Fogussed

Here is Gus demonstrating his best sheepdog skills, as he keeps an intensely focussed eye on his surrogate sheep Rowan, as we walked over the Helm at lunchtime. Rowan, of course, was waiting for the ball to be thrown. While Rowan chased the ball, Gus sprinted on ahead, then circled back behind us. For every mile we walked, he ran four or five.

When I say walked, I mean slipped and slid, the ground is saturated after all the rain. You can see the splashes of mud on Gus's face. It did stop raining long enough for us to have our walk, and then started again as soon as we got back to work. That has happened so often this winter, despite all the rain, we have only got wet a few times. Gus will sleep well tonight.

A year ago I was out with Sue and Rowan, but without Gus. At that time he was going to work with Wifie. We have swapped dog-sitting duties, as Wifie has further to travel and less time for a lunchtime walk.