Hippos, girls with PMT & old cat (not me incidentally!)

Arrangements begin for summer camping parties! Big boy starting the ball rolling next weekend. The logs for the fire pit are cut but not stacked.

Old, old cat woken from sleep for photo opportunity. As is quite obvious from the look on her face she did not welcome the chance to feature in the blog again. Now returned to peaceful sleep amongst the detritus that is this house.

Two girls this afternoon. They have both come into their first season together, and are coping
with it slightly differently. The liver coloured girl is depressed, seems uncomfortable and lacks any cheer today. The black girl seems to be less affected and still manages a cheery face. The liver girl is going to visit a cocker dog in about 10 days for pure-bred puppies, and the black girl is going to visit a miniature poodle if I can find one in time. All being well, with a following wind, fingers crossed etc etc . Not wishing to count chickens, but touching wood that this all goes to plan... and speaking of chickens:

Oops. Wrong photo! This might look like and hippo, but is in fact the yellow boy, this afternoon, after some gentle, warm rain on his back. He has obviously rolled enthusiastically in his own wallow, and I shall have to wait for him to dry to brush all this muddy crap off him! He thinks he's in heaven.

Both sons doing sponsored charity 30 mile bike ride today from Lincoln to Boston. Sore bottoms (or worse) tonight no doubt. They are 1/3 of a group of 6 teenagers courageously pushing their pedals, which they also did last year, hoping to raise about £200. Have just had a call to say they have made it, and are sitting in the pub waiting to be collected. They sound quite tipsy.