All aboard!

Like the previous blog predicted, the high wind has brought the phone line down for the 9th time in 8 years, so we wait for Mr BT to come and find us. Shouldn't take long, around three weeks based on the average. Yesterday I called in on our friends the microholders still living the dream in the suburbs, where I had a lovely goats milk cappuccino. Here I got to see their goat train. Amazing what listening to Marillion can do for goats!

Big Jobs

 The winds blowing in the wrong direction so precious little time to explain whats going on at Red Kite Fostering before the internet connection evaporates. But as can be seen its a big job, so big in fact that it's work in progress and the cavalry had to be called given the complex jigsaw of glass and frames that have arrived en masse.

 As a trial run the first bay looks pretty good from the inside, its not quite finished but weather proof, just as well in light of the forecast.

Looking good so far.

Bullseye

This is our new horse, a big black French type who is proving more popular with the adults at Rock HQ on account of his lack of droppings and need for expensive food. The apprentice who rides real equines won't go near him but rug rat MkII seems to tolerate being sat astride him (Bullseye not the apprentice) providing he doesn't move.

Walking with Berners

 A warm glow on the horizon early doors, thankfully not a bushfire (Kathy and Simon are still fire fighting in Oz) as the sun rises. A very fresh frosty start to the day

 at Fiveways Crossing looking towards England, the frost clearly visable.

 Reba rushing back from a recce

 as we clear sheep skull lane and look towards Gladestry.

 Bliss finding some fox poo

 a favourite smell. To be frank its not my favourite smell but try and keep them off it. More luck herding cats.

Reba back on point as we head for home facing Old Radnor, snow on them there hills.

Different worlds

Early doors, before sunrise, the weather was grim (it got worse later) with rain (the type that really wants to be hail) in horizontal slabs and a razor sharp wind that fought to gain entry to any opening in waterproofs. As yours truly fought valiantly against the elements on a muddy circuit of the Bonsai Mountain with an assortment of Berners from the Dirty Dozen (some of which would really have preferred to have stayed next to the rayburn rather than dual with the small gods of weather) I could not help but compare where I was and doing with our friends down under, Kathy and Simon, who were, as I was, battling with the consequences of weather. save theirs is a very different battle to mine and one which is literally one of life and death.
Kathy used to run a blog, its linked in the margin, and they live in a parallel universe in the outback. The blog is not so regular due to Kathy deciding to study to be a V E T. She is also a firefighter, as is husband Simon who is also an IT whizz and once saved this TFTR blog from disappearing and created the top banner. Nice people. So spare a thought as they are locked into a fight to save all they own from a bush fire that has been creeping up on their ranch the last 48 hours and last contact we had they had lost the majority of their land to fire and were trying to save their last paddock with their animals. Neighbours have lost homes, no human deaths but plenty of property, wildlife and stock. An aircraft seems to have saved them last night but the hot wind, the extra dry weather, the relentless sunshine (all very different to Wales) is not helping.
So as I trudged through the deluge this morning I was at least thankful that the weather problems we have are small potatoes in comparison to our friends down under.
Good luck you two.

Looking good

Normally this time of year there is a post looking back over the year with a few pics of the adventures, mishaps, additions, departures, friendships and fun times had at Rock HQ. Things have changed somewhat in that IT issues like the sun shining in the wrong direction or leaves on the telephone line line mean that internet access is, to say the least, unpredictable, and time spent trawling the archives would be wasted as the connection fails, and is in any case is time better spent extracting toddlers from animal pens, doing Thomas the Tank Engine puzzles, repairing Thomas the Tank Engine railways and entertaining toddlers in any manner of ways providing it involves a little blue tank engine and his associates. Attempts to wean him off this obsession and focus on things like Scalextric are working but progress is slow.  
So instead of looking back we are, for once, looking forward to events of 2015. Work has paid off with the construction of the Swiss Style Kennel Block meaning we can leave the ranch without fear of returning to an unholy mess created by bored Berners, and thanks to persuading a good friend who views time here as a holiday we have a couple of adventures planned. I have a huge man test set for 1-3 June, details soon, and a return to mountaineering is on the cards following the succesful traverse of Crib Goch late last year which boosted the confidence that I still possess the minerals and ability to take on such challenges after my lame fall of 2007 that had such an impact on everything I do.
Red Kite is doing better than I ever hoped in such a short time, plans for 2015 are massive  and given the team we have, no doubt will be successful.
The animals, who for a time looked like they were taking over the asylum, have been brought to order thanks yours truly knowing more about whats what, our project to fence everything, fit gates, build higher fences, and put locks on gates. New buildings are up, or planned, and decreased numbers, or rather decrease of species has meant that there is a spare stable (despite the new horse, Bullseye) that has a motley collection of gym kit and an ever expanding number of bikes (N+1 being the ideal)
And then there are the feed suppliers we have found (again through experience) who not only deliver for free, but on the day we want it, and also at vastly discounted prices (you would be amazed the deal you can get if you buy dog food by the ton) which has meant feeding the 5000 has not quite bankrupted us (lets not mention the vets bills)
University is looking good, providing I do the work, and I seem to have found not only a good topic to research but a top supervisor who is a bit like a cross between Jo Brand and my first social work manager, in other words, brilliant. 2015 should see me cross another hurdle towards being a Dr.
Providing I do the work.
The apprentice and rug rat MkII are bound to provide endless joy (mostly train related), and thanks to my beautiful and oh so patient wife I can carry on feeling like I am in charge while someone else steers Rock HQ through any difficulties I create with consummate ease.
Mid point of 2015 I enter a new stage of manhood, Grandfather. Not sure where that fits in the seven stages of man but its going to be exciting, not least of which settling on what to be called.
So a big thank you to all who made 2014 possible. Those who helped with the demolition, the building, endless fencing, childcare, loading, unloading, pig clubbers, horse botherers (and yes I will dress like a wedding singer to show off our magnificent Pronto) those following me on my bike during an epic 167 mile ride, the medics who repaired me following the epic 167 mile ride, the bike builder who built me a bike so I can ride 167 miles without crippling myself (lets see!), all those who went to Scotland, The Northern Contingent, all friends, family and  those who bother to put up with me, you made 2014 great.
With your help good times are ahead and 2015 is going to be amazing.

On the mend....sort of

Things are getting back to normal at HQ. Not quite so much snot, coughing and sore throats. Lots of time spent going aaarrrhhh at new puppy. And because we need another like a hole in the head I bought a new horse today, a massive big French one. Absolute bargain and came with all the horsey bondage gear necessary like saddle and bridle. The owner was keen to sell and yours truly has never been able to resist a bargain, or look a gift horse in the mouth, instantly handed over the required number of beer tokens necessary to transfer ownership and have the beast transported to HQ. Thankfully, despite being the biggest horse of the breed and looking very fierce (he has a mean stare) he is actually very amenable, let me brush the tangles out of his mane and tail and then much to my beautiful and oh so patient wife's surprise, let me ride him. Lil t wants to call him Chester, but we are settling on Bullseye. Pics to follow.

CD+3 Plague House

CD+3 a glorious day. Crystal clear skies, fresh air, sunshine, what more do you need to motivate you to get out into the great outdoors and rip around on your new racing steed, play chase with the Dolyhir Berners or push the apprentice down the hill in his new go kart. Good health for one. All bipeds were confined to barracks feeling sorry for themselves. I did muster enough energy to paint a big cross on the door to warn off visitors.