Glynis Johns-

No apologies for posting this ( yes ANOTHER video)
Glynis Johns LIVES this song...wonderful!

Empire Building and a trip back to 1973

Not the most professional sign but it gets the message across. Do you think that the pink is a little too gay? humm perhaps I should have spelt eggs as eggz?

Chris and I spent a melancholy afternoon at Colwyn Bay's Welsh Mountain Zoo . Unlike flagships such as the the zoo at Chester, Colwyn Bay had not changed with the times and everything seemed unloved,cramped and rather tired. We did love the mountain goats and the childrens' Zoo ( humm strange as we have an average age of 42) but most of the other exhibits seemed rather forlorn as they never seemed to have done to me when I was ten years old. Pity!

Storming , Norming, and an afternoon with my veg

Finlay's death has affected the relationships between all the dogs in quite a graphic and interesting way, and having more time with them has meant that I have the opportunity to watch the nuances of these behavioural changes. Fin's role as alpha male was clearly evident and although not overly aggressive he asserted his dominance swiftly, forcefully and clearly. His departure left the lead position empty and non of the remaining animals have the ability to assume the responsibility of the job. Meg is floundering in her assumption of alpha female, as she has neither the confidence or the authority to make the change effective. Her anxieties to protect the pack mean that she has become overly aggressive to other dogs and constantly alert to danger and threat which must be exhausting.



Maddie has lost her playfulness with Meg , and now won't always back down when challenged over food or closeness with Chris or I. She resembles a somewhat bad tempered maiden aunt to Megs younger, more nervous sister, the definition of who is in charge remaining blurred and unclear. George, being more of a puppy has the clearest of roles and remains the floppy, baby of the group. Getting William will eventually ( we hope) let Meg off her perceived responsibilities and will allow the whole group to settle down. Well that is the idea.

Cracked on with allotment with renewed gusto today and it does look pretty impressive. Planted everlasting spinich and radish this afternoon and plan to attack the rapidly rising tide of pasture grass on Monday with my new strimmer.

Good News

Received a rather terse letter from the agents for the field (which is now to be referred to as "the glebe") and with a heavy heart I rang to discuss the future of the hens and allotment.
Cap in hand I was ready to let them all go and was delighted to find out that both veggie patch and girls are now safe! as long as they are highlighted on the agreement! So something legal and in writing should be winging its way to me next week and everything can be signed for properly. That's one in the eye for the snooty bastards from the village that reported me!

Had a lovely meal last night in Osborns and Duncan,Izzy and Linzi left early this morning to drive back to Kent. So I aim to get back on my land for weeding and normality! nice....

Finlay's song! Chasing cars

I detailed some of the nice gifts I recieved for my birthday today. The best ever gift was for my 40th and it was Finlay, if it wasn't for him and his personality and warmth we wouldn't have Maddie,Meg,George and indeed soon to be picked up, William. I do miss him dreadfully

Happy Birthday to ME

I don't feel 45! Shall we get that fact straight from the start! I think I feel 28 to 30 so that's all right. Snatching a couple of minutes to myself as Chris and Uncle,aunt and niece (Duncan,Izzy and Linzi) have taken the dogs up the Gop for a walk. The cottage is mighty small for three guests but it has gone ok so far, as all are very easy going. I can relax a little today as I do not have to cook anything, but they has a big slap up lunch yesterday, big dinner and a cooked breakfast this morning so I feel we have shown them a bit of Welsh hospitality.

The weather is lovely ( not so yesterday when we all went to Conway (pic; don't you love Maddie peeping in the corner?), and I have received lots of cards, and birthday texts ( that seems to be a "new" urban tradition nowadays) which is lovely! ME,ME,ME!ME ME ME ME!

Lucky too with gifts, had some great clogs off Sorrell,a strimmer off Chris, wine and a climbing hydrangea off Carole, a great Book on animal ailments and a dvd off Nige (brill) and a lovely picture off Nia in Oz! AND IT'S ONLY 10 AM!!! bring em on!

The Brownings are off riding this afternoon so I can go and wish Janet happy birthday, then we are all off to Llandudno for dinner in Osborn House.... Bugger weightwatchers!

Being Moved and the egg production line

At 8 am this morning when I was knee deep in fluff and dirt, cleaning under the bed to prepare for Duncan and Izzy's visit tomorrow there was a knock on the door. A delivery man with a huge lemon tree was standing there and I was so touched when I read the a note attached to it.
"Happy Birthday, thank you for always being there . Nuala and Jim".
Nu had only buried her mum yesterday, had experienced one of the most stressful and agonising few weeks of her life in Liverpool and still she remembered to send me a birthday gift. That's class!



Twelve eggs this morning! I have done the neighbourly thing and given a load away to people down the lane, now I can think of putting up a small sign and selling them!

The Ghosts on Crosby beach

The problem with growing older is that it always seems that you have to attend more funerals as the years go by. Chris and I went over to Liverpool this morning for Nancy's, and as they go, it was a real celebration of a remarkable woman's life. The family priest, told her life story with candor and affection and the small choir sang quite beautifully, so all in all it was not a sorrowful service, but quite an uplifting and moving one. Before we met Nu and her family after they attended the crematorium, Chris and I went to Crosby beach to look at Antony Gormley's 'Iron Men' . The sculptures are quite stunning and rather frightening, and perhaps not the most apt things to be looking at on the day of a funeral, but the stillness and sunshine of the beach was relaxing and it seemed the just the right place to go.