Well here we are - Friday again! Today we gave the chicks lessons on Flycatching and learning to Fly. It was great fun and hopefully everyone will sleep soundly tonight.

Of the five weekdays, Mondayne is first
And work has once again begun
Focused keep!
Don't fall asleep -
It'll soon be the end of Day One.

Second of the five is Tunesday
It can sometimes drag it's feet
But with a whistle and song
It won't be long
Until all the work is complete.

And Whensday is right in the middle
With her thoughtful and ponderous way
The wherefores and wise
The questioning eyes
Try to learn something new every day.

The fourth day is time for reflection
Appreciation of life and it's worth
Nature's fair hand
Embracing the land
Unity twixt heaven and earth.

Hooray! Yippee! It's Flyday at last
A day filled with laughter and cheer
The work is done
Here comes the sun*
And the weekend is nearly here!

*rain wouldn't have the same upbeat impact - and anyway, it doesn't rhyme with done!  
Gordon & Sylvia xxx

A shady slope, a woodland dell
Next babbling brook would suit you well,
By ditch or bank, midst rambling rose
Fronds unfurl as she twines and grows.
 Her tones of light and emerald green
 What finer symmetry be seen?
 Delicate fingers reaching high
 Stretching upward to the sky.
 And what of the secretive Faerie Glen -
 Hidden from the prying eyes of men
 By a canopy of finest lace
 The Fern in her most perfect place.

Gemma Sebright
Class 2. Wattlebury Primary School

As the 2012 chicks are growing up they are, rightly so, inquisitive and questioning. I try to give fair and where ever possible, factual answers. Even if it sometimes means heading to Harvest's comprehensive collection of books hidden behind her straw bale.
Once again this morning dawned dull and grey - not cold, but there wasn't a chink of blue in the sky which ever way we looked. A gentle breeze from the west wafted the long grass heads, now beautifully delicate and tall and changing from purple and pink to a more subtle amber shade.
Little Suzy trotted over to me and wistfully looked skyward, her lovely face a bit puzzled.
"Uncle Gordon," she whispered. "Mummy said that this morning is called June 27th. And she said that the Longest Day of the Year was last week. And so was Midsummer's Day. So when is it going to be hot and sunny?"
I refected upon this and put my wing gently around her.
"It will be, Suzy dear, you'll see. I can't say exactly when the sky will turn sapphire blue, and the sun will warm our bodies. It isn't something we can look up in Harvest's Library either! But Summer will come. Sometimes the best things are worth waiting a little bit longer for."
And I really hoped I was going to be right. Gordon xxx

"So what did become of Engelbird?" Piped up Ellen.
We didn't know. But it got us thinking about Songs. For our two remaining rescued Warrens - Lauren and Greedy, being ex-battery hens - we thought that either the song 'No Charge' or 'Jump Start' would be appropriate. And for our little Rumpless friends - 'It's All in The Game'. For Harvest - 'The Road to Ruin' [She is a Rouen cross duck]. And for Lois, the Cow - 'You won't find an udder fool like me'.
Bird was getting feverishly excited trying to come up with some witty ditty. All he could think of was 'Take me Ohm' for poor Betty, the Light Sussex bantam, who had sadly passed on to a better place some months ago.
 "And for Neddie and Seagoon 'Love Child'" He added enthusiastically.
Time to head for my roost, I think. Gordon xxx

Never did I think I would be so pleased to wake up on a Monday morning. Boring old Monday. The weekend over and nothing much to be doing. But I am very pleasantly relieved about this. I have found all the excitement and joviality of the recent weeks a bit too much.  The Jubibubbly celebrations and then the Euro Footie. Between you, me and that gatepost over there, I am breathing a soft sigh of gratefulness that we are now out of the running for the Cup. Don't let my enthusiastic Football chums hear me say that of course, nor my young nephews and nieces that have dribbled old withered conkers around the yard day in and day out. Nor even Bird who has practised Football Anthems late into the night. I suppose I must gather strength for the Tennis and then the Olympics. But that's for another day. Today I am resting peacefully in a quiet corner of the yard, the sun dappling through the trees and having a most enjoyable boring day! Gordon xxx

Harvey and Honey came down to see us for a natter yesterday. We enjoy hearing about their walks as they go farther into the countryside than we do and see unusual plants and birds. However Harvey was a bit indignant that he had given Ricky Ticky a free ride around the meadow the other day. Honey recalled last year when she gave Vicky Ticky a free day out at an Agricultural Show - with a prime seat on the top of her head! Many years ago Mum and Dad had some guinea fowl that clattered around the farm - and they loved ticks! It is said that just 2 birds can clear 2 acres in a single year - ours had obviously consumed all the local ones and more, because they wandered far and wide.
"I have heard," said Harvey. "If you tie a white blanket to a pole and drag it through the undergrowth of woody areas, you can then just pick the little mites off."
That sounds fun!
"Then after I had got rid of Ricky, I came home with Billericay Dicky. I have this strange potion put on my withers every so often and if Dicky had started feeding in earnest, I guess he would have dropped off - dead! But Mum spotted him early on and zapped him with a top-up spray. He hung on for a day, but was obviously quite dead and then dropped off in my chair. Mum carefully lifted up the flat brown lifeless body and gave it to Dad. Not sure why. Perhaps it was a late Father's Day present."
We were intrigued.
"You know some people burn them with a hot match, or smother them in Vaseline, or give them Alcohol, or twist them out with a Tick Tool. You can dab them with Paraffin or Kizzie's nail-varnish remover as well - it makes them loosen their grip."
What?!
"This magic potion is much easier and doesn't leave even a small mark on my skin. I really am glad they don't set me alight when they see one. Wouldn't mind the Alcohol though." Harvey looked thoughtful. "I think the Deer carry them and leave them to cling on to the grasses where they wait for us to come along. They are members of the Spider family you know - 8 legs. Anyway we've got to be off now Gordon," Harvey waved his tail. "Watch out for the little blighters!"
And with that Honey and Harvey trotted off to have more adventures. Gordon xxx

