The Great Carrot Heist and Other Stories

Had a phone call from my landlord the other night to ask if I had "actually made any effort to find a place to live". I was totally gobsmacked that he should come up with such a statement, especially as I am still way off the deadline for moving out. I have signs in all the local food stores, adverts in the two school newsletters plus everyone I know round here is asking everyone they know so in no way am I sitting back and doing nothing. Considering this guy hasn't fulfilled any of his promises (to fix two doors that either won't lock or won't open, to repair the back fence which allows stock to wander into the garden plus to paint a very grotty bathroom) I think he had a major cheek!

Rant over- I have been very pleased with the foxgloves I brought from the last cottage which are currently rear seven feet tall in front of the sitting room's bay window. I chucked Peaches up on the windowsill the other day to get a few photos. I still have two undeveloped films sitting on a kitchen shelf which I must get done soon as I've forgotten what's on them.

My vegetable garden took a beating when Heidi and Hoggle worked out they could move the cages I had protecting my precious plants and helped themselves to spinach and chard. Not to be left out Gretel just stood on the lettuces and pulverised them. The broccoli near the house escaped their notice and as too many came ready at the same time I cut them up, blanched and then froze them to eat later. More florets are forming so I should be able to get quite a harvest off them which is not too bad for $2.95!

This afternoon the animals lived up to their reputation for crazy behaviour when Mishka the dog faced off with Gretel Goat over a carrot. It actually was her dinner but Mish has an obsession with food and carrots in particular and his attitude was if she was going to leave a perfectly good carrot lying around she deserved to lose it! Gretel just blocked his way out through the gate and tried to outstare him. Mish actually curled his lips back and snarled at her which I've never seen him do before. In the end he grabbed the carrot and made a break for it, leaving Gretel folorn and carrotless!