June already?

Yes, it's June already and the longest day today too!  Hard to believe really looking out the window.  Today we have a mix of rain, cloud and yet more rain.  Beginning to wonder if we will actually have a Summer this year.

The last few months have been full on with work, in fact, for our little business year 5 has been our busiest to date (not that we're complaining!).

The lovely ladies choir that I belong to finally put on their concert back in April after 9 months of busy rehearsal.  We raised around £1600 in total half of which went to Short Cross Methodist Church and the other half toward research into Lupus.  Since then we've taken the concert out to a couple of other venues and we'll be performing again on Saturday night but this time in aid of Birmingham St Mary's Hospice who do invaluable work offering help and support to people with terminal illness.  This should then be our last performance of 'Film Fantasia' and then we'll have a short break before starting up again later in the Summer.

 

The school choir will be performing their Summer concert next Tuesday after rehearsing since January.  During the last few weeks we've taken a small group from the choir to sing at the Salvation Army's Birmingham Citadel and also at the 'Time Out' group's Jubilee Party.  We were made to feel very welcome on both occasions and children sang their hearts out.  They're more than ready now to perform their final concert and I think we're all a little sick of the songs if I'm completely honest!

My running has recently come to a bit of a standstill unfortunately due to some health worries.  Everything now looks to be clear so I'm hoping to get out for a run at the weekend.  This will be my first in 2 months so as you can imagine I think I'll struggle to get to the end of the street rather than manage the 7 miles level I'd finally reached.  It's a bit disappointing really as I felt I was doing so well, but I'm determined to get back to it and build it up gradually again as I did before.

The family are all well.  The school year seems to have whizzed by so fast, can't believe 'A' is nearly at the end of her first year of high school.  It doesn't seem 5 minutes since we were stressing about how she'd settle in.  'S' has had a good first year of study for his GCSE's and has done some marvellous things in Music in particular.

'P' celebrated his birthday at the start of the month so thought it was about time he booked in his birthday present from LAST year.....White Water Rafting.  See my next post for all the fun and photos!  He's still running and his performance has come on no end since he's been regularly running with the club.  He has another race tomorrow in Blakedown and during March managed to win 1st place in the competition on RunBritain for most improved running handicap..

Arnold celebrated his 2nd birthday on Tuesday.  Hard to believe he's been part of our family now for 2 years.  I can still remember when he first came home with us, I had to wear my knee length boots around the house in the peak of Summer to fend off his feisty puppy needle teeth!  Well worth the pain though, we wouldn't be without him :).

The Gallery - Winter White

Yes, I know you'll all be cursing me for this one especially with Tara's pic of the exact opposite but for my Gallery 'Colour' theme, I've chosen Winter White brrrrrr.

I guessed most people would take advantage of the beautiful weather we've been having over the last couple of weeks and post scenic shades of blue and green so I thought, not for the first time, I'd be different.

[caption id="attachment_1152" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Winter White"][/caption]

This picture was taken shortly before Christmas last year when we had week upon week of the snow.  Our Border Terrier Arnold didn't know quite what to make of it!  Consider me evil for even mentioning the 's' word but I do love it.  Don't get me wrong I love the Summer too and was quite happy to give my sandals one last airing but I'm one for the extremes.  You see, I'm a weather fanatic - you can keep your murky, drizzly rain and your average temperatures, for me it has to be baking or freezing, hail showers or thunderstorms, blizzards or hurricanes!  I guess I just like the excitement, although I'd probably feel differently if I lived anywhere other than England, where our extremes only stretch to a tornado swiftly relocating your peg bag or a heatwave that lasts just long enough to get the barbecue fired up! ;)



 

Cornish magic and muck for luck!

Last week we returned from a lovely week in North Cornwall, in particular the little hamlet of Rosecare near the village of St.Genny's.  We found the cottage online and were pleased that they accepted dogs and had availability during August.  When we arrived the cottage was actually prettier than it looked in pictures.  'The Granary' was a section of converted farm buildings with a small courtyard outside and a short walk to a village green and several public footpaths.  Rosecare was an ideal base for exploring the local area.  Away from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns, Rosecare was a peaceful haven for relaxation and scenic walks.

