Return of the Cock Pheasant! Cannot be sure of course but he certainly looked like the one that visited the bird table before Christmas (see photo gallery) -
very calmly strolling around before giving an indignant squawk on finding the table bare! He then departed in a dignified manner watched by our two bemused cats Holly & Ivy.

What a difference a few dry days can make, and a welcome change from the bitter east wind of last week. The mares have now been moved from their almost bald (& frequently muddy) winter quarters onto bright green grass!
The next events are: Bella goes to "school" to learn how to be a sensible riding prospect for our granddaughters, while her mother Daisy awaits (with many a heavy sigh) the arrival of her next son/daughter around 28 May.

Daffodils are on the wane but primroses still going strong and bluebells appearing; hawthorn and beech leaves bursting out and birds singing mightily - the countryside is definitely waking up!

Well, I had been looking forward to posting pictures of our mare Pendam Sally with her new foal - sadly we have heard that her colt was born dead this morning. Sally is on loan to the Taraco Stud near Canterbury and her foal was by the stunning young palomino stallion Danaway Desert Storm. For some reason the colt did not start breathing, although for a while he had a strong heartbeat - "just one of those things" as the vet said, nothing anyone could have done. We are all very sad at this outcome but thankful that Sally at least is in good health.

2008 - fresh start and a new look for the Blog! Also new are the photo galleries for Nantgwinau & Pantycelyn, please note that you may need to scroll down for the captions when you enlarge the pictures.

As usual British Summer Time brings very mixed weather as these pictures demonstrate: