A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

As I write it’s nearly mid-April and Easter has just whizzed by. When I say whizzed, for us it did with a build-up of activity that got more frenzied every day as the week drew nearer. We had decided in our wisdom to hold a big Easter event at the farm. Easter coincided with us moving back outside, which in itself is a massive undertaking. This year we had the inside tipi to take down and dismantle (quite easy in our dry and windand rain-free barn) then re-erect that tipi outside and our other new one for all of you to sit in. So on a rainy windy Wednesday that had been pre-arranged and couldn’t be moved. We heaved and pulled – it took us 12 hours to get both tipis up and in place. Charlotte kept us plied with copious amounts of coffee and bacon sandwiches to keep us going and finally by 7.30pm they stood magnificently next to each other. The three of us that had put them up stood back and admired our handiwork. We were knackered and I said goodbye to my friends Len and Josh and thanked them for their unwavering hard work and limped into Charlotte, ready for bed. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow only to wake at midnight, still so tired but completely wired from the too many coffees!

The next day my back had gone, gone where you ask? Gone bad I say. I saw the future looming as I struggled to get my socks on and searched for my back belt to help me get through the day. For the next week I groaned and grunted my way around the farm. But moving the tipis was only the beginning. We had set ourselves the task of building a new field kitchen for Charlotte to be able to conjure up cafe lunches and both of us to be able to make and cook our pizzas. Also to build a new wooden floor in our second tipi in a few days ready for our Easter event. These things always seem easily achievable when we decide on them and I am always eternally over-optimistic with what I can achieve in a given time, but somehow with a tremendous amount of hard work and determination, we got there – nearly!

The day of our event dawned, a Saturday, the weather was set fair and the early morning mists soon blew away as I fed the pigs at breakneck speed and Charlotte quietly baked cinnamon buns before our helpers for the day turned up. Once they had all arrived and we had our staff briefing everyone scattered in all directions, carrying, moving, last minute jobs that no one had remembered, moving bins, finding bins, counting change, printing signs and then of course the printer won’t print – you can imagine! Charlotte and I were asked a million questions until our heads were just spinning and you have to say ‘you decide’. And then suddenly, as if by magic, people started to arrive. This year was slightly different in that we had a booking system so we knew roughly how many people might be here on the day which was a great improvement. As I made the first coffees and made eye contact with the two girls to my left, a look that said ‘here we go’, we launched into 4 hours of frenzied coffeemaking and serving Charlotte’s cakes as if they were going out of fashion. Quite incredibly she, with some help from her two helpers Jo and Sian, had baked enough for over 800 people – that’s no mean feat in our present kitchen. As the sun shone down, the people sat around enjoying the live music. They visited the piglets and ate hog roast, drank cider and drank in the view. As children ran around hunting for clues for the Easter egg hunt and had their faces painted and the parents sat and chatted it suddenly dawned on me that my Swedish wife and I couldn’t have created something more British if we tried – that felt good as our next event will hopefully follow on that theme. thestorypig.co.uk

So Easter has passed and before we know it we will be into mid-summer. We must savour every day of spring while we have it and watch the grass grow in front of our eyes, although as I write the rain is lashing down on the windows and the 50-mile-an-hour winds are howling around the walls, but then, what could be more British than that!

Our house faces east and in spring and autumn the sun is perfectly placed in space and time to shine straight through the bedroom window as Tracey and I try to wake up. The effect this has on a snoozy brain is profound, a flood of sensory input as light hits the retina for the first time in hours, sending a tidal wave of signals through the optic nerve, the mid-brain and on to the visual cortex. A connected central activation centre gets a hit and boom! I’m awake. No wonder it takes longer to get going on dark winter mornings. A network of neurological connections links what we see with the motor cortex and parts of the brain that control our emotions and behaviour. That’s why we can evade a fast-moving threat without thinking and get pleasure or pain from what we see. How those of us with eyesight take this amazing sense for granted, only really appreciating it when it’s lost.

So what causes blindness in animals? Dogs and cats differ in some respects although, of course, trauma is common to both. Deeply penetrating wounds and blunt trauma to an eye are quite common in both humans and animals, resulting in different but equally challenging injuries. Puppies have to learn the ‘menace response’ which is a reflex closure of the eyelids to protect the eye from a fast-moving object. As it takes time for this lesson to be learnt, puppies up to 4 or 5 months old are vulnerable to cat-scratch corneal lacerations if the playful attentions of the new addition to the household are not appreciated by the feline incumbent. Thorn injuries in older dogs running through undergrowth can be mistaken for simple conjunctivitis, as both cause a painful, red eye in the early stages. The prognosis for these two conditions is very different, as I am sure most people are aware. There are two aspects to eye trauma, mechanical injury to the sensitive structures of the eye (especially the iris and retina) and infection. Both cause inflammation that can result in fibrin deposition (scar tissue) in the eye, resulting in adhesions that stop the iris moving and possibly glaucoma, which can cause blindness.

