Heartache and hard work

Thank you for your kind comments and emails over the past couple of days. I am very sad to say that we have lost Twiggy. She took a turn for the worst on Friday evening, I am devastated and can not begin to put in to words how I feel.

She would have been 17 this year and was my baby and a huge part of our family. Poor Smudge can't quite understand where she is and has been looking for her, but thankfully is eating. She is actually helping me type!

We have had a very hectic day today, to be honest I think being so busy has been good for us.

The whole herd have been vaccinated, all those who needed a pedicure have been attended to and a few who needed a little trim around the eyes can now see again. I did get on very good kick one the leg for my trouble but as this was from one of the pregnant girls I will let her off as it can't be nice to be messed about with in their condition.

It is interested to see how the animals born here with us happily stand and let you work with them with ease. The likes of Ursula and Oonagh just stand there whilst you inject and check toe nails.

With time and effort we have also calmed and gained the trust of the others, Willow is a prime example of this. When she first arrived she was wild and cutting toe nails was a horrendous job. Typically her nails were all twisted and needed lots of attention, however three years down the line Willow now has lovely nails and is a pleasure to work with.

I have also had my first foster lamb of the year. Alan popped round Friday afternoon with a newborn lamb who had a very poorly mum so she couldn't feed him. After a few bottles and a night on our underfloor heating he was doing just fine, mum was also improving so he has been lucky enough to be reunited with his mum.