no photos, just news!

Big boy has put in terrible hours at the spit and sawdust pub where he has been working. Not coming home until 5am on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, and a 15 person fight took place on the premises on New Years Eve. As a result we have encouraged him to look for some casual work elsewhere. Therefore, tonight he is going to resign, (thank goodness) and the nerve -racking drive on icy roads in deepest darkness will cease. As luck would have it a friend with a factory has telephoned this morning to ask if big boy would have time to come in and give them a hand from today as they are experiencing something of a rush in demand for their product, so, off has gone the boy to work respectable hours, in a safe environment, for a reputable employer. That makes a change! And what a relief. Hooray. His UCAS form has been submitted once again, and he is hoping for interviews at two prestigious Agricultural Colleges. Fingers crossed. His application is for deferred entry as during 2010 to 2011 he is hoping to secure a place to study a HNC in Fish Farming in Scotland! (Its only a one year course, and he can expect to gain employment at the end of the course in the fish farming industry if he wishes to leave education). He has had the interview and continues to wait for the decision letter. Fingers crossed again. We will be running out of crossed fingers. There is a chance that my eldest will be studying in Dumfries, Scotland, my youngest at St Andrews, Scotland and my nephew doing a Masters at Edinburgh, Scotland, all starting September 2010. The road north will be busy if it all comes together!

The snow fell again last night and this morning, not quite so much as over Christmas, but fair plenty to make the journey to work exciting this morning. As I was towing a trailer it was an extra challenge, and I almost had a refusal at the hump back bridge on my route. Much chuffing and cursing ensued, and the car responded by labouring over the brow of the bridge at a speed of one mile per hour. We wiggled and slid another couple of miles until the main road was reached, and I was very pleased indeed to unhitch the trailer at work and abandon it.

The New Year has brought the youngest a very pretty girlfriend, which is now distracting him from his homework accordingly. Oh to be young again......

Forgotten what it might be like to ride my horse, as snow, ice and mud prevent any outings whatsoever. Did drag him forth last week and lunged him briefly, to see if he could remember who was in charge. As luck would have it, following a brief and not very enthusiastic difference of opinion, he remember that I am the one who makes the decisions, and settled down to work nicely. However, he is full of vim and vigour, and it will be a challenge re-mounting him when the weather improves. Thinking of looking for a volunteer perhaps.

Small spaniel bitches are now in their first season, so locked away most of the time to keep marauding dog rapists away. I think this period of purdah will last about 3 weeks, and they look very puzzled by the changes both to their own physique, and their routine. However, a full set of mongrel puppies are not on our New Year wish list, so extra care exercised at all times.

Painter and decorator has started at salt mines for 5 largest properties (marvellous, less for us to do), and plumber starting in next couple weeks to fit two new showers as additions to properties. All exciting stuff. Meanwhile, I continuing to wash mountains of duvets ready for Easter. ABsolutely mountains of them. One at a time. Its a warm environment so I'm not complaining.