So often I have to forgo the things I love doing most because I have to work such long hours. Too often in the winter I come home from work to hear that David and the dogs have been off on some jaunt together without me. These bank holiday weekends give me the opportunity to get out and about, get some fresh air and spend time with Rosie and Archie. We’ve been making the most of the opportunity to do just that this weekend – it’s our second really long walk of the weekend today.

We’ve had the added bonus of a house guest, Colin who is quite happy to wander around in the woods with us just chatting about nothing much. It has certainly been a more eventful walk with him around. We’d barely set off when there was a mini-earthquake behind us as his 6’4” frame went pounding to the ground after he fell down a pothole in the path! A few minutes later, he wasn’t looking where he was going and walked straight into the back of David who went flying too. We all had a laugh when the only thing David managed to save from the mud was his precious camera!!! Colin is notorious for these sorts of accidents. He is a man with no front teeth since he walked into a lamppost one day!!

We deliberately set out to go somewhere we’ve not been before and ended up in Hawley Woods, making for the lake. As with much of the open space round here, it’s Army land and it can be a bit intimidating when you see tank tracks through the woods in the way you’d expect to see horses hoof prints or bicycle tracks. There were no troops out today though, just other people walking dogs – and a surprising number of them.

It’s a strange day in the UK as it is one of only 2 days a year when the government forces shops to stay closed. This means that places that are normally quiet are bursting with people because they have no shopping to do!!! I must say, it’s very strange to us as we live very close to a huge Marks and Spencer which is normally heaving on a Sunday afternoon.

The lake in the woods was surprisingly nice, if a few too many people around it for our liking. A few boats were drifting around it and there were geese, swans and ducks meandering around.

Archie just loves this sort of place – his perfect world involves sticks and swimming. He happily chased a stick out into the lake for half an hour. You can see the stick by his feet as he shakes himself dry.

As I type this, Colin is asleep on the sofa, David is asleep on the bed, the dogs are asleep too – one with Colin and one with David. It’s been a fab day and they’re all tired. Colin says he smells like a fish and chip paper – that sort of damp, salty smell that is the trademark of a wet dog being snuggled up beside you seeking attention. Oh my, a wet dog, on the sofa, how terrible!!!

a year ago today


It's funny - while I was looking up my link for last year, I flicked forwards to see what else was going on in my life and discovered that Colin was here last Easter, and Archie swam in the river last Easter Sunday!!! How little life changes....