Flaming June has at last lived up to its name, long hot days have led to some excellent haymaking, although crops have been light. This will pose a problem later on unless we get a good second cut as livestock love good hay and seem to eat twice as much as usual, a bit like small boys let loose in a chocolate factory.

The following report appeared in the North Wilts Herald on Saturday October 1^st 1881. As it was so interesting I have included most of the article.

A fire broke out in a rickyard in Wroughton on Wednesday morning and for a time caused some little stir. The fire was at the farmyard of Coventry Farm, which is in the occupation of Mr James Farmer of Wroughton, the farmhouse being let to Mr T Washbourne. In June last, Mr Farmer had stacked the produce of 44 acres of clover in one rick and from some at present unascertained cause a fire broke out, resulting in considerable damage. About half past ten o’clock on Wednesday morning, Mr Barnes, who lives at a neighbouring farm and Mr W Butler, who was in Mr Washbourne’s garden, discovered the fire almost simultaneously. Mr Barnes first saw the flames at the bottom of the rick on the west side and Mr Butler, who was in the garden on the opposite side, saw the flames leap over the top of the rick. There was another clover hayrick within a few yards of the burning one beside some cattle sheds. An alarm was at once made and, in a very few minutes the Wroughton Fire Engine was brought out and taken to the spot where there had already gathered a number of village hands to work. Their attention, however, was at first devoted not to the burning rick, but to prevent those near from being destroyed. For some time the engine played on the end of the other clover hayrick and the cow shed until all the water in the pond in the yard was exhausted and then the engine was removed farther off and water carried to it. Meanwhile, Mr Superintendent North had been informed of the outbreak by telegraph, the Swindon Volunteer Fire Brigade had been sent for, and anticipating the arrival of the latter, to ensure a good supply of water when they came, Mr Farmer, who had been fetched by a messenger on horseback, from his other farm, proceeded to dam up the mill stream so as to divert the water down a ditch to within a few yards of the rickyard. Finding, however, that the supply would not be sufficient, he sent a man on horseback to the Water Works to ask for more water to be sent down. This was done and by the time the Swindon Brigade was on the spot a good supply of water was obtainable. The Brigade arrived without Captain Morris who was gone to New Swindon when they started. When he heard of the fire, however, he promptly obtained a horse and arrived at the scene of the fire in time to superintend the management of the fire engine. The engine was placed nearly a hundred yards away from the fire. Owing to the fact that the Wroughton Brigade had not poured any water on the burning rick, being anxious to save the others, the clover rick had become enveloped in flames when the Swindon Brigade came up. Now that both brigades were at work, pouring a quantity of water into the burning mass, the fire was brought into subjection before two o’clock. Then commenced the work of cutting off burnt portions and carrying it away into an adjoining orchard and of trying to save some undamaged. The removal had been proceeding some time and the engines had ceased to play, when it was found that the rick had then taken fire in the centre. Means were at once adopted to prevent this spreading. Water was poured in, the burning stuff removed, and about six o’clock the fire was out, with the exception of a little smouldering here and there, and the Swindon Brigade left the scene, leaving the Wroughton engine in case of necessity.

“Be still - and know that I am God”

These words from Psalm 46 contain an important message for us. A message certainly which many of us know - but don’t always follow!

We live in a busy and noisy world. We have many responsibilities - all perfectly proper; many interests - all very good; many worries and fears -some real, some imagined; lots of things to do, lots of people to meet, lots of things to say.

Many readers will be very aware of the perils of fleas, though hopefully not had the experience of an infestation, so instead I will highlight some lesser known bugs which can affect the skin of dogs and cats.

Ticks are small parasites, which are visible to the naked eye.  They are often seen as individuals, but several can be picked up at the same time.  They live in long grass and woodland, but are attracted to animals by their warmth and movement.  They attach to pets’ extremities, but also hairless areas, so ears and bellies are ‘at risk’ areas as well.  Ticks feed from the animal’s blood, so have long mouth parts to attach through the skin. Once full or engorged, they drop off, usually much larger than when first attached.