A few photos really (all I’ve got, sorry).

This morning was beautiful.

Ted is a constant support and my emotional support therapy dog.  He is by my side when I’m upset (things are not easy) and I am grateful to have him here with me.

I am making sheep when I can.

Yesterday, I might have given Ted a bit of a drastic hair cut I regret. He is now sporting, what I tell him, is a magnificent tash!

Meanwhile, at home, Daisy sent me these photos.

As you can see, a little someone has achieved her dream.

This actually made me laugh out loud.  Good old Monster.  He has finally met his match.  They make a lovely couple.

(There is an identical bed next to this one but no, they must share. It is probably the law.)

I wasn’t going to get up early this morning I thought to myself asI lay in my lovely warm bed, complete with Ted curled up beside me at 06.45. I decided I could take him out later but his walk would have to be entirely on a lead because we wouldn’t be able to go on the golf-course.  And then, now feeling guilty, I reckoned that as I was already awake, I should just get up, stop being selfish and bite the bullet, so to speak.

This is the first view I saw when I left the garden with Ted at 07:00.

And if you look carefully to the right of the trunk, you will see two small roe deer who had been grazing.

Dear little things.  They watched me and then ran off.

It was 1 degree celsius.

Very cold but beautiful.  A large dog fox ran past.

The golf course staff have started the monumental task of clearing all the fallen leaves.  I don’t envy them this job so I took a few photos before the leaves all vanish.

Ted did most of the walk off a lead and behaved himself. However, we did meet the golfer-in-shorts (who is apparently immune to the cold, lucky thing) and Ted managed a few ferocious barks, while I apologised profusely, before running bravely back to me. I clipped him onto his lead and took him home.

So it was worth getting up early.

I was sitting at the kitchen table eating my breakfast (a toasted sourdough crumpet – now addicted – with melted butter washed down with a mug of Earl Grey) when I heard a loud squawking outside that sounded, well, like a big bird shouting for another bird.

So I went outside and looked upwards….. perched on the branch of the nearby stag oak was a large Red Kite.

He was shouting his head off.  He was not a happy bird.

After a while he flew off and started flying in large circles.

He was looking for someone.

And then his girlfriend arrived and I could see what all the shouting was about.

Kite 1 – “Where have you been? What time do you call this? What do you mean you were at the shops?  We have things to do. Come one, let’s get going!”

And they flew off.  They were pretty impressive birds. I hope Kite 1 is happy now.

Another very cold and crispy walk at 07:00 this morning.

I felt brave and so, armed with visible and loud dog-treats, I let Ted off the lead in strategic places of the walk. He was a good boy…. so far….. (again, he has previous and Mum always walked him on a lead because he ran off a few times).  We will see.  He can make his own choices.

I also had a migraine most of the day so will keep this short. Ted and I are now curled up on the sofa watching a film (MIB International – though I have just watched all the Addams Family films, and then Ghostbusters (2016 version) with a hot water bottle.  Later I will cook myself some Jiaozi (餃子) followed by an early night.

I hate being this tired.  I think it is from having to wear clean and tidy clothes as well as being nice all the time. It’s killing me!

Last night, Ted and I went to bed at 20.30. I make no excuse for this – I was utterly exhausted and definitely asleep by 21.00.

This resulted in me waking early this morning so, as it was getting late, lighter and I couldn’t procrastinate any longer, I took Ted out for his usual walk on my own.

It was very cold and there had been quite a frost overnight.

The dog walk used to be Floss’ job and I am missing her more than anything. She did everything for me and my life was relatively easy, I now realise and was possibly not nearly grateful enough.

I have put notes all around the house reminding me to do various essential and instantly forgettable things so hopefully I will stay on top of everything.

It was a nice walk – a few deer in the distance and lone golf ball.

I am sure Ted and I will quickly fall into a routine together.  Before, Ted had been Floss’ perogative so it’s just him and me from now on.

He has a lovely Winning Smile so I think is happy with his set-up.