The Easter Weekend

I was a little down in the dumps, on Friday. It was the thought of sending Lilly to a friends and not using the bank holiday weekend to enjoy having a dog. To be able to walk with her and see her having fun.

The plan was to get our re-enactment items together, drop the dog round J's and finish the finial bits and bobs off before we when to Raglan Castle. Hubby realised I was not my normal self. So I explained that it was because I had to give Lilly away for the weekend and that I was just going to have to get on with it.

Everything went to plan and we arrived at Ragland Castle just as it was closing to the members of the public. We sent the tent up. It consists of a hand made (by Hubby) bed, this is brilliant for keeping us off the floor and away from the drafts. 2 tables, 1 for displaying the icons and pottery that we have. The other is for the food and not medieval items. we also have a large box full of Hubby's items (i am sure it can be reduced down but he like to have everything to hand).

Once I had got there and got busy I was fine, the group of people that we were with are very friendly. The solders actually come over to us and introduced themselves (this would never have happened if were with the old group).

We were very lucky to have very sunny days, I actually told Hubby not to bring my straw hat as the weather forecast was for overcast and possible rain and I didn't want it to get damp. So I have a sun burnt neck! The nights were VERY cold to the point there was frost on the ground. Having the 6 sheep skins under us and 8 sheep skins on top made it so warm that you didn't want to get out of bed in the morning.

I had fun cooking for Hubby and myself and talking to most of the ladies about wool and what you can do with it, but I don't have the same enthusiasm that I used to have. I was just looking forward to coming home and being warm.

Today.

A, was kind enough to ride my new bike out of the city so that I could ride round the quieter road of my town. There was a trade off with picking up a table for them but it was worth it.

The first ride on my shinny new bike was from J's house. I decided to make my first turning, into a busy road, a right hand turn. I was lucky enough to be let out of the junctions as the light down the road were red. I rode a round for about 5 minutes and then came home for a cup of tea.

A, adjusted my clutch for me as i was finding the biting point was a little to far away and I kept dumping the clutch (not a good thing) but it is much better now and my pulling away from the junctions are a lot smother.

I decided to go for another ride and A had mentioned that he thought that there was not enough air in my tires. He is used to riding a lot bigger bikes with larger wheels at the back, but I would check them anyway. so I went for a second ride along the sea front and down the posh shopping area. I had forgotten that at the bottom of that road was a very tight bend. Well I turned down it and found myself on the wrong side of the road! I was so lucky that the road was clear and I had plenty of time to get back to my side of the road. I think when I have another lesson with an instructor I will ask them to go with me to that bend and tell me how to get round it. With that I rode to the garage and check my tyre pressure (which was fine) and made my way home. I was just about to rain!

I am now thinking about roding to work tomorrow. If the weather is fine.

looking forward

Last Sunday I went out on the back of A's motorbike and looked at all the 125's that were available. It was great fun to instead of just looking at the bikes to actually sit on them and find out if they fit. I had to tell a few sales people that I didn't want a scooter i wanted a BIKE.

I think it is a women thing, but I always seam to go back to the first thing that you have seen a buy that one. It happened to me but I did find other possibilities but they were a lot more expensive and older.

I am really excited as I can go and pick up the bike on Tuesday. So I now have the gear so bring on the bike.

I can not pick the bike up any earlier as I have to re-enact the medieval period this weekend. I am not really looking forward to it but I have asked Hubby to do a few things for me over the last year so I really should join him.

I have just worked out that re-enactment will take up 3 of the 4 summer bank holidays this year so that is not making me too happy. I just feel that if I go and do this it is stopping me getting my veg garden going and I could actually pick the bike up tomorrow or Saturday. I am sure that the other bank holidays I will be able to find other things to do to.

Oh well I just have to get on with it!

Catching Up!

What a lot of time has passed since i last wrote.

Lilly and I have been walking a lot and she has been eating anything that has been left out!

I went to visit some Clan Friends in Holland last weekend. I was such fun! We rented a house in Holland There was 19 of us, they came from Holland, Germany, Greece and England.

The Clan leaders did their normal thing and sat in a corner for a while, discussing "business", while the rest of got drunk! They reminded me of the witches from Macbeth! I did my usual thing when I get drunk and get loud and bossy, they did not seam to mind. There was one friend there who's personal hygiene was not what it could have been, but how do you tell a grown man to go have a wash and clean his teeth?

The week before the clan meeting, I had my first lesson on a motorbike, I really enjoyed it and I I have decided to a buying a bike this weekend. I am having problems finding a crash helmet that I like and that is not too expensive. I would like a light coloured one but the ones that I have seen that I like are all dark. Oh well I will keep looking.

I meet up again with "The One", although I still care about him, I didn't have the same strong feelings that I had before. So I hope that I have got over it. But it was good to see him again.

Last year I meet someone who made me question whether I should have got married. I decided that I could not just throw away my marriage and should try and make it work.

Well for the last week I have been thinking about the this person more and more. We have kept our distance from one another so that I was not so tempted but hell! it's difficult.

Hubby and I get in from work and we both put on our computers, he has join a guild in a warcraft game and not end up playing that all night and I either search websites or play COD (new game came out). We never go out, no matter how much I ask him. And I have slowly lost all my real (not cyber) friends. All I want to do is go out and talk with people, real people not just words on a screen.

However I have be cheered a little this evening. the person that made me question things, came on line and started a chat with me. I could feel my mood lift straight away, but only 20 minutes in to the talk, his connect crash. So he text me and told me he would try later or tomorrow.

I can only hope that my hubby will one day look up from his computer and realise that I exist, with out me having to say something.

