Silaging on St Swithun's Day...

Silaging was in full swing on the neighbouring farm yesterday. Huge tractors towing equally huge silage trailers hurtled along our narrow country lanes. This vital work, providing the animals with winter fodder, is usually carried out by contracting firms who move their fleet of machinery from one farm to the next as long as the grass continues to grow.

After rolling the grass, the ‘pit’ or ‘clamp’ is then covered with sheeting and secured down with redundant tyres.

Hope the brakes are good...

Silage making appears to be a science. All I can say is, after residing in the country all my life, I can tell whether it’s good or not by the smell of the finished product and its effluent!

Days of yore...

The weather was kind, even though it was St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day.

St Swithun/Swithin was a Bishop of Winchester born around the year 800. On his death he was buried outside where he could be walked and rained upon, as was his wish.

In 971 his body was moved inside the Cathedral and as you might imagine he was a bit mad. As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared it started to rain…and rain…

If it rains on the 15^th July, St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day it will rain for 40 days.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx