Lent

Couldn't think of anything to give up for Lent, so I thought that I would try the 100 press up challenge

http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

After an initial test of 16, started the first day, today. Managed 45 press ups in 5 sets - well its a start!

So thats 3 days of the week squared away, but not sure what to do with the other 3 - assuming you can have Sunday off. Did think of doing the 200 sit up challenge but I don't think that is what my physio had in mind when I had by hip flexors treated last week!

Of course I would rather be spending 40 days in the wilderness for Lent, but I don't think that my boss would give me the time off.

A Night in the Woods

Had an opertunity to spend a night in a wood this weekend, so I grabbed it with both hands. It didn't look like rain so I only put up a tarp rather than use my bivvy bag. It was the first time bivvying with the dog, but it went well, although I think she was a little cold at times. The plan was for her to sleep on the rucksac but she ended up on the camp matt next to my feet - I guess she was more out of the breeze there. If bivvying becomes a more regular activity I think I'll have to sort out some sort of tarp/groundsheet/bed arrangement for her.

Flooding

This what the river looks like when we normally consider it to be running high

This is it when its burst it banks

This is what it normally looks like! The river is someway down the path

Did some one just take my temperature?

Tried to get some decent pictures of the dogs while out for their morning walk...this was one of the better ones.

The indoor cat

We got a cat from a rescue centre. We knew what we wanted. A big, outdoorsy cat that could look after himself in a household with kids and dogs and out and about in the neighbourhood (our last two cats were always coming off worst in the local scraps. We wanted a male cat, to try and balance out the oestrogen in the household and we wanted a tabby. Well we got all of that except the tabby bit with Felix. We asked about his FIV status but were told he was in a low risk group (this is a large young adult male cat being rehomed because he wasn't fitting in with the other cats in the household). We didn't question it at the time. For some reason we got him tested this week and, you've guessed it, he's positive. The vet gave the options of rehoming, keeping him inside or euthanasia. Now indoor cats don't really fit with our lifestyle, especially in the summer. The garden can't be cat proofed. Keeping him is going to be a stuggle.

Subsequently, I have looked at the rescue charities policy on FIV on their website. Apparently its okay to re-house FIV+ cats to remote areas. Obviously they have no worries about introducting FIV to feral cat populations, and have no intention of limiting the spread of this disease. Okay, there is a cost in testing, but we would have paid for it up front. We won't be going back to this charity, there are more responsible organisations who plan ahead so this sort of heart ache doesn't occur.

A very good reason for not commuting

Played around with the night setting on my camera last night I was very pleased to here the office was shut today. The roads may be passable but it only takes one jack knifed lorry, and you are stuck on a motorway all night. Better off staying at home.