I have upgraded my blog hosting plan and hope that I will now be able to upload short video content

We left one mother hen with the two broods of young birds and put them in their new run last week. We tried to make them live in one house but they were unhappy. The four wanted to stay with mum and the three wanted to live independently in the other house.

They even feed separately when I throw down their breakfast corn

Wednesday walk……and wonderful

Guests arriving Friday so it’s time to decant the sloe gin that has been maturing in jars inside a dark cupboard.

Tuesday with mum and a chance to buy fresh donuts to take home tonight. The Hendon shops are replete with every kind of fried treats to enjoy during the eight days of Chanukah.

13 years ago, chanukah 2005, Jeremy and I celebrated with the tiny Jewish community in Marrakesh. Before 1948 there were 250000 Jews in Morocco that number has dwindled to 2500 with just a few hundred in Marrakesh. Each morning of our stay we were collected from our hotel by a local business man who took us to pray at the synagogue in the Mellah (the Jewish Ghetto established in 1492 when the Jews were expelled from Spain). The synagogue is tucked away in a maze of old streets, impossible to find without a guide, and is located on one side of a beautiful courtyard.

After prayers we sat down to breakfast with the tiny community and ate…… freshly fried donuts and jam. Delicious food and memorable hospitality that made Chanukah, 13 years ago, a festival to remember.

Chanukah 2007 was another special year when Jeremy and I chartered a plane and flew with 150 adults and children to celebrate the rededication of the Lvov Synagogue in the capital city of Western Ukraine. Before the Holocaust a third of the citizens of Lvov were Jews now just 5000 or fewer remain. But this morning I received photographs, by email, from the Rabbis wife showing the children of the community lighting the Chanukah candles and adults and children eating donuts. The lights burn brightly around the world and mouths taste the sweetness of the fried delights and we look forward to and pray for peace and harmony around this world that we share. Happy Chanukah wherever you are.

Left in darkness

Arrived as sun rising (and traffic raging).

Driving the tractor and trailer (with supervisor nearby)

And pruning fruit trees and bushes with secateurs and a “just the job” pruning saw which I bought Jeremy a few months ago. Nigel (tree climber extraordinaire) was “helping”.

With a plate of freshly fried latkes and apple sauce (courtesy of Jeremy). Absolutely delicious and never mind the calories!

May the light of Chanukah bring joy and happiness into a dark world.