Bonfire night

For this years bonfire night, we asked some friends up from the South to our Staffordshire house. We booked tickets for everyone at Shugborough Hall fireworks display. They all arrived around midday, and we then went for a wander (with buggy) over the Chase before we got ready and went out to Shugborough. The night was freezing but the fire did manage to keep everyone warm. It was uprising just how much heat it gave off, especially considering the distance everyone was kept from it.

The fireworks went on for quite some time and I reckon they must have essential a fair amount of money on them...it was certainly worth the entrance fee...

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Spider webs

Went over the Chase today and it was absolutely full of these spider webs...as far as the eye could see was covered in a glistening, shining, beautiful maze of web and water droplets...truly magical...

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Dog Crush

Quite how Chief gets into this I don't know!!

Xmas snow over the Chase

We had quite a bit of snow over the Xmas period...dogs loved it!

Rugby...continued

Well on Saturday night we decided to go and watch the Rugby in Bar Sport in Cannock...would you believe that England won...again! They're now going to be playing South Africa in the Final next week!

Also took the dogs over the Chase on Sunday...SJ wanted to try out her new camera lens she had bought the previous day...its a new zoom lens and pretty impressive...

England 12 Australia 10

Well they did it! They beat Australia! Against pretty much al the odds, England managed to outplay the Ozzies...we watched it in Bar Sport ans it was fantastic, the atmosphere was brilliant. We'll be going in there next week to watch England v France! That was another interesting result...New Zealand put out by France...what a day for Rugby!

Also went out on Saturday night with L & R. We had a good night, usual haunts...Bank, BAr Sport, although we did try The Academy...total rubbish but was excellent for watching some very, very odd people...most of them at leats 5 years underage!

On Sunday we went over the Chase with the mutts and then watched TV in the afternoon...enjoyable all in all...

Karaoke

On Saturday we went to the Elms, they had a karaoke night on...SJ sang Ernie...very good!

Also went over the Chase with the dogs, I've found a new route...

Mountain Biking

On Sunday morning, SJ and I decided to do The Dog Trail over Canock Chase. This is a purpose-built 7 mile trail designed for intermediate riders and starts from Birches Valley Vistor Centre. Its a great track! Not too many steep climbs, just a lot of flat, trail riding...perfect. We went round in about 2 hours and a bit. Not bad for a first attempt!

Cannock, Shareshill and beyond...

Went in to Cannock on Friday night with SJ. We met up with some of her friends, J & R in the Sports Bar. Had plenty (too much) to drink but was a good night. On Saturday we went to the Shareshill fete. They had some vintage cars there and I thought someone I knew with a Sunbeam might be there...they weren't. Still, apart from the rain it was quite a good show. I took Chief so hae could have a little wander around...I didn't risk taking Indi, she's not quite as calm as Shief and I think would have caused a spot of mayhem! The rain cleared up a bit later so we went in to Cannock to get some Fathers Day presents. We bought some stuff from the new outdoor shop - Hi Peak Leisure. It's a really good shop with some nice stuff in. As it was still sunny, we stayed and had a coffee there. Chief was in his element being the star of the show.

Saturday night we went out for a meal with my parents, my Grandad and his wife and also K & P, my mom's boss and also my Grandad's solicitor. It was a thankyou from my Grandad to K for handling his land sale. We went to the Dale in Willenhall. It was a very good meal - steaks were perfectly cooked and you really couldn't ask for better food. SJ drove as well so that was a bonus (well it was for me anyway)!

On Sunday, we had arranged to go out with SJ's parents for lunch. We went to The Horse and Jockey in Ironbridge. This is somewhere I'd never been before but they're reputed to have very good pies...sure enough I can confirm they do indeed have very good pies!

Sunday evening we went over to my parents and had some sandwiches etc. We took Indi & Chief with us as my sister was there and she'd not yet met Chief. All went well, Indi was a little boisterous around N but I think its because he's scared of her...she's basically a bully. If she knows someone/something is scared of her, she takes full advantage!

On Monday I drove down to Luton and dropped SJ off at the train station. I then carried on to the office. Tuesday I went to Wareham for work and Wednesday it was back down to Luton to visit a customer. Today I'm spending at home. Got to get my haircut later and I'm going to take the dogs over the Chase in a minute. They've not been for a week or so as its either been too hot, too wet or I've simply ran out of time.

The weekend I'm off down London to see SJ.

Memorials

Went for a different walk around the Chase today...decided to follow one of the marked routes. They give you an indication of times to complete the walk so I decided to follow the blue route - 2 hours apparently. Anyway, I'd finished it in about 45 minutes and I wasn't walking particularly quickly! I did see something I hadn't seen before though, it seems you can have a memorial planted when you die. I think that's something I'd like to do. I love it over the Chase and would never move away from the area because of that...

