December 4th 2009:
It's been wet here! Filthy wet. Our training fields are saturated so we've resorted to working the dogs on the hill to try to avoid turning our training fields into a mud bath. The dogs sure are enjoying that, and they don't seem to mind the mud either. Of course the walk up and down the hill keeps us warm.

The rain has not twarted our efforts to prune the garden or start restoring the pond in the main garden. The pond is going to be a huge project! First task is to cut back the bamboo which has taken over almost the entire pond. So far we have been cutting it back little by little but today the brushcutter is going to be set loose on it. The pond is so low at the moment that we can walk almost into the middle of it. We are not short of water for the pond but the silt and debris that has come off the hill with the heavy rains of late have clogged the pond so what water is coming in is also going out. How we are to dredge the pond is an unanswered question right now!

We managed to get our heating working in the cottage. Yippee. It is toasty warm. Oh what a luxury to have warm, dry boots and boot liners to put on. We also managed to get high speed internet working in the cottage too- finally! Progress. Heat and the internet, what more can one want?

Our three sheep that were sent to Will Watkins' place for breeding are now back home. They don't look too thrilled to see the dogs again but they can relax. They won't form part of the training group till after the lambs have been weaned. All the other ewes have been put on notice: if they want to be snotty to the dogs, they, too, will have a lamb!

I have finally started running more consistently again, and this time I'm hell bent on getting some semblance of fitness. Since I have volunteered to set out sheep for 10 days in May next year (yes, I can hear a few groans), I am determined to be a bit fitter than I was this year. Ten days on the hill in the mud trying to hold stroppy ewes at the set out post is quite physically gruelling, let alone running a few dogs in the trials! The last 3 days were quite a struggle so perhaps with a bit more fitness and some strength training, I might be more well equipped for the job.

Last weekend we went over to Mike and Nora's for dinner. Roast lamb! OMG, it was mouth watering. Nora cooks the best lamb in the whole world! Mike spoiled Bailey rotten once again by giving her Welsh cakes. Speaking of Welsh cakes, Kelvin's kids made Welsh cakes at school today to surprise their parents who were visiting in the afternoon. He survived the experience!

The South Wales Nursery Final is tomorrow. Unfortunately we won't be able to go to it but we should get some results on the site by the end of the day. Kinloch Kenny is running on the Carmarthenshire team. We will cross our fingers and hope the sheep gods are kind to him. My pick: Kevin Evans' Roy.

Well, that's it.