Rafi on Tor 30th July to 1st August

30th July
Really this is three days worth of blogging in one post as the internet signal was way off, very intermittent.
We left early on Tuesday morning for Somerset and arrived just before lunch. Even though the journey its self is only about two and a half hours we had a long coffee stop to allow Rafi half an hour out of his crate, as he decided he didnt want to go to the loo before we left.
After setting up the caravan and having a cup of tea we went and got some shopping then andy went to Hamwall nature reserve while Rafi and I set off on a 'one and a half hour walk', we took a photo of the 'map' that was at the site suggesting walks in the area and left. Clearly some of the paths were extremely over grown and the map was definitely not to scale! It was very hot but looked as if it was going to rain again so I had my waterproof so added to the temperature I had the extra bonus of a jacket! I mentioned at the top of this post that internet was a tad sketchy well so was any signal. Periodically I would get a signal and be able to get a map up on my phone which allowed us to eventually get back to our campsite.
When we arrived back, three hours later, my husbad had just pulled in, in the car.
The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and reading ...and watching the sheep steal apples and leaves from the trees in the orchard.
31st July
Woke up early, due to me forgetting to turn off my alarm! Doh! I got dressed and took Rafi for a quick pee walk while my husband did tea and breakfast.
When we were ready we got in the car and went for a drive, amoungst other places we went were Cheddar Gorge and another nature reserve which I forget the name of, Rafi found a hollow tree to explore and was "buzzed" by several drone like Dragