Mud and Ice

No decent spring walk would not have significant levels of either mud or ice or in the case today - both.

Not a particularly inspiring photo but one that would make a happy Willow wuff 

Her ball, mud, puddles and shards of ice.

The last few days definitely dipped back towards a last wintery flurry and yesterday we had snow and hail on and off through out the day. However, like the most of the uk - today is utterly glorious (if a little fresh still). 

We, Willow and I, set off after a short stint of lead training - can see this will probably be a long term lesson as the pulling has not decreased in any way. I have been offered loads of (not necessarily good) advice including different types of leads and harnesses, but I will persist - she is a collie, they do charge on ahead, they do think for themselves and think for you too, so this is more a battle of wills rather than just obedience training. We'll get there (eventually!)

There is a whole different life in the village during working hours which I knew existed but never was really involved with - until now.

 A sense of purpose and busy-ness by the volunteer gardening force, a cheery chattery-ness of the dog walker (mostly women with the very occasional man - they seem to do the dog routes on the weekends).

Delivery men and posties marching from house to house, the screaming kids from the primary school playground during recess, the surprisingly quiet traffic passing through and the general chatter as neighbours get on with their lives and pass pleasantries over hedges and fences.

 Admittedly today's weather certainly helped buoy the joie de vivre mood. 

I am - still to a certain respect - known as an off-cumdun (which means new comer) in the village, however it has evolved over the years. We were from out of the village when we first arrived and with me being 'foreign' - we did stick out a little. Now we've been living here some time and since leaving work, once again I am the 'new person' puttering around the village and having a red and white collie makes us stand out a little haha.

I wish the washing machine would get on - it is taking ages to chew through the washing today, I want to get the bedding out on the line whilst it is sunny and fresh - the smell of line dried sheets is sublime.

And I shall leave you with a certain elderly princess basking in the sunshine making it impossible to straighten the bed hey ho.....