Back to routine

As agreed on Thursday when he had tried to get access but was turned away by Angie, the chimney sweep arrived at 6:30 this morning & woke up the sparrows. Not even the dogs were up to more than a token bark.

Shortly after he left, the bell at the gate rang again, this time the dogs managed a few more woofs but still half heartedly. It was the unannounced electricity company coming to see if they needed to cut back any trees on the property near the power lines. Think I managed to persuade them to cut down or back a birch and a poplar which I would like to have taken out of action although they are not an immediate danger. They will be back in a few weeks to do the work - it's at no cost to us, well at least not directly - we all pay for this on our electricity bill at the end of the day. He stayed ages, most of which was general chat! Once he had gone, started on the horses until the gate bell rang again and a parcel delivery company had an unawaited package.

Some time later, eventually got out for a walk with the dogs. Came across a farmer who had just felled a tree on the river bank where we often walk. Asked him if it had come down from the wind the last days but he said no he had felled it as it was simply so big and old - poplars get a bit dangerous when 50 or so. He seems to fell a tree each year along this stretch and always does a very meticulous job working from out towards in, cutting and transporting away every branch in to wood stove size bits.

Rest of the day as normal and luckily it didn't rain especially as I had put the horses on the outside field even though it almost resembles a lake. May be the last time they get on the field as more rain forecast in the next days.

Well now got up to speed on posting my Blips and tomorrow hope to get around to catching up on news in US, FR, DK & UK. Looking forward to it but may well not back comment on all the missing days.

Good to be back!