Wet Harvest

Well - the South has got some flooding - oh dear!
What with all the inclement weather, things on the land are falling behind, the traditional hay harvest doesn't work in wet weather.
The dog and I watched a band of farmers snatch some hay against the elements. They had five tractors, two with circular rake things, spinning the already cut hay into wind rows, behind that was a bailer which seemed to eat the hay and then spit it out in a huge round bale. Next up was a tractor with trailer and another with a front loader with an enormous spike on the front. They spiked the bale and rapidly filled the trailer, then back to the farm.
To watch this mechanical ballet was very interesting, I couldn't help but think of sequence dancing as they each performed their independent but inter-related activities.

Whilst I was watching this Murphy became rather bored, to say the least. There is I suppose only so much grooming a dog can do!

I think that I mentioned that I have M.S. One school of thought says that high density oxygen therapy helps. Let me explain... a round metal sphere with a door and port holes for windows, not unlike a midget submarine, its fitted with six seats and each seat has a breathing mask. Air is pumped out of the sphere until you are at an equivalent pressure to 16, 24 or 32ft under water. Then you fit your oxygen mask and breathe pure oxygen.
It's not a pleasant experience with noises from the extractor pump, plus the sound of your own breathing, a dive lasts one hour plus decompression times. I think it does me some good.
Have met some of Sheffield's footballers whilst diving, the therapy is said to speed up their recovery from injury. They are some very fit young men with flash tastes in cars and clothing. Classic case of too much money - too young. Cynical old pratt that I am, I suppose jealousy must rear its head.

All around the Derbyshire countryside it's well dressing time, It must be a pagan thing, giving thanks to the powers that be for the gift of water. Wells are decorated with hundreds of flower heads, usually in various religious themes.
So I got to thinking, water is very useful (in the right place), but so is my buggy, I'm thinking of decorating it to celebrate its usefulness, but why use flowers, I don't want to kill anything, so I am thinking - feathers. Will start collecting then and make my statement.

Just had my first coffee and pipe of the day, through the lounge window there is an oak tree which is the centre of a lot of activity. At the moment a grey squirrel has invaded the space of the resident blackbird family and they resent this intrusion. To the extent they are trying to drive the squirrel away by dive-bombing him. They have been at it for five action-packed minutes now. I really beats breakfast television.

This morning we come in from our trip out and my faithful canine companion has been rolling in something unspeakable and so, so smelly, that he had to have a shower. End result is a sweet smelling dog but he has a tremendous 'strop' on, and is totally ignoring me. Wait till he wants a doggie chew!

See you

Buggy Man