St Andrew

The last of November already and a beautiful St Andrew's Day. I'm not a flag waver but it's nice to give Andrew a nod today.

Awake ludicrously early and I knew it was going to be a fine sunrise. I decided to get myself out to see it and left the house, with Flora, just after 07:00. I thought I'd have nothing more to do than walk to Kings Park, let her have a run about with any other early walking dogs and take photographs. Not a bit of it. Off she went like a rocket. Luckily it was so frosty there were no golfers out as she made the entire park, including the golf course, her own. And would she come back? Not for treats nor for her squeaky ball. As for me calling her, forget it. Eventually she was sufficiently tired to run up to some other (extremely well-behaved) dogs and one of the owners caught her. I must admit I felt inadequate.

Once Flora was back on her lead, having covered several miles round the park, we walked up to the castle and home the long way. We were out for over two hours and I'd done 10,000 steps before 09:00.

The rest of the day is busy with a trip to see the four year old and baby sister to put in a bit more practice with the baby. More inadequacy on my part as she still has a tendency to wail when I pick her up. Not sure how childminding is going to go next year. It's far too cold to defrost the car and anyway I'd rather go by train. Then it'll be pizza night for Lyn and me.

I just couldn't decide between the vista to the west for the blip or the close up of hoar frost on the remaining crab apples in the King's Park Community Orchard (extra). Anyone is welcome to decide if I made the right choice.