July 14, 2010: Time Flies When...
..well, perhaps it just flies when you're getting older. Not sure where the week went, and don't appear to have done or achieved anything noteworthy. Went trialling on the weekend and it was nice to catch up with a few people I have not seen in ages. The big guns were out in force...must be getting close to a National. The tea was hot, and flowing liberally. The competition was good. Kevin Evans gave us all a textbook lesson in how to handle a dog. My was it a pretty run he had with Mirk and a total delight to watch. Meg had a pretty run too, to the pen...and then I made 'pretty' into 'pretty messy' and that was the end of that! Ever consistent Sioux managed to squeeze into the top 6 but only just when she turned onto the wrong sheep when taking the single...my fault there too! Oops...better pull my socks up a bit more. My friend, Gwynfor, kicked my butt again this week (and I could not be more thrilled for him). Lots of good natured banter at this trial...superb atmosphere, super organization...and the best toilets on the circuit...cushioned seats, soft toilet paper, hand wipes. Positively luxurious! Take note other trial organizers!

It's been raining here in Wales. We need the rain to replenish water supplies. We heard last week that one of our neighbours has been out of water for a month! And that meant no showers, no dishes, no washing, nothing. Hmmm...the no dishes and no washing sounds OK! Despite the rain, the swimming pool is being well used. It's warmed up nicely! Yippee.

Our two new gates have arrived thanks to the barter system. (Thank you, Meirion!). One is going to replace an old gate leading to our main training field and the other one could go in about 10 different places so it is going to be a toss up. I installed a temporary fence this week to try to contain young dogs in the pond area, and keep them out of exploring the garden and the house. As soon as I completed the fence, Kiwi and Scott jumped over it to visit me in the garden. So much for my efforts to contain them. Now I really have to get cracking and dig some more holes for fence posts and install a real fence. Kelvin starts school holidays next week so I have a labour force! Little does he know...

I've been out with my brushcutter this week also. I have finally decided to really give our orchard area a clean up. This is an overgrown area below the main pond in the garden. There are some nice apple trees there and this week I discovered in amongst the scrub a few fruit trees we didn't know we had. I am slowly brush cutting my way to the fence line which is very overgrown and from what I can see, the fencing is on the ground. I need my chainsaw fixed! We are thinking if we can properly fence this area (that sounds like more holes to dig) and protect the fruit trees, we might have a nice wee field for rams. There sure is a heck of a lot of grass there and better we get sheep to keep the grass short than having to brush cut it all summer long. Well, that's the thought at the moment but knowing us, we could well come up with a dozen other ideas for this area.

One day I will take pics of the piece of land we own on the other side of the road to the farm. The cows spend a few weeks down there eating down some of the scrub and they have just come up from there so perhaps I will try to get pics soon. It is very messy there! Overgrown! But the stream runs right through this field and I sometimes take the dogs down there on a hot day to puddle around. I like this field but one should not wear wellies with holes in them! Yes, I have once again worn a hole in my wellies!

Nothing else of interest to report.