Sad news

My Grandad died on Wednesday. Although he had been ill for a long time, his death came as a shock to us all. I'm in the process of finding some photos to post here of him.
Still seems a little unreal right now.

Update!

After a few weeks of being incredibly preoccupied, I've finally got around to updating my blog!

I passed my driving test this week with 3 minors. I was surprised I passed as I had ballsed up one of my manouvers (ironically the one I was most confident about). I had slipped out of gear and hadn't realised so the car wasn't reversing when I needed it to etc., so, thinking I had already failed, I stopped being nervous and just drove. Needless to say I thought I misheard when my examiner said I had passed! I was incredibly relieved as the cost of learning to drive is ridiculous, and you do get a little fed up of relying on everyone for lifts - as I am sure they got fed up with my reliance on lifts!

Aside from that, I have taken some off from the job hunt as it's getting really soul-destroying with constant rejections. I didn't get the ATO job I had an interview for either, as, despite asking for A'Level standards, I didn't have enough experience with my degree. Humph. You just can't win anymore! All having a degree has done has got me a rather large student loan to pay back and but no better prospects with work. Grrr!

We have been taking the dogs out to loads of places, so they have been having a great time of it - I think it is preferrably to be a dog in the recession!

Glyn & Willow basking in Belliver Forest

Taking a rest at Plym Bridge woods

Willow collapsing after her run!

Quick! Photos (finally)

I'm gradually finding where we have put everything since moving down, so I recently discovered some photo's I hadn't blogged yet:

A bunch of flowers Gareth bought for me.

I love lilies - especially stargazer lilies.

This is the 'Towel Cake' my sister

constructed for part of our wedding

present - cool isn't it!?

Molly and Glyn looking unimpressed at being

kept downstairs.

Testing times

I have now provisionally booked my driving test for about 7 weeks time. I feel fairly nervous, but it's still a long time between now and then so I should be more confident nearer the time. I'll be glad to finally get my license (assuming I pass this time) and then I can think about entering some Obedience shows beyond Plymouth! It will also help with job applications.

Once again, sorry about the irregular postings, I have been incredibly tired recently. I think this is because since Gareth passed his driving test we have been out a lot more with the dogs and generally out and about! This does mean that there should be more photo's soon as I actually have something to show!

Extraction

Gareth had the rest of wisdom teeth removed at hospital yesterday. I was able to sit with him whilst he had it done and, wow, does it look sore! The scapel looked bad enough, but when you saw the force with which the doctor pulled the rather large molar out it made me wonder if there is really a strong enough anaethestic (Gareth has all this done under local). Currently Gareth is able to eat really soft food, and his jaw still looks painfully swollen.

I drove to work yesterday under the guidance of Gareth's Mum's husband. I was particualry nervous as I hadn't driven in a city for over 5 years, but it was fine. I think I am concerned about my driving now as I remember when I was driving a lot better, but with practise I should get back to where I was - and pass this time!

Princetown - Nun's cross

Today we took the dogs to Nun's Cross in Princetown for a long walk (6 miles). It was surprising warm for February so it was quite pleasant. The dogs all had a pretty good time, although I don't think they were quite expecting the long distance (compared to their normal distances anyway where they also get the frisbee thrown). Willow was merrily finding and trapsing through every bog she could find so she probably weighed an extra 1kg in peat by the time we got back to the car. Meanwhile Glyn was running ahead then sprinting about before realising that was a bit of a tiring game before skidding chest-first through some conviently springy peat bog. Molly, surprising, turned out to the more sensible of the dogs and spent the majority of her time sniffing and leisurely exploring with periodic bursts of sprinting.
The walk took us about 1.5hrs and Gareth and I shared a portion of chips at Princetown Police Station Cafe before handing the mud-magnets back to Mum and Dad.

Gareth is certainly spoiling me with all these walks with the dogs and outings!

Once again, this in another photo-less post as the batteries in my camera completely died after taking one photo of Gareth which I don't even know it took as the camera died before I could preview it. My blog is destined to a bland, vacuous block of text for eternity!

Cheddar Gorge

As Gareth passed his driving test last week, he wanted to get some experience on the motorway. We also thought it would be nice to use it as an excuse to spend a day out together (our last date bar a meal last week was 6 months ago at our own wedding!). So, we headed for Cribbs Causeway as that is just off the motorway and easy to find. Gareth handled the motorway fantastically, and we only made one stop (incidentally, Little Chef's 'Famous Pancakes' are probably famous for their overpricing - two thin pretty ordinary looking pancakes drowned in a syruppy mess for £3.99!)
We arrived at Cribb's Causeway (Mall) in good time and meandered around a bit. Those that know us probably know that we are not exactly reknowned for our love of shopping. So after grabbing some lunch we picked somewhere more up our street to go to - Cheddar Gorge!

The drive there was a little convoluted but well signposted.
Instead of exploring the caves for a cost of £16 each, yes EACH! We decided to do the three mile trek above ground around the caves. this still cost £4.50 each, but this was for a season pass.
It was a really nice walk, and quite gruelling in places as it was mostly uphill. Unfortunately I don't have any photo's as this was a rather spontaneous trip, and I didn't see the point in bringing the camera to a Mall!
Cheddar Gorge is also home to some wild goats which frankly didn't look too unlike domestic goats, if a little more scraggy and stocky!