Too tempting

Yours truly set off on the early doors patrol

and already it was super hot

and the early morning mist was rapidly disappearing.

So hot was it in fact that I decided that its not the dogs that should have all the fun so got into the river and rested my achilles which was screaming at me for having the audacity to use it. 

Mrs Bear got in for a dip.

Evening saw horse jobs, as in horse related jobs not horse jobs as in horse fertilizer. 

Kept me occupied until sunset. 
 

Looks like rain Dear

A really long hot dry spell looked like it was about to end.

 We had the clouds, the wind, the thunder and lightening..... but none of the wet stuff. 

A slight diversion

This was the breakfast bar before yours truly laid it bare. 

The boys wanted to got to the Nerd shop so we filled a few minutes seeing the Gurkha memorial 

and ruined church before mixing it with the Nerds at the games shop. Both spent money they didn't have on things they really wanted that they had no idea existed until walking into the shop.

The journey home was broken by a visit to some lovely people who have a lovely big dog.

Nick and Wanda are the proud owners of Marshall who didn't disgrace himself like our dogs would have by eating the afternoon tea.

Fed and watered we bade farewell. after a number of 

pictures with our hosts and set off

back to the ranch where weekend breaks end up the way they always do, catching up on jobs!

I might have to give running a rest for a while and return to lots more cycling, this pic 7 years ago halfway through a non stop 500 mile bike ride. Kind of killed the appeal really, I shall have to re read Andy in Germany's blog and get some cycling Mojo. 
 

With total lack of foresight yours truly had entered the Folkestone 5km totally forgetting that A) it was the morning after a late night B) there was an all you can eat breakfast buffet. So ignoring all advice I gave the breakfast buffet a miss and set out 

with my fan club

to run the set 5km which was bound to be a flat one as it was along the sea front. This turned out to be a totally wrong assumption and a combination of heat and sore Achilles tendon meant a slower than usual run. 

Soon after we were watching number one grandson playing football, a strange game with an oddly shaped ball. 

More fun on the playground

before hitting the beach

posing for pictures

getting changed

and swimming in the ice cold channel.

The sub was relentless

and we did the typical Brit thing and toasted.

More family pics

and food at the chip shop

but by early evening the Achilles was really really unhappy so ice pack and rest was prescribed.
 No running tomorrow then... look out breakfast buffet!

Party on!

He who can't be named has now served Queen/King and country for 15 years and for the last 2 has been in command of a company of Gurkhas

which is why we headed 250 miles south 

to meet up with him and his Gurkha family to celebrate Imphal Battle Honour Day and his leaving them to move to a new command.

His young brothers polished up nearly as well as he did

and we had the honour of being at the top table 

He who can't be named gave a thank you speech in Nepalese 

before we all tucked in to a brilliant Nepalese banquet 

The cake was cut

Grandchildren were entertained 

He is so talented, also plays the guitar.

Granddaughter was entertained 

Danced with 

more food

and a comedy dance act.
 A great evening and a real honour to be there. 

Old girls

Mrs Bear is now 13 years old and very much making the most of her retirement from the role of lead action Berner.

Holly is 10 and seems to have rallied from her "stroke" or whatever it was. She is still totally bats but very lovable. 
 

Free to good home

Quite often we have waifs and strays turn up at HQ, and always a sucker for free to good home this bike arrived the other day.

Looks like I can keep it.