Tuesday 12 March 2013

Lester said....

Lester said that the goats kept getting out, 
that in the middle of an important telephone conference
his train of thought was interrupted by the noisy honking of a car out front, 
whose driver was very upset to be stopped on her way to wherever
by an escapee goatling.
So he is keeping the goats in their pen,
just for now.

Lester said that Elise, our young heiffer, has been quite well behaved
-except for this morning when she kicked and frolicked her way to Home Field
but was not particularly enthused with actually going through the gate. 
He said he smacked her bum to get her through.

Lester said that the sheep are being difficult about going down the side path,
that the other morning he 'lost' the entire flock, 
and that after spending an age racing up and down the lane in search of them,
 that he found them tucked away beneath the road bridge,
preparing to barge their way through the very tall bamboo of our neighbour Claudine.
He said that he managed to get them to change their minds.
He said that it was not easy.

And then there was the lamb which refused to go with the rest of the flock,
and led Lester a merry chase all round Kitchen Field, 
much to the amusement of Claudine as she hung out of her upstairs window, 
and who eventually came over to help him catch that naughty lamb.

Lester said that he has lost two days of goats milk
because Ice Cream has insisted on paddling a foot in the bucket 
just as milking is nearing its end.
The milk has been given to the dogs.
They liked it, he said.

Lester said that he has managed to rotovate some of the Kitchen Field veg plot,
but had to stop because he ran out of petrol. 
He said he would carry on when he has bought more petrol.
But we have not bought this years' seed,
so no hurry.

Lester said that the nipples on the smaller sow are getting pronounced.
Lester said that he thinks that she is indeed with piglet.
Lester said that he will have to separate her off.
Lester sighed as he said this was so,
knowing what a job that would turn out to be.

Lester said he had run out of food,
but not to worry,
Paul and Sara  down the road, and Caz and John over in Madiran
well, they have fed him, he said, 
so he can keep going for a few days longer if need be.

Lester said that he missed me. 
He said this to me on Sunday.

Last week I flew into the UK, hastily, 
to sit the night watch beside my dying mother,
who has not departed of this world as yet,
but if she has her way,
soon will be.

I sat beside her for two more nights,
and then some more hours,
and I asked of her,
"Do you want me to stay and be with you?"
And she whispered, 
"No, you go home...."


And then I said, choke voiced:
"Thankyou for being my Mum,"
and other words for which I have no memory
but are between her and me anyway.

So I made a return to France
to be with Lester
who was trying his best to manage our smallholding.

Meanwhile,
I wait for the phone call....




18 comments:

Jean said...

Oh Vera, how sad.
It was a funny story until I discovered why poor Lester had to be managing by himself.
I wish you peace and send you my thoughts. It's such a difficult and exhausting time for all of you.

rusty duck said...

My thoughts are with you Vera. J xx

John Going Gently said...

That made me weep Vera x

Vera said...

Jean, thank you.

Jessica, thank you also.

John, .... x

Niall & Antoinette said...

Oh Vera courage!
I know how hard it is to be living elsewhere when a parent dies. I was in another country when my dad died. In fact I was on the phone talking to the neighbours who were with my dad while the medics were in the room trying to resuscitate him. I heard when they called it.

I'll be thinking of you and wish you strength.

ally said...



thoughts are with you. You are brave.

SueC said...

thinking of you Vera - stay strong! xx

Ohiofarmgirl said...

thanks, Vera, that was beautiful.

Horst in Edmonton said...

Oh Vera, so sorry to here that your mother is on her last hours. My mother past very quickly in her sleep.

Vera said...

Niall & Antoinette, Ally, SueC, and Horst, thankyou so much.

Vera said...

...and Ohiofarmgirl, thank you as well. x

Leon Sims said...

If we out last our parents and what parents would not want us to, we all must go through the experience.
My father is 91 and lives 1200kms away - after reading your post, I will ring him now and let him know I love him.
Thanks Vera for the reminder of my feelings - us blokes sometimes forget.
Leon

Rhodesia said...

I know the feeling well. I sat beside my Mum for a week in hospital in Zimbabwe and she did not even know I was there, but the Dr said any minute. After a week I had to return home to S.A. and my father then had her moved to another hospital. Her Dr had gone on holiday and we had a new one who seemed far more interested in bringing Mum out of the coma. She went on to live another very healthy 12 years after that!

My thoughts are with you, a very difficult time in one's life. Take care Diane

Horst in Edmonton said...

Hope Lester can keep up with your animals. Hope everything is well with you and Lester.

Vera said...

Leon and Sue, thanks.

Diane, thanks.

Horst, bless you, we are managing.

Once again, thankyou to you all. I don't seem to have many words in my head at the moment, and have now gone down with a cold. Still listening for that phone call.......

Jean said...

Just wanted to say I am thinking about you and hope you are ok, no need to publish, just so as you know.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

just wanted to send my support. hope you are well.
your friend,
OFG

John Going Gently said...

We will be here when you retun xx