Storm Henry - Just How Many More Letters Are We Going To Go Through

Once again a journey outside may end up with you being blown all the way to Norway.  It now seems relentless and although the skies are intermittently blue, the gale force wind means we can only gaze at them from the comfort of behind the double-glazing.

Storm Gertrude gave us a thump on Friday, Henry today - I am mindful that we are not yet halfway through the alphabet and while I'm sure the intention was not to utilise every single letter, it doesn't bode well.

Poor dog ventured into the garden, the wind not-so-gently ruffled his ears and now he looks at, or rather ignores, the offered lead like this -

"You saw what happened to my ears just then, right?"

So that'll be no walk today then pup?

The neighbours have the lovely task of clearing out their house today - or rather everything that was damaged when their boiler burst on Saturday night. I don't think I have ever seen quite so much water pour through someone's ceiling.  They asked for help in locating the stopcock, useless as it turns out theirs wasn't where mine is. Interestingly as they were calling their insurance company 24hr emergency hotline, with no electricity, snow outside, kids wrapped up on the sofa and Niagara Falls in the hallway, it turned out that 24 hours call out means 9 am the next day. Guess what the first thing I checked was on returning home.

The fire brigade were able to help, after no other plumber wanted to come, unfortunately it meant their kitchen was ripped up in the process.  Hats off to the guys as within minutes they had the water stopped and the flood drained.

The saying it never rains but it pours has never been more appropriate!

Keeping in mind that today is Imbolc - if you were in the pagan habit of leaving a white cloth out for the goddess Brigid then good luck finding that this morning.

D'you hear that Henry, it's Brigid's day so bugger off and take whatever storms are coming next, with you!

A Vision Of Inside My Mind At The Moment

Artsy Fartsy and a Day at the Beach

This week I joined a new and odd club at the Hobbit's school. An art club for parents. Well, I thought it would be a room full of earnest artists scrutinising their daubing on easels (the paintings would be on the easels naturally and not the artists.) Of course it was all mums, and as we got cramp sitting on seats made for six-year-olds our art was to make hand print self portraits.

And you know.

It was actually really good fun. The hour whizzed by, it was so amazingly relaxing and nice. I'm thinking this must be what the Stitch and Bitch groups are like. The art might have made our little ones jealous but there are other projects to hand. Some might sneer at a group of grown women hunched over paper gluing on bits of glitter and feathers but sod them, it was light-hearted because we were doing something we would do with our children. There were thankfully no show off snobs.

Next one is on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to it.

Don't have a picture of that but do have a picture of Andrex II on the beach at Kinghorn during a Guide Dog puppy takeover day. Okay, there were only three and one pet dog but still, much fun was had rolling about the surf and sand.

Second Verse, Same As The First

Or should that title be - Oops I Did It Again!

After the departure of the previous Andrex lookey-likey, who is doing extremely well at the Guide Dog school (so named by the Hobbits and quite appropriately too), the *new* Andrex lookey-likey arrived this week.

So far so placid. Although he screams bloody murder at night when he realises everyone is in bed and not around to sleep on.

For this one I bought a pet-a-roo as seen thus =======>

Yes really. But as I can take him in to shops even at the tender age he is now, it makes it easier and is more comfortable for him. As he isn't allowed normal walks until he has his full vaccines (Guide Dogs give him some at 6 weeks for socialisation purposes) I don't mind playing Kanga to give him some outings.

First one was today. He didn't pee on me. So far so good.

Cuteness Factor Reading 100%

Normally I am not sentimental, however on receiving our Guide Dog puppy, who will live with us for his first year before going off to what the Hobbits refer to as "dog school" to learn his job, I have to say...awwww.

Think Nice Thoughts

Look at the pooopppeeeeee!

After the sheer hell of last night I am trying to clear my mind of evil thoughts of revenge. So here is a photo of our dog last December, see I am not saying the word, I am thinking it, I am not saying it though. He is much bigger now and last night he suffered greatly as all animals do when morons are given things that bang.

The fireworks went on for 2 1/4 hours.

No I am not kidding, Husband didn't believe me until he saw the detritus in their garden this morning. And that doesn't include the fireworks that take their packaging with them.

Peach: [Darla taps madly on the tank glass trying to knock Peach off] "Find a happy place! Find a happy place! Find a happy place!"

Finding Nemo