The Neben ducks are now full size - will they go or will they stay?

The summer, or so called summer, has been awful for holidaymakers but it has been great for lifestylers.

With plenty of rain and warm conditions, the grass has grown faster and greener than it has for many years. The tanks are full, the trees look magnificent and the gardens are loving it. The animals also seem to be contented with the present climate.

About three months ago when loading some steers on to a truck via my loading race, I was concerned about it being really slippery and, consequently dangerous.

As a result I applied a product called Wet and Forget, spraying it on the race and fence railings, then promptly forgot about it.

Last week when checking the race I was amazed at the outcome of my spraying. No moss, no mould, no slippery or slimy timbers, just everything neat, clean and dry.

That really got me going and since then I’ve sprayed gates, fences, the barn, the back of the house, paths and pavers around the swimming pool.

It has also been good to catch up on lots of maintenance such as gate hinges, electric fence wire that needed tightening and to make sure fences were clear of trees and long grass. I also found several broken insulation brackets which I replaced.

At this time of year one has to check the sheep for fly strike and also check horses for tics which can cause discomfort to the animals. Your local vet will have some very good products to provide animals with protection from these pests.

At the moment rabbits also appear to be on the increase so we are due for a visit from the team at Coastal Pest Solutions to bring the problem under control.

Elsudoku will be trialling soon so fingers crossed for some good results. The hens are doing their job with pretty good production results and my duck visitors have grown to full size although we are not sure how long they will stay with us.