We woke to the horrendous news of the death of children and adults at a pop concert last night and thinking, too, of the many injured, shocked and traumatised.    In the face of such horror I feel blessed to go outside where the animals are an antidote to man’s inhumanity to man.

Out in the duck houses I opened the first door and the singleton duckling was missing.  Gevalt!  There is a large hole in the straw which has probably been used, in the past, by a rat and I had omitted to cover it.  So it was down on the ground for me to try and find the duckling under the house.  As I put my head to the ground I hear a faint “cheep, cheep” and amazingly the little duckling was to my left, alive and chirping.  I put it back with mum and covered the hole with a large ceramic dish and I hope that all will be well.  Inside the other “sitting duckhouse” I found the two ducklings running around and eating but the one that was emerging from its shell last night was stuck.  Oh oh! So I peeled off its shell and it was fine but being ignored by mum who had gotten off her nest last night thinking that her “hatching” was done.  I shall check on that house all day but not sure if this duckling will survive without the warmth of its mother.

Then it was over to the paddock where a lamb (who else but Sweetie Pie?) was bleating away, suggesting that she had once again gotten her head caught through the fencing.  She is the only one who does this and I don’t know why she doesn’t learn.  Maybe the temptation of the leaves and grass on the other side of the fencing is just too overwhelming.  She puts her head through and turns her head and her horns get stuck.  Silly girl.  Luckily we can help the animals here just as the decent and good people of Manchester are pulling together to help those individuals and families affected last night at Manchester Arena. We wish you well.