A Veterinary Journal by Claire Poole
Chapter 1
Page 3
Chapter 1
Sunday 4th January
Monday 5th January
Thursday 8th January
Thursday 14th January
Thursday 21st January
Monday 25th January
Tuesday 26th January
Back to the Clayfern Intro Page
Monday 5th January
The wind and snow have finally ceased, and our world is silent - insulated in a cocoon of snow. There is no need to watch for traffic as we walk the dogs along the road, as a 6 foot snowdrift blocks our progress only 200 yards from the cottage. No chance of getting to Clayfern this morning. Gillian, my nurse, lives in Clayfern and can explain the situation to the few customers braving the elements - luckily there is nothing urgent and they can all return this evening. Hopefully by then, the road will be passable. Our neighbouring farmer has the bucket on his tractor and is clearing the road from his farm to ours. Colin is clearing to the next farm and so on to the village. While waiting to be rescued, I load up the sledge with a cargo of old apples and carrots, and slowly begin the exhausting haul up the field behind the cottage to the bottom of the deer pen.
The large hay bale they got on Saturday is nearly all gone, and they receive the fruit and veg. enthusiastically. Each item has to be bowled in different directions to prevent the more dominant members of the herd bagging the lot. Once the sledge is empty, I collapse into it gratefully and am borne homeward at breathtaking speed. At last the road is passable, and we pile into the old grey estate car to stock up with provisions.
Clayfern has been cut off as well, and the High Street is congested with delivery vans. So far the choices are limited and rationing is in force - only two loaves per family. It seems strange to see electric lights and appliances working as normal - we still have no power at Fern. After an uneventful evening surgery, I enjoy the luxury of washing my hair in the surgery sink with lovely hot water on tap. It makes a change not to smell of woodsmoke.
I feel like a time traveller tonight, leaving electric lights and heating in Clayfern for candles and wood burner at home, and take back fish suppers for a welcome surprise. At 8 p.m., without warning, the lights suddenly come on and electrical sounds recommence. We all rush for the things we normally take for granted - long, leisurely baths, television programmes and a good wash for our smokey clothes.
Copyright Claire Poole 2005