Trauma aside, cats and dogs differ in the commonest causes of blindness that affect them although there is considerable overlap. As vision loss can result from disorders of the eyelids and cornea right the way through the optic pathway to the back of the brain, the list of causes is very long! If you can’t open your eyelids, you can’t see even though everything else behind is working fine. This might sound a bit theoretical but in fact, it’s quite common in breeds with lots of spare facial skin, like the Cocker spaniel. Surprisingly difficult for owners to spot, as when our dogs look up at us, the facial ‘mask’ slips backwards under gravity so all looks normal. But these dogs spend most of their time with their noses on the ground, so the skin falls forward like a curtain, covering the eyes and sometimes causing hair to rub on the corneal surface. A facelift is the treatment of choice, once again proving dogs and humans are not so different.

So anything that stops light from entering the eye and passing through to the retina to be converted into nerve impulses can cause blindness. Also, anything that prevents transmission of these impulses through the optic nerve and brain to the visual cortex, hence the long list of possibilities. In the clinic, cloudiness or pigmentation of the cornea and cataracts (opacity of the lens) are commonly seen (mostly due to trauma, infection and diabetes) but two retinal disorders deserve a special mention. Mostly seen in dogs, retinal degeneration comes in various forms but one, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an important cause of inherited blindness in the toy and miniature poodle, the Labrador retriever and the English cocker spaniel. Crossbreeds like the cockapoo and the labradoodle can also be affected along with other breeds. This is why screening of young dogs intended for breeding, with genetic tests and an examination by an ophthalmologist is so important. Only selective breeding will control this disease as PRA is incurable and annoyingly, causes blindness in middle age after litters have already been born.

Retinal detachment is particularly common in older cats with high blood pressure. Think of the retina as wallpaper, loosely stuck down to the back of the eye and only firmly attached in two places. Any fluid that gathers between the wall and the paper will cause detachment; in the living room and in the eye – this is ‘unsightly’ (pun intended!). Caught early, treatment can lower blood pressure and restore the retina to its rightful place and amazingly, vision. We do need to be aware that hypertension in cats can be caused by kidney and thyroid dysfunction and so a blood test is needed along with blood pressure (BP) measurement. In fact, all older cats should have their BP checked regularly, once again proving cats and humans are not so different!

The Ins And Outs Of Ibr

Gemma Loader BVetMed MRCVS, The Kingston Veterinary Group

IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis) is caused by bovine herpes virus 1. It can affect cattle of all ages and is a disease which is highly contagious and infectious. The virus causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, often resulting in pneumonia. The virus is shed in secretions from the respiratory tract and infection occurs via inhalation from close contact with infected animals. IBR can also cause infections within the reproductive tracts of both males and females. The virus can be spread by semen of infected bulls often resulting in abortions and foetal deformities.

Following infection cattle then develop a latent infection and despite appearing clinically normal may suffer recrudescence of disease when under stress.

In adult cows, infection is associated with a drop in milk yield for a prolonged period of time, reduced fertility and abortions. Very occasionally they may show signs of a cough and ocular discharge and on occasion, the disease may be so mild that it may be overlooked.

Younger cattle often have more obvious and severe signs. Mild cases present with a cough and conjunctivitis, whereas in more severe cases cattle may have a high fever, depression, inappetence, coughing and purulent ocular and nasal discharge.

Stressful events such as calving, transportation and housing often trigger activation of the virus. Clinical signs usually become apparent 2-3 weeks following the stressor. During an outbreak of IBR the morbidity rate may be as high as 100%, but the mortality rate is generally very low at approximately 2%. It is often the first few cows to develop the disease with the most severe symptoms.

Diagnosis of IBR in an individual cow can be performed via two methods; blood sampling - which can detect latent/pre-exposed infection or swabs of nasal secretions – which directly detects the virus in active infections.

The level of IBR within a herd can be determined by measuring bulk milk antibody titres.

As IBR is a virus, unfortunately there is no specific treatment. Those with a fever would benefit from anti-inflammatories and any animal

JNix/Shutterstock demonstrating signs of secondary bacterial infection may be dosed with antibiotics. Once an animal has become infected, it remains infected for life, the infection remains latent in the body and may recur and be shed again at a later date. Vaccines may be used in an outbreak to protect others.

