Hi, it's been far too long since my last blog - I have been very remiss but to be honest, time has been a little tight over the last week or so. A very good friend of John and I is in hospital with a terminal illness so I've spent alot of time there.

Also, John has been vehicularly challenged again! The exhaust fell off the truck and then the head gasket blew on the 4x4 so my poor car has been rolled back into service as a farm vehicle AGAIN! It has nearly done 200 000 miles and has been used to drive around fields and carry all manner of unusual cargo's so it really isn't surprising that it's on it's last legs. I could really do with something new now and a little 4x4 would be very appealing. It's not as though I would just be having it as a status symbol - any vehicle of ours is expected to do some off roading, whether it was designed to or not!

All the stress of the last few weeks were beginning to catch up with me at the weekend and I really needed some time out before I blew my own head gasket! John had left Rocky at home with me whilst I was meant to be doing some book work but I really couldn't settle to it so I decided to take him out for a walk. it's amazing that I have lived with John for over two years but haven't really explored the local footpaths. I guess I've always been too busy with my various projects or the farm to be bothered. Anyway, as John had the car we had to walk from the house so I was forced to go exploring close to home.

I'm very lucky that Rocky is so dependable and well behaved when out walking. I can be totally confident that he won't bother livestock or other walkers and he's a total pleasure to take anywhere. We didn't go far - I hadn't got a map and couldn't face the potential embarrassment of having to call John and admit to being lost right on my own doorstep - I really would never live that down. We ended up walking about 4Km, far enough for me to walk off my blues and to enjoy the lovely weather. We even found a fresh water pool just big enough for Rocky to have a little swim in so he was delighted.

I enjoyed our walk so much that I was determined to make more of a habit of it so when I got home, I jumped on the internet to the Ordnance Survey website http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/ to see what maps were available of the area. Did you know that you can now order custom made maps, centering on the postcode or grid reference of your choice? I thought that this is an excellent service and ordered one straight away. Hopefully now my walks with Rocky can be a little more adventurous!

Unfortunately, I'm house-bound today as I have loads of stuff to catch up on on the computer and Rocky is with John and Moss, on a contracting job cleaning out a shed for a local poultry farmer but Lily, my very petite and fussy Asian cat has decided that my lap is a good place to sleep so I'm not without company! Best get on now, bye....