Keep cool and carry on

In the midst of another heatwave big jobs needed doing

so while Roscoe supervised yours truly set about creating a temporary corral to contain Will.I.Am who has developed a tendency to wander over the hills and far away. This only needs to be temporary as the new stable will be finished soon, as soon as the pigs learn to fly. 

So early doors before it got too warm gates were moved carried and dragged and secured into place by baler twine and Will.I.Am was safely separated from the outside world. 

Such success warranted a second breakfast.

By now it was too hot for real work and Benson did his usual 

keep cool carry on trick 

by bothering the fish.

I on the other hand had spotted the weather forcast so prepared for the biblical downpours expected in the next 48 hours. 
 

Happy pup day

We got to meet Baxter today, a surprise birthday present 

so here is a pic of our three youngest, Cleo, Roscoe and Baxter
 

One off the list

Last year for her birthday MBAPSPW got a paddle board 

and today on her 50th she finally got to use it.

Yours truly would have been kayaking but between Peter's house and the beach the paddle decided to fall off the truck.

Naturally the kids took to it like fish riding bikes

so a fun day had in glorious sunshine on a perfect beach. 

Back at the house we dressed for dinner

some looked smarter than others

and after many photos

dinner was served. 
 Happy Birthday 

The final countdown

To mark the final day of MBAOSPW's 40s yours truly persuaded the happy throng of holiday makers to go for a walk up the mountain opposite Peter's house.

On the summit there are several cairns and the remains of an iron age fort.

The sun was setting beautifully 

giving us ample time for memorable pre 50 photos

some of which featured me.

The view was spectacular 

with almost all of the Gower visible from the viewpoint.

So the sun set 

on a very happy family

who were very lucky to be 

in such a fabulous place. 
 

Phew what a scorcher

Its really dry at Rock HQ, our usual springs have stopped springing and so alternative water supply has to be found for the equines. Luckily the house supply, a bore hole has a spare tap fitted to the pump which made 

filling the trough really easy

much to Trevor's appreciation. 

It made a change from the small trickle hes used to.

As its getting much warmer again and no rain predicted for at least 10 days walks have been put back to evenings when its apparently cooler.

The river has long been dry so today we had a walk along the bed

which was a bit spooky, made worse by a herd of mental bovines running up and down the river bank, they could hear us but not see us which added to their annoyance.

These tree roots would normally be under several feet of water

plants were starting to grow where the water flowed

but we finally found some water

which Tasha and Sven made use of.

 

Size matters

One of the issues faced annually is the what to buy MBAOSPW for her birthday, a matter compounded by the fact we are away from home usually at Peter's house and this year made even more difficult as it was the big 50 hence the need to mark it in some way. Unlike yours truly MBAOSPW has an eclectic taste when it comes to presents so Airfix Kits and LP records will not cut the mustard. Something special had to be found. 

For once I came up top trumps finding in a gallery (I'm all over art me) this picture which although is number 52 of 95 copies signed by the artist Kerry Darlington, it is on fact unique as she arranges the birds and animals, bugs and butterflies differently on each picture. Its called Wild Magic and I thought ideal as a present and thankfully MBAOSPW did too.

Now the only thing that remains to be done is to get it home safely. The courier delivered it to Peter's house as requested, yours truly didn't put a lot of thought into what happens after that. 
 

Getting on

It does'nt seem like 5 minutes 

have passed 

since the apprentice was toddling around the Gower holiday home while RRMK2 was not even on the planet (some would say still isn't)

and yet here we are 

on the first bike adventure 

and the apprentice is here with me 

doing the complete 6.5 miles 

making it the longest ride he has done on the road, well what passed for road

and really enjoying himself 

in the process

Made me feel either very old 

or

very proud

depending which bit of the ride we were on .