Diary entry for 17th July 2011

A week of a lot of sweat and tears and a little bit of blood. It has been a stupidly long week and it doesn't feel like we have sat down for five minutes even lunch has been eaten on the go most days. This week we are reminded about the joys of being a farmer and what the busiest time of year holds for us, although if we had had more notice it would have helped.
Monday
It was a 4:30 start this morning to try and wake up enough to organise everyone before the Vets son arrived at between 5:30 and 6:00am the shear the sheep. The vet has approximately 300 sheep and Vlad his son has grown up with them. As he was shearing we talked and he told me it was a natural thing for him to learn, and he started shearing with his dads help and guidance at the age of 5 years old, and by 9 years old he was up to a professional standard. He makes the job look easy and does it at quiet a speed. By 11am he had finished all of the adult sheep 11 in total and as it was reaching the heat of the day he decided to come back tomorrow morning to finish the baby sheep. We spent the morning sorting sheep out and in between writing to you good people as we had visitors last night. After Vlad had left I started searching for a leak, that we had noticed yesterday, and what I found was not great news. We have a manhole by the bathroom and this then leads to a pipe taking waste water to the Hasna. When Dad put this in he was used to problems so put another opening for easy access to clear any blockage. Unfortunately in my wiseness (or otherwise) when the van was returned to us I sited it over this easy access hole making it no longer easy access and the block is between this and the end of the pipe leading into the hasna. Nothing we have is long enough or strong enough to unblock the pipe we spent all day trying with no luck and it looks as though it is going to be a case of digging up the pipe to solve the problem. It was too late to start that today so it would have to wait and in the mean time the caravan toilet was found and it was back to using that. This is the time where we wish we had a nice big yellow book and we could go to the section drain unblockers and phone a man that can, but unfortunately we don't have that luxury. It was 7pm by the time we had finished messing around with the drain and to stay we both stank would be an understatement! We both agreed we would choose pig poo over this any day. We had a quick hose down and got on with the evening jobs. We had to have a proper wash before we thought about dinner because neither of us could tolerate the smell any longer. We would have loved a nice relaxing shower but that was out the question, flippin drain. It was 11pm before either of us thought about sorting dinner and cold meat and salad was all we could be bothered with. We collapsed into bed, and dread the alarm at 4:30am.
Tuesday
Well the alarm did go off at 4:30am but we finally managed to drag ourselves out of bed at 5am. So it was a little bit of a rush sorting things out but luckily Vlad was running late as well. It was a little hard keeping everyone in order while the baby lambs were being done but we managed and by 10am all the lambs were done, and Woody had picked up lots of tips about shearing from Vlad and hopefully next year we will both be able to have a go at shearing sheep. After a late trip to the lucerne with the animals we stopped for lunch and enjoyed a sit down before the afternoon. We pottered in the garden during the afternoon and unfortunately had to do quite a bit of clearing of plants that haven't been able to recover from the time we went with out water, it is very disheartening having to throw away what were healthy plants, but without water plants can't live. We thought about dinner earlier than normal as we were having chicken and it needed roasting. When we checked it we found the gas had gone and the chicken wasn't cooked. We quickly went to get gas although we had a slight problem, we had no money till tomorrow when we went to the cash point, we went to our normal gas seller hoping they could give us credit till the morning but they didn't have any gas anyway so it was a walk down to the village and our friend Mirella who runs a shop was able to help us with gas and credit, a life saver, so we get home and continue cooking dinner, which turns out not to be as early as we had hoped. We collapse into bed ready for an early start again tomorrow.
