spring, the tail fairy, and phantom denting

At the supermarket the other day, returned to my (well parked) car, and found a courteous and generous driver had left me this anonymous gift! I was so angry it almost prevented me from driving safely home (red rage). I have moaned and wailed, but accepted that for now I will drive a dented vehicle, as it will be so expensive to get it repaired, and I refuse to sacrifice my insurance bonus for such a small bump. The local body shop staff were telling a friend only recently that most of their work comes from Morrisons car park - perhaps they employ a secret bumper car driver to bring them business.

More cheerfully, as I rode the horse beside a neighbour's garden today I noticed that he had burned out his pampas grass clumps. I came home and suggested to him indoors that we have a go at our two gigantic clumps at the front of the house. He was not keen, particularly as they lean quite nicely onto the house wall! Therefore, himself struck up his petrol engined hedge trimmer (which scares the bejazers out of me) and attacked the two clumps with vigour! The results are heartening, as you can see, and the next task is to dig out the middles with a spade to really thin them. Its not that I want to finish them completely, but they are awesomely huge, and need a few setbacks to bring them under control.

The Wonderhorse got his coat off today, about the first time for 6 months. Absolutely heaps and heaps of yellow hair groomed out of him, and I followed this intensive brushing session with a shampoo and full conditioning rinse of his tail, which was the colour of mud. I don't suppose he cares much, but I think it looks a picture. The tail needs about 12 inches cutting off the length, but I couldn't bring myself to snip it off today. Its trailing on the floor, and I like it! Hugh thinking of making it into a wig for himself..... The Yellow one then hacked quietly round one of our circuits like a good boy. He has lost quite a bit of weight during the winter months, mostly owing to the sodden state of the land. Hoping the Spring will bring him a bit more flesh on his (lean) bones.

Salt mines now boasting facebook page, and twittering too. All this techie stuff, its really not for me, but Lincs Tourism keep hammering on about using all avenues for business promotion, so going with the flow for the time being.

Parents evening for youngest tomorrow night. Not sure whether to tell the wretched maths team that he has been having 2 hours private tuition every week to help with mathematics, which has brought his grade up to A standard. The school maths teachers are, of course, taking all the credit for this improvement, but half the A level students visit the same (wonderful) tutor, who is a retired Uni professor and does a bit of tutoring to keep his mind active. I begrudge the school maths teachers their self-congratulation, if they were delivering the syllabus properly there would be no need for the outside help.

And finally, my garden is just a mass of snowdrops. Cute little things. Hoping the daffodils all come up together in a rush too and put on an equally dramatic show.

We went to see FASCINATING AIDA on their nationwide anniversary tour at the weekend. If they come to a town near you on this very long and demanding tour GO AND SEE THEM! They were absolutely fabulous, so clever, so cutting, up to the minute and very, very cruel. The Tesco Song, Dogging, 'Ealth & Safety were all well shredded in their fearsome lyrics, along with heaps of others. Well worth the drive (again) to Lincoln, which has proved to be the source of much great entertainment for us this wintertime. If you don't know who they are, or what they do, some old material is available on UTube, but sadly not the Tesco song (yet). So scary, and yet so true. By coming out and meeting the audience after every show to rattle a bucket they have also collected over £41000 for Help for Heroes, and Combat Stress. Commendable service after a tiring and long show. Dillie Keane, Liza Pulman, Adele Anderson and Lara A King make a great team. Just buy a ticket.

Melton, AandE, Snipe Dales and grumpiness

The new signs have just been delivered for placement at the salt mines entrance, and to replace the rather scruffy and worn existing boards. Quite pleased with them and hoping they will attract one or two more passers-by to explore our holiday options! Man and dogs taken on Sunday morning, bright and early, at Snipe Dales Country Park. A few years ago it would have been man, woman and two small boys being worn out to ensure a quiet and peaceful Sunday afternoon. Principle the same, but now trying to run the legs off two small and energetic balls of fur aka 'the girls'. Some participants were exhausted by all the activity, and needed extra naps, but it was not the dogs, obviously. We took the 'olds' out for lunch on same Sunday. They never really like this option as no-one gives them two plated meals each to take home and eat later, so always some mild complaining that I didn't cook and produce. Get used to it, season now here, and I cook even less often than usual! Tuesday (day off) found big boy and me off to Melton Mowbray cattle market at 6.30am (yawn) to buy fertile eggs for the incubator, which SHOULD hatch just in time for easter chicks for Reception at salt mines. These poor chicks will be cuddled and squeezed by the guests for a few days, then returned to the peace and quiet of farm life. If they hatch. Some doubt, as the first incubator hatch provided only one chick on Monday, out of about 60 eggs. Temperature issues probably. Sadly it was a cockerel chick. We bought about 6 dozen eggs at Melton auction and also two well grown greengage saplings, so some good should come of the outing in the long term. The big boy and I cannot be trusted with money in our pockets and an entire live cattle mart to go at. It was nothing short of a miracle that we were not trying to crush a couple of young heifers into the back of the Skoda too, along with the trees. It would appear that we are as bad as each other when it comes to spontaneous purchases of the agricultural kind. Also some sheep looking like they needed bidding for, but we resisted. On our way home from Melton we called in at the hospital to spring an 'old' from A&E (well that's what it felt like), and took same for slap-up late lunch and buckets of tea as a guaranteed treatment and cure for national health assessment times. Then, to complete a very tiring day off, called at tyre garage with big boy's car to check balance and tracking, and, as always, too late - so needed two new front tyres as an added treat. Luckily, as he is working, he paid for that little lot himself, and learned the hard lesson that when your steering wheel vibrates, it is a sign that you need to see the tyre man, not an invitation to ignore the symptom and keep driving around for weeks.....

Skipper the wonder horse probably needs to see his manicurist shortly, when I can find time to make the booking, and is otherwise chilled and cheerful. Have moved his cob neighbour back into a separate paddock, so Skip's food is no longer being stolen by the black beast, and we are able to get in and out of his field without lots of shouting, and a stick. Peace has returned.

Some A level results are coming in today for youngest, I am awaiting a text with trepidation. He MUST do well to boost his chances of taking up his place at Leicester University, so it was a bit tense this morning. Fingers crossed.

Off to see Fascinating Aida in Lincoln on Saturday evening. Its their 25th year together, and something of an anniversary tour. I saw them 23 years ago in London, and still remember how clever and sharp they were, so hope age and maturity has not dulled their edge.

Having consulted the calendar it would appear that we have a few weeks grace coming up, with less bookings for outings and events. This will mean more nap time, and might also add up to a slightly less grumpy person (me)... ever hopeful. If my tetchiness does not improve with rest it could mean that it is a middle-aged character trait for me. Oh dear.

As soon as the weather improves am hoping to push off with the beaten up old touring caravan for a few days in Derbyshire eating out and sleeping late. This will add to the waistline, and also deduct from the bank balance, but the net result should be a sunny temper. Bring on the warmer weather please.