English lesson

in-ev-i-ta-ble adj

1. Impossible to prevent or avoid.
2. Invariably occurring or appearing;predictable: press the trigger and water will come out of that hose

ex-pe-ri-ence n

2. a) Active participation in events or activities leading to the accumulation of knowledge or skill; I won't do that again!

New perspectives

 One of the many good things about training for the BBMC is that I get to see the great outdoors, our backyard in other words, from many different places. So tonight's yomp across the ridge saw an old gray mare grazing the billiard table like greenery growing on the remains of a WWII observation post from which they used to watch

 the shells exploding (or not) on the bonsai mountain just emerging in the centre of the picture here. The pool is one that either I have not seen before (possible) or one that I have seen before but had forgotten about (probable)

 Rocky took advantage of the fresh supply of drool fuel

 the last drink for miles as we crossed the ridge leaving the Bonsai Mountain in our wake.

 At times the rounded slopes make you wonder why it gets its name of Hergest Ridge. Then again other bits put its title into perspective.

Destination was a pub in this village, the Offa's Dyke path passes its door, but warnings were aplenty, as I started along the trail I met two weather beaten walkers heads down heading home. Pleasantries were exchanged, they had set out for the pub, found it shut, walked back home again. Took them all day. I set out having arranged a lift from pub and if I got there quick I would have a cheeky glass of Vimto while waiting. Getting there in good time despite chatting to the militia about a new foal seen on the ridge his parting shot of you wont be going to the pub that's for sure rang true as it was shut. A sign in the window, closed Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, most of Wednesday, half of Friday and Sunday afternoons. Perhaps the villagers don't want a vimto as much as those walking Offa's Dyke.

Cooling off period

The arrival of perfect weather, and the distinct possibility that it would be the one dry sunny day of the year, proved a massive distraction from the jobs list. After an early doors bike ride, and then some pre sunrise gardening (the sun takes its time to rise over the Bonsai Mountain and shine on Rock HQ) where the alpines and herbs were planted, work then resumed on the MkII Rabbit Container.

Rocky thought it was for him and I took that as a hint to stop and set off on a quick circuit and summit of the Bonsai Mountain to look for our missing Ferny Fern Fern from Ferntown. No sign was found.

Not far from HQ was a plant sale, so we had a brief look to see if there were any Bernese Mountain Dog proof plants. There weren't so we bought a few that we liked and hoped the dogs would leave alone for long enough for us to enjoy looking at them until they were sat on, rolled on, chewed, dug up, carried round and used as a peeing  post.

The temperature rose and pretty soon we all took shelter to cool off.

That's when little t discovered the fun you could have with the garden hose and an inflatable paddling pool with two inches of cold water.

My little helper

Bank holidays are falling into a pattern at Rock HQ. Theres the initial thrill of days spent smallholding, the compilation of a massive jobs list and the hoping the weather plays ball and stops raining long enough to let some of the jobs list done. Then theres the having to get usual jobs done before jobs list can be attempted, so any thought of getting the rabbits out of the kitchen had to wait until the pigs were fed, watered, bedded down, horses same, goats same, sheep chased out of out buildings, shitlands chased out of house and so on. Add to that the temptation to ignore jobs list and be entertained by antics of toddler then it should come as no surprise that not much got done and no amount of wishing got any jobs crossed off the list. Little t chose today to forsake the small slide and took to thrill seeking on the the bigger slide around a million times.

Finally he was distracted and yours truly managed to get some more of the MkII Rabbit Container assembled. Observant ones amongst you will see how long this took by the shadow's. You might also not the complete disregard for right angles, this after trying really hard to get some. The nivce bright shiny yellow saw bought from the cheaper of German supermarkets had a slight flaw. It looked like my amazing super duper yellow JCB saw that is somewhere (in a parallel universe everything is in its place, it is now, but in the parallel universe I would know where that is) and that has a nice right angle creator on the join between saw handle and saw blade. This one I assumed had the same really useful feature until late afternoon when I realised that what I had been using a 90 degree guide for amazingly straight cuts was in fact another interesting angle and nothing like a right angle. Its a tribute to my sawing ability that despite the variance of plus of minus 10 degrees, depending on which way round the wood was, it all fitted.

