What a dirty, messy day. We finally installed the chickens and Bovril into the old coop and cleaned the garden again. It’s been a mammoth task after having left the garden for three years! The chickens are now scratching away happily.

We had a horrible week with a fox attack and lost two of our cockerels, Max and Rollo and lovely Lilly and Paty. Heartbreaking. Somehow Rufus had escaped. So we decided that now we have left the Farmhouse and moved back to the Barn for running rental and renovations, being away was too unsafe and the remaining gang had to come too. The Farmhouse poultry garden is heaven for them, but the fox won’t stay away and with us only returning weekly to feed everyone, it was just too dangerous.

I also had to make a sad decision to rehome my lovely goose family as they couldn’t come to the Barn. Its hit me very hard, in fact I am currently going through a little mental breakdown. Scary, anxious, and loosing my creative streak have been some of the manifestations and I am frightened about it. What triggered it was possibly migraine meds plus loosing the geese. But I am working through it.

The geese luckily found a loving home. The guy adores them and they have a huge green space with shade and trees and he has trained them already to follow him back to their night pen each evening. I was worried putting the two old flocks together would be difficult but Bumble is behaving and Bonnie has reintroduced himself as head of the gang. Even Louis and Cashew are getting on OK with Bumble, who acts as Bonnie’s right hand man. The cous-nous and Rufus also joined them, leaving me with my motly band of old hens, Doobie the oldest, Napoleon with his one eye, Bovril the guinea and little Peach and Pea.

The ducks, including Dotties, Peach and Peas adopted duck sister, went to a friend. She sends me updates and adores my girls. I am sad but happy I have rehomed them with loving families.

The Farmhouse is tidy and part renovated now. Lots more to do but it’s in a good state at last. We will work on the exterior during autumn, shutters and pointing and interiors too…mainly painting and a new bathroom. But it was too rural and quiet for us and we need to be near the Factory at Gouzon to try and start work on that now. It’s a big task and sadly neglected. The Barn is only fifteen minutes away and with the rising cost of fuel, it made sense to be nearer.

We also cleaned the workshop out…oh my what a lot of rubbish from previous owners and us when renovating. This will be a temporary utility room once given another thorough clean, but for now it functions.

It just seems we are forever going the decheterie lately, but the houses are getting straight at last. Having so many buildings hasn’t been easy and we have left ourselves very short on cash. I stress but they have a value and will accrue in value. I just have to brave and keep going.