This made me laugh today. The post, not the Microsoft outage. I love it when people put a positive spin on things.

I had to do the same. Hardly ideal losing several hours so close to the biggest event I work on, but when life gives you lemons…

Or in my case, you take your dog for a long walk and pop your horse over a few jumps.

It’s a funny one. In someways, I found a lack of emails rather frustrating. In others, it was rather liberating. Just goes to show how reliant we are on technology. And how we all benefit from unplugging once in a while (voluntarily or forced).

Still I ended the day all caught up so all ends well. I’m sure the same can’t be said for the people at Microsoft. I bet there are some tired, stressed people right now. Having spent many years working in IT, I feel for them. Technology is great. Till it stops working. A timely reminder that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn’t put all of our eggs in one metaphorical basket…

After yesterday saying I thought I’d kill two birds with stone, I had to laugh when I looked out of my kitchen window to see two birds on next doors’ roof. These two partridges were looking for snacks. Tiring work it seems as they stopped for a nap.

Of course it also reminded me of a partridge in a pear tree. But two partridges on a roof doesn’t quite have the same ring about it. Not sure that would catch on.

It’s the closest I’ve gotten to thinking about the festivities. That’s still too far away for me. I’ve got to get through Conference yet.

I’ll be in a little better shape after an intensive deep tissue massage tonight. Honestly, my tight bits had tight bits. Pleased to say I’m feeling much looser now. And my shoulders are no longer near my ears. Long may that continue…

I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone today and walk to the yard with Bert. Well I needed to walk Bert and muck out Buddy so it seemed to make sense.

I didn’t factor that Bert would want to stop for lots of sniffs. So the 20 minute walk took a bit longer.

Bert loves coming to the yard. He had a good run round with his ‘yard toy’ while I mucked out. Buddy spent the time enjoying his massage pad.

Buddy all done, Bert and I headed back home. We made it back before we lost the light. It wasn’t even 5pm! The nights are definitely drawing in…

It seems Bert is quite the artist. Definitely more Picasso than Monet though. After his ‘nose art’ on the Upgrade’s rear window, today I spotted his ‘paw art’ on the conservatory doors.

The trouble is that once I’d seen it, I couldn’t unsee it. It was rather distracting, so I gave it a good clean. Which then lead to me cleaning most of my windows.

It reminded me of the story about a woman who constantly complained to her husband about the state of her neighbours washing. Till one day she saw the washing was clean. She was celebrating till her husband told her that he’d cleaned the windows!

I guess it shows that sometimes we need to look at ourself first. But in my case, I literally cleaned my windows.

Of course, Bert immediately redid his ‘paw art’ before the doors were even dry…

It was rather foggy this morning. In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement. It was very foggy most of the day! And still there were people driving around with no lights on. It amazes me, it really does.

Don’t get me wrong, it took some time to work out where the fog lights were on the Comedy Car (the Upgrade are much easier to find). So there might be a reason for no fog lights. But no lights at all? It makes them so hard to see.

I was a good girl and put my lights on. I had some Conference stuff to sort out in the city. I also have some errands to run, including getting two new tyres. I knew they needed doing, but I was driving on borrowed time it seemed. Well judging from the tyre man’s face… Best to get them sorted before I drive to Wales.

The fog made everywhere seem a bit weird. Or deadened the sounds. I found it spooky and a little scary. I mean Halloween was so last week. It’s beautiful too and another reminder that nature will out.

Tonight I went to a Bonfire Party. As I was driving there, I realised that it’s actually been a very long time since I went to a Bonfire Party.

Not sure why as they’re usually a fun evening. There’s something magical about wrapping up warm. Then roasting yourself by the bonfire and coming away with rosy cheeks. Of course, that could have been the mulled wine.

I usually get a crick in my neck watching the firework display. Tonight’s was a belter. The firework equivalent of ‘a good spread’.

I love fireworks. My photography skills weren’t that great. It’s actually kinda hard to get the timing right. Besides, I was too busy making the appropriate noises at the display. You know the ones I mean. And no, I’m not even going to try and spell them!

I also love the smell afterwards. It’s evokes memories of my Dad setting fireworks off in the garden.

I came home smelling of smoke, slightly charred and with a big smile on my face.

I took Bert and Buddy out on the same path today. Obviously separately and at different times. Bert this morning and Buddy this afternoon.

I’d love to take them out together, but given we have to go on lots of roads, that just isn’t safe. Besides, it could be carnage with the Baby Sprocker’s love of a good sniff…

Buddy and I got off to a dodgy start as he was taken by surprise on leaving the yard. By a pony he’s seen many times. Seriously?!

In his defence, it was reversing out of a field so probably did look a little odd.

Thankfully the rest of the ride was blissful. Just me and my little boy. The Autumn colours are beautiful at the moment. These tawny ferns were just stunning.

I may not love the slide towards Winter, but I certainly love the colours of Autumn. It just goes to show that there is beauty all around us. We just have to stop long enough to appreciate it. That’s a bit easier with Buddy than Bert. He can be a bit of a blur sometimes, not that Buddy is a slouch!

Bert would like you all to know that today he was taken against his will into the shower and ‘forced’ to have a shower. But when I explain, I’m sure you’ll get it…

On our walk this morning, Bert decided to go for a dip in a puddle that was filled with cow muck. Black water is rarely a good thing. As a result, he was a tad pungent. By the time we were back at the car, he didn’t seem that stinky so assumed he’d run it off.

I was wrong. By the time he’d dried out, the smell was off the charts! And let’s face it, I deal with some rather pungent smells. He was quite the swamp monster.

So it was shower time for him. Bert is a typical Spaniel. Horizontal water is the best thing ever. While vertical water is just awful.

He showed his displeasure post-shower, with zoomies round the lounge. Including rubbing himself over the throws and carpet.

He’s rather fluffy now…

My pen ran out while I was on a call this morning and I found this one in my desk drawer. Didn’t pay much attention to it as I was too busy scribbling my actions.

It was only after the call had finished that I actually looked at it. Now I couldn’t tell you where I picked this pen up from (I seem to gather them on my travels). And I couldn’t have told you that Norwich was the City of Dragons.

I love dragons. I’m guessing that’s my Welsh heritage. Norwich is a very long way from Wales. In fact, it’s the other side of the country! It got me wondering how it got that name. So I did a bit of research and it’s a children’s book apparently.

It’s also a bit of a lovely sign as I will be heading to Wales soon for Conference. And that’s why I needed a pen to write down my actions. Love it when things like that happen.

Buddy is considerably lighter after he was de-floofed. I wish I’d taken a photo of how much fur there was on the floor. I could have made a mini-Buddy out of it.

Buddy has had a bit of a love hate relationship with the clippers over the years, but he’s definitely mellowing. Good job too as his experience will soon be immortalised in my second Buddy Book.

Buddy and the Barber is with the publisher. Eek! I really hope people like it as much as my first Buddy Book. I’m so proud to say I’m a published author. It’s something I didn’t set out to do, but I’m so pleased it did…