Excitement at T' Mill.

It was bound to happen, 19 ducklings are now down to 7. Plenty of cats around which could have taken a few but the biggest culprit is by far, the Pike  Daughter Christine and family arrived on Sunday and Son-in-Law Kevin came armed with a spinning rod to do a spot of fishing. Within 30 minutes he pulled out a Pike. Look at the second photo and you can see how easily even a small Pike can take a duckling.

Huge Pike mouth and this was just a small fish

I'm not holding out much hope that the remaining will survive!

Only 7 under her but they are growing fast

So there has been a bit of excitement here at the Mill. Four days ago a chap arrives early am with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier and plonks himself down on the bench. Late afternoon he has consumed at least 12 bottles of beer. I'm walking back from Lidl when I see him collapse onto the floor. Oh, dear...now what.  A bit of dilemma here. Should I go over to ask if he is alright or walk on by? I'm sorry to say I would have chosen the latter except as I went to walk past, crunching was heard underfoot. Glass lay everywhere! Concerned about the dog cutting a paw I bent to pick them up but then the chap spoke. "I've been stabbed," said he. "Where," I asked. He pointed to his chest. Hmmm, nothing showed from that area but blood was pouring from his hand.  "I'll get an ambulance," said I. With no phone on me I legged it up to the White House to see Paul. As an ex-cop, I felt sure he would know what to do. Anyway to cut a long story short it turns out all he had done was to cut his hand on the broken glass. Paul got him bandaged and managed to send him staggering on his way. Now, you would think that was the end of the story but no. 2 days ago he is back. A really hot day he lays down by the bench with the dog and goes to sleep. After 4 hours I was beginning to think maybe he had died, not a movement was seen. The dog was loose and being really hot got under the bench. Chatting to Margaret (Nb Icing) suddenly it sounded as if WW111 had started!!! Screams, shouts, yelps and there, by the lock, was the Staffy and in its jaws was a Labradors front leg. The screams and yelps were from that poor Lab and the shouts came from a man, his wife and three small children.  Well, the owner of the Staffy came to life pretty quick just in time to see the Lab's owner grab the Staffy by its harness shaking it and swinging the dog high in the air. He told us later he felt like throwing it in the canal! There ensued an almighty row about allowing the Staffy to run free which culminated in the Staffys owner throwing a bottle at the Lab's owner narrowly missing his head. The Lab's owner retaliated by grabbing hold of the Staffys owner and the language which came from his mouth was beyond belief, and in front of the shocked kids too. Anyway, another long story short, Police were called as the Lab's owner also had been bitten but they never arrived, That obnoxious man was not going to hang around, grabbed his dog and legged it still shouting obscenities at us all. That Lab had a hole through her right front leg near to the elbow but in typical Lab fashion, still wagged her tail as we walked up to her. The wound looked deep but no blood was present and with the help of another moorer bathed it in antiseptic solution which hopefully will make do until they can get her to the vets. So far that chap has not returned and hopefully, if he has any sense, won't again.


Today we took ourselves to Hardwick Hall and Stainsby Mill. Both NT properties and not a penny was spent on entrance fees or car parking as we are NT members. We even took our own lunch saving the extortionate costs of food and drink. Just a few photos of the day to show.

Old Hall

New Hall

 And some wildlife today,

Laid six but wont sit so again, not looking hopeful to getting Cygnets.