429

Do you know this fella? You should do if you live on t'island and everything. He's the man with the long rubber gloves and a ready smile. Hector Low is his name and he is the main vet man on the island - along with his merry band of underlings who trim the this and that on animules bits. Just arrived down The Croft in time to miss young Mr Low finishing up after de-knackering the little piggies - or whatever it's called. Apparently they were none too pleased and it even made The Crofter's eyes water.

I was rather pleased to be down at The Croft later than usual.

428

Pre Pate' material I hope. Even though I don't eat meat.

After all, they are eating the blasted things on the island - Goose curry I believe.

427

The Chinese made tractor thing was minus a front wheel for a few days recently. Apparently, the front offside [no, not that side!] tyre was flatter at the bottom than at the top which meant a less than effecient backward and forward movement of the poor thing.

Soon Dad Crofter had taken the wheel off the beast and I found him in the warmish shed next door to the tooth factory wrestling the inner tube out. Once out, the cycle tyre repair kit came in handy to smother the tube with patches. When one patch won't stop the leak..........

426

Mr Crofter looks very sophisticated here. I think the future is catching with him or something. Thoughts of holidays with a 'friend', business matters, a new barn, a vehicle that goes most days and people who rely on him.

I rely on him to be honest. Where else might I go to take endless snaps of animules and mud? Eh. Tell me that. I think I might 'do' another booklet of him - for the masses and whoever. His fans and everyone. They must be out there somewhere.

425

The Crofter is happy. Write it in your diary now! Well he was happy yesterday when I paid a little visitation cameras in hand and all that. Found the fine fellow singing to hmself or maybe he was singing to Shawn - who knows. He seemed happy all the same as he shovelled sh, sh,,, stuff out of the back of partially collapsed pig-hutch on account of said piggies eating the walls, leaning and goodness knows what else on them.

Look there's the Crofter serenading Shawn / Shaun with snatches of Iron Maiden or something as melodic as the chicks/Ducks scurry away in fright. I do hope Ms Gemma doesn't read this or else The Crofter might be in deep doodoos. Ah well.

Look how happy the man is. For a Man he is. It might have been a tad dark this day - mid-morning and the day hadn't brightened much. In fact it didn't brighten much at all all day.

And there's Shawn/Shaun looking Very pleased with his lot as he helped shovel the stuff from the pig-hutch and everything.

Oh happy days

424

Sorry for doubting you. I thought there must be someone looking at this stuff from time to time. I know I do.

I found these little gems in my 'archives' - an uncut and uns-canned neg rescued from under the settee in the summer parlour. It's where the best snaps mature it seems.

From a fank gatheration in the village last year. Mr whoever with his invisible sheepscat herding his flock to the pens out behind the village, A fine day and a fine gatheration of village personages.

Coming from over the school side down to the fank and the shed thing. Where The Crofter might have been. I really can't remember whether he and Pater Crofter had arrived at this point. I might well have given up waiting and everything. Not that The Crofter is ever late - must have been VERY busy.

423

Is there anyone out there still reading this stuff? I mean, I religiously post every now and again even when nothing much happens. I trot off down the road and say "bonjour Mhah" to The Crofter, nod sagely to Dad Crofter and have a chat to Mum. Tickle turks head, scratch the piggies, grumble at the geeses who shout and scream in return. Step in poo, struggle with the gates, fall over a less then strategically placed rock, get rained on, chat and from time to time take a snap for your delectation. Actually I take a few snaps but you don't always get to see them here. I'm not going to show you my 'best' ones am I?

Anyway, the little piglings stood still long enough for me to take a portrait and now they want to know if anyone cares about them Eh? Do write and I'll let them know you care about their plight.