Good news for a Monday! The Upgrade sailed through its MOT. Always something to celebrate in my book. So that’s both of my vehicles sorted for another year. Hurrah!

My previous experiences with MOTs haven’t always been so pleasant. I’ve had a few failures. Well quite a few actually. So it’s a rather refreshing change to have two vehicles sail through with minimal effort. Guess upgrading my car and lorry are paying dividends.

Of course we know that anything mechanical can throw me into a blind panic. That and brown envelopes. I feel like I am making progress with one at least. I had the usual expectant wait for the result. It was all too much for Bert. He crashed out while we waited.

Typically The Upgrade told me he needs an oil change this morning. It’s been a long time since I had a car fancy enough to tell me things like that!

I woke up feeling distinctly unmotivated this morning. So a long stompy walk was in order. Bert approved of that.

Then we headed into the garden for a few hours of pottering. My garden seems to have exploded while I’ve been away. My lawn really needs cutting but it was rather damp so decided to leave that to another day.

I had two little helpers while I weeded. I had a pair of robins. I’ve seen them a few times now. But today was the first time I managed to get a photo of one. They’re very bold considering Bert was playing in the border too.

I love robins. They always make me smile. And make me think of those who I’ve lost. A comforting thought.

This is a sight for sore eyes I can tell you. It’s been rather a long time since I sat behind these ears. Or it feels like it.

It felt so good to be back in the saddle. Of course, I might not be saying that tomorrow when I’m walking like John Wayne.

I’d missed Buddy while I was away. I missed mucking out too. Funny huh?! It’s my thinking time.

I had quite a lot of that when I was away. I’ve come back rejuvenated from my mini-break.
It was back to reality again though today. Thankfully not with a bump. My washing machine has been rather busy. There were a few things I needed to catch up on too.

I want to hold on to the peaceful feeling I had in Somerset, for as long as I can. Time in the saddle really helps with that. It was very peaceful on our ride.

Bert and I are finally back home. We’ve been away for 10 days all told. A lot longer than I expected. The journey back was long, but then we did do a couple of detours…

First up, we went to Martock. Don’t worry, I’d never heard of it either. It has a special connection for me though. It’s where my Grandfather (or Grampy) was born. I never met him as he died a few months before I was born. Bert is named after him. I don’t know exactly where he was born, so I had a little drive round and stopped at the church. Unfortunately it was closed so I couldn’t ask anyone.

It’s a very pretty place indeed. Lovely to check out my Somerset roots. Grampy was born in 1897. By 1901, he was in Glastonbury. Which was my next stop too…

I’d not been there before, so thought I’d detour again and check it out. It’s rather quaint. We headed up Glastonbury Tor too. There are some advantages to a puppy that still pulls on the lead. Going up was a breeze! So was the top, a very fresh one at that!

Coming down was more of a challenge. Bert just wanted to fly down the steps. I wasn’t so keen on getting a flying lesson!

Heading home, we drove past Stonehenge too. Bert’s ticking off ancient monuments as well. Does it count if you’re asleep?! Bless him, he slept most of the way home. Holidays are clearly very tiring when you’re a Baby Sprocker. One things for sure, I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Bert ticked another box today. He went to the beach for the first time. And what a beach! The Jurassic Coast is stunning.

I kept Bert on the long line as I wasn’t sure what he was going to be like. He wasn’t keen on the sea, but he enjoyed the sand.

It’s our last night in Somerset. I’ve had a wonderfully relaxing time. Part of me wishes I could stay here forever. Part of me is looking forward to getting home again. I’ve been away longer than I expected. I’m looking forward to seeing Buddy and the kittens.

As I was driving to Somerset on Monday, I drove past a sign for Monkey World. Today, I headed back there for a visit. I haven’t been there since my 40th birthday, so just a few years then…

It was something my Mum and I shared. We would watch the TV series together and we’d both been several times – though never together. For many years, I bought a monkey adoption as her birthday present too.

I spent a couple of hours wandering round chatting with the primates. I even got to see their newest arrival, a four month old Orangutang. She was having a play in the crèche with two other babies. The park is a nursery for babies who can’t be raise by their mother.

There area few tame deer in the park too. I walked past 3 girls feeding one. They were all saying how they’d never been so close to one before. Then one of the girls said it was healing her soul. I had to smile as animals definitely do that. I know mine do.

I sat in the hot tub tonight listening to the sheep and lambs bleating. The night was so still. Well apart from the Baby Sprocker running around the hot tub with his toy. He does make me laugh.

I think it’s safe to say that our mini-break is working. I got the best night’s sleep for a long time. I can feel my shoulders relaxing and my stress melting away. Peckmoor Farm is the perfect antidote to a very challenging few weeks.

Bert and I went for a long walk this morning. There’s a secure field where he has zoomies. It’s lambing time, so the fields are full of frolicking lambs. Thankfully the only frolicking Bert did was in the secure area round the lodge I’m staying in. He’s having a fun time too.

I met the owners of this wonderful place at the first Conference I did. Every year they come and say hello. And check if I’ve eaten or not. Usually the answer is not to that one.

So when I saw them last November and they asked when I was coming to see them, I said March. And here I am. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

After our walk, I sat on the deck with my coffee listening to the sheep, birds and cows and feeling the sun on my face. They have horses and donkeys too. I haven’t met all of the animals yet.

Not sure where today has gone really. Let’s just say, it’s been very chilled indeed. It’s very true what they say that almost everything will work again if you unplug it, including you.

I’ve definitely unplugged…

Bert and I headed to Somerset today for a well-earned mini break. It’s been a stressful few weeks, so perfect timing really. On our way, we made a very special stop so that I could meet up with a very special person.

Jo and I met in 2021 while doing an online course. We connected over the content initially. That turned into supporting each other through the ups and downs of life. We message each other most days. We’ve become really good friends. Today we actually met for the first time. It was surreal and wonderful.

We were both a bit giddy to start off with. We’ve been talking about meeting up for years. But living so far from each other we weren’t sure how it would happen. There seemed to be a divine plan in place that made it happen.

We talked non-stop. It’s so funny how we’ve been part of each other’s lives for so long, without being in each others lives if that makes sense. The wonders of the online world huh?!

It’s amazing how you meet people really when you think about it…

Bert has been doing his best Florence Nightingale impression since we arrived. He’s been checking on Grandad regularly.

He’s also been wanting Grandad to throw his ball over and over again.

I think he likes coming to Grandad’s. Like me, he’s got his steps in going up and down. He even discovered that his ball could go through the stairs for more fun.

He rolled two balls under the dresser in the dining room. They were rescued. Eventually.

My Dad is on the mend. Thankfully. As Bert and I head off on our next adventure tomorrow. The Baby Sprocker is fast becoming well travelled.

Two rather cool things happened on our walk today. First up, we bumped into a lady and her pug Stella in the woods. OK that sounds a bit dodgy. It wasn’t. Anyway, we got chatting as Bert and Stella played. She asked if I lived nearby, so I explained that I grew up in Haywards Heath, but now live in Norfolk.

She told me that her Aunt lives in Norfolk and she spent every Summer there as a child. She said that that morning, she’d been thinking that a move to Norfolk could be on the cards. Her Aunt would love her to move there. Then she met me! She felt it was a sign. I mean, I’ve been called worse.

Then on our way back, I spotted this sign. Somewhere in the back if my mind I remember being told about this. But rather cool to see a sign in honour of it.