Chief's Family

Chief's breeder rang and suggested a meet up on the Chase with the rest of Chief's littermates. We met up at the Barley Mow car park and set off towards Punchbowl. It was one of the first really warm days of the year and after "Cardiac" Hill, most of us (and the dogs) were just about done in! Anyway, we made it and even had an ice cream afterwards! All of the dogs were very well behaved with no problems...

Picture below is Chief and his family:



From left to right its, Chief...Indi...Kayla...Chantz...Naya...Storm...Breeze...Fleur...? (can't remember the name!)

Well, the car passed its MOT - wonders will never cease! I still don't know how though as the indicator is still not working. Still its good for another couple of months. Hopefully the RAV 4 will be here in about 6 weeks. Can't wait!

Also went down to Bournemouth, was OK...nothing special...took my customers - CT. They seemed to have a good time. I didn't have a lot to drink and was able to be back on Saturday morning at 8:15. Talking of Saturday, I went over the Chase and had a good walk around. I also started to clean the grout in the kitchen floor. This has gradually started to turn brown with grime (it should be light grey). Cleaned it all off and then applied some grout protector, this should keep it looking (relatively) good.

Went over to Cannock on Saturday night. R & L cam out along with A & C. Was a good night I thought. Usual places (Bank, Bar Sport, etc). Sunday was a relatively quiet day. Did a spot more on the floor, watched the MotoGP, took the dogs for a walk and that was about it! It was nice to have a quiet couple of days though...

Rugby and the Internet

Decide to take the dogs over the Chase. Went to a part of the Chase I don't normally go to but it's renowned for being a bit quieter than my usual haunts. Sure enough it was dead - not a soul around. We had a good walk and both dogs were very tired afterwards! I have to be a little bit careful with Chief that he's not walked too far. He's still only a pup really and you can damage their bone development if they are pushed too hard too soon.

Came back and then they had a nap for a while - in Indi's case, a Power nap! Went round K & L's later. They've had broadband fitted and needed some assistance in setting up their wireless connection. Managaed to get most of it working although strangely, the newest laptopn was the only one that wouldn't connect. Will have to finish it tomorrow as we then went to the pub to watch the England/Wales rugby match. Shouldn't have bothered, England lost...surprise, surprise...

Beaudesert

A change to the walk today. Decided to explore the Beaudesert area of the Chase. Started off opposite the Beaudesert Golf Course and looped around Beaudesert Old Park. Not as interesting as my usual walks and very muddy (it had been raining for about a week straight). It also appeared as if a lot of the trees had been cut down and burnt. For what reason I don't know...

I also went over to my sisters. I recommended to my 16 year old nephew that he should buy an Apple Mac for his next computer so he went and bought himself a new MacBook. Thing is, he's had real trouble connecting to their wireless network. Feeling a bit obliged to go and sort things out for them I've been over a couple of times and managed to get it working but without really knowing why. I've suspected its been something to do with their router - a Belkin 54g. Anyway, I took over my spare Negear router and hey preston it was working within a minute. Not sure why the Belkin wouldn't work but I have read on a few of the Mac forums that others have experienced problems with this particular router and the new MacBooks.

The Long Walk...

Decided to go for a really long walk over the Chase with Indi today. Started off in our usual spot, Punch Bowl, then walked up to Stepping Stones, around Devils Dumble and then back through Brocton Coppice. Whole walk took around 2.5 hours. I reckon it must be around 5 miles perhaps? I'd like to get a pedometer just so I can verify how far we actually go...

Tonight I'm off round the neighbours house, they're having a pre-New Year Drinks evening!

Plans

Well, Indi was absolutely exhausted on Wednesday night at Dog Training as I suspected. Note to self, don't go kickbiking when you have training on the same day. It was probably the worst she's been there for a long while...

I put her down for the test on December 10th, although I think this is more wishful thinking than anything...we'll see.

Been kickbiking again today. She still loves it, although the constant distractions of people/bikes/horses/dogs are a little annoying for Indi and we have to keep stopping and then going again...

Over the weekend, I'm off to the Fort again on Saturday for my supply of NRT...Day 18 and still no fags. Then it's back over the Chase again for a walk with another Malamute and their owner. Sunday, I think I'll go up to Sherwood Forest to spectate at a dog rally with Indi. Never been to one before so should be good fun.

Over the Chase

Took Indi for a walk over Cannock Chase today. She's got a new harness in preparation for her Xmas present - a Kickbike! Red suits her I think...

Bought the harness from Phil Dixon at Culpeppers. I've bought her lead and collar from Phil too. He's brilliant at all sorts of dog stuff...