Dog Agility

Last week Lilly and I ventured out to the next village to "tryout" for the Club.

Of the dogs there I think that Lilly did very well. no constant barking or trying to get to the other dogs.

the first test was just to walk in a large circle with the other dogs that we did fine. Until they asked me to take the head collar off. I use the head collar to stop her from pulling. We then had to get the dogs to lie down and stay while we walked to the end of the lead. This Lilly can do but not with everything going on around her. She just wanted to know where I was going!

The next task was to weave through the dogs to find out if they would react to the them. This we did fine, if not for a little pulling and because she was pulling she was putting pressure on her neck, when she finish pulling she coughed, I was asked if my dog always coughed like that! I did think it was a silly question as I had been there for at least 20 minutes and she had only just started to cough after I had taken the head collar off. Anyway Lilly ignored the other dogs while they walked passed her. At one point she was even watching the other dogs actually doing the agility course.

We then had to do the "sit, stay and come" this was all while another dog was playing half way along the course. Lilly sat, she stayed (for a little while), When I looked over my shoulder she walked a little towards me. So I made her sit again and walked quicker to the point. Then called her.

The finial test was the tunnel. She had to be held by the trainer and I had to go to the other side of the tunnel , it was only set to about a foot long, and call her. when she realised where I was she came sprinting through.

At one point we were told to take out our toy and play with the dog. Well Lilly's favourite toy is a ball. I was then informed that a ball was the best toy to bring as it did not allow you to interact with the dog.

So with all that I have been told about what would be expected:

• I have to teach Lilly to walk on the left side and not just the right.
  
• I have to teach her that playing tug with me is more fun than a ball.

I have found a tug toy for a pound! and I have brought two books;

Expert Obedience Training for Dogs by Winifred G. Strickland. - I find this book quite amusing, it was written in the 60s but updated for the changes to the American regulations. But if any of you watch Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer) i contradict some of the stuff that he says. So I will try to keep him in mind when I read this book as I think he has the dogs best interest at heart.

The beginner's Guide to Dog Agility - this book is fun and even tells you how to make some of your own jumps.


We Lilly and I have started to do lead work after we exercise and we seem to be getting used to walking on the left but it is still early days.

1 Month On

Well I can not believe it has been a month since I last wrote on here.

"What have you been up to?" I hear you ask.

The Salsa dancing went well even if I felt that I didn't dance with Hubby very much. We have finished the eight weeks beginners course that we were on, so we have decided to give it a break for eight weeks to give Hubby a chance to go back down the pub and win at the quiz again.

In the mean time I have received an email from the local dog agility group and they have invited me and Lilly to try out to see if we can be trained, I will be off doing that on the 19th and I am looking forward to it.

I have been playing COD 4 again but I don't think I will be getting COD5 I think having the game less than a year with so many weapons I have not quite mastered them all yet. The clan also need some players on the old servers. I have been doing quite well and getting to the top of the board at the end of the games.

My employer sent me on a management course for two days. I found it quite informative and I hope that it will help with my "communication" skills. My boss didn't award me my full salary increase because he said that I was not a good communicator. He awarded the rest of the company 5% and I only got 4%. Well I have been making sure that I talk to him everyday and keep him up to date with what is going on in the team. (I hope he will get sick of me soon and tell me to stop communicating with him). The course has given me the taste for learning again, I am not sure what I should learn but I think it should be work based so that if I want to I could move on from this job.

I have only 4 more months to save and then I can book my motorbike lessons. I can not wait for it but I have to book the written test for the motorbike first. I feel a little nervous about that as the hazard perception test will be a little hard. One persons hazard is not necessary the other person! Well if no one buys me the books for Christmas then I will have to get them myself and set myself a time scale.

I am feeling a little ignored by Hubby the last few days. When we get home we both go on to our computers and play games read emails etc. But even when he is off the computer sometimes it takes him a little while to answer a simple yes and no question. I sometimes think that he is sick of the sound of me. When he talks to me I show interest and I listen to what he has to say, but I don't feel that i get the same back. I have to say through he has been better at the chores, when I get home from work he has lite the fire (after I had to ask him to make sure it was done before I got home or I was putting the central heating on!) He even does the washing up from the night before sometimes! (oh what I would give for a kitchen that is big enough to have a dishwasher in it). I can hear you thinking "What do you do when you get in?" Well there is the dog to walk, which I do in any weather and light or dark. I cook the dinner and get ignored while eating it as we sit in front of the TV while eating. I have tried to get us to eat at a table but in the winter it is difficult as the table is in conservatory which is not heated and has little light in.

Salsa Dancing

For the last 4 weeks I have been learning to dance the Salsa, I have convinced Hubby to come with me. Which has been really nice as he seams to be enjoying it to.

I have tried various pairs of shoes but each time I come away from the class my feet are hurting. They have advised us to ware shoes that do not have too much of a grip to them. So I found a new pair this week and Ouch my feet are really sore now. I think the heal is a little to high. Oh well I can keep them a wear them else were.

The Clan have awarded the medals for the year, so I now have my 1 year medal. woo hoo! Also in the last week have been coming respectfully high on the score board. Which I am very proud of. I have even managed to get a higher score that the person who taught me the best way of playing. It may only be 1 game in the thousands that I have played with him but still I am very pleased.

I have some new wellies that I can wear to walk Lilly and they are really funny.

No one has said anything to about them when i am walking the dog. I think they think I am mad. We have also found some really nice walks close to home, which is great as we do not have use any petrol to go out.

Count down to my holiday in Cornwall is 9 days.