Diversions
Posted: Wed 20 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Customer Services, Domestic Leave a comment »When we moved in here, we had a BT line installed, along with (another) new number. Really the BT line is only for broadband access, as we never really use the landline for calls or anything. As such, the phone itself has kind of disappeared, hidden away in a corner and rarely looked at at all. In addition, Hound turns into a stresshead when that phone beeps – which it does whenever you put it back on the base station – and the ring-tone volume is set to bare-minimum for a similar reason.
Over the last couple of weeks though, we’ve had builders and plumbers (and a couple of other nameless companies) trying to use that number. No idea why, as we always tell people that we don’t use the home number for anything, but there we go. It’s meant a couple of missed important calls, and it’s been a pain in the tits, to be honest.
So I’ve just sorted out with BT for Call Diversion to be put on the landline phone. It’s taken four calls, including two where the menu system just became unintelligible, and one where I spoke to someone who said that it’d been done, and didn’t do it. Still, I finally got it sorted. Now, any calls that come through to the house phone will just come over to my mobile, which should be useful. The only downside is that I’ll be paying for the call between landline and mobile, but thankfully it’s used so infrequently that I’m really not going to worry too much. It does mean that I/we shouldn’t miss those calls any more though. (In fact it means I’m probably going to take that phone out completely, which will also negate the entire “Hound being a pain in the tits” scenario for this device too)
Old Dog
Posted: Sun 17 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Domestic, Travel Leave a comment »When we’re away in the Lake District in March, we’re realising more and more that we’re going to have to take a bit more care with Hound this time round. It was last weekend that really made the point to us, though.
When we took Hound to the beach last weekend, she had about ninety minutes of running around all-told and she was knackered for the rest of the day, and into the day after. A couple of years ago, ninety minutes on the beach would’ve been just the starter, but now it’s more like the main course.
With her throat condition, we always knew that she was going to get old before her time, and that’s what we’re beginning to see. It’s no bad thing, to be fair, but it’s strange to see after so many years of having her running around like a barmpot all the time. Besides, when she was diagnosed with the Megaoesophagus, Herself was told that Hound was unlikely to even get to the age of five. Now she’s nearly eight, so we’ve had a good run with her – and far more of one than was ever expected.
But when we’re up in the Lakes, we’re just going to have to take a bit more care, and keep an eye on her – particularly when we go up to Aira Force, which she loved last time and wouldn’t stop going in and out of the flowing river.
Nicknames
Posted: Sat 16 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Domestic 1 Comment »Somewhere along the line in the last three or four months, I’ve ended up giving Hound a new nickname. Herself always calls her “Pop” for reasons unknown, and until recently I did the same.
But for some reason or other, I’ve changed the name for her, and to me she’s now “Podge”. It doesn’t mean anything, because of all things she could be, fat isn’t one of them. Ever. She eats more now than she ever did, and it’s all a lot easier than it used to be but still, “Podge”? I don’t know where it came from, I’ve no idea at all.
Still, she answers to it, and Herself doesn’t object to it either, so it works for me in all aspects.
Now I just wish I could work out where it’d come from…
Building Work – In Progress
Posted: Tue 12 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Domestic, House Work Leave a comment »Well, it’s all happening.
The dividing wall’s gone, one of the doorways is gone and waiting to be blocked up, the shower cubicle is gone. Most of the rubble is also gone. The toilet and sink are still intact, and the bath was knackered anyway, so we don’t care about that.
And Hound is out in the car, barking at horses as they go past…
Coastal
Posted: Sun 10 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Photography, Travel 1 Comment »Yesterday, we went out on a trip to a piece of Norfolk we hadn’t seen before/yet/so far. While we’ve regularly been up to the North coast around Wells, Blakeney, Holkham and so on, we hadn’t yet been up around the Cromer area, or down some of the East coast.
So we ended up going around Necton, Bacton and Walcott (If this means sod-all to you, this link to Multimap might help) and taking Hound for a couple of plays on the beach at Walcott, which was thoroughly enjoyable.
At the same time, while touring around I managed to stop the car, and start a photography project I’ve been considering for the last nine months or so. I won’t go into loads of details just yet, but for now it’ll suffice to say that I’m pleased with how it’s gone so far, and that the start seems to have been successful. Now I just need to carry it on, of course. (*Ahem*)
All told though, it was a really pleasant and relaxing day. Much, much needed.
O’Neill Coat
Posted: Sat 2 February, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Domestic 1 Comment »Many, many moons ago I bought a fantastic coat from O’Neill. (In this case ‘many moons ago’ means back in 2000 or 2001, I can’t quite remember) It’s a fantastic coat, a big wool duffel coat thing, thick wool, padding, the lot.
The thing is, I hardly ever wear it. It’s so warm, I usually only wear it about once a year. Of course when I need it, I really need it, but it’s not needed that often.
This year though, I’ve already worn it twice – the second time being last night while walking Hound round the fields. Incredibly bloody chilly, what with the wind and the snow just starting to come down. And the O’Neill coat was fantastic, I stayed warm and dry. OK, I looked like Kenny from South Park, but who the chuff cares, I was warm.
And really, that’s all that matters.
Broody
Posted: Sun 27 January, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Domestic Leave a comment »One of our hens has gone broody – she’s lying all day on the nestbox (although she’s been up for food and water) and is quite grumpy when anyone goes near her.
In fairness, it’s not unexpected – Light Sussex’s are one of the breeds (apparently) that do get broody on a fairly regular basis, so it’s not really a surprise. In some ways it’s quite funny, really. It does mean that we’ll be down to two eggs a day for a while, but again that’s nothing entirely bad either.
Just one of those things – and quite fun, really. I do feel slightly – and I really must point out that it’s only slightly- guilty about her being all broody and wanting to hatch eggs that have no chance at all of hatching (we’d need a rooster/cockerel for that task) but there’s no way we’re ready for having a whole herd/flock of chickens at the moment. We’re quite happy with just the three, and letting them get on with their lives.
All part of owning chickens, really.