Wednesday
Another early start, I left Woody sorting the morning jobs while I went to Murfatlar to get the 6 month print out from the till I had to meet Valaneous at 10am. All went smoothly which I was pleased about as it is very normal for my till to have a problem. After I had sorted the till I did a quick bit of shopping and was off home to find Woody trying to locate the problem with the car, he had done some research on the net but things weren't going well. We stopped for lunch and Woody went back to trying to fix the car, while I file the paperwork from the till. While Woody was putting bits back on the car, Costel arrives to tell us our wheat will be delivered in about an hour, it was panic stations we had nothing organised for wheat being delivered. I drop everything and rush back to Murfatlar to buy bags and plastic, although I had no idea of how many of each I needed, so I guessed at 50 bags and 3 meters of plastic, it turns out my guess was miles out and I would need a lot more. As I got home the tractor was just pulling into the back garden to deliver a hectare of wheat and the pile was overwhelming to stay the least. So we set to work bagging the wheat. Within about half an hour the weather started changing and a big storm was brewing, our neighbour saw it coming as well, and kindly rushed to get us more covers, we managed to cover the wheat just before its started to rain and it was torrential and the thunder and lighting was right on top of us. The field next door were not as lucky as us, and had not managed to clear the bales from the land, and they were struggling it was all hands on deck and grabbing our waterproofs we ran to help load as much as we could on the trailer to get them home at a quicker speed. The guys wouldn't actually let me help load but instead of feeling useless I started dragging the bales together so it was easier to collect, with the trailer loaded we run for cover and hope the wheat isn't to damaged. By 7pm the storm had passed but another bank of menacing clouds were looming. There was no point in uncovering with the chance of more rain, but we did need to get the bagged wheat in storage. We finished with the animals and wheat at about 9pm and looked forward to sitting down for dinner and an early night.
Thursday
5am up and by 6am we were bagging wheat. We were trying to get it done as quickly as possible because none of the animals were able to come out till it was finished 1 reason was they would make the job harder and contaminate the wheat we want to use for flour, the 2nd reason to much wheat can cause ruminating animals big problems and often results in death. At 8am I left Woody bagging wheat and headed back to maxxs in Murfatlar for more bags I picked up 100 to be on the safe side. Then it was straight back to bagging it was a long boring and hot process especially working through in the mid day sun, and at 6pm we were glad that we were on the last bag. There was a small scattering left on the floor but we were both confident that no one animal would be able to eat enough to cause any problems so after a long and boring day for the animals they were let out, we were both knackered. our backs were breaking and we were sick of the sight of wheat. A few years ago now we had been left with the grueling task and it doesn't get any easier, and I am resurrecting our old saying we were both, 'feeling the strain of moving the grain'. We covered the bags and left it for the night we were tired and there was no way we would be able to clear the storage area and get a lot in so that was a job for tomorrow. We sorted evening jobs slower than normal but they all got finished and at 10pm we collapsed on the sofa. It was time for dinner and bed.
Friday
6am up and getting ready for the day and there was a lot planned. First stop was car to the garage I free wheeled it most of the way as it was all down hill. I left Woody and the car at the garage waiting for them to open, while I raced off to get the bus to Constanta as I had a 9am appointment with the accountant.
I phoned Woody at 10am once I had finished at the accountants and he had just got back from the garage. The car was being fixed, they had to go and buy a part but all sounded hopeful. So I went and did a few bits of shopping and headed on home, on the way home I tried ringing Woody to get him to meet me at the bus stop as I had done a bit more shopping than I intended. I couldn't get an answer and when I finally did it was not good news. The animals had managed to break into the store room where we had put the first of the bagged wheat and we had sheep that were not well. I got home and we assessed all animals and it seemed that it was just 4 that were ill and we marked them. We would have to keep a very close eye on everyone as it was still early days and symptoms could still show. We gave the 4 ill sheep a mix we had found on the net to try and neutralise the acid in there stomachs, but for one of the sheep it was too late and she passed away quickly. We kept a close eye on all of the animals that day in between clearing the room for storage and make sure the gate was secure. Unfortunately at such short notice this has meant a lot of my hard work over the past weeks has gone to pot, I had been using this room as a sorting and stacking area to sort the store room but all boxes just had to be piled back into the store room to make way for wheat bags. I started moving boxes while Woody started the bags, the only trouble was every now and again I had to get him to move some of the heavier boxes which slowed things down. The other 3 sheep were not looking good but were still with us so we didn't give up hope. At 6:30pm the garage called to say the car was ready, so I rush to get the 7pm bus, leaving Woody with the evening jobs to start. I collected the car and they told me it was the thermostat and now everything was working and it was all fixed. I was pleased and made my way home, at last a car that worked, I drove up to the gate and waited for Woody to let me In. glance at the dash board and you would never believe it .......................... The car was overheating! I was not impressed and in all honesty furious, I didn't have time to take the car back that night and catch the last bus home so it would have to be a job for tomorrow. Woody hadn't realised how late it was when I left and had carried on with moving wheat, so we quickly started evening jobs at about 8pm. It was a long day and everyone was late to bed, the animals didn't go in until 10pm but they enjoyed there moonlight trip to the lucerne. The 3 sheep are still not looking good and our hopes of them making it through the night are slim. We have another simple dinner at 11pm and head to bed.
