Happy new year everyone.  I do hope you all had a safe and happy Christmas break and that everything is shaping up the way you want it on your block.

Although those of us who live in the Great Urban Ark had a lovely break it was with some sadness we discovered our Indian Runner duck’s nest empty on December 29. We had gone to the Bay of Plenty over Christmas leaving the Runners, the Henny Penny Gang, and the cats to the loving care of Janet. When she did her final round of checks and feeding on the evening of December 28, Wobbles and her eggs were still there.

When The Man of The House and I did a ‘check of the estate’ upon our return the next day, not a single egg was to be seen.  No eggs, no egg shells, and no ducklings.  Just two somewhat confuddled looking Indian Runner ducks wandering around quacking at us.  We hunted high and low – with Wobbles and Scooter in hot pursuit – but nothing has ever been found.  Sometime between Janet checking them and us getting home the eggs simply vanished. 

For several days the Runners hung around the empty nest somewhat despondently until finally giving up and returning to the chook coop with the HPG. 

And if some members of the Ark are a little relieved to not be facing an entire tribe of Indian Runners in the morning, all of us are disappointed. 

During November and December I put a bit of time into planting a veggie garden.  I had such big plans for this veggie garden and had transferred the herbs and veggies I had lovingly grown in pots on the balcony. 

The HPG were thrilled – it took them a whole two days to demolish the garden in question and they keep wandering back to it in the hopes I might have been silly enough to replant.  Fat chance girls – not until I have finished building the raised beds and their accompanying chicken proofing.  THEN we will see who gets the last cackle!

However it hasn’t all been disappointment at the Ark.  In fact much work is going into cleaning things up, tidying gardens, getting those veggie beds built and installed and generally tidying up as wedding bells are in fact ringing at the Ark. 

TMoTH took me a bit by surprise before Christmas and asked to make an honest woman of me – much to the delight of the children – so we are hoping to have the place looking every bit the productive and happy Urban Estate when the time comes.  I’ll keep you up to date with our planting and growing projects again this year – all of which I am sure will involve much input from the Ark’s resident wildlife.

In the mean time to kick the year off Brian has had a look at some of the summer maintenance tasks to get under control, reporter Crispin Caldicott has got up close and personal with some alpacas, and we put rural town Dargaville under this month’s spotlight.

Until next month, stay well, stay safe, stay happy.