Today was a day of ups and downs. Firstly when I let the chickens out this morning, only 5 shot out of their house, like bullets out of a gun. Where was number 6? She was very poorly and still sitting in the house. Firstly I thought she’d gone to that great chicken coop in the sky, but she was just about with us, but only just. I wrapped her in a couple of Terry’s nappies and bought her inside the house. After a while she perked up a very small amount, but I had a vets appointment for her just before 9am. When we arrived she’d taken a turn for the worst and the vet and I decided the best thing was to put her to sleep. I couldn’t let her suffer. I then bought her home, and then left her in peace while I went to the allotment for a while. I couldn’t bury her straight away, because I needed my large fork, which was down the allotment. She wasn’t going to go anywhere, so I thought she would be safe on her own. On the allotment I cheered up. I was sad, but not distraught. On the allotment I dug over another couple of beds, and planted out my Garlic. Then I had a little space left, so sowed the first of the Carrots seeds. I’ve got lots more to sow, but today I sowed “Flyaway F1”. Once I was done, I went home (with my fork), had some lunch and then went to our local shop to get a box. Marty is now buried under my apple tree at the back of the garden. She is about 3 feet down, wrapped in a Terry’s nappy and in a cardboard box. There is no worry about her being dug up by a fox, because there is some black weed suppressant fabric on top, loads of wood chips and then a wheelie bin. I did shed a tear or two as I buried her. But I’d like to think that I gave her over a year of very happy memories and freedom that she wouldn’t have otherwise know.