Cookie and Cracker

Chilling with doglets Cookie and Cracker

Friday we got to Cookie and Cracker in time to take them out for their walk, which only seemed fair as we are so local and Kirsty who we were replacing had to drive up to Edinburgh. We were thrilled with our uproarious welcome, I’m sure they are the same with everyone but it still makes us feel special. It is interesting to note that they trotted off quite happily on their walk with us without a backward glance, and yet if one of us is slow down the drive, or pops back to put the bin out they don’t want to go till we are all present and correct.

Cute and cuddly and, when they're in, clean and dry ...

As last Christmas it was very wet, and muddy, and they have such short legs that even walking in the grass verge can mean trouble, so we might as well just accept that they will need a bath and take them for some madness in the woods. They have such fun, and look so cute trotting along with their little tails waving, and they don’t even mind too much being bathed and dried. Once back home and bathed and dried (or even not quite dried) all they want is to snuggle. One lap and two dogs can be tricky so persuading them that one each is a good thing is a definite plus.

But when we're out they get very muddy! Knowing they are going to have a bath when we get back, we just go out and let them have fun

They quickly settled back into the old routine, out for morning wees and straight onto the bed, probably before Brian has got back with the coffee. Sleep. Mill about while we have breakfast. Walkies. Bath. Breakfast. Sleep, most of the day till 17.00 ish when it’s treat time, unless we go out without them when they sit by the door till we get back when they greet us like they haven’t seen anyone for a week. Both on the sofa for crossword, before we have our dinner. Move into the lounge when all four of us cuddle onto the sofa for a movie. Bedtime wee before sleeping outside our room. Repeat.

Anywhere and everywhere

We did take them out in the car on NYE, perhaps it’s just us, but we take them out for a quick walk, before putting them in the car to go out for a walk. That way we can have waste out and food in! Anyway, we got in the car in the dry, but by the time we arrived in Evesham it was raining. The plan was to walk alongside the river, on non muddy paths (here's a little Relive video with photos of our walk in the rain: click here. Well, sort of, the river had come over the path, in both directions and it was pouring down the whole time we were out, though it had stopped by the time we got back to the house! We had a lovely chilled evening, lots of yummy things in our own little tapas selection (if you want to be posh, or finger buffet if you want to be retro!) and no noisy fireworks outside, so chilled dogs too.

Oh dear Cookie, that'll be a bath when we get back then!

New Year’s Day was actually dry, so after walking C&C we drove to Helen and Ian in time to walk Monty Dog. Brunch was a late affair, not till 13.00 but dry for the first BBQ of the year and well worth waiting for. Even those that hadn’t stayed over came back for brunch (except Reuben) so we caught up with everyone which was lovely. This all sounds very sedate really, but we have been busy, Brian is in full scale plan mode for a trip to India at the end of the month, to make the most of the cooler ‘winter’.

But they don't seem to mind it

Donna and Keith were back on the 3rd so we had a good chance to catch up with them which was great. We did postpone our planned lunch to next week though as Keith could barely keep his eyes open. We came back via Evesham Country Park where we had lunch and a mooch at the shops. It feels like we haven’t stopped since then. Out with the Sunday Club boys on Wednesday (I know!). Thursday I went to have my blood pressure and pulse rate taken, they are fine, before going in to Redditch for our annual eye tests. Over to Jason, the FA in the afternoon as I still have the proceeds from the house sale in my account which is slightly scary. Friday then back to Redditch into Santander to make the first transfer which will be an ongoing process as only a certain amount can be transferred per day. Fortunately now it’s set up I can do it over the telephone. We were then going to pop into Birmingham to visit the dance shop for new dance shoes only to find it had closed in September. Next nearest shop? Worcester. Might as well go while we are on a roll, so we both have new shoes, and in theory are going dancing on Sunday. Today has been all the phone calls we’d planned to do yesterday, including to Marj as I’d managed to get Fred Olsen to identify the couple that Marj wanted to contact to tell them about Don. We had a nice little chat, and she still ‘doesn’t know where we appeared from or how she would have managed without us’. Tonight we are going to Alex and Rob, tomorrow we must pop in on John, and Brian has found a local dance. Monday the nurse about inoculations for India, Tuesday lunch with Donna and Keith, Thursday walking with John and Brian, Friday walking with Denise and Paul. Saturday to Fiona for a week, Sunday Bury St Edmunds for the day, Tuesday lunch with Terry and Sue….. Talk about all go!

And then they're all cute and cuddly again

New  Years eve walk in Evesham, the River Avon was very full, cutting the path off ahead and about 1km back the other way making out walk only 2km long. Bit pointless paying for 4 hours parking expecting to be out much longer!

But we got back, got the clean and the Cracker just chilled out!

New Years Day at Ian and Helens and here's Ian, in true tradition, cooking breakfast/brunch on the BBQ in shorts and T shirt

And what a brunch it was. Here's Corinne, over from Australia for a few months with Mike, Ian, Helen, Manu, Emily and Sue

Jackie  and Ella

Brian with his old climbing mate Phil with Neil, Crystal, Sue, Emily and Manu

She didn't mention that I've finally got back into running after the excesses of the cruise. Two outings of 5km from the house along the local canal so far. Here's my first early morning run with the moon still out, how pleasant is this?

I go as far as the Shortwood tunnel, turn around and run back to the house, just over 5km, to find her still reading in bed!