years ago, I went to a gardening lecture and saw slides of Derek Jarman's garden and I remember they made quite an impression on me at that time...With time passing, I forgot about him and his garden until your posts -- I'm very curious as to what you think of the book...
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