Categories: uncategorized
Date: 02 July 2006 21:12:33
It's been a busy and exciting day here.
This afternoon I had to go and collect Smudgelet from cub camp. His second camp, but his first "proper" one with all the Cubs from the Island at their excellent camp site at Corf. (His first camp was in the grounds of the scout hut with three other cubs and four leaders!) I arrived and discovered, to my great consternation, that he was bright red from head to toe. I was surprised at Akela for not insisting that they use sun cream and hats and for letting him get in that state... he looked quite ill! I know it's hot and sunny - I'd been expecting dehydration - but sunburn is so avoidable if you take the proper precautions and, while I myself have allowed him to be lobsterified on occasion, I was surprised it was allowed to happen at camp.
Good job face paint washes off so well in the bath!!!!
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I return home to find chaos in the garden. A mother duck is in distress with her ducklings wandering off and falling down drains left right and centre. The man from the RSPCA arrived with his big net and we had the thrill of the chase as he tried valiently to round them all up with as little fright as possible. Not easy, with ten ducklings all scattering and a frantic mother. An example of motherhood, though - she would not leave them, and the RSPCA man (all credit to him, a man of great patience) hid behind a bush and waited and waited, knowing that she would return to her ducklings. A swoop with the net and she was captive for long enough for him to finish rounding up her brood and take them all to the safety of the river. Needless to say, one little fellow was elusive and took some tracking down as he headed off through the bushes and off to fall in a drain again.