Only on Hydeaway Farm

It's the general opinion of most people who know us that the Hydes are eccentric. We disagree. We know that we are totally bonkers. We're so far round the bend that we couldn't poke it with a long pole. We're just sane enough to know we're crazy, and mad enough not to care.

Therefore, for your enjoyment, we've compiled a list of what makes us mad. Because only on Hydeaway farm...

... does every living creature on the place have its breakfast before the humans.

... do toads make themselves at home in the cupboard with the pots and, when they disappear for a few days, everyone worries.

... does the mother, when offered a small orphaned baby rabbit as a gift, start making arrangements for the rabbit's housing before the children can even say "Mom, can we keep it?"

... is it claimed that a large German Shepherd dog named Apollo is the brother of the (probably sapient) girls. Everyone has accepted this, though it can cause awkward moments. Once when we were driving around (as usual accompanied by Apollo and a collie, Flower), we were innocently asked, "So you've brought along the whole family, have you?" Apollo's mother pointed promptly at Flower and replied, "Oh, she's no relation."

... does the resident shrew, when it falls into a dog's water bowl, not only get fished out, dried off and set free, but gets its own miniature water bowl set alongside the dogs' bowl so that it doesn't drown.

... is Hydeaway slang spoken. This slang is made up probably out of sheer devilment and to confuse outsiders. A brief dictionary in case you ever have the misfortune to end up here: "Florence" means "The loo paper's done", "Pig's bum" means "all the Tupperwares have fallen out of the cupboard", "Eureka" means "kindly hand me a towel", "Tut, tut" means "it looks like rain", "crustacean" is a swearword, as is "dammin", "flying dogs" is an expression of surprise, "DDIC" means "I wanna go to bed", and "IDKT" means "I want some coffee but I don't feel like getting up and making some myself." Incidentally, if Dinki moans, "I want a Pikwaaaa," she means she wants a Pwca, a small Welsh fairy that cleans the house for you if you leave out bread and milk for it.

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