holiday, holiday

On return of sis from US yesterday I having a few days at home. AFter 3 weeks going in to work every day wake up this morning to enjoy R&R, but with horrible sinusitis - aaarrggghhh. Full of drugs and pain killers (hopeless), now going to lay down. Damnit.

some customers never satisfied

Phil, who comes to help with bins and grass cutting on Mondays reports that this Monday a guest looked out of her unit when he emptied her bin, and she said "What, checking the bins again? Its terrible, you're always checking the bins and emptying them!" She was grumpy about this service. I can only assume from this that she would prefer to have her bin flowing over onto the grass, making a picturesque scene for everyone...

woodpecker ahoy

Yesterday morning we saw this young bird, who had mistaken the telegraph pole for a tree. He gave the top a very good pecking, and then flew off to nearby trees. It was, I assure you, very exciting at the time! Don't see too many woodpeckers, though can hear them quite clearly. Electrical problems at the salt mines, solved by Sparky thank goodness, and beautiful weather disappeared as usual. Yella horse stopped limping without treatment, he's a puzzle, see when it happens again.

Fab, fab weather - at last

Frankly, busier than a busy bee at salt mines, falling down into bed at night exhausted. But what joy - the sunshine!!! Brought out holidaymakers in droves, flocks, crowds and herds. Even sold a caravan (yippee). Only cloud on horizon is yella horse - terribly lame hind leg, he is such a wimp. Vet to come again next week - horse a complete albatross - but handsome with it!

IMPORTANT - SPORADIC LAMENESS

Aide memoire to self - saddle fitter postulates today that Skipper's intermittent lameness is hind right (looking at him from tail end). Bad today circling with that leg on inside, sound other direction, and sound trotting up road. Saddle had tiny amount of flocking added on left hand side to balance, though common sense dictated other side. All very complicated. All professionals seem to agree that at some time Skipper has probably suffered a major trauma in the pelvic area, or high hip, leaving him slightly unbalanced behind through imperfect healing. Doesnt track up perfectly on that side, and that hind leg often looks slightly stiff as he moves off. Neither muscular nor skeletal manipulation able to perfect pelvic position. All guesswork, wait until he permanently unsound before pursuing, as it may never deteriorate further, with good luck & a following wind. Interesting. (Read expensive). As he's going to stay with me until he dies, and we shall grow older and stiffer together it doesn't really matter to me, but its a pity. Its something I have been monitoring more or less since I got him, and it became apparent that he wasn't altogether sound working on the road consistently. Poor purchasing judgement in first place...but its a learning curve, only myself to blame!

10am - wet bed

Guest just been in to confess wet bed - 'nuff said.

Phew!

Been so busy down salt mines no time for photos, updates or anything away from salt-face. Have found time to take Skipper for couple of spins in new shoes...he's so excited I can hardly do anything with him. He rushes down the drive, runs up the road, and takes about one mile to settle into a reasonable pace. Last night, got him nicely settled then galloped down a huge stubble field, he exited the field like he had a firework up his bum, and spent next ten mnutes looking for place to do same again. Don't know what has brought on this intense excitement for outings in the horse, hoping familiarity will breed contempt and bring his relaxed, ambling self back. Otherwise I shall have to dope him, or something. I'm too old for excitement! Hoping for a quieter day at coast today, as it should be my day off its only fair, so telepathically contacting all guests so that they know not to bring their problems and complaints through the door today. Yuckily, yesterday new arrival returned a freshly laundered duvet cover saying it wasn't clean. I was most put out, and asked her to show me: she held out the edge of the cover with the biggest, most horrible, pile of brown "stuff" stuck like glue near the seam. Hard and stuck fast something like chewing gum, but not chewing gum colour, I was mortified. Obviously gave her new one, couldn't clean off the "brown stuff" (what can it be?) so its gone for burning, and another bottle of wine in hands of guests as apology. Nearly end of season....