My new chickens have explored the garden a little and still a bit young for breaking too far from the enclosure. They did have a small walk around the garden with me but we haven't added mileage for that as its a bit random as they spread out and are learning to follow me - as long as corn is provided!!!

I have put some pictures of my walks in the just giving gallery of alpacas, sheep, cows, sheep, alpacs and chickens and a shrew.

Who was going to make the dinner and do the daily chores?

This was a difficult time as we were both short to find the capacity to do something/anything, as both myself and my precious husband Simon were visited by unwanted heart issues last year in sequence and overlaping for a time. We are now just about OK going into 2026 and are better placed to cater for each other.

Hmmm, back to doing all the dishes!!!!

The dilemas faced even now, after receiving treatments in our District hospitals and support from the fantastic front line doctors in our Local Practise, has highlighted the fact that anyone can suddenly be affected greatly by a usually, unoticeable, reliable quiet motor inside our bodies that has broken down and needs the help of others to fix it or find ways to work around it - we all hope.

I was full of anxiety and worry and I managed to summon the energy to still play my violin with the local orchestra by sleeping alot beforehand!! It was and still is a blessing to still be able to play with such a friendly, understanding and talented community of musicians.

I have also returned back to work where thankfully I have a very understanding boss. Work can often be a stressful place so I am learning how to manage this better by talking openly about my struggles, which is made possible by having supportative work colleagues at my side.

I am now astutly aware of the need to raise money for the British Heart Foundation so research into more sophisticated technolgies can be found and applied. I would be so grateful for your support.

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly every day hundreds of people lose their lives. It's only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. £24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target.