UXG MLS

This is Alana our only non exploded goat

 trapped in a sunbeam by a severe case MLS

or Melted Leg Syndrome. Its only temporary, by nightfall she will be up marauding the smallholding as usual.

Rush hour

Paid work sent me to the farthest reach of the Red Kite empire today and as luck would have it the Local Authority decided to spend its entire road rebuilding budget along the main A road I had to travel. Not only that they decided to shut the only main road across the mountain, close it at the only A road junction between the mountain and valley and then put four separate traffic light controlled road works along the only arterial route left. The journey took an hour longer than it should and the thought of the return leg in rush hour traffic was far from appealing. A bit of local knowledge came into play and while it meant traversing roads only just wide enough for Gerry, the views were spectacular and I had the 18 mile route all to myself.

I also remembered that along this long and lonely road was a massive standing stone and having always intended to return one day with a camera so today was that day.

The last time I was at Maen Llia this informative perspex effigy wasn't but for once it was in keeping with the area and told those that didn't know that the standing stone just across the way was around 4000 years old and its reason for being has been lost in time.

But it is still massively impressive, dominating the barren landscape and visible from the end of the valley silhouetted against the skyline.

Its festooned with lichens and evidently sheep like to walk around it admiring man's achievements.

Apparently Maen Llia wakes up on Midsummers eve (not long now) and walks down the slope for a refreshing drink from the mountain stream just out of sight.

It might not, but its shadow does reach all the way to the stream.

So after several minutes pondering our ancestors talent for moving large slabs of rock I boarded Gerry and we headed back to a different civilisation. 

Happy Fathers Day

 Early doors saw the apprentice keeping a close eye on yours truly while my beautiful and oh so patient wife laboured away in the kitchen making the breakfast of choice, the full English. the cause of this lavish attention was Fathers Day.

 I am lucky enough to have my hands full with the apprentice and rug rat MkII while he who cannot be named serves his Queen and country and our only girl works in front line social work in the second city. So I am a lucky Dad. I compensated mine for having me by sending a bottle of a brilliant single malt.

The two younger ones dragged me kicking and screaming back to the chicken restaurant where I had chicken with no spiders as a treat.

Happy Fathers Day everyone who is one.

Do you want fries with that?

It being Father's Day tomorrow and my birthday a long while back I was taken out for a treat by our lovely daughter. First off was a trip to the cinema which has changed a bit, the old flea pit has been replaced by a 8 screen 3D experience with a bar, cafe, pick and mix icecream hot dog stand and a sound system that rivals Concords afterburners in volume, all built on the site of the old cattle market where you could go and tickle calf and pigs noses for free, ah well progress eh?.
 The film of choice was a Tom Cruise offering, a sort of remake of Groundhog Day meets Saving Private Ryan meets Aliens meets Officer and a Gentleman. The cinema was practically empty so why two elderly folk chose to sit behind me just as the film started and discuss the merits of world cup M and M's while taking forever to open the packet was a mystery.
Film over we went for something to eat. Something exotic in the several new restaurants built where you used to be able to watch farming types chase escaping poultry.
The picture above is real, an actual meal, or rather a tasty starter, deep fried Tarantula, Chilli Dip and salad. personally I think they overdid the cucumber but thats just me being picky. It tasted better than it looked (how could it not) the legs were a tad crunchy while the yellow puss like juice of the rear end was a bit eggy.
Thankfully this was not my starter, but it was eaten by a friend of mine who is currently in Cambodia, he is really embedding with the locals and avoiding the Golden M. I sent him a reply that there are nicer things available on the menu like broken glass and six inch nails.
Me, back in Blighty, I went for Chicken and Chips.
 I know what I like.

Happy days

Snoopy is settling in well at Rock HQ and seems to have fallen for Apollo.

Work horse

Doing visits is the most enjoyable part of my job, mostly because the people I visit are so lovely and for the most part happy to see me which is an unusual experience for social worker. I get to meet fascinating characters engaged in the most extraordinary pastimes, like tonight I met a man who is building cars. The unique thing about these cars is that they are hydrogen powered. What i don't know about British Hydrogen Car manufacture, the infrastructure, the costs and benefits involved just isn't worth knowing.

Its not uncommon on visits to be given things, the compulsory cuppa, obligatory cake, sometimes a meal, home grown veg, old bikes, music, books,  in fact its a pretty long list.

Today was a bit exceptional as today on my visit I was given a pony. One of our foster carers found herself left a pony and after the beast escaped several times and wandered off into town to see the sights and sounds of a valleys market, she decided that the pony had to go somewhere with more company and fences.

So armed with a horse box and with Gerry as the workhorse I made the 130 mile trip over two mountains, in one case right over the top of one (see pics above and x marks the way down and way ahead over the hills and far away) I collected Snoopy  in the course of my daily visits. Despite all the difficulties of negotiating a horse box and 4x4 along the tightly packed terraced streets of the mining town where she lived, the lack of turning space in the driveway, builders vehicles blocking my exit, and navigating the precipitous slopes of the Rhicos Mountain (spelling check) Gerry performed faultlessly and Snoopy boarded her carraige without running off to wreak havoc amongst the mobile phone accessory stalls.

Back at the ranch Gerry was then made to traverse half of the Bonsai Mountain in search of Apollo the wonder foal who having heard a new arrival was due blotted his copy book by legging it.

The naughty boy was soon captured and my beautiful and oh so patient wife rode him back to meet his new friend.

Little t welcomed them back and

had a quick two up ride around the yard.

Introductions went well and Snoopy and Apollo are now best buddies and Snoopy looks like she likes her new home.

Meanwhile the ever patient Gerry returned the horsebox back to its very trusting owner who rewarded our efforts with a cuppa. Gerry's working day was far from over, we then headed off for the bright lights of the city to do more visits, but this time we returned without anything live.

All better now

This isn't the dirt track to our bit of the world, its the not so main road that leads to the gateway in the Oracle's yard. For many months yours truly has risked his everso expensive wheels on the racing steed, running the gauntlet of potholes that pepper the tarmac. The nice men from the council have now fixed it. Doesn't it look fixed.

Gathering of the Clan 2014

 With some 271 photos of our own and several dozen more to go through its going to be some time before a definitive set of show pics will be published. The 3rd Annual Dolyhir Bernese Mountain Dog Treasure Hunt was well attended by clan members from near and far.

 The furthest travelled were the Northern Contingent from County Durham, but we had Denzil from Derbyshire way pop along, Bo Jangles from Cardiff way, in fact all points of the compass were covered.

 Some clan were missing, weddings, operations, exams, forgetfulness and owners illness meant some couldn't be with us and poor Fizz broke down on the way and had to be towed home.

 Of the 25 Bernese present, 22 were Dolyhir Berners, one was a brother to Reuben so affiliated and another was an ex girlfriend of Rocky. Two Great Swiss were also joining in the fun along with a Great Dane, a Vischler  not spelt right, a French bull dog, a Golden Retriever and a Jack Russell.

 Best in show was Buddy, son of Rocky, a fitting award to the furthest travelled Berner!