Hoorah! The sun is shining! The roses at Wattlebury Cottage are smiling! What a pleasant start to the day. We shall get down to grubbing and scratching immediately and not waste a single moment - apart from a nice lay in the warm sun after lunch, of course. It has been a busy week. Aunty Bella came to stay for a couple of days and she and Mum chatted non-stop. So much so that even Bird couldn't get a word in! They walked - and talked, and raked - and talked, and watched the Football - and shouted. Dad spent quite a bit of time doing jobs with us - can't think why! And he had a good Father's Day on Sunday - well we all did. The babies in the nursery got together and under Sylvia's watchful eye made me a delicious Chick Crumb Cake. A real treat. Gordon x

In spite of heavy rain Mum and Harvey managed to get a mauvilicious walk in last evening. We have had a lot of rain now - the ditches and ponds are tumbling over and the long grass is mighty wet. Mickey stays reluctantly in the barn thinking of all the hunting he could be doing and we content ourselves with ambling out between downpours. The cows and calves from the next door farm are thriving and we spotted a rather handsome young bull accompanying them. Lois professed to not being in the slightest bit interested, her having been through the cowapause some years ago! We have also met Mysty's second baby in the field with Lois. She is beautiful and we have called her Rose. And quite a few of us girls are trying to hide their eggs from Dad now and store them up in a secret nest. Sylvia xxx

The peaceful Saturday turned into something not far short of being described as a riot by the evening. First Kizzie and her car-load of friends arrived back from the show, having stopped at the Human's Supermarket en route. They struggled in piled high with bread rolls, bottles of drink and meat. Harvey looked on in utter delight. Then more friends arrived and Pete got cookin' on the Barbie. The smoke rose - we could see it - and the air was filled with yummy smells - we could smell it -and more friends arrived. Pete felt a bit queasy and others stepped in to take a hand at cookin'. Harvey galloped madly about, pretending to chase a toy that had been randomly thrown for him, whilst taking an ultra crafty detour via the food table, eyeing up the delicacies, and each time getting slightly closer in preparation for the sudden launch attack on an unsuspecting burger. It was a chilly evening however and the kettle was deployed in a steady brew of tea. Dad had returned from the Show with some pictures of the family - we will put them in the Picture Gallery - and he and Mum sought sanctity in front of the Euro Footy game - even though Kizzie wanted Mum to play badminton with them in the garden. Mum said she was very tempted, but having had a couple of glasses of wine and a bulky burger, luckily didn't give in to the temptation to join the hilarity outside. That was probably one of the most sensible calls she has made in reflection. The shuttlecocks (what breed is that?) apparently kept getting caught in the fir trees and people were seen to be standing two or three high in an attempt to retrieve them.
Luckily the Blue Tits fledged at 7.30 this morning and all took to the safety of the fir trees to regroup. Hopefully they will dislodge the remaining shuttlecocks whilst they are there!

The first baby Blue Tit appeared at 07.25 and he took some time scanning around before turning right to the firs. He was closely followed by numbers 2 & 3; then number 4 - all flying to the same place. Number 5 was more cautious and thoughtfully looked around - until he too flew with his siblings to the fir trees, just 8 minutes later.  The parents came back with grubs and checked and immediately joined their five babies in the trees.

It is brighter and drier today, thank goodness. Much better for getting about. We were awake early as Dad has taken some of us to a Show where we are on display. I opted to stay at home and amuse myself with the abundance of worms, but we armed Dad with the camera and told him to take a snap or two for our Diary. Kizzie and her friends have gone for the day too - so it is quiet and peaceful at the farm. Apart from Mum trying to teach Bird the National Anthem. And Neddie had an unfortunate episode when he accidentally trod in Mr Fox's doo-doos. He tried to avoid it, having spotted it at the very last moment, but his toe slid in - not a pleasant experience I would think, as Mr Fox has been dining out at SlugFest this week. And we got Mum to take a picture of Harry eating with his tail up - as they said on the radio yesterday that it couldn't be done.

Mrs Buff relished in the last piece of Chocolate Twist that Kizzie had brought Mum home last week. No matter that it was a little dry, she set to it with fervour. Lois was fast asleep in the field, chewing contentedly with her eyes tight shut, and rather unfairly I suppose, we tried to see how near we could get before she knew we were there. Pretty close actually, and poor Lois rubbed her sleepy eyes and blinked in disbelief when she saw us beside her.
As promised, although not exactly when promised, here are some pictures of my new great-nephews and great-nieces. Sylvia also has a few young additions to the silver clan, but I am proud to say my gold line has been far more prolific this season - as you will see. There's Gabriel, Garth, Gavin, Gaylord, Gilbert, Giles, Godfrey, Gregory, Gail, Gemma, Gilda, Gilly, Gloria and Grace - to name a few. And Selwyn, Siegfried, Simeon, Sheena and Suzy are some of the silvers. They have Rosecomb friends and a couple of Buff Orpington friends - and one Rumpless Game!