I bet Paul Hollywood doesn't have this problem.

Living in the country with three city cats has been a learning curve. I did wonder how they would settle, but they have taken it very much in their stride.

Here are a few comments from my Facebook page today. It was one of those days when I had a LOT to do, and I was trying to get it all finished in time so I could have a nana nap. No such luck. The events took place within a space of 30 minutes, the time it took for my cardamom bread to rise.

Half way through making bread, I see 4 naughty lambs have escaped from our paddock and are charging around next door. Sheep dog activated, lambs grounded, yows giving them a royal ticking off! Who needs Netflix?

Mango tries to bring an adult rabbit into the house. I get to the cat flap before he does, and get out to try and rescue rabbit. Wrangle 8kgs of hungry cat, meanwhile the rabbit plays dead on the lawn. I try and encourage it to get up. It does, but Mango escapes and chases it at an illegal speed across the paddock. Sadly, I don't think it will escape a second time. So long as he doesn't try and get a lamb for dessert. 15 minutes ago I'd refused to give him an extra lunch, so he got his own takeaway. Blooming menace!

Caught Mango, who is slithery with the damp grass. Rabbit should get an Oscar for the death performance. I took the cat out with a flying tackle near the paddock gate. Rabbit is thumbing a lift home and the ginger murderer is now locked up.

Well at least the bread worked out OK

Dawdling at dusk

Our cats like to take us for walks in the garden in the evening. This evening, I was out assessing a few of our trees which appear to have suffered in recent weird weather. Two of them on the border may need to be cut down, but it will mean more light for the trees lining the driveway.

As I bent down to check the base of one tree, I heard the thundering of 8 kgs of ginger tom charging up the driveway then up the tree.

The photos are out of focus due to the lack of light, but you get the general idea. Simon came out later to check the tree, and caught Mango about to spring on Ruppin, who was hiding, as is his wont, under the agapanthus.

Surviving the frosts

We had a mild winter and now are being treated to a few days of severe spring - lots of heavy frost mornings. The lambs are surviving, I'm relieved to report

And if you have ever wanted to see what the verb "to gambol" looks like, here is one of the munchkins at "Gambol o'clock" (usually around 4.30pm)

Channeling my inner Women's Institute

Due to double the annual August rainfall last month, our lemon tree has done rather well. The tree doesn't get sprayed, or in fact get any attention, so the lemons are gnarly and need to have some of the outer skin scraped. But apart from that they are juicy and delicious. I decided to pickle mine, as they are fabulous in summer salads or cooked with rice.

I suppose you could say I've been nudged a bit this year, to do more in the way of homesteading. Part of the nudge has come from the amazing book by Julie Summers "Jambusters" about the role of the Women's Institute in feeding Britain during WWII. Not only did they produce potatoes, root vegetables, tree fruit and soft fruit by the 1000's of hundredweight, but they were also responsible for organising, caring for feeding and housing the majority of evacuees during the worst periods of the conflict.

A small fact from the book. After the 1940 fruit harvest, the nation's Women's institute made over 1000 tonnes of jam = 1 million kilograms or 4 million half pound jars.

I thoroughly recommend the book. It is compelling to read about the War through the eyes of the hungry Home Front.

A tale of two prices, and a turkey

(Snow capped mountains on the horizon are the Kaikoura range on the S. Island)

We've been to the capital today, as hubby had to have the first part of a dental implant. Habitually, when we head south, we stop at a small seaside village for a cup of coffee and I usually sneak into the local charity shop, to see what I can see.

Today was a tale of two price tickets. But let me back up the truck a second for some context. As a child and teenager I was always the 'wrong' size for clothes which were age appropriate. Too tall too soon. It didn't matter though, as my mum was a seamstress and could sew up an outfit quicker than I could do my music homework. In adulthood I seemed doomed to live in countries where the average height was 5 inches shorter than me. So trousers were half mast, skirts were all wrong and shoes had to be bought in special shops for "tall" people.

Now in late middle age I have gained weight too, so shopping is miserable, depressing and / or prohibitively expensive.

Back to the seaside charity shop. I went looking for ANYTHING that might fit, but was inexplicably drawn to a row of sandals which looked new. I almost didn't bother checking the size, but wonder of wonders, a pair of Hush Puppies for $20. And they fit, and I liked them! Sold to the lady in the Damask shirt.

Later in the day, waiting for hubby to recover from an anaesthetic, I wandered into a well known shop for Ladies Of A Certain Build. I have no idea why I bothered because their clothes are generally strange and black and overpriced. A very helpful sales assistant (5'4" at a guess) pulled out pair after pair of trousers, all predictably 4" too short, until miraculously a navy pair emerged from a window display, all floaty and silky and heavenly - a mere $497. Sigh. I made my excuses and left.

In the midst of the sartorial highs and lows, a turkey. We went to a wholesale grocer en route too. I scratched my head because we aren't exactly close to Thanksgiving (for our American immigrants) or Christmas for everyone else. Huge, frozen turkeys for $136. I nearly fainted into the freezer. For that turkey I could buy 6 and a half pairs of sandals or half a trouser leg.

They always choose rough weather

We've noticed over the years that the sheep in these parts have an internal clock 'wired' for harsh weather. They wait until either the frosts harden the land or the snow falls THEN they give birth!

I have just returned from a walk along our road. It was minus 1 degrees last night and this morning there were new lambs. I couldn't photograph the really young ones, they were too shy and mum was too protective. But there are a few fattening up and who will prosper as the spring breaks in a few weeks.

We have also had flooding locally in the last week. Our local river was very high, but mercifully cut too low through earthquake hewn scenery to be a flood risk.

The evenings have been cold enough for wood fires and the warmth of an office lamp to snooze next to, as our junior ginger has discovered. Not only does the desk lamp dry off any rain or frost on his fur, but he has cuddles on demand if he curls up in the in tray.

Senior female ginger has commandered the grocery basket, as it prevents drafts around her derriere!

And the nervous Tabby Boy, just does the alley cat knot to keep warm

Petanquing around

Every Monday we drive to a local town and have a leisurely coffee. It is the privilege of being semi-retired, and I'm not trying to make anyone jealous.

The cafe has a pétanque area next to it, and this morning I got the 'rules' explained by a gentleman and his local buddies. We have an area to the side of our house which is rather useless for growing things as the sun doesn't quite get there (which is perfect on hot summer days). I am seriously wondering if I should measure out a section of the lawn for this activity.