The Snow Bird and some gas

Bianca did not last long as a name - she now has the grand title of "The Snow Bird" and she is a really feisty princess. We should really be going for Spanish names but 'El Pájaro De la Nieve' does not exactly trip lightly of the tongue...hmm it does sound grand and almost Quixotish though and is perhaps a rival to Dulcima de Toboso on the beauty front.

I think we have a gatito (kitten) ariving soon; it is black and in its current home sleeps curled up with the eggs in our friends' henhouse - any guesses as to the likely name ? I think it might begin with B.

The boys are giving serious consideration as to middle names for all of the birds....naming things really is important to them just now - what wonderful ages to be - just 5 or almost 6.

We ran out of gas on sunday, have been ringing the gas man's number for a couple of weeks and getting a constant engaged tone so I finally had to check the address out in google earth and wend my way to the depths of Ferrol on Monday where amazingly enough I drove straight to the right place and even found a parking space not far off. A man arrived manyana de manyana to sort our new contract and on my proud rendering of "No hay nada gas" he became rather concerned and got busy on the phone and within 20 mins a lorry arrived with three full cylinders and just as I was getting lost in a mire of galego/castillian banter a lovely lady by chance chose that moment to knock at our door and introduce herself - a neighbour from not far away who speaks excelent English, and galego and castillian i think so phew confusion difused and clarity resumed and we breathed a huge sigh of relief..then realised a power surge had damaged our oven and the microwave now does a great lightning storm ...ah well life goes up and down doesn't it..the computer is thankfully ok .....upward and onward.

Bianca the new hen

We visited the local school to see about our boys attending but missed it by a few mins however the folk over the road invited us in for coffee and we left 20 mins later with about 30 kg of potatoes, 30 eggs and a new white hen now called Bianca. They warned us to keep her solo as she had not had her beak trimmed so would peck others in the cage - we don't do caging hens so we thought she might be ok outside with ours but nope despite being half their size she tried it on and was then mobbed by our 4 so she is now in the old temporary enclosure while we wonder is she a he and think out what to do.

Here is the luxury outdoor run somewhat shaded by the eucalyptus.


Our 4 little red hens and some white feathers.


Bianca hiding in her temporary hut.

Rowan Grinning

A very happy boy.

more birthday

Doh ! the camera got forgotten for much of the day, friends came round and we visited our neighbours up the road who have a wicked sense of humour and take great delight in lacing my coffee with brandy when I am not looking then laughing at the wobbly Englishman. They are lovely but only speak Galego - I wish I could understand what they are saying.

Candels are great for playing with ...


and for blowing out

Rowan did breakdancing with Stanley and a lemon
Lorenna did looking very cute for the camera.

Rowan's Birthday

Rowan is cinco anos today, Power Rangers and dinosaurs were on the agenda again and baloons of course and that smelly stuff in a tube that makes baloons. Pancakes for breakfast and his "bestest day ever" so far.

Rowan has only been out of bed less htan a minute and he is tearing the paper off the first one.

Callum gets a couple of presents as well.
Lots of bits in that box that make into...
..a megazoid eventualy

Callum blowing up the smelly stuff baloons.

We are off to Moeche market in a few mins - more photos later.