CHRISTMAS 2023 / NEW YEAR 2024

Hello Carshalton51 

Just a quick catch up - how are things going now? - are they any better? - remember we are with you here and want to help. It's easier fighting this with the Community behind you - 

Best wishes - Brian.

I have just counted the presents under the tree and my bunny has got more than my husband and I put together, he is obviously more popular than his mummy and daddy 

Hi Shar.

Well I hope your bunnies presents are more acceptable than the one I have been offered. Our log man came up with a load to keep us nice and toasty. Out came a litre of fresh olive oil. Lovely. Then a dozen free range eggs. Tasty. He then scrabbled around in the well of the car for a minute and triumphantly produced a live chicken for the pot. Um, thank you very much but!!!! How do I turn it down. He obviously clocked my expression and offered to dispatch it for me. I still politely declined so the poor thing was tied to the fence by its leg while he unloaded the logs. Next thing we know it has escaped so we are all running about, like headless chickens (is that where the saying comes from) trying to catch it. It can only happen in Greece.

Who else has had a dubious present?

Alwayshope, that is just too funny, I can't stop laughing, did you catch it. One year I asked my husband for a smoothie maker for Xmas. I saw him sneak the box into the garage. I went out shopping for loads of fruit ready to make smoothies on Xmas morning. I was so excited. Got up Xmas morning and opened my other presents first ready then for the big anticipation of my smoothie maker. I finally opened it and did a double look. There was no smoothie maker it was a paper shredder instead. Husband thought it was more practical. Needless to say he had fruit for his starter, turkey with fruit followed by fruit salad for dessert. 

Yes I did and watched the poor thing looking at me out of the back window of the car as it disappeared up the driveway.

Hope you eventually got your smoothie maker 

I did get a smoothie maker a few years later but it blew up when I was crushing ice in it. Pleased to note the paper shredder is still going strong 

Carshalton51,

How are you progressing since your post 3 days ago?  Is there anything we can do?

Best wishes. David

HI alwayshope, you could have sent the hen to me, they are always welcome to stay with my 12 other rescues. I'm trying to teach them to lay eggs with no luck so any sensible suggestions would be welcomed, I was given a bouncy castle by a friend as she thought it would help with my recently fractured back, bless her, hope you are both well, Eddie

Hi all,  Have had lots of laughs on this journey but one story still makes me smile. Not Christmas related though!

At one of my early scans I was showed into a large room with 4 staff (2 male and 2 female), in the corner was a screen behind which there was a chair.  In the corner furthest away from the chair was the scanner table.  I  was asked to go behind the screen and strip just leaving my socks on.  After a while I was asked to walk over to the scanner.  I did ask if there was a gown and they responded they would get one if I really wanted. I wasn’t bothered, so emerged from behind the screen, stark bo…ck naked (apart from socks) and walked full length of the room to the scanner.  I never found out what the purpose of the screen was meant to achieve!  David

Husband is feeling better today Eddie after his reaction to the flu vaccine which had a kick like a mule. In Europe the recommendation for vulnerable people is to have what is called the double dose as it creates a stronger immune response and thus gives better protection.

Well done for rescuing chickens. I used to have a smallholding and had 100 free range warrens, geese, ducks, and a few show chicken. Have you got a china egg to put in the nest box to give them an idea of what they are supposed to do. Also make sure they have plenty of grit. Most importantly have you got a cockerel, although it might annoy the neighbours.