Back to work tomorrow

Last day of two weeks of hols today , which have actually felt like two weeks rather than two minutes. As mentioned we did loads in the first week and had a slightly more relaxing time during the second. We took the dogs to the beach, which was great fun in spite of the weather being "sub-optimal" with a wind that very nearly blew us off our feet and gave us a nice case of sand blasting of the face. Still, it was good to see the dogs enjoying themselves, feel the sand between our toes and finish off with fish and chips. We also went out for dinner for the first time in ages, and had the most amazimg evening with our excellent neighbours, enjoying a delicious barbecue and a great deal of drinking and dancing later on, taking the opportunity to finish off the rest of last year's home made sloe gin.

Q has had more work than he felt was perhaps strictly necessary, but was particularly splendid throughout. I've been teaching Knickers to lunge and she's coming on a treat. Q is very polite but not easy to lunge, requiring complete attention to one's body language, so she's done really well in developing both her attiude and focus, as well as the not inconsiderable task of getting to grips with managing the rope and the whip. We've also enjoyed some great sessions with Mandy, so feel we have all been making some good progress.

Speaking of progress we had the best leading session so far with little Gualter tonight. He really seemed to turn a corner and was thinking it all through as we went along, so I was thrilled with him. What a clever and sweet freshly minted little chap he is.  

When I went out tonight I heard the goats yelling from over in T's summer paddock, which is quite unusual, as normally if they wanted in they'd have been waiting at his stable. I went to investigate and discovered that one of the gates had slammed shut in the wind, blocking their route. I went down to open it, calling them in as I went, and saw them all making a run for it down the field to meet me. They seemed full of vim and vigour, as a trainer of ours used to say, and as it was we all galloped up the field together back to the yard; that is me, the goats and the dogs. I can tell you as a result that you haven't lived if you haven't galloped through a field with a herd of goats at tea time :)