December 2017 — Liddells

2nd December

Paul has his hooves trimmed; William needs his doing so needs to be handled in a way that gets him ready.

4th December

John starts making a door for the shelter, not because the ponies have already bolted but to give William somewhere to be while Paul is put through his paces.

6th December

Eilidh joins John to work with Paul - Paul is like putty in her very competent hands and canters round on a lunging rein on the side he usually seeks to avoid. Eilidh takes William in hand/head collar too and begins some gentle training on the lead rein. John is thrilled to have such invaluable and experienced support.

The rest of the month

John continues to work on clearing the northern boundary in the Pit Wood.

Eilidh has been able to pick up William's feet and has been long-reining Paul.

We've had a bit of wall collapse on the Meadow/Road boundary - evidence that climbing a wall is not the best option when there is a gate and stile to use.

28th December

We are poised to launch the website. Mindful that we have used photographs taken of and by other people, surveys and creative contributions, we asked for permissions to include these. The responses have been interesting, to say the least. Phrases such as 'true colours are revealed', 'the mask slipping' and 'the shadow side of personalities' have been in our thoughts and we are left questioning the basis of some of our relationships. Thus far Clare's granddaughter's 'agent' has demanded a monthly payment of £1000 or childcare in perpetuity, Nick (he of the scything action) has replied: 'all proceeds from merchandising - sale of resin figurines of me in action, calendars featuring photos of me scything, me resting on my scythe, gazing, hand on chin, into the middle distance, wiping my brow etc - are paid to The Root Charitable Foundation, Cayman Islands.' And Neil (he who will usually be the first to offer help wherever it is needed) has said: 'Of course I am happy for you to use any material I might have provided! I'll enclose my bank details in a separate email for you to transfer the royalties...'. Keith does not ask for anything so obvious as money up front, however he does say: 'I suppose I should just mention that I have patented the terms "wildlife, environment, bird, plant, meadow, hay, butterfly, pond, deer, bee and volunteer." So as long as you avoid those it will be fine. If they are mentioned you will understand that I will, reluctantly, have to sue.'

We are redrafting our Christmas card list.

31st December

Clare paid an end of year visit to her bees and fed them sugar fondant - not individually you understand. She was very impressed by the clearing work John and Mel had done in the Pit Wood and in particular by the tidy log stacks!