New Year slackness

Christ! I can't believe it's about six WEEKS since I last wrote anything here. Me bad/crap/slack/busy as buggery.

Christmas came and went, two whole weeks off work which began unpromisingly with some Satan's lurgy and which culminated in me losing (a) my voice and (b) any ability to leave the house unaided for any Christmas-related doings. Dommage. We'd already decided not to "do" Christmas in terms of presents and actually that was fab. Much better than that whole barnyard dance of wondering whether you're going to get anything good this year, and equally wondering if any of the things you bought are actually any good. Far better to just get up and start eating.

Also to remember for next year: no relatives allowed for more than 4 days at a time. Evah.

Relatives notwithstanding we did have a rare old time and really enjoyed the new house with lots of drinking, dancing and merriment. New resolution to grab with both hands opportunities to cut loose for a bit, for they are much needed, and they are fun.

With due praise for all that is holy, the picadeiro is finished and it has been in regular use, not only for work but also as a safe turnout area when the fields are frozen into peaks and troughs. A real life saver, especially throughout the snow and blizzards and quite ridiculous wintry weather that we have experienced. Notwithstanding that, it surprises me just how much time the boys spend indoors of their own volition. As long as they're happy, it's cool with me.

What a drag getting back to work in Jan but that's passed now and am back in that productive mode that really enjoys being busy and getting stuff done.

The big thing is just how much we are enjoying being in our new home; it's just amazing. It's taken a while for it to sink in and now that it has I keep walking into bubbles of complete, unadulterated joy, often completely unexpectedly. Found myself capering about the fields with the pooch in a state of what might almost be described as gay abandon the other day, and I can say with some authority that I can't remember the last time I did that.

The boys look happy too; Q is still a spookmeister when allowed to get in my head with it and T is developing into Mr Serene. The picadeiro is the ideal spot for me to get back into riding him with confidence.

And that's me really, all catchy uppyed.