Zebra milk

I write this week’s entry on a laptop borrowed from a friend. I am using this ultra modern yet ridiculously oversized monstrosity as opposed to my simple, out of date but wonderfully compact computer because the cable which charges my battery decided to fall of a table and end its life. I have, therefore been without a laptop for half a week, feeling very far from civilization indeed. However there is a chance to make good of every situation, so I hereby blame all spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors to this unfamiliar keyboard rather than my plain incompetence.
Those of you now reading the second paragraph are obviously loyal enough that upon reading the title “Zebra milk” decided not to close this page on account of Dan just being silly again, I thank you but I feel an explanation is also in order. Yesterday we got a cow. The exciting thing about this cow, as I have explained countless time to all children under the age of 5, is that this one is a lady cow, which means she produces milk. So this morning over the freshly boiled milk and cereal Dave asked the kids what we should call the new cow. I had started the very same conversation with the three youngest the previous lunchtime and all I got in response was, “Cow”, “yeah Cow” and “that one!” (from Becka) Dave on the other hand got lucky. Suggestions over breakfast included Sarah, Mary, Hannah (I vetoed all three because Sarah is a rubbish cow name, there is an Aunty Mary at New Hope and, though it came from a place of love, Hannah referred to my older sister) Moses was coming up with the rudest things he could call the cow without getting a smack, a line which he nearly always fails to draw, and Daddy quickly silenced his son by giving him what was coming to him. Uncle Dan, being renowned for miles around for being a tease and winding little people up, was throwing names like Gertrude, Ethel or a good old traditional Gladys at Susanna and really getting on her nerves. I was trying ferociously to think of something witty, ironic or at least blindly silly to call the cow. I got lucky with the latter. I suggested calling the cow Zebra, because it’s black and white and vaguely horse shaped. While I laughed inwardly at my own utterly hilarious joke the name stuck with the kids. So Zebra it is. I think the best thing about the name is the seemingly endless possibility for comic manipulation. For example, tonight we drank Zebra milk, Uncle Alfred left to milk a Zebra, you can pass the Zebra milk, pour Zebra milk or, in most cases, spill Zebra milk all over the table. You can easily understand why today I feel like a comic genius.
My days so far this week have been uneventful. Raychs health has been going down hill recently which means she is staying at home more. Being the medical, and come to that, scientific no nothing that I am I wouldn’t be able to begin telling you what’s wrong with her, although I have heard exactly what the problem is first hand once and second hand about twenty times. What I can tell you is that she’s exhausted and has pulled out of doing anything non social for her own well being. She still does things around the house, as it is good to keep busy and motivated. However this means I have a lot of spare time on my hands because anything Dan can do, Mum can do better. Why have cuddle with Dan when Mum’s available. Why should Dan serve up lunch when Mum can do it? I am, as you may have guessed, temporarily out of a job. Although looking after the children was difficult, stressful and would drive me mad, at least I was occupied. It is for this very reason I am thankful for thanksgiving.
For all you who are, like me, unaware, the American holiday of thanksgiving is coming up soon, or at least the good folks at New Hope are celebrating it this coming Sunday. From what I have heard its really good fun with a big march around campus and people standing up in church to say what they’re thankful for. Tempted as I am to pay tribute to my Uncle Richard by turn up with the Union Jack draped over my shoulders in mock defiance of the American tradition I am looking forward to the event very much mainly because I have contributed to the celebrations. In an effort to keep my idle thumbs busy these past two weeks I have been commissioned by Jenny Danger to make a thanksgiving DVD to be shown on Sunday but also to be sent out to churches that support New Hope. This little project has seen me traveling all over new hope meeting people and generally being a pariah as I video people and what they are thankful for. On top of that I have received a steady flow of CDs containing pictures from various parties either because they are in a generous mood or they think if they donate enough photos to the cause my video camera and I will leave them alone for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless my job this past fortnight has been organizing the video interviews and photos before putting them all together with music and some technical whiz-pokery to make a DVD worthy of its many viewers. This morning I put the finishing touches to seven minutes of solid thankfulness ready to be given the thumbs up (or indeed down) from Miss Danger. Its been really good fun to do because its something I can use my gifting in and also get a chance to meet people and get out of the farm up to new hope a few times. Part of me hopes Jenny hates it so I’m kept furiously busy for the next few days as well!
Apart from the usual up and down, rain and sun, screaming or scarily quiet atmosphere of life on the farm, there is nothing more to say. Soon it will be time for me to say goodbye to the monstrosity I have used to make the DVD and write this as it is lunch time on the following day as I finish this off and the habitual beans and rice will soon be served. I hope you are all reading this in good health and life in the UK hasn’t dipped to a level of utter despair in my absence. I continue to enjoy the comments left and feel the effects of those praying, so thank you. God bless
Uncle Dan, (Plus tan, minus some body weight)