I was so priviliged yesterday morning to see a Little Owl sitting on a fence post and even luckier to have my camera with me! Even my young Scottish Deerhound responded quietly to my silent "get your butt over here" command and didn't go rampaging ahead and frighten it away before I could take a photo. The picture's not brilliant, the light was poor as the sun was just rising and I couldn't get quite close enough before it flew away.

Local Council Idiots!

I am left wondering what bright spark in our local council made the decision to move the ponies in Hastings' Country Park to a new field, closer to human habitation, late in the afternoon on November 5th. When I walked past after dark at 6pm the ponies were galloping around an unfamiliar field in terror, against a back drop of bright flashing lights and loud bangs, cracks, whizzes and whooshes.

The field in which they were originally, was sufficiently distant from the fireworks that they would probably have been unconcerned. It was down right cruelty to move them at this time. I wonder what was so urgent that it couldn't have waited until next week?

Back to normal

I've not been around for a while as I've been very busy. I had a lovely holiday in France. The lurcher I was thinking of adopting had found a home whilst I was away, so I'm happy as I didn't really want it - I just thought that no-one else would! If (and that's a big IF) I get another dog I want a young one as playmate to Ishmael. So at the moment there's Dezi, Blue and Ishmael - the dogs and the cats Lily and L'Ola.

The sky this morning whilst I walked the dogs was truly beautiful.

Why Did the Snail Cross the Road?

Did it make it? What do you think? It was a quiet road.

Sunflowers are so cheerful!

I just loved the way the early morning sun was highlighting this fern.

It was a pleasant morning, although there appeared to be some nasty looking clouds over the English Channel.

Grey Gloom

The morning dog walk was very difficult, Gimli's absence very noticeable. The weather's not helping - another day of mild, grey gloom.

.....Of Mice & Men

I've already heard of a lurcher who needs us. A 7½ year old who's the product of a broken marriage and is shut in a shed all day with no exercise. If it's still in need of a home when we get back from France I'll take him (providing I can persuade Dom). I wasn't going to get another dog yet, but they have a habit of finding us. If we're meant to have this dog he will be there when we get back.

Well that is what I intended, but you know how stuff gets around. It seems that everyone is expecting me to have the dog. I have put the word out that I will not commit to anything until I get back and that I would prefer it if I come home and he's already found a home. But who else wants to take on a 7½ year old lurcher?

I hadn't planned to get another dog so soon. Dezi is nearly 13 and is suffering with his arthritis despite medication. I was going to wait until Dezi has left us and then if I did get another it would be a younger one who could play with Ishmael and give Blue a much deserved rest!

Football

It was a very sad dog walk this morning, but Gimli sent us a football and we had great fun and laughter playing with it for a while.

Dezi couldn't join in as his knees are very sore with arthritis. He misses his brother and slept in his bed last night, which I found comforting as it meant I didn't awake to an empty dogbed.

A Very Sad Day

Today we had Gimli put to sleep. He was nearly 14 and had lived with us since we sprang him from Battersea Dogs' Home at the tender age of 4 months.

Giml was a very special dog and life is going to feel very empty without him, I will also feel very vulnerable without my head of security.