still friends!

so far Moxie seems to have enough milk for three, they seem happy and contented little sheep, doing the usual silly jumping which is their thing, mostly when taken out to field - gradually longer time each day (otherwise they get diarrhoea). For some obscure reason they like to eat mole hills. Photos show

goose-eggs, as compared to chicken-egg; the cherry tree showing that we should have them ready in a couple of weeks if we have no bad frost/hail.

... and the starphotos

the white one starting to have nice curly lambhair now. so far so good.

so far so ... triplets!!!

By Jove, he did it!! Soooo did it - I mean the little ram we couldn't picture doing it without ladder... anyway, Moxie 3 silly racka 0 as it stands. Born on the day before yesterday, so they'll be too young to be fondled by the eggsearching toddlers tomorrow. But they can look... 3 is unusual, as ewes' have two teets only; Lujo said that an exceptionally good mother can bring them up, but usually after about a week two lambs decide to attack the third one together, so we have to watch, and that point the unlucky third will go for handrearing by Erzsi. But so far all three seem to be thriving. Our other resident expert (Alan) thinks the racka will also have young one in a few weeks - will see. No photos yet for purely skeptical superstitious reasons - but I promise, they are cute. Though the white one (last born) seem to be hairless. The others medium and dark brown with lovely faces.

marvellous spring

lovely balmy weeks, everything is bursting out and a month before the usual time, peas, cherries all look good, especially as all were a month or more late last year. We badly needed rain - that's the problem with lovely warm times - but the cold front arrived yesterday with vengeance, nasty winds and maybe enough rains. Not too cold - though today in Siklós there was hail,which is weird as it wasn't the usual hot summer conditions for it, no thunder and stuff like that. Anyway, it seems, no damage was done. Moxie seems definitely pregs, very big and Lujo the sheep chap is sure, and says it is not too late. Erzsi is looking after our freshly hatched new lot of running ducks and chicks, goose and Guinea fowls eggs just been put in the incubator, exciting times, even if we won't fully participate until June, as we'll have about a week in Budapest, then foursome friend arrive from the UK, and then we go to spend some time in Italy with Martin and Sharon, staying in Vicenza. I manage to give three trays (90) eggs for this year's easter egg-collections, pleased with that. It'll happen in "this" yard, not in front of the hostel house, as the ducks are there. We have more nooks and crannies here for hiding eggs and no ducks mess. And easier to serve the elderberry drink with the cakes. Happy Easter eggcollection to you all!! Alan is working flat out going to paint the house outside, including the bit that look sort of rustic behind the new to us bench which also need painting. Decided not to ask Soppi who haven't done as good a job as it looked a t first glance, never mind. Fotos show how nice the raspberries and grapes doing and even the fence is greening out at the chicken run.

In case you missed

Election results Hungary 2014 (of those who voted): Fidesz (rightwing fascistoid) 44.4% which gives them 2/3 majority in the parliament with the new election laws (as well as the old ones did in 2010). the (so called) left opposition: 25.9% Fascists (Jobbik):20.5% only other in parliament: LMP (trying to be green and different without being any of that:) 5.2% The biggest party: those that stayed home - 39% of eligibles. Good news: they didn't go out to vote for the fascists. Voila capitalist democracy at work.

sadmadbad elections

well our present Leader made sure he stays. Elections will be on Sunday, forgone conclusion, unless people were really bullied into terror and lied to all the questionnaires. . New election district boarders set up favouring them, tons of moneys granted to any party who manage to collect a few hundred signatures, so the opposition is further fragmented. They don't just want to win, they want to keep the 2/3 majority in the one-house parliament so they can go on again without asking the opinion of anyone, including professionals in whatever area they make amazingly stupid laws about. They line their pockets so openly, that I really have to think people -are- idiots to vote for them, when such a small minority benefits. and then I haven't mentioned the fascists, who are getting a load of the even more ignorant therefore understandable "I hate them all" votes. Hungarian health system and education slid down in the last 20 years from top 20 to around the glorious 50th place, as in most other category of international statistics. Waiting for miracle... while holding my nose and vote for the die-hard capitalists, who call themselves socialists around here (too). If I will be allowed to vote, I haven't received a card, maybe they even know who would vote against them - turning into a bitter conspiracy nut, like everybody else...