As regular readers of my Editor’s Diary know, I spend most of the working week glued to my laptop at my kitchen table.
But this week, I escaped! For a morning, anyway . . .
My destination was the lovely Perthshire town of Aberfeldy. Favourite “Friend” contributor Polly Pullar had invited me to spend an hour or two with the animals at her home. How could I refuse?
As you can see, dogs Pippin, Millie (who belongs to Polly’s son Freddy), Molly and Maisie made me very welcome. Though Maisie refused to look at the camera . . .
After tea and cake, Polly took me on a tour of the various inhabitants of her farm.
Some are permanent residents; others are wild creatures being nursed back to health before being released.
An animal lover’s paradise!
The hens are always good fun (as Features Ed Alex will tell you . . .)
Photograph by Angela Gilchrist.
Reggie the hedgehog didn’t seem quite so pleased to see me . . .
Photograph by Angela Gilchrist.
Despite Polly’s best efforts, Reggie remained tightly curled in a prickly ball.
The red squirrels were a different matter.
Fizzing with energy, they sped around their enclosure, frequently using Polly and me as climbing frames.
Getting a non-blurry picture proved a challenge.
Photorgraph by Angela Gilchrist.
Photograph by Angela Gilchrist.
The squirrels, adorably, are called Pipkin and Helen (after the lady who found her).
By the time you read this, Helen will have been released back into the wild.
I had met Ruby the red deer before.
Photograph by Angela Gilchrist.
And talking of deer, Polly has a very cute new arrival called Cloudy. But I’m going to save that story for my next diary entry!
Last of all was a poorly tawny owl who had been hit by a car and had a damaged wing.
Polly is hopeful it will make a full recovery.
Photograph by Angela Gilchrist.
I haven’t even mentioned the sheep and guinea fowl!
All too soon it was time to head back to work.
But what a great way to spend a Friday morning!
For more from Angela’s Editor’s Diary, click the tag below.
Angela Gilchrist I am the former Editor-in-Chief of “The People’s Friend” magazine. My passions include cats, Highland ponies, good books, vegetarian food and long walks in the Scottish countryside. My favourite place to get away from it all is the magical Isle of Skye.
