Chickens of doom

yes it is that time of year again, our lovely ex-landlady (and now neightbour) Trish and her crazy physics husband Malc have headed off to sunnier climbs leaving me to look after the 'chickens of doom' for two weeks. This doesn't sound that horrific until you hear three facts 1. last time I looked after them I had to take one of them to the vets to be put down, I cried alot (despite the fact that she was not my pet), 2. They have a cockrel called Philip, Philip has been known to become upset if you spend too long 'looking at his birds' (you have to say that in an Eastenders accent, them's the rules). When I say upset what I mean is he will charge at you and try to attack your legs (yes this is why the other neighbours don't look after them, as you have to catch Philip of an evening and take him into the house, otherwise he wakes the neighbours, being a cockrel he's a pretty big bird...). 3. (This was the only thing I didn't know). Trish recently aquired some ex-battery hens, when 'the girls' arrived they were in a pretty bad state, they had virtually no feathers and they couldn't cluck properly anymore. Thanks to the loving care of Trish however their plumage is now growing back and they can make some sort of attempt at a cluck, however they still have flashbacks to their battery days... The first day I was looking after them was a Saturday, it had been a tough week so I set my alarm for 9, at 7.09 I got a phone call from Trish (aboard the ferry) apologising for waking me but the chickens must be let out now! I repeated, what now? Down the phone and she stated that yes, the girls have to be let out as soon as it is light otherwise they think they are back in the factory. So (because I am lovely/guilable) I got dressed and headed on round there and have been doing some version of this ever since (on work days it's kind of fine as I'm up at 6am anyway, on the weekends however I've just been putting a mac on over my nightie and shoving my wellies on then going back to bed afterwards. They are away for two weeks, something tells me it's gonna feel a good deal longer...

The Wonderful Wedding of Wood

So last weekend my sheerly superb friend from uni Mr Alex Wood (yes you should know him by now he has appeared on this blog many, many times) got all grown up and MARRIED to his long term girlfriend Victoria. Nichy and I were in attendance and we had a great day after an early emergency ( I arrived at the wedding 2 hours early only to find that Nichy had given me the wrong station and was waiting for me in her car 40 miles away, oh dear), I think this slight crisis worked out worse for Nichy who had to get changed in her car in the car park of the wedding venue (I'm sorry sweetie) while I got to spend the time chatting with Wood and making myself look presentable... (It's getting away with stuff like this that convinces me my friends love me). The wedding itself took place in Hagley Hall in Worcester (http://www.hagleyhall.com/) and then we all trooped off to a nearby hotel (where we were staying) for the reception. The speeches were all excellent, I particularly enjoyed Alex's (which I got a mention in, how awesome is that?!?, he thanked me for excellent guidance (?!?) and for not hitting his father the first time I met him (his dad was really patronising and told me to 'go and put the kettle on, there's a good girl' accompanied with hand tap, grrrr )). Unfortunately one of our party fainted at about this point so we dragged him to our room and made him lie down. After the speeches came the dancing, we were really lucky to get put on a table with some awesome people so after a slow number with Alex (who looked loads and loads and loads taller than me cause I'd taken my heels off), and a jazzy one with Chris (who I used to work with at the sugarhouse, seen here mid waltz) the girls and I burnt that disco down (there shall be no photographic evidence of that here, however I have been informed that there is both photographic and video evidence in exsistance, heaven help us!). Our other friend from Uni Pete turned up with his wife (they are all at it!) Laura and we crashed out on the sofas and had a good catch up. Nichy and I were staying the night so we went back to our room pretty early (to drink tea and talk about boys :-). I got back pretty late on Sunday but I've got to say it was a completely awesome wedding/weekend & so great to catch up with all my uni friends and see Alex so happy.