Bird flu

Day just plummetted with news that H5N1 is confirmed at the swannery in Abbotsbury, very few miles from me here in Dorset.

Logs to burn..........

Beechwood fires burn bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year:

Stow your beech for Christmastide,

With new cut Holly laid beside.

Chestnut's only good, they say,

If for years 'tis stored away:

Birch and firewood burn too fast,

Blaze too bright and do not last;

Flames from Larch will shoot up high,

Dangerously the sparks will fly.

But Ashwood green and Ashwood brown

Are fit for a Queen with a golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,

Keep away the winter's cold;

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke;

Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,

E'en the very flames are cold.

Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread -

So it is in Ireland said;

Applewood will scent the room,

Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom,

But Ashwood wet and Ashwood dry

A King may warm his slippers by.

Lovely poem, but no inkling as to the original author in theh magazine cutting I have.

Can't see the dignity in this..........

Poor chickens. There's a lot currently about due to HFW and Jamie Oliver's programmes, and I found this on the net.

http://www.laughinghens.com/competition/

It is inded commendable to help ex-battery hens, yes, but with proper care *suited to chickens*, they can cope quite well and in a much more dignified way than this, I am sure. Penguin jumpers are slightly different - in that they help to absorb any oil left in the feathers - in my view. Give hens the right care and attention - good warm housing out of draughts, decent food, other chickens for company, fresh water and food, room to roam/move around in - and they will soon be on teh road to recovery without having to resort to this.

Like magic.......

....the brace of pheasants I was about to prepare has turned into 3 brace!! Nice barter for taking up some trousers for a friend, great deal, I think. Feeling inspired and energetic today, think it's the sunshine and a marvellous book I finished this morning, on which I will post more later when I've thought a few things through. It's one of the most important books I've read, and have now ordered it from Abe books as I can't live without it, and need my OH to read it too.

Plus ca change..........

"It is questionable if all mechanical inventions yet made have lightened teh day's toil of any human being.............[machines] have enabled a greater population to live the same life of drudgery and imprisonment, and an increased number of manufacturers and others to make fortunes" - John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy, 1848.

Wonder what JSM would make of today's machines, then? This quote was found in an astounding book I amcurrently reading, more of which later. I borrowed it from the library, but *must* have a copy for myself - one to write all over and shout "YES!YES!YES! " at the top of my voice to.

Looks lovely outside, will wander up the garden shortly and see how the livestock are, bit of mucking out to do, then need to deal with a brace of pheasants.

Grumpy old woman!

I seem to be turning into a grumpy old woman, ranting away on here, don't I? Ah well. I'm sure it's better out than in............

Wet and cold here today, just tidying up and hosuework, but too wet for outside I think. Busy arranging a meet for my forum members, which seems to be shaping up well so far, so looking forward to that. Trip to Scotland in February, on my own to see an old school friend for a few days - lovely long train journey (some 9 hours); my friend now tells me her wedding date is set for April too, so lots of excitements to keep me on my toes.

Kitchen scales with batteries..........

.......WHY?????????????????????