I have recovered from last weeks trauma, although an official looking brown envelope arrived during the week post marked Team Valley Post Office and I thought it might have been a bill from the P.O. I was too scared to open it incase it was a bill for the 7 fire engines etc so had to wait for Ian to come home. It was, of course, junk mail. I shall ensure that my £2.99 packs of bath bomb mix are packed and double packed from now on.
It has been a week of firsts.
Aunt Hill & Uncle Ian are staying at Bardon Mill which is just the other side of Haltwhistle. On Sunday we went to the start of Hadrians Wall on the west side, which entailed a trip to Port Carlisle where we haven’t been before – very different landscape to what we have been used to.
AH & UI went to Hadrians Wall on Monday for the first time, and enjoyed a seasonal hail storm whilst admiring the views! AH & UI’s car beeped to tell warn them of black ice – which was a first for mid May and reassured them that it was actually quite cold (although it has got warmer as the week has gone on). We stood under a waterfall later in the week (at Ashgill) which was a first for AH & UI, and went horse riding yesterday which is a first for me and explains why I am typing this stood up! Ian was supposed to be joining us – indeed it was him who put the idea into my head as he has been inspired by the horses in the stable. I was rather more inspired by a very small shetland pony. We were on a two hour ride, and it actually lasted two and a half hours. Normally I would be appreciative of an extra 25% – however here I could just show my appreciation by collapsing onto the ground when we got back. My horse, Merlin, was a grass eater and kept stopping for a nibble. This was fine but where I was holding onto him so tight I kept almost going over his head! We all enjoyed it though (I think…!). This was part of the preperation for AH & UI’s trip to America later this year when they are going to spend some time riding at a Dude Ranch.
But the most exciting first was our first trip to the other supermarket in Haltwhistle. One we did not know was there – even after two years! Hilary and Ian had taken a little mosey around Haltwhislte and had parked in the ‘big free carpark by the supermarket’ which I thought was a strange way of describing the small carpark by the co-op in the town. However on closer examination – they had infact found a whole new supermarket. Still a co-op, but a fair size and still within the town but with a large carpark. Ian and I went in that night to have a look. What a treat! Amazing that we had managed to miss this for two years.
Our last first was that we have seen an owl from the barn for the first time this year – well Ian saw it, I didn’t but I know they are there because of the owl pellets. He saw it at around 10 at night when it was getting dark, so we’ll keep our eyes open now.
We enjoyed our week and hope that Ian and Hilary enjoyed their stay up north. Next time we see them it could be Italy, Spain…….
I don’t know what Bob was playing at – but he is truly in the dog house. The constant barking from about 12.00 onwards was bad enough – but it got worse when it was intersperced with a howl or two. But at about 4.00 there was a lot of howling and welping noises and we ran down stairs and he had managed to get his mouth stuck in the bars of their night cage. He was trying to open the door with his mouth and had opened it too wide I guess and then couldn’t get it over the bars and his teeth sort of locked over a set of bars – so when Ian went down to find out what the noise was – Bob was there looking quite scary. he was freed, and the excitment sent the pups into a sound sleep – and we were wide awake. Anyway surfice it to say I have let him in today to keep an eye on him, and he seems fine. Although a little sleepy. Seeing that we had no more than a couple of hours sleep because of his antics we too are a little sleepy and I have been tempted to howl once or twice when he is sleeping to see how he likes it.
I don’t think we are going to get ducklings from the duck who had been brooding downstairs. She appears to have given up so we’ll remove them when we are sure they are not going to hatch. We have a broody hen too, but they are inclined to give up after a couple of weeks. We don’t really want any more little chicks now if we are going to be moving at some point.
No more news on the house front. We’ve got the respective agents to chase up the people who have been talking about offers.
My burnoose is almost finished and next week is the deadline for my felty things to be handed in.
I’ve got a place at a craft fare in June with my jewellery, so the timing is really good insomuch as I can finish my felt and then get back with the jewellery again.