growing girls

Here are the pups, now about 14/15 weeks old (already stopped counting). Still biting and chewing, making muddy footprints all over and generally getting under everyone's feet. Nevertheless, great fun, very affectionate, and still proving a popular draw with visitors. Eating for England, obviously growing and learning that a sad eyed stare can bring most things that you want right to your nose.... Other photos are the screen on my lovely, and not very old, laptop. It will only start up in safe mode, normal starts bring a variety of screen, all involving many colours, sometimes looking like an inkblot, sometimes straight lines, but no discernable information. I took it to PC World where it started up like a dream (why, why?) and received a bit of advice. As a result I went home and mistakenly took it back to factory settings (oops) thereby losing EVERYTHING! This has not cured the problem. Still only starts in safe mode. THese snaps of the screen are for the next time I can drag up enthusiasm to visit PC World (or hell freezes over). I have bought a new laptop, but it doesn't seem able to load the photos onto the blog (why, why?) and is sssllllooow. AGain, I have no idea why, its a perfectly standard, new machine with normal drives and memory quota. Its like it is being strangled. I have spent some time on the phone to the internet provider but it hasn't improved matters. Once again I feel like a caveman wandering about in a dark and cobweb strewn cave, with no light glimmering through. Hoping for a miracle for both laptops (or my technical know-how - that really would be miraculous).

Back to the salt mine. This week have at least 4 units occupied by the grubbiest, stickiest, dirtiest guests you could ever wish had avoided your establishment. They have all booked again for next season (deepest joy) but I shall be delighted to cancel those holidays and send back the deposit if the units are left in the condition we are anticipating. Dreading Saturday changeover, and have recruited all able bodied men, women and children to be on standby in case extra help needed with those glorious toilets and wet mattresses. Weather being kind (mostly) guests all happy in sunshine, and not long until children return to school, so not all bad!

a long few days

The loss of the stinky little black dog left such a hole in our day to day activities that we have had to fill the gap with two small cocker spaniels! They took a week to find, and several pups were inspected throughout the county. However, yesterday big boy and I made our way to Cambridgeshire (a 2 hour drive) and brought home two sisters. We were lucky and had pick of the litter, 5 girls and 1 boy, and it was very hard turning down all the others. We only went for one, but two of the critters seemed to find their way into our hearts. Seem to be settling in fine, and have had first jabs and health check at vets today. All fine. Been wormed too, so its a tough day for small dogs

The heat is keeping all visitors to salt mines very, very happy, and big boy enjoyed a great 'leaving school forever' camping party in glorious sunshine last Thursday evening. No photos, all went well. Mini Glastonbury once again in field.

Strange photo of arm probably needs some explanation. Baby boy's school house is called Lumley. Today was Sports Day. Lumley prefects drew L on their cheeks with greasepaint, and also wrote 'Lumley' down their arms. It was a hot day. The evidence is clearly burned onto his skin. He thinks its funny....

Yellow horse is standing in the shade of the walnut tree during this hot weather, and saving his energy not moving about too much. The uncomfortable effect of this lack of action is water retention in his external sheath. It must be painful. Its full and warm to touch. After exercise tonight looked much better, so lets hope it cools slightly and he walks about more, or he may need some sort of water reduction treatment. He is very patient about having his bits pulled about I must say!

More puppy pics to follow.