New Who, Bambi and Truffle Dog

Well, well, well. There you have it, the new Who, not Jeeves as he claimed "I told you, it's me, I've been up all night polishing the TARDIS!". I'll reserve judgement till 2010 although I did think he had a crazy look in his eyes and mad arms.

I'm going to miss David so much, I bet Matt won't be able to make me cry at the end of an episode I've seen a hundred times (Girl in the Fireplace and when Rose is left on Bad Wolf Bay).

Anywhoo! today Mr Fink mostly spent the day at home, trying to breathe, hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon and he can get back to normal. It's been 3-4 weeks since he took ill.

Little Fink and I went for a tramp in the woods (he didn't mind) with most of The Glums. Little Fink, Marsha, Bambino and Bambi (Mr Glum) on their bikes, me following along behind with The Glum's dog, Pongo. Pongo likes to mark every clump of grass, mark on the road and stone with a sniff and a wee. I called him Truffle Dog, which i think he quite liked, although, if he had found one, I wouldn't eat it as he would have wee'd on that too!

As i was walking along I encountered a couple with an Airdale, it had mud all round it's chops and i said, "He looks like he has eaten half the forest!". The owner explained that the airedale likes to carry BIG sticks in it's mouth. He described how the dog will carry a 10 foot stick/branch in it's mouth and 'take out' passing joggers with it as he walks past.

We loaded the bikes, kids and dog into the cars and set off for Mrs Glum's yummy shepherd's pie, as we were travelling along the dark country road, a deer bounded across the road in front of Bambi's car, a stunning sight and a close shave for the deer.

Not more than 50 yards along, I caught sight of a deer in my headlights, lying on the verge at the side of the road, it seemed like it was struggling to stand. I flashed the headlights at Bambi and pulled over, we investigated and as we walked to the deer, it was clear it had been hit by a car and had been left injured and unable to stand. I phoned the police and gave them the story, they said they would send out the deer warden to deal with it.

Little Fink recons that when she grows up, she is going to be a vet and I am going to be an animal rescuer, she said she will even buy me a van to collect the animals in. (She did suggest a push bike but I declined her kind offer)!

Hooray, Hooray, its a holi holi day

I am writing this with 20 hours to go until we set off to holiday, when you read this, we should be on our way or there! Joining us on our camping trip to Weymouth are,

LMI and her parents and 2 dogs Bart and Izzy;
Ched, Doris and my niece and nephew Slash and Stinky;
Mr & Mrs Glum, Marsha, Goober and Pongo.
Abu Dhabi and BigMac.

Many moons ago when Mr Fink bought his new car, he promised me faithfully that all the gear would fit into it, last night as we started to pile the kit up in the dining room at Fink Manor he started to look a bit shifty and scared. The morning will tell.

Happy New Year to you and yours

Well, a Very Happy New Year to all of you from all of us. I hope it is filled with Health and Happiness for everyone.

As I get older I can't believe how fast the seasons come and go, it only seems like a few weeks ago I was panicking how I was going to get 3 peoples Scout-camp holiday clothes washed and dry in 24 hours, ready for a trip to Spain.

The Christmas season has come and gone in a blast, we spent a brilliant time with family and friends, played lots of games (board and video - well done whoever invented Buzz jungle) and enjoyed everyone's company. To me that is the true spirit of Christmas, being with the ones you love and care about.

Mr Fink and I went to my work's Christmas do. Neither of us knew many people and one of the men at our table told us his job, "I'm in packaging." Mr Fink came back with the snappy line, "What are you? An elf!" Luckily the man had a sense of humour and we all had a brilliant night.

As part of our New Year's Traditions, The Finks (including Mrs Fink's mum - "Nanny") and The Glums made their annual New Year's Day pilgrimage to the seaside. Mr Fink and I had to laugh at Nanny's spoonerisms, she has a tendancy to get two common phrases mixed up - much to the confusion and amusment of those nearby. 3 crackers she came up with were...When describing the wood a table was made of she said it was "Mahogmanay" (could this be a special Christmastime Yule log?) next...as we went over the QEII bridge and observed the low tide exposing the banks of the Thames she said, "Oo I could get me metal detecter out on them MUDFLAPS." Gawd bless 'er. Last but not least, as we were discussing the arctic weather and high winds that are expected any day, she advised us to, "Button down the hatches." Priceless.

We set off in convoy, through the mist to Dymchurch, Kent near Hythe. We ate sausage and chips by the beach (Mr Glum has a bit of a penchant for chips at the beach), the girls made sandcastles and drew dogs in the sand. The men played catch and football on the beach, Mrs Glum walked 'Pongo' the family dog and Nanny got to work playing with her new metal detector. Armed with spare batteries and a trowel she made off up the beach, clicking and beeping (the detector, not Nanny). After a couple of hours she made it back with various items. Several bits of wire, a bolt, a flat disc (not a coin) and a "Victorian, Metal, Hat Pin" - I thought it bore a remarkable resemblance to a four inch nail - but what do I know?

I took Pongo for a stroll up the beach to see if he would like the sea (he didn't) as we walked back a family approached with a black labrador puppy with a view to letting the dogs sniff each other (to socialise the puppy I guess?). The man of the family said, "Is your dog friendly with other dogs?" To which I (in the manner of Peter Sellers) truthfully replied, "I don't know, It is not my dog." He must of thought I was a bit of a nutter, what with me being on me own. He then gave me a searching look and said, "I'm sure I recognise you, you look very familiar." I said, "It happens to me a lot, I think I must have one of those faces." He said, "Do you live over in the sheltered housing?" I, shocked replied, "NO. I'm from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire!" Pongo growled at the little black lab and we stomped off.

When I got back to the others and retold my tale, (after they had stopped laughing) they decided the man must have either mistaken me for a pikey, a wino or one of the 'gently bewildered'. Bloomin' cheek, I hope this is not the way 2008 is going to continue, I was hoping for a grown-up, sensible year!