June and lots of things have been happening

In spite of the lack of alcohol consumption, I have fallen twice since my last posting and am a little handicapped at  the moment.  The first time was just over a week ago when I got off my chair on the terrace and caught my flipflop in a leg of the stool and took a tumble.  There wasn't much space to fall into and as well as grazing my toes on my right foot, thumping my right knee  to a lovely bruise and bump and twisting my left foot, it seems from the pain in my right upper chest that I may have cracked a couple of ribs.  I am trying hard not to do sharp intakes of breath which are painful.  

Apparently, not content with this fall, I then tried climbing over a fence on the field to open a gate which had been wrongly closed.  I caught my trousers on the top of the fence and after friends has disentangled me I then fell backwards down the grassy slope trying to save myself by extending my left arm.  The pain from my wrist was something I never want to experience again.  After seeing my GP, piggy-backing on appointment a friend had, she wrote a letter for the hospital as she was sure it was broken.  We spent hours at the hospital waiting around in various departments.  The x-ray showed no fracture but apparently a fractured scaphoid bone doesn't necessarily show up for about ten days.  A splint type support, very effective, was applied to my wrist and a prescription for an icepack and painkillers were given, together with a letter for an x-ray after ten days had passed.

  

I can't believe how much I, as a right-handed person, depend upon my left hand.  Opening a toothpaste tube, a cat food can, grinding pepper and salt, cutting bread, hanging laundry on the line - everything seems to rely on the fact that we have two hands.  As I write, I have no pain from my wrist unless I do something with it, so that is an improvement - I am having to type with one hand though.  End of moan!

Apparently, France has more roundabouts than any other European country.  I love the way the Bretons do their roundabouts. This is one in Carhaix where they have a well-known music festival each year - Les Vielles Charrues - I love it!

My neighbours are very interested in life in the village ..

Other neighbours have goats tethered around to keep the grass and brambles in check. This is Blanchette with one of her three babies.

They're very nervous and won't be stroked.

Everything is taking off in the polytunnel now and I have been eating strawberries most days.  Here is a giant one amongst the normal sized.  I have learned to put the developing fruit on upturned plant trays to stop the slugs getting to them.

I found the one Indian Runner duck I have on the field unable to stand at all and had to bring her down to the kitchen for a while.  I kept her first in a cat carrier and then in a dog carrier.  This prevented her from trying to use her legs.  After  4-5 days of enforced rest she recovered and is now back on the field and pond again.

It has been a month for bird problems.  Two hens who had been fighting over sitting on some eggs finally hatched a chick who they both chaperone everywhere - very funny watching their attentiveness.

Unfortunately, when a second chick hatched they attacked it and I had to bring it down to be with me in the house.  She is named Annie (orphan Annie) and spends the night in a brooder in the kitchen but the daytime finds her either sitting on my shoulders or following me around in the garden and house.  She is very sweet and has totally imprinted on me as her Mum.

The three cats, Claude, Purrdy and Grace are afraid of her which is amusing but good news for her.   Hopefully in a month or so I will be able to put her in with the garden hens without her being mortally wounded.  

Here is Purrdy feeling like I often do.

Lots of lovely blooms in the garden and the village at the moment 

SuperU, my local supermarket, had a quarter of their fish counter devoted to spider crabs when I visited last week.  They are sold live, but I asked if they could cook one for me as they were so large I didn't have a pan big enough at home.  I collected it the following day and dressed it .  I had it mixed with piment paste and Hellman's mayo - heaven!

And lastly, my grandson, nine years old and his first real haircut - he's going to break a few hearts further down the line.

Three things I like:

1. Finally getting the strimming done on the field by my latest Workaway, from Switzerland.

2.  Getting the confirmatory all clear for cancer after my colonoscopy on Friday.

3.  Sunbathing in the beautiful Brittany sunshine and getting the first layer of tan!