Laura Seabrook's Ramblings

Now the ducks are gone, I'm "mucking out" the pens I had for them. One was already there when I bought this place, the other Steve (a boarder I had) and I put up out of stuff found in the bush (including a working door).

I drained the kiddies wading pool and bath tubs I had installed. It was amazing how much muck they had in each. I also removed half the containers of water I had lying about. It's funny, but there seem to be less mosquitoes about today. Some of the "dirt" (mostly a mixture of dirt and duck manure from one pen is going to fill up the hole left by the bath tub in the other. That bath tub got removed to up the back. I'm going to dismantle the walkway and laying boxes I'd constructed in a minute. It's sweaty work, but I feel good doing it.

It's funny, out of all the ducks I think about, there's only Stinky, Nicole (Ballerina duck) and old Howard that I really miss. All dead, all gone.

Didn't do much except go to Necropolis Saturday night. Had a good time and got home about 4am (daylight sacvings time). Sunday was spent (after dropping Roderick off at Fassifern Railway Station) out the back with Pegasus, or watching videos/DVDs (Buffy/Angel, and something called "Read or Die", and "Nausica: Valley of the Winds"). That was about my speed all day.

Funny thing with the ducks - Inkel who was taken on Saturday was "top duck" of one of the pens. When I opened the gate on Sunday morning, the remaining ducks hesitated before leaving. I wonder how long it will be before there's a new top duck?

Dropped off to sleep at 10pm. Somebody phoned just after this but I can't remember who or what I said to them, being half asleep. Maybe they'll call again.

I was on my way to the stock feeders at Westies (while on the way to the Uni) this morning when the Rauni had a blow-out / backfire. I used to get these all the time, until about this time last year when she was in at the mechanic's for five weeks. They swapped over the air-filter system that was in there, with something that looked like a racing system.

I was upset at the cost at the time - I was quoted $330 and it cost $770 - but since then the few backfires she's had haven't been serious. It was the same today. I expected the worst, but she just drove on as though nothing had happened! After stopping at the stock feeders, I checked the engine - couldn't see any damage. Afterwards she ran a little shakily, but not as bad as she used to. I might have a service done when I can afford it.

At the stock feeders I left an advert on a file card that read:

Free
Mature
Muscovy
Drakes
to good home
phone NUMBER
------------------
if no answer
phone again

There should be some response to that. I'm sure I'll find a new home for them soon.