Gateway to a new blip year

There were only 8 photos on the memory card this evening, and four of those were blurs of the mudhound Ollie scooby-dooing along the Arnside marsh embankment. So the first blip of the new year is Gus waiting on the other side of the gate into Redhills Wood from the Highland pasture. In his twinkly eye, the gate frame is reflected. I used to marvel at how Gromet's face could convey so much emotion, made of plasticine as it was with no mouth. It was part of Nick Park's genius to realise just how expressive a dog's face can be, even when you can only see its eyes and nose.

Apart from our meeting with Dennis and Ollie, and eventually Dennis's wife Maureen, we had a quiet day. It was too grey and damp to spend much time outdoors. But I did do the first 3 miles of the 1000 mile in a year challenge that I have adopted after Mrs Quaver's husband MrQ successfully completed his last year.

Thank you for all the good wishes for our nephew after his skiing accident. It seems his injuries were not as bad as was first feared, and he should hopefully be discharged from hospital within a day or two (thank you, Sydney, you will know why).

As for Gus, he's a happy lad, his injured back now seems fully healed. He behaved himself impeccably at Mags' last night, though he did take quite a liking for the three juggling balls that she had (and kindly gave him). Now that would make a good blip - a juggling collie.