Click on the pic of Atticus for a few pix from this morning which serve as illustrations to the goings on round Santa Cruz way. Massachusetts residents, take note of the lack of snow…
So I rang me Mum this morning and she sounds a lot better and feels it too. She’s still too housebound for her liking but the end is in sight. See picture “Sita on the phone with mum” for a visual aid. Dad finishes school next wed so at least there’ll be some company for mum and dad can forget about malfunctioning computer networks for a few weeks.

I went to the garage to get petrol and oil for “El Poderoso”, our ‘vintage’ lawn mower. I can’t remember if I mentioned buying this one, but basically the moral of the tale is never buy garden equipment in pitch black darkness, cash-in-hand on an as-is basis. It took a good half hour of fuel-spilling, cord-pulling and poking-bits-with-knives, but I was quite chuffed to get it working. Your average electric toothbrush has more power and I found myself having to slowly lower it onto daisies to keep the motor running. Still it’s done but I think we’re still in the market for a newer model.

Atticus barked for something like the third time as when i came back in the house i had petrol and oil smells all over me. So maybe he’ll be a good guard dog? As long as the burglar doesn’t carry any cats with him/her, cos he’s more than a little scared of them.

Lulu escaped from the bunny cage and was moseying around the garage when I went in to get the mower… he looked very sheepish but i managed to corner him and get him back in his deluxe accomodation. Blimey… well that’s life on the farm so far today, it’s not even 12 yet. we’re off to 629 Koshland to do some more cleaning up and to read the latest issue of Das Loopline- UCSC Family Student Housing’s monthly missive consisting of pictures to colour in, details of events like “Kiddy Song”, disaster drill articles and new commandments for living there. I’m expecting them to issue a curfew some time soon and maybe some new directives on naming your children.