Prevention of IBR infection is mainly achieved via vaccination, however it does not stop infected animals from shedding the virus at a later date. Management procedures can be brought into practice to help avoid the introduction of IBR including careful biosecurity and quarantine of newly purchased stock.

CHOOSE FROM:

| HALF LEG & BIKINI WAX |

| MINI MANI or MINI PEDI |

|

SELF-TANNING FOR LEGS |

| CHEST WAX or BACK WAX |

| TIRED FEET & LEG MASSAGE |

| CACI MICRODERMABRASION |

| EXPRESS CACI SYNERGY EYE LIFT |

| EYEBROW TINT & EYEBROW SHAPE |

| EYELASH TINT AND EYEBROW TINT |

| UPPER LIP AND EYEBROW WAX |

| 20 MIN BACK, NECK & SHOULDER MASSAGE |

| 30 MIN CLARINS RADIANCE REVIVER FACIAL |

Please check the relevant salon website or price list for usual prices

CHOOSE FROM:

| HALF LEG WAX

| EYEBROW AND LIP WAX

| LEGS AND FEET MASSAGE |

| CHEST WAX or BACK WAX |

| HIGH-CUT BIKINI LINE WAX |

| CACI MICRODERMABRASION |

| EXPRESS MANI or EXPRESS PEDI |

| EYEBROW TINT & EYEBROW SHAPE |

| EYELASH TINT AND EYEBROW TINT |

| EXPRESS CACI SYNERGY EYE LIFT |

| 20 MIN BACK, NECK & SHOULDER MASSAGE |

| 30 MIN DERMALOGICA SKINSOLVER FACIAL |

Body Conscious

As the evenings get lighter and the promise of that first dip in the sea draws ever closer, our minds drift to the realisation that it will soon be time to unearth our skin and bodies again.

Encased in our hibernation layers it is all too easy to slacken off the care and commitment we once took when summer’s heatwave was upon us. Male or female – the rough patches, dry patches, dimply bits and white bits all look better with a bit of pre-planning and self-care before the summer strip off and now is the time to make a start.

First out with the old and in with the new with a full body exfoliation to slough off old parched and dull skin cells and encourage new fresh skin to the surface. This instantly smooths the skin, increases the absorption of products applied afterwards and provides a solid base onto which to apply a little self-tan if you are being really serious about this!

Exfoliation can be simply and inexpensively done at home in the shower or bath with a pair of exfoliation gloves, plastic pouffe or loofah with some water and a good foamy shower gel applied. Gentle buffing circular motions taking in almost every inch of your body will reveal softer and brighter skin and only take 5 minutes of your time. You could also use your hands and an exfoliating cream containing natural grit and other supportive ingredients –I would suggest this method if you have a dryer skin type.

Once buffed and silky smooth, hydrate and moisturise that skin with an oil-based body lotion or even oil to give that new fresh skin layer a big drink of barrier-enhancing nourishment. Allow that to soak in as you give your feet a little more TLC. Use a foot file or pumice to tackle hard pads of skin that have built up on the heels, soles or sides of toes. Gentle filing movements are quick to take effect and after an application of cream and a pair of thick socks, create a feeling like you are walking on air!

Ideally daily body moisturising and weekly body exfoliation in the weeks leading up to summer’s warmth will go a long way to increasing your confidence in the sun. Massage the oils or creams into your skin with gentle kneading and stroking movements up your legs and buttocks towards your torso, up your arms towards your underarms and in a clockwise direction on your tummy to help drain the skin and encourage excess fluid and toxins out of the body. This helps to create a smoother skin surface and body silhouette. There are also many effective body products on the market to help reduce stretch marks and cellulite and to help firm slackened crêpey skin. These need to be applied daily to take effect but are useful support tools.

If you aren’t inspired to do this prep for yourself then visit a beauty salon where a therapist can use professionalgrade products, application methods and advanced technology to accelerate results and give you some relaxing downtime thinking about that break away… thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

Ihave struggled with anxiety and depression for a decade. Presently, I manage my symptoms with a mixture of anti-depressant medications and coping skills, and while I still have a way to go, I am now genuinely the happiest and healthiest that I have ever been.

This has not happened suddenly, or all at once, but through a cumulative of tiny victories and improvements over years of trying. Or course, as someone working in the mental health field, I’ve had the advantage of being constantly exposed to new coping mechanisms I can try and novel ways to look at my mental health. I am going to cover the key lifestyle