Stop and Smell the Roses!

 

In these busy times, you sometimes just have to take stock and “Stop and Smell the Roses”!  Taking this literally, what better roses to smell than these exquisite David Austin roses given to me by a friend a couple of days ago.  Not only do they look amazing – more like large peonies – but they have an exquisite perfume too.

The garden at our holiday cottage is also a mass of roses – and many of them are now past their best.  So many passers-by stop to smell these roses, that Mike is thinking of charging £1 per sniff! – Could be a good little earner at this time of the year!  The abundant pink shrub rose is another David Austin variety – Rosa Bonica.  The bookings at the cottage have been really impressive considering this is the first year we have used it as a holiday cottage and have not been able to market it as widely as we would have liked.  It has been booked pretty well solidly since we opened in March, but there are one or two gaps still in late July and August yet to be booked.

 

 

 

Today was a day for completing the Covexin 10 vaccinations to the pregnant females and also giving all the alpacas their vitamins.  Athena and Pandora got moved from the NHS field to the Fallowfield version of the private Lindo wing as they are getting nearer to their due dates.  Mind you, Pandora had to be dragged kicking and screaming to move her.  She was one of the first alpacas we bought – a Peruvian import who has never been halter trained.  I would just say – however challenging and time-consuming it is, do halter train ALL your alpacas as it makes life a heck of a lot easier in the long run.

 

Having had a busy day – even if we didn’t get any more births! – Mike and I decided to indulge in some fish and chips.  And to think that I am on a diet as well!!!!!!!!!!  Mind you it was very, very pleasant sitting out on our terrace with a glass or two of wine.  It’s not such a bad life is it?!