Thinking about Defeat, death and new life

Following on from my tweet today about mediation (here), I been thinking about defeat and bouncing back from this post. I'm not sure how I am coping with failures, how I (if I) pick myself up after another problem, set back or defeat. Maybe I'm too much of a scientist and not enough farmer, too analytical and not enough "next season will be better".

Today as I was preparing to repair my internal fence for containing Goats. My friend pointed out that the potatoes which I thought I have killed in spectacular style, with lack of water would actually produce new potatoes. Armed with a garden fork and shovel, We dug up our first potato harvest which were 100% organic free-range spuds. They were really tasty boiled as part of our lunch. 

This was definitely a seizing a victory from the jaws of defeat

Wild oats

Whilst setting up the washing-up table for the end-of-term party at the farm, I noticed we have some wild oats growing  These must be seed from where we milked our goats which we borrowed for a month last year. The oats are actually ripe, taste similar to the rabbit food oats and are 100% organic, free-range and unintentional. I hope our planted oats grow similarly

The Wet April has paid divends to our Sunflowers, corn and fruit trees. Our roses old and new also love this weather

Samm's Grandfather

Whilst online, Samm discovered what her maternal grandfatther got upto in WWII. The article below is from  http://www.ewell-probus.org.uk/programme/2010/Arnhem.htm

Well Blow me down

This evening as we were leaving home to take Crunchy (our new house dog [until she gets better]) to the vet, a little storm kicked in and there was a crash. On closer inspection when we returned with bandaged dog (www.twitpic.com/cwj5lx), it seems we were very fortunate/lucky/protected. The mulberry tree has completely toppled but didn't take out the house or our new perimeter fence. There is slight damage to a neighbouring tree but all is relatively OK  What was more amazing is that I was butchering three neighbours' goats under the shade of this tree at the weekend. A slight wind could have resulted in the dispatching of an Andy as well.
It looks like I will be chainsawing firewood for the foreseeable future.

Cake and lots of it!!!!

Today I had a surprise when I went to church. Today, we thanked all the lovely people who work in the various different groups which serve our church as schools are ending in the next few weeks. I was dragged up to the front and was given a small present which was lovely but then I was ambushed by Zoli Bacsi and others who appreciated my weekly guitar bashing and all the other bits and they gave me a MONSTER CHOCOLATE CAKE AS A GUITAR!!!!!!!! This was a small gift showing their appreciation of me! They obviously prefer a slightly fatter Andy :) I am feeling very very very very very very loved and wanted and a bit tubby after munching some of this lovely baked product. So thank you all lovely people (, It made my day :)  Nagyon Köszönöm mindenkinek és puszilak is!

Upgrading the Chicken's housing

A month has flown by and the chicken have now grown so much that their initial boxes are too cramped. 

So using the remains of old Computer boxes which we used to move here, I've built a little run for them in our boiler room. The glass jar with lamps in them are Zoli's great idea for keep them warm. The chickens can snuggle up next to the jar and feel the heat. Also, the specific heat capacity of the glass is higher then the air and less susceptible to cooling  

 

At the moment we have 18 chickens - 10 bigger meat chickens, 7 laying chickens and one random chicken which a friend swapped out for a weak chicken when we picked them up from the shop. The birds which we have identified as cockerels belong to the meaty group. This isn't a great loss as Kakaspörkölt is very tasty. The birds  aren't fully fledged this should happen in the next few weeks and then they will be unleashed into the jungle which our garden.

Kilt

Wedding season is approaching and I'm bored with the suit thing and am itching to get hold of a kilt and free my legs.
The big question is where do i start? I've a dinning Jacket, dress shirt and bow-tie but the rest is a bit of a mystery too me. So, internet where do I start? Any suggestions for Tartan, online shops, must have bits and all that Jazz? What is the price of a starter's kilt? Any hidden tips?
Help Me internet, you are my only hope