Struggling to decide what to get your loved one for the impending social obligation gift giving season?

Don't panic! Simply buy them a knife & some twine; it'll keep them happy for hours as they potter about the garden building perchs and a run for the hens you'll be getting them for Valentines.

There is a mouse living in the lounge wall.

I can hear it chewing away and generally causing mischief.

Anyone got a very small/ flexible ratter I can borrow?

I don't intend on moving from here for a while.

optimist: the cup is half full

pessimist: the cup is half empty

county show: the cup is for the supreme champion cow

I'd not even clocked that it was StirUpSunday already!! I think I'm a month behind.

I'm afraid I used to very loudly tell Reggie (German Shepherd) to "stay away from that nasty little rat, you don't know where its been" or "don't even think about it sweetie you only eat organic meat" when the ALFs would hit the park with no regard for personal space.
They learnt to avoid me.

If our aga worked I'd most definitely be cuddled up against it on some of the colder mornings!

No one has mentioned asking to see my long underwear, so I guess that habit might have disappeared! (I'm sure I remember hearing about being wrapped in greaseproof paper).

Thank goodness you checked! I hope the heating can be fixed easily so no damage occurs.

And yet this afternoon it was 13°C outside and 10°C inside.

Learning the Cumbria weather and the joys of an old house is quite the fun experience.

Looks like Saturday is going to be a hunker down and cuddle up by the fire kind of day

*adds marshmallows to the shopping list*

-4°C outside
12°C inside

It may be time to dig out the thick socks!

Two big bags of firewood cut up from what we've removed stripping back the horrendous bodgery left by the previous owner.

Will keep us warm, at least with snow expected next week.

I thought I had replied, but I can't see it, so... 🤦🏻‍♀️

I think next week I'll start asking around locally, and hopefully, we'll hear about a suitable pup. The farmers network here considers everyone within 3 miles a close next door neighbour!

I can understand why as they must get so many people want but not understand they're getting a working dog that needs to be suitably kept busy mentally and physically. Does push us towards getting from a breeder rather than rescue, though, which isn't ideal.

Unfortunately they only want experienced collie owners which narrows the playing field somewhat.

Starting the day looking at local rescues for a baby sister for Reggie is a wonderful thing to accompany a mug of tea in bed.

I have so far managed to avoid seeing the adds and hope I am able too for a long time yet.

Say March.

Oooh this seems perfect for my somewhat limited brain capacity today.

So... how do we use this thing?

What's up BlueSky!

Still trying to find my chums on this shiny new site, so here's a photo of Truama Ted to add a bit of festive cheer to my otherwise empty profile.