Mmmm, Biscuits

What I've been thinking about this week:

• Books

What Ivie has been thinking about this week:

• The end of lambing

Those of you who are regular readers (thanks, by the way) will know that I've got an over-imaginative immune system. At the first sign of trouble, it over-reacts and sends me to bed for a few days. Obviously, I'm very glad of my suppressed immunity because it means that I get to keep my kidney but it can be a pain in the bahookie sometimes. 

Last week my immune system went into overdrive over a tickly sore throat and whacked my batteries down to zero for a good three days. Ivie did a brilliant job of looking after me in amongst everything else on his to-do-list and, by Saturday, I was fit enough to sit up, watch three games of rugby back-to-back and channel my inner Ian Morton*. 

Thankfully, I had enough energy for reading and managed to polish off three books (including When I First Held You by Anstey Harris, who lives in Brig of Dee - check out her other books). It was a real luxury and made me appreciate my quiet little life. 

Ivie has had less time on his hands as you can imagine and his lack of patience with the pup tells me that the end of broken sleep and lambing is in sight. He's now down to single figures, which is great, but it does mean that activity in the shed slows down considerably. 

At the end of February, the days flew by for Ivie and the rest of the Fishers getting stuck in. There were multiple multiple births and the momentum kept Ivie's spirits up. For the last few nights, though, it's taken longer for Ivie to get his boiler suit, wellies and waterproofs on than it has to trail up to the shed, see there's nothing happening and trail back down again. 

I like to think I am very helpful during lambing

On the plus side, lambing at the Spittal will be finished before many others have even started. As usual at this time of year, lots of conversations while we've been out and about have centred around start and end dates, numbers of ewes and other such details. I have noticed that I understand more of these farmery conversations as the years go on and I can even make the occasional helpful contribution. They're so occasional, though, that I can't think of an example right now.... 

I have to admit I switched off when the conversation turned to grass the other night in Aldi (sorry, Stuart) but at least we were in the biscuit aisle and I could eye up some unplanned purchases. It turns out that lambing is a great excuse for buying treats that aren't on the list, even if typing is the only exercise I get all day. 

Spotted during conversation about grass (thanks, Stuart)

*For those of you not lucky enough to know Mr Morton Snr, his style of rugby support involves a lot of shouting and sweary words. I think Ivie is his trainee....