Saturday
Morning comes round far to quickly and we are both feeling the effects from the busy week. The first job of the morning was a horrible one today, when you have ill animals it is never a nice task having to open up the animal house first thing in the morning. The patients were still with us although the signs were no more hopeful than yesterday. After morning jobs I go and see Flori to see if she could ring the garage and find out if they could fit the car in today. They said yes but during the afternoon. While Woody continues the wheat moving I start the mucking out. Unfortunately none of the three sheep made it through the day and it was a sad and upsetting time for us. On the bright side no one else appears to be effected by it so we keep our fingers crossed that all the others will be ok. We have a late lunch and are I am just about to head down the garage with the car, leaving Woody sorting the pig run ready for birthing, when Catalin arrives. he will be starting to bale the 150 bales, as part payment of the pig he bought, in half an hour but there is a slight problem the transport he arranged has fallen through. After a few quick phone calls it was all sorted and we would have 150 bales starting to arrive in about half an hour. The plans were rapidly changed and the car was put on hold for today, we need to find somewhere to stack 150 bales until we can get them into there proper place for storage. It was a quick clear out the front and we hoped all 150 bales would fit. The first load arrived just as we had finished and they were dumped just inside the gate. So the fun starts, but it gets better the transport arranged was running on a tight schedule and Woody would have to go to the land to help them load, leaving me to stack the 1st load. I had got about half way and the vets son saw me working on my own so came over and helped, we finished just in time for the next load although this time I was on my own as the vet son had work to do. I had started to ache by the time I was finished and I could see the van coming back with the next load, although it was a nice load as it was the last load, we had 150 bale we just had to finish stacking them. It was 8pm again and we hadn't thought about the evening jobs although the animals weren't worried as we had bribed them with a bale of straw. So we rush around trying to sort the evening jobs. It was again 10pm before the animals went to bed and another late dinner and night for us.
Sunday
So after a week of a lot of surprises work we wake looking forward to a day that had been planned and would hold no surprises, hahahahaha, we should have learnt by now that living in Romania that is not possible. So I put the kettle on and go and let the goats and sheep out, everyone was looking well, apart from some having a slight case of diarrhoea, they were happy to be up and head straight for the hay stack, so its a quick usher off and I give in and give them some straw in an appropriate place. The pigs are always lazy so I decided to have a cup of tea before I disturb them from there slumber. I finish a peaceful morning cup of tea, and after making another one decide to start on shuffling boxes giving me enough room to have a walk way to get the straw into the store room with the wheat until it can get to its final storage place in the loft. I take my tea with me to the store room, when I here some strange noises coming from the pig run, I go to investigate and Betty had 3 little piglets I shout for Woody and race and get straw and its all action trying to get her comfortable with as little stress as possible. She is a good mum and a very laid back pig with Woody she settles well and after a little while she has a forth but unfortunately it was dead. We spent quite some time with her making sure she was ok, and didn't have any problems but by 10:30am it looked as though Bette was stopping at 4 piglets, it is a very low number for her but she is an old pig now and we don't mind that she decided to have a small litter. When she was finally settled Woody makes his way to Murfatlar for a little bit of shopping while I keep an eye on Mum and Babies and carry on with my pathway clearing. When Woody got home we had lunch and Woody went for a lay down as he was not feeling very well. I started getting the straw bales in but it was slow going as the pathway was not as good as I hoped. Evening jobs start and finish and we try and get an earlier finish, so I could write to you good people, but once the animals had gone to bed at 9:30pm it was such a nice cool evening that we enjoyed a peaceful cup of tea in the garden, before we knew it, it was coming up to 10:30pm and I hadn't started the diary or dinner. It was another quick and simple dinner and it is just coming up to half past midnight and I am finishing writing the diary and as soon as it is sent it will be straight to bed ready for another busy week ahead of us, its just that time of year!
So for now I am going to leave you for my bed, and say
L8RZ peeps until next week.