My Open Day

I had to remind mum that she had forgotten to tell everyone about my Open Day. She says it's because she is still recovering from it!

Anyway, after all the wet weather, we had a lovely sunny day. I was brought into the bottom paddock with the two Scottish Stumpies, and a large sack of chopped carrots and a feed scoop were left there. This got me wondering if there could be something interesting today instead of the usual boring you get up, have breakfast, go out into field, eat, sleep, come back in for dinner, eat, sleep, repeat the dose. Relaxing it may be but I am a young donkey and I am ready to rumble. There is not a lot of action on a smallholding in Dumfries and Galloway, apart from chasing Ziggle the cat.

I watched with interest as tables and chairs appeared on the lawn - lawn is a bit of an exageration, there is a stretch of grass and reeds which claims it is a lawn but really that is stretching credibility a bit. It was still a bit soft under foot after the rain so the chair legs sank into it nicely and sat at all sorts of angles.

Then cakes and things appeared on the table and before mum had even had time to put on some lippie, folks were driving in. She says that she was a bit harassed as we were due to be open from 1200 and people started arriving at 1130 and she hadn't even the hot water boiled and ready to make tea and was still setting things up. Oh well, these things happen. I was ready, I had been groomed and was looking as smart as I could be. And so the cars started arriving and people spilled out and milled around and of course I know why they were all there!

All to see ME of course. Me and the Scottish stumpies preened and posed and ate carrots all day while Dad told everyone my story and what an exceptionally wonderful talented and modest donkey I am. By the end of the afternoon we had all almost turned carrot coloured as we had eaten so many of them, and we had also begun to get snappy and fighty as I wanted them all to myself. It's My Open Day so why should I share. No one would bother coming to see the Scottish Stumpies as they are not Famous. Aimee disagrees, she says she has her picture in more papers than I have.....show me the photos I say.

Didn't see much of mum as she was on cakes and teas duty. She spent all day Saturday baking meringues, walnut cake, cherry cake, fruit cake, Victoria sponge with cream and jam, cup cakes, you name it she had made it - but I didn't get any - she says that dairy products are not good for donkeys but I am sure I know better.

Anyway, about 70 people came to see me and they left me lots of presents - it all added up to £320.00! This was then sent to Equine Section to help save another donkey like me - well not like me as there couldn't be another Vodka donkey.

Mum said never again, she was tired, I was tired too - so full of carrots I could hardly stagger to the stables to lie down.

Mum says that I behaved impeccably and showed everyone what a lovely brave and gentle donkey I am - Ferguson might not agree with this assessment as I kept shoving him out of the way so I could get more carrots. But I was very hospitable and friendly and welcoming - I am sure they all loved me.