[caption id="attachment_980" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Granary Cottage in Rosecare, North Cornwall[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_988" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Local views, Rosecare[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_989" align="aligncenter" width="300"] An evening stroll by the cottage[/caption]

Now, being known as the family to experience an eventful happening on any holiday,  we yet again obliged with a rather smelly but amusing offering on our outward journey.  We decided to stop the car at a little lay-by at Rackenford just after exiting the M5 to let the dog do the business and the rest of us stretch our legs.  Unknown to me there was the largest pile of turd I think I've ever seen, undoubtedly deposited by some kind of Yeti or such like.  In the blink of an eye, Arnold had eyed it up, weighed up the odds of serious discipline, figured what the hell and delved head long straight into it!  I think the actual experience was a little traumatic for him judging by the look of shock on his face, I don't think he was prepared to take on quite such a huge pile of excrement.  To say he was plastered in it was an understatement and we continued to spend the next half an hour, one pack of Johnson's face wipes, half a pack of wet wipes and a squirty bottle of water trying to remove said dung from his fur and collar.  The kids then started a debate over who was to have the pleasure of his company for the remainder of the journey.  Although we all found the whole situation extremely hilarious he still felt he should try to make amends.  He continued to place his chin on 'A's seat periodically giving her the doleful puppy dog eyes, to which she responded by backing even further into the car upholstery.  Needless to say the rest of our journey was rather noxious but much less noteworthy!

During our week we visited our usual North Cornwall hangouts such as the beautiful Duckpool Beach, Atlantic Village (Devon, I know but it still counts), Bude Light, The Pepperpot, Tintagel with a couple of new additions including Padstow and Port Isaac.  Padstow had a lovely charm but unfortunately was overrun with holiday makers making it very difficult to even navigate the narrow streets, especially dog in tow.  It's definitely somewhere I'd love to revisit but maybe mid winter when the hoards have departed.  Port Isaac lived up to all expectations and luckily the sun came out to improve its appeal even more.

[caption id="attachment_981" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Port Isaac, home to 'Doc Martin'[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_982" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Port Isaac[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_983" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beautiful Duckpool Beach, nr Bude[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_984" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kids at Duckpool Beach[/caption]

As this was Arnold's first visit to Cornwall we thought it only right to let him experience the fantastic rock pools on Summerleaze beach.  'P' threw numerous stones into the little pools and Arnold delighted in splashing and eventually submerging his whole head to grab them and drag them out onto the sand.  He had a whale of a time although I think his initial fascination with the sea has now worn off as he certainly didn't seem as keen to get wet this time around.  Considering this was his first real 'beach' holiday and due to the fact that he's only 14 months old we did wonder how he'd behave, but he really was a complete star.

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Fun in the rock pools![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_991" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A bit wet behind the ears![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_992" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Relaxing on Duckpool Beach[/caption]

We left the cottage after a super week in Cornwall but had one more treat in store - Hartland Carnival.  After attending on many occasions as the children were growing up we decided we couldn't head back to the Midlands without stopping by for a visit.  Hartland Carnival is the most politically incorrect source of opinion you will ever see.  This year's floats were tame by previous years attempts but none the less entertaining.  There was a terrific 'double-decker' Harry Potter effort complete with revolving tree transporting wannabe wizards and witches around on broomsticks and also a fantastic 'Inbetweeners' float complete with yellow fiat precariously balancing on the edge of a lake.  Other great efforts included 'Chilean Miners', 'Smurfs', 'The Lynx Effect Comes to Hartland' (brave chap taking an outdoor shower) and 'Hartland Senior Citizens do Fame'.  All in all what better way to end a lovely week.  Oh yes, and no poo related incidents on the return journey to report either!

[caption id="attachment_985" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Harry Potter Float[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_986" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hartland Performing Farts do 'Fame'[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Inbetweeners Float[/caption]

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Silent Sunday

Arnold Update - 7 - 8 months

Thought it was about time for an Arnold update seeing as the little fella's nearly 8 months old now!  I really can't believe what a grown up dog he now looks, he's fur's really grown and almost looks like he has a lion's mane.  He still has the same adorable face and it's still hard to deny those big brown puppy eyes.



He's made a new friend in 'Arthur' my friend Jo's Airedale Terrier.  Their personalities are so alike it's untrue but I guess that's the 'terrier' in them!  When let loose in Jo's garden they chase each other around having a good bark and generally play biting and jumping on each other.  It's so comical to watch! :)

Behaviour wise, he's such a good boy on the whole.  When I'm at home with him during the day he's just so loving and follows me around from room to room or curls up by my feet while I'm working on the computer.  He still has a long way to go with his walk training and his behaviour towards other dogs, but we're working on it.  Looking at him now I can't believe how far he's come since the days of hanging onto our legs with his teeth till he drew blood!



Arnold's off on his hols next weekend when he goes to stay with Mom-in-law for 3 weeks while we're away at Disney.  We've been 'acclimatising' him over the last month by taking him to stay once a week for 1 or 2 nights.  He absolutely loves it now, Mom-in-Law takes him on loads of walks and he is great company for her too.  She said she loves the way he curls up next to her on his blanket, leans on her feet and looks up at her with those loving eyes :)

We shall miss him soooo much while we're away and I just hope he hasn't forgotten us when we get back.  One things for sure, Mom-in-law will certainly miss him after having him there for 3 weeks.