Swallows are nesting in the trailer again

For the third year in a row the cattle trailer is seen as the residence of choice for one pair of birds.

That is what announced the swallows presence back on the farm.

John was just hitching up the trailer to take two bullocks into market when the irate birds exited swiftly, chattering their rage at the disturbance.

As soon as the trailer returned from market and was parked, the pair were back on the job building the nest again in the top corner of the trailer.

They are really taking us on trust. Fortunately we do not have any long trips away, the trailer is rarely off the farm for more than an hour or two, and, so far our swallows have been very successful parents.

Another pair has taken over the meal shed. I did not realise until I went in tonight to get some scoops of milk replacement powder for the pet lambs last feed.

Two shapes swooped down from the beams, grazing the top of my head, and out of the door. I nearly jumped out of my skin. In fact at first I thought they were bats but then noticed they were a lot bigger. Still tiny but definitely not bats.

The pet lambs requiring the feed are very demanding.

I am surprised that we have not had complaints from in the village about the racket they put up first thing in the morning.

John and I are early risers and one or the other of us is usually putting Pip, our young black Labrador, out for a wee at about five o'clock.

The five pet lambs, which are lurking in the corner of the paddock by the back door, immediately start to clamour for their bottles.

And don't stop for the next hour until we have drunk our first cup of tea and gone back outside again.

You may have noticed I wrote that we needed to put Pip out. She has pulled off the impossible and managed to stay in the house at night.

And as much of the day as she can as well.

The sofa is still her preferred lounging spot of choice. Or rather one of us when we are on the sofa.

However, tonight, she has come perilously close to eviction. Soon after we had her I bought a large fluffy bean bag for her to sleep on.

Miraculously, although she has chewed up many of her other toys and beds, the bean bag has remained intact. Until tonight.

The office, where she sleeps under the desk, looks like a snowstorm has hit with a vengeance. We shall be sweeping up polystyrene balls forever. And her bed tonight will not be moulding itself to her shape.

It's a cold tiled floor instead.