Great news: Lupin had twin ewe lambs yesterday. This is particularly pleasing because, both lambs being girls, I don’t have to do anything eye-watering with a sinister piece of equipment called the Elastrator (I’ll leave what it does to your imagination), and they can stay with us forever. The girls are fit and healthy and can already do a hot line in bouncing.
I got up three times a night for far too many nights (and am still doing so for Foxy) to check the ewes. Lupin being Lupin (a character) waited until 11am when I had decided she wouldn’t do anything exciting until the next night and was up at the house for a coffee break. As soon as she heard my footsteps receding up the lane, she gave birth quickly and efficiently. I arrived back after my cuppa to find her checking the newborns over and putting their names down for violin and Mandarin lessons (obviously spectacularly talented offspring, she could tell already).
Foxy has yet to show her hand, and is lounging around her maternity unit guzzling hay, criticising Lupin’s childcare ethos and calling for more ivy (her favourite treat). I’ll tell you when something happens.
During the long hours I’ve spent in the building previously known as the Field Shelter but at the moment called the Lambing Shed, I’ve been watching nature unfold before me: here are some of my thoughts on birds which I will share with you:
Swallows are wonderful, but they never shut up. I was sitting with Lupin, gently dozing off, when I became aware of non-stop twittering and realised it was a gang of swallows who had presumably just arrived from foreign shores and were sharing their holiday stories. All it needed was for one of them to set up their own travel video complete with atmospheric soundtrack and stills of the main points of interest flown over and the illusion would have been complete.
Wrens. Say something very high and excitable and then zip away. I like them, but they don’t hang around much.
Chaffinches. Say ‘cheep cheep cheep, chirp chirp chirp, tweedeldee – kerpow!’ I watched a little pink guy in full song for some time before I got the spelling right.
I’ll be back in the Lambing Shed tonight (go, Foxy!) and will look out for more wildlife specials.
Congratulations Lupin and a big well done
When Foxy has her lamb/lambs, I will look forward to some pics.
At least the weather is going to be warmer this week for the little darlings.
Hi Carol, actually the weather is perfect and goes on like this I’ll be able to put the yummy mummy and her smalls out in double quick time. They love getting back to real grass, and I love watching the lambs zooming about in the flowers! Aly x
Many Congrats,Aly please don’t ever change the way you tell us your news,i have literally just seen the swallows holiday video (but missed Lupin giving birth)!! Thanks for that bit
Hope all’s well with yourself
Sue xxxx
Hi Sue, I’ll pass congrats onto the happy family. I’ll always tell things the way I do – it’s the only way I know how! Swallows still very full of swapping guide books etc, I should think they’ll get onto nest building when everybody has heard the stories and getting bored … Aly x
Hi Aly
Brilliant news about Lupin’s new arrivals. As they are girls and you’ll be keeping them, have you decided on names yet? I hope Foxy lambs soon, so there’ll be no more waiting in sheds for you! Newborns are so heartwarming to watch. As I type, I’m looking out into the farm next door’s field at 2 newly born calves. Beautiful!
Best wishes
Janet x
Hi Janet, I’m probably going to call them Mamba and Kanga (the African sarong, not the Oz bouncer!) Their dad had an African name and I like to follow the theme! Thanks for congrats, I’ll pass them on to Lupin and the girls. Aly x