I’m flying to England tomorrow!
I’ll be met at the airport by Wendy. You know a person is a good friend when they’re willing to brave the traffic to Heathrow, and then wait in the craziness outside of security for you. Wendy is a gardener, chicken keeper, artist, rose pruner, tortoise maid and blogger. No surprise what we’ll be doing – visiting gardens and chickens, and vintage shops and stopping for tea. This is one of the properties we’ll see.
After four days, Wendy will hand me off to Celia at a rendezvous in London. The city will provide Turkish food and galleries, and then I’ll be off to Celia’s beloved Suffolk. Celia is also a gardener, artist, chicken keeper and blogger. She doesn’t have a tortoise, but she does have a couple of studio assistants who might get off their beds to greet me. Or not. Celia is going to take me to galleries and ancient British towns. I only have two days with her before she and her husband drive me back to London (are these good friends, or what?!)
Both Wendy and Celia drink gin and tonics. I never have. They each have a favorite gin and a favorite tonic. I will be doing a taste comparison.
If all goes right with my electronic gear, I’ll be able to blog and post photos. Then again, I might just relax with those gin and tonics and catch up with you when I get home.
ENJOY!!!!!!
I was in London years ago, what fun! Although I found out that the beer there has much more alcohol in it :-0 or at least the ones I sampled.
Maybe you would know, do polish do ok in the cold?
Have a great trip! My husband was borning in London but grew up in Manchester, his mom still lives in Wales, so beautiful.
I emailed you this morning that my hen didn’t want to come out of her coop, which is unusual, then I noticed she laid an egg that was like mush, that never happened before either, she’s out and eating now but should I be concerned?
Still haven’t found homes for the chicks I rescued…….
Hi Andrea…I would keep an eye on her. I don’t like to medicate unless I am sure there is a problem. You can always cage her and watch her that way as well. Just watch for the usual signs….yucky bottom, puffed up, droopy, not intesrested in food..etc.
Have fun, Terry! Sounds like a blast!
Can’t wait to hear all about your trip! My husband and I are saving for a trip to England as well within the next 2 years? I am saving my egg money. I have deep family roots in England, Scotland, and Ireland and would like to research that as well! Have a safe trip! Is your man watching the farm and new babies?
Sorry about that Donna, wanted to say thank you. She is eating but she does look a little puffy and her butt is a little yucky, but it gets that way often but she never laid a mushy egg before and someoone else said she could be lacking calcium? I may be a little paranoid because I had to put my 12 yr old rotti to sleep 2 weeks ago due to cancer and my head hasn’t been in a good place since. She was fine last night, didn’t go in her coop until 8:20 then this morning she didn’t come out for awhile, very unlike her.
Many hens that don’t leave the nesting box are broody – and that’s what I thought when you first sent me the email. But a mushy egg changes everything! Seeing what she eats and poops is the best bet to having some sort of diagnosis. Put her in a crate and see what goes in and out. Soft shells are often due to lack of calcium, so give her oyster shells. You can also hard cook an egg and finely mince it all, including the shell, and feed it to her. However, soft eggs are not always due to a mineral imbalance. There could be a bacterial infection. Or, it can be due to stress. So, isolate her and do more observation. If her poop is normal, I’d put her back out with the hens.
Yes! Steve is staying home. It’s a girl trip :)
Have been quietly reading/watching your blog for some time now but had to comment on this post to welcome you to England! I moved over here from the states (Baltimore originally/college in the Berkshires) 6 years ago now and took up chicken keeping since then. You’ll absolutely love it here. There is a real culture of ‘the good life’–people here love their gardening, keeping animals, knowing where their food comes from. Be sure to try some real local cheeses and ales as well as your gin and tonics!
Thanks Anna! I’ve been promised much good food. Local fish and good things out of the garden.
Have a great trip – the weather here is lovely just now!
Have just copied Celia and now have fever tree tonic as there was a 50p coupon on my Bombay gin! I will spend tomorrow polishing the hens…
…and then there is of course PROPER toad-in-the-hole! Sausages baked in batter, none of that egg in a slice of bread rubbish you have over there!
Wow! and Wonderful! Hope you have a great trip and a FANTASTIC time….and maybe get a chance to blog too!
Have a blast on your trip. I’ve done many trips there and love it each and every time. Even though you have limited time with Celia, I hope you get to see the angel choir at St Mary’s church in Bury St Edmunds.
Safe travels Terry! I heart G&T’s, as my Brit friends call’em, and they adore thin slices of cucumber in theirs…i know, sounds weird, but it’s fabu! I highly recommend several of them :)
have a safe trip to my homeland….
Terry, what a wonderful adventure you have ahead of you! Be safe and will be looking forward to future posts from England. Blessing to you, Julie.
Have a wonderful time!
Sounds like you’ll have a wonderful time.
I’m thrilled for you. Have a fabulous time. BTW, you and Tillie are still very high on the hit chart at St. Mary School. The students (and teachers) still work tidbits of chicken knowledge into any and all converstions. They were so taken by your presenation. And they continue to congratulate and thank ME for arranging your visit! So thanks also for making me look good :) I hope you enjoy every minute of your trip. Bon Voyage!
Have a great trip. And I look forward to your posts while you’re away or after you get home. Safe travels.
If you don’t like gin, try Pimms. It’s the national drink, practically…
I’m so excited! I just got done ordering 4 baby chicks from mypetchicken!!! (All females) I got 1 Light brown leghorn, 1 white crested black polish, 1 assorted polish, and 1 dark cornish!!! I can’t wait until they come!!