As ever the trusty Dolyhir Clan waited patiently for walks and eventually their patience bore fruit and we set off around the Bonsai Mountain where we found, or didn't find, Ferny Fern Fern from Ferntown, but her lamb is being looked after by Easter. This is not a good sign as Ferny Fern Fern from Ferntown is an excellent mum and would not leave her offspring. No amount of searching revealed her location.

Just when all was settled for the evening I was reminded that Will.I.Am and Apollo had been misbehaving and took the opportunity while yours truly was lugging straw to the porkers to leg it. They had been grazing quietly in the cauldron but by bedtime had legged it. Thus once again I set off around the Bonsai Mountain and had Apollo not looked absolutely stunning galloping across the skyline with his mane and feathers flowing in the wind I might have been really cross at having to walk the mile and a half to fetch them back.

More news. First sighting of swallows yesterday. First sighting of bracken growing on slopes of Bonsai Mountain today. First heard Cuckoo lunchtime today.

Little things

 Yesterday's "run" around the Bonsai Mountain meant that today was spent walking, aka hobbling, slower than our very ancient beagle, Preston. As spinning was cancelled and the good weather failed to materialise we sheltered from the rain at the garden centre where hope overcame experience and we returned to HQ with Miranda looking like an offroad terrarium stuffed with alpines, tomatoes, peppers, squashes and much more all destined to be trampled under paw by an assortment on non garden type canines.

 Back at the ranch the leg muscles still refused to operate without making the operator yelp so I busied myself with little things like checking the nesting boxes in the aviary, Bengalese finches have hatched but somehow I don't think

 the canaries who have laid in the feed cup will be as successful.

 I also gave little t a master class in arm folding, hes not quite got the hang of it, but he will.

 Sun came out very late PM, not warm enough for a barby but warm and dry enough to

begin the get the rabbits out of the kitchen project or build a rabbit hutch.

Just landed

Rock HQ has a new love interest, Juliet has just landed from the lands of the militia far far away. We are hoping that her presence will persuade Laurel and Hardy from buggering off so often. Mind you having witnessed the effort put into catching her (the advert read tame) where a fat man (not me) ran across the field with a large butterfly net to catch Juliet who on capture made her disquiet known by trying to tear his face off, and when he finally subdued her in a hessian sack handed her over with the reassuring advice "For Gods sake don't let her out you'll never get her back" we now know that both peahen and peahen vendor are as mad as a box of frogs on a tin roof in the midday sun. Juliet is now safe in the goat house along with Hardy while Laurel watches enviously from the outside.

I'm gonna be like you Dad!

The only advantage of working over the hills and far away yesterday in a huge building that had over 2000 people crammed in it beavering away at public works was that at lunch time I managed to cross the three lanes of traffic and visit the city toyshop to spend a voucher given to little t for Christmas by his Grandparents.
Well, I would have had he not thought it a great joke to remove the voucher from the gift card and hide it. So having resolved to buy said bike I handed over the right amount of real money to purchase his first bike.
The really helpful bike salesperson called Steve made me sign a document accepting complete responsibility for bike as I had opted to buy the unassembled version which was a whole two gallons of diesel cheaper.
Once I had signed that all accidents and injury caused by bodging it together would be my fault he flashed a smile and asked if I would like the complimentary toolkit that came with the bike.
By complimentary I checked that he meant free.
Indeed he did.
Looking the gift horse square in the mouth I asked if it was any good.
Without hesitation he said, "No. Its made of cheese"
"Soft cheese?"
"Very. Allen keys, all cheese"
"Spanner?"
 "More Cheese"
Thanking him for his honesty I left my free toolkit to clutter up someone elses kitchen drawers.
Little t woke the the surprise of his new steed and his smile was worth the three hours I spent putting it together.

Echoes of Pink Floyd

 Little t discovered a new talent today.

 Always impressed with technology and buttons the location of the on switch on his Grandma's keyboard prompted a button pushfest and and uncanny ability to create a sound reminiscent of early Pink Floyd.

He also made his first phone call, unbeknown to us, three times calling the owner of Lucky Harry, a Berner from the class of 2010 who is here for his hols. His owners en route to airport thought something bad had happened so were relieved to hear that the voices they heard were little t and not cries for help from their dog.