I've got the bird

My neighbours get green finch, blue tits you name it they get pretty little birds.

I get this lot

7.30 this morning



9.30am this morning

and by the time I got home from the IWA campaign festival the support for the fat stick had been discarded on the lawn! I only put the fat stick out last night.

I give up ...

I don't believe it!!!!!

I've apparantly won the canoe in Canal Boat magazine. How cool is that? I'm so excited it will be called Skidoo and with it we will be able to visit parts of canals rivers etc that Bobcat can't get to.

Back to the build, Bryan has made the hanging wardrobe part of the office/desk scenario.

Access to the wardrobe is from the corridor.

Right decision

Magic flying over a branch in the woods.




Magic cooling down!


I thoroughly enjoyed walking Magic as she was a joy to watch.

I am pleased to say that this lovely lovely dog has found a very happy home.

Yesterday I said goodbye to her and she arrived at a family with a huge garden and four children. Whilst she wasn't interested in playing with a ball or stick when with me she apparently was jumping around catching a frisbee in their garden happy as larry.

So all is well that ends well. I had a feeling she needed either children or another dog to keep her company and occupied. Looks like I was right. So pleased when I got the phone call this morning telling me how well she had settled in.

Bit more on the central heating

The Mikuni attached to brackets in the 'garden shed'. This way there is easy access to the left of the unit where all the maintenance happens - apparently. The exhaust will go over board as will the pressure release pipe from the accumulator. We will then install a removable barrier so that other items in the locker don't fall against the heater etc. Mel will also put vents in where appropriate.



That red disc is the accumulator. As I have no room for the tank for a gravity fed system I am going for a pressurized system. Hence the need for the gauge and the pipe overboard.

It is Bryan's turn for his 'come dine with me' dinner tonight. Menu looks good am looking forward to a slap up meal.

Progress on many fronts

Bryan has moved the middle partition over slightly and put the shelf in for the microwave oven to sit on. He has also made the gas locker look a bit prettier on top even if it is still showing it's underwear below! Jim is getting on well with the Mikuni and related central heating items. The Mikuni is now installed in the front locker on some brackets. I didn't take a picture as it is not complete and it had started raining. Later perhaps.

(Before you panic that is Gok and Loraine Kelly on the TV)

The cat is definately above in the pecking order. She is quite inquisitive about the dog and got quite close while the dog was asleep - a little bit more wary when the dog is awake but as you can see the dog tends to avert her gaze in a submisive way when confronted by the cat so soon I think they might be best of friends.

I was stroking the dog with the left hand and the cat with the right yesterday afternoon in the conservatory with the door open to the garden. When the cat went back outside the dog crept around so she was on my right and therefore between me and the cat! Quite amusing watching their power games.

Have I made the right decision?

This is Magic







A rescue dog with impeccable manners, good with cats she has bumped into the cat on several occasions and has backed away. Living previously with six has obviously taught Magic that they are best avoided. Which is good as Sweety Pie (I know I know ...) is a timorous wee beastie at the best of times. She slept quietly in the kitchen last night without a peep.

My legs are now tired as I took her a long walk yesterday afternoon when she was dropped off, a quick round the block last night and again this morning as despite letting her out in the garden twice this morning she hadn't pee'd so thought maybe she is not used to peeing at home?


Will I be able to cope with having a dog? Hope so as I have been looking for ages for the right one to come along.

The squeaking has stopped

We went out on his new/old BMW and I am pleased to say that the squeaking emanating from the passenger has stopped. Although there were moments of tight squeezing with the legs that were ignored.

We had a lovely meal at a pub far from the madding crowd which around Bakewell on a bank holiday weekend is quite hard to do. They did join us later but by then we had finished our meal and left them to it.



Here I am enjoying the view.

The ride on this bike was such a success I suggested that we go away for a weekend on it. Somewhere not too far away to begin with but I felt reasonably comfortable on it unlike the hypermotard (sp) which was too scary for words. Just a low moan.