Lily still enjoys suckling from Lucy

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Grandson came back from London with me today and as soon as we had collected some eggs from the hen houses he asked to do some baking. He did an excellent job reading the recipe, getting out the ingredients and even helping me with the drying up after we had finished making the cookies. He plans on taking the biscuits home with him at the end of the week. Perhaps grandpa and I can taste one!

As mum says “In This country we have weather!” So true today with downpours and fierce winds

I moved Mrs Silkie and her four chicks, this afternoon, to the old Silkie house – which is larger than the house in which she sat and hatched the chicks and also has the advantage of a “picture window”. She didn’t like being moved because she thought I was separating her from her chicks but, now that they are all back together, (they were parted for at most 30 seconds!) she is calm and happy.

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And visiting the animals and the poly tunnel

Pickled cucumbers in brine, some in vinegar and, yes, it’s courgette cake!

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As the rain continues I see, on the trestle tables in the courtyard, the legacy of five little boys who enjoyed water fights during the record breaking heat last Thursday.

My thoughts turn to the anti Semitic abuse that my 10 year old grandson and his friend received as they walked in their suburban neighbourhood on the Sabbath. Visibly jewish in their kippot (skullcaps) and fringes they were verballed by some teenagers but not physically hurt. Daughter tweeted about this on Rosa Freedman@GoonerProf (just google Rosa Freedman Twitter) and was heartened by the hundreds of supportive and horrified tweets. We need to speak out every time a child or adult of a visible ethnic minority is abused, including abuse against people with disabilities and physical imperfections, or against anyone who does not fit societal norms (whatever they are). If we call out the bullies and log complaints with the police then we will play our part in refusing to accept intolerance, violence and hatred against ANYONE in our society. Speak out – please.

Bringing soya meal from Argentina to feed British cattle!

The captain told son that, after 20 years at sea, he and his crew are seeing indisputable signs of global warming. High temperatures in seas which should be freezing, strong winds and extreme turbulence. All very worrying. Meanwhile why do we need to feed our cattle with South American soya? Farming has gone crazy. Our friend Kate feeds her beautiful, small herd of Dexter cows pure grass and they thrive. Maybe we are too late to “turn the tide” in every sense but let’s hope not for the sake of ourselves, our kids and grandkids and the world. Time to join Extinction Rebellion? Maybe.