Life Can Be So Cruel

I am distraught, I have just heard that one of my friends from France, little Lunar, has been killed - this brings all the worries back to me, I thought I was safe but is it going to happen to me?

Little Lunar was innocently grazing in her field, when the electricity pylon dropped a cable and killed her. Burnt to toast. She was the little brown one on the left of the picture with the sweet innocent face, full of hope, full of love, happy to be here. What a dreadful waste.

Mum is very upset at the thought of such a dreadful death for Lunar, especially as she had come all the way to the UK, been much loved, and irony of all irony, was due to move at the weekend to a new home, where she was going to be a driving pony and have a proper career. She was going to a forever home with another pony as company, and to learn new skills and be a useful citizen.

How cruel is that?

I am not enjoying July at all, it is all death, doom and gloom. Apart from me beating Aimee, there isn't much to shout about - it rained lots and lots today, mum says the angels are crying for Lunar - I just wish they could send her back to where she was loved.

Why Are These Horses Going to Die - 2

Pair of beautiful young mares, up to weight, why on earth are they so worthless that all they are fit for is going for slaughter?

With a bit of training they could both be excellent riding horses or trained to drive - what a total waste. Vodka donkey is so upset that these quality horses are unwanted and going for the chop. Makes her realise even more what a lucky girl she is.

Why Are These Horse Going to Die - 1

I can't believe that this beautiful stallion is on the fat farm and going for slaughter. What a lovey boy he is - you could see him working, he is such a beautiful fellow.

I am crossing everything that someone somewhere wants to buy him and save his life.

Goodbye Little Jessica

Mum was crying today, she had just found out that her friends, Liz and John, had just lost Jessica their lovely tabby cat.

Mum used to have a tabby Jessica as well. She was a lovely lanky cat, waspish to other cats, but very very loving to people. She had come to live with mum when Jessica's mum went overseas and didn't know what to do with her - well naturally Jessica was made welcome (she has even more cats than she has donkeys) and had a very happy few years living with the other cats. Mum says she loved Jessica very much and that Jessica returned all the love and was an extremely gentle and sensitive cat who could tune into how you were feeling and give you a little extra hug if you were feeling down.

Jessica died suddenly and very dramatically. In the middle of the night she developed breathing problems, and Mum and Dad at 2am had to drive to the vets to get emergency treatment for her. She lay on mum's lap in the car, unable to breath, and choked to death, dying about 5 minutes from the vets. Her larynx had closed over and she couldn't breath. Mum still doesn't know what caused it, some allergic reaction but to what.

Mum says she has never witnessed such a dreadful death and never wants to, the fear and terror of poor Jessica as she fought for her life, all in vain. She says she has had many a cat make a final visit to the vet, but never seen one die in such panic and pain and never wants to again.

But there is a twist to the tail, so to speak.

Jessica's previous mum was working in Hong Kong and mum was trying frantically to get in touch with her to tell her that Jessica had died. She finally tracked her down and told her that she had died, but that we didn't know why. Her sister is one of these people who sometimes 'sees things' - no she isn't daft, she is just sensitive and sometimes things happen that can't be explain. She was on the ferry crossing the harbour at Hong Kong, on her own, hadn't spoken to her sister all day, didn't know that Jessica was dead or even ill, and then she saw Jessica, galloping along a long hallway. Jessica spoke to her and said that she was ok, it had been very sudden and frightening but she was ok now, and to tell mum not to worry. When she got home she told her sister all this, and she told her that Jessica had died that day.

Cynics out there might say this is all a joke, but no, she was able to describe our hallway at home perfectly, and she didn't know that Jessica was dead, or that Jessica used to love to gallop up and down it at great speed, doing wheelies. She had never been to the house, in fact she had never met Jessica only seen a photo of her, yet she was able to describe in detail the hallway, and Jessica running along it.

Mum says she would like to think that Jessica came back home, just one final time, to say goodbye to her home and her friends. She hopes that both Jessica cats are now running around in heaven together and playing, all their cares behind them.

Me, I don't know, I just think there are some things that just can't be explained logically.

After all, why was I, Vodka donkey, saved from death, when there are so many other equally deserving donkeys who don't get that chance? I think I had a guardian angel looking after me. Otherwise why me? Why not one of the others.

All I know is that I am truly grateful for the new life I have been given and I promise to live it to the full and not complain too much (well just a bit) and be a very good girl (have to say that but of course you know that I may be telling the odd little fib).

What Has Happened To The Weather

I really am confused, it is supposed to be summer now, torrential rain, mud in the fields, mud inside my field shelter. What on earth is going on here?

Mum had actually laundered all my winter rugs, they had been washed and dried and carefully folded and put away on the rack that says Rugs for Vodka - actually I have two racks as I have so many rugs now - and now they have all had to be dragged out again to keep me warm and dry.

I've had it - I am booking a flight from Prestwick and I am off clubbing in Ibiza. It will be Ministry of Sound Chilled Vodka for me now, I can see me swaying on the beach, cocktail in hand - Aimee has unkindly pointed out to me that if I turn up in Spain they may expect me to do some work, carting stuff. Oh she is so bitter and twisted that SHE didn't win the poll and I did.

Mum says she will be engaging a therapist for Aimee to investigate why she didn't win and provide her with coping mechanisms so that she will not be afraid of failure in the future. Me, I just chuckle malevolently.....Ferguson, being sensible, is staying well out of it.

Goodbye Little Girls

It's been a bad month. What with the credit crunch and everything, more of the horses on the meat farm are going for meat.

First of all it was Elizabeth, so sad as someone actually wanted to help her but too late.

Then Clocue and Margo have both gone from the farm, so we know they are no longer with us.

Both youngish mares, 10 years old, probably not very handled, never going to be the easiest to find a sanctuary for, but still sad, two little lives lost.

I hope it was quick for you. And that you didn't suffer.

But I don't really believe that.

Vodka is very sad, although she didn't know them, she has been told all about them and says it makes her success all so trivial now. She makes me feel guilty too as I could have done more for them, tried to help them.

Vodka Horse & Pony Charity Donkey of the Year Poll

Mum tells me that my charm, beauty and general donkey perfection has been recognised far and wide and that I am the proud winner of the Horse and Pony Poll for Charity Donkey of the Year. Photographers, cameras and tape recorders are expected next month to record me for posterity.

So first of all may I thank all of you who voted for me - you have shown exquisite taste - and for those of you who voted for the spotty scottish stumpy, Aimee, well better luck next time. Aimee is not talking to me for some reason. Hard to see why but hey everyone hates a bad loser.

I have never had to worry about that, as it is clear to me that I am a winner. A star donkey. From the minute I stepped down the ramp in Scotland, my life changed forever in fact it's hard for me to remember all those bad times, how cold and skinny I was and how frightened. It's a bit like a bad dream, I'm sure it happened but I just don't want to go back there, thank you.

To all my fans, thank you. Mum says I must not become more big headed than I already am, or I won't get in the field shelter, my head will be too big - it is quite a narrow doorway but I think I can puff up with pride just a little.

I have travelled a long distance in miles to come to my new home, but the distance in other ways has been just as great. I think of my friends, like little Elizabeth, who didn't get the chance to become a useful equine citizen and have a home where people appreciate them. I am a very lucky donkey.

I intend to be a fine ambassador, and will work for world peace, saving the planet, and all the other things you are supposed to do - but mainly I intend to have a happy life and never let Aimee forget that she DIDN'T WIN!