Berkshire 2nd July - 7th July

 

Jeff leading in Marco - 18yr old.

We have the regime for caring for the horse, two dogs and property -Cranes Farmhouse - sorted to keep everything as it should be.

6am we go up to the stable, give Marco a carrot to keep him happy while Jeff gets his medication hidden in a handful of horse feed. Marco is fed pellets then brought out of his stall and his horse cover, fly mask and grass muzzle is put on. Marco is then turned out onto his field. Grass muzzle is to restrict amount he eats as too much grass exacerbates the laministis the horse has. Once turned out we makeup hay 3 nets, weight exactly 2.8kg each. One is soaked in a tub of water and weighted with bucket of water to keep it submerged. We then muck out the horse stall and feed the feral cats who live in the barn. Muck is barrowed along a cypress hedge alleyway to be dumped. We also muck out the field. Return to the house and feed the 2 dogs - 315gm and 185gms each weighed. Jeff and I have breakfast 7.30am and then take the dogs for their walk 7-8km. Find interesting walks a shortish car ride away like woods, rivers etc. as around the farmhouse is the Ridgeway byway which is boring for all concerned. On return to the house, a coffee then head up to the barn around 11am to bring the horse from his field,  remove cover, mask and feed restrictor. Marco then given the soaked drained hay net in his stall. Most of the sugars have soaked out. The sugars in the grass feild rise late morning so hence Marco has to be brought in. We put another hay net into soak.

So from around midday we can relax until 5pm when the horse gets the second soaked hay net. In the afternoons we have been fixing a few things that require Sewell attention. The horsecover beiing left in a pile is annoying so Jeff made a stand so the cover goes on easier rather than wrestling to find the right way while the horse gets grumpy with any delay in being turned out. The horse water trough was not working properly, probably not for ages, so bits purchased to repair. Fussing around the extensive garden,  keeping pots etc alive in the warm temperatures, not complaining, marvellous blue sky days 25C to 33C. Plenty of reading done plus Formula One and Tour de France to watch. At 9pm we go up to the horse for the final time in the day to give him his 3rd soaked hay net. We muck out the stall again.

Dogs sleep in the house at night but know not to go upstairs. Like most Labradors it is all about food and walks.  Upstairs we have got used to the low oak beams, after a couple of head knocks. The farmhouse is isolated so no non rural noise. We love hearing the pheasants, pigeons and seeing deer potter about. Cool inside even upstairs at night and can leave windows wide open. Gets light enough about 4am. Both sleeping well as we have our own bedding and pillows. We are living in maybe a 1/3 of the house as formal lounge, dining room, other bedrooms etc not required.

There is a robotic lawnmower, called Bilbo. Has his own little den where he returns to and recharges. Quite odd seeing it go about the various lawns. So no lawn mowing required by us.

An East Garston house, this is a high decile area with racehorses, fancy cars and extensive properties.

Lambourn River, a clear chalk waterway.

A hint of water and both dogs, Otto and Ella are in. We try and time these stops halfway on our walks. 

We have found some lovely walks around Lambourn river, Great Shefford and Eastbury. Went out to the Uffington White Horse to do a circular walk. You see the horse on the Berkshire Downs for some way. It is 110m long prehistoric chalk horse carved 3,000yrs ago. An offering to a Celtic god is the current thinking.

The view looking from going back up the White Horse circular walk. No significant rain here for sometime, or any forecast. Arable crops will maturing early. Already wheat, barley being harvested. Maybe light crops as the wheat heads have not plumped out due to lack of moisture.

We have several friends coming for lunch over the next several days. Thank goodness for M &S Foods. Easier for us if friends take a drive to here and Cranes Farmhouse is a "wowzer"  according to friend Caroline from West London.