October09
Monday 5th
Work on the bathroom is progressing well, the new suite will be put in tomorrow we think. And yes, I've been moaning because I don't see the ducks around the house any more.
I've not-quite-emptied the frog pond today. 'Not quite' because I left some of the slurry at the bottom. I'm never, ever, ever going to get the stinky gloop out the ponds with buckets or barrows again! Whenever the pump clogged up with vegetation I brushed or picked it off and hosed it frequently with a strong jet of water, just what I did when I [not quite] emptied the little pond recently, and it was so much easier and quicker.
I was at this stage of refilling the pond when I suddenly heard "whack, whack, whacky" noises. Now, our recently rejoined band has not been away from the big duck pond for a whole week except at bed time, and here they come to the frog pond when I'm busy working around it - they must have heard or smelled the water!
They didn't like what was going on, though, something changed, too scary!
They approached behind cover, can you see them through the leaves?
No, they didn't dare go in with the water only half way up the sides, but I went out and took a few photos.
I love the way Captain is standing to attention in this one.
Eventually they did make a decision - to go back through the orchard
......
.... but then no, they changed their mind:
Shall we go this way?
No? Ok, we'll go that way. And that was that, I didn't see them again.
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 Sheila Steven's birthday
I APOLOGIZE! No duck diary entries at all since the 5th, but I have
been busy. I'm extremely happy with the new bathroom even though the tiling
on walls and floor still has to be done:
And since Sunday, of course, I've been delighted with all my birthday visitors, two of whom came up with this magnificent cup cake:
I've had the most extended birthday celebrations ever, thanks in particular to Gerd and Maria who got it started in early September, would you believe, and kept sending me one wonderful present after another ever since! Big THANKS to all of you who contributed to my very happy birthday before, during and after - and still ongoing!
Yesterday we went to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. Although it was a lovely day out with family I found it to be a harrowing experience and felt physically sick after seeing what the prisoners of war in the Far East had to suffer. I'll insert just a few photos - all from Annie in this entry, I only took the small bathroom one.
To get an idea of the scale of the magnificent wooden bear - a bit of
his paw is seen in this photo top right.
The enormity of the loss of life really hits you on these stark walls,
and the worst of it is all the blank panels who are sure to be engraved
with yet more names...
But let's get back to the ducks, please. Again, all photos from Annie.
Frightening how dark they all are even though they were shot in the afternoon
yesterday. First two from Sunday topping up duck bedding with Eleanor:
This lot were startled by Annie - she calls this photo "the zombies"
................. 
.......... who immediately turned and ran for home, had a few beakfuls of food before bed time .............
.......and then turned in:
I did a terrible thing this morning; showing Eleanor where to stand for her to take a photograph the trap door fell out of my hand and nearly chopped Rellchen in half who was coming second out of the hut. From the noise that was coming from the duck pond after they'd all run down there I guess they were complaining bitterly about my rough treatment. And not only that, a little while later she brought the other 10 up to the top to show them the scene of the crime .............. I think, guiltily ......
Saturday, 31st October 2009
Last chance for an October entry. Annie and the girls left yesterday morning and the last celebratory dinner of my extended birthday festivities took place last night ................ I need a rest!
Annie took lots of photos of the ducks on Thursday and very kindly let me copy them to our computer. There are some cracking shots among them - she's got the feathers on some of the girls showing up beautifully. I'll insert some of the photos now to close October in style:
