Seeing to the sheep

Mr hazelh and I started the day 'helping' with farm duties. With Andy and Meg (the dog), we delivered feed to the sheep in a far field and collected some supplies from a neighbour. We travelled there and back by quad bike, and even I had a go at commandeering the vehicle. We also petted the horses and donkeys, and Andy and Meg showed off their team skills when rounding up the sheep. What a fun morning!

This afternoon we called into the Co-op again to collect supplies for tonight's supper, then headed back to Fountains Abbey to see everything that we missed yesterday: the grange, the hall, the mill, the water garden, the follies, the deer park (including deer), and the church. We partook in refreshments along the way, including some very good scones (says she, the sconnaisseur).

The only disappointment of the day is that Helen (from Cardiff) contacted me to say that she can no longer visit us at the end of the month. Sarah (from the Isle of Man), however, is still on for the trip. It seems that every time that the three us try to meet, some disaster gets in the way.

Since we return to Edinburgh tomorrow, the Scrabble tournament is over. I won 3-1. It's a long time since I have done so well, so I am pleased with this outcome.

In other news, our friends Mark and Audrey are now grandparents.

Exercise today: walking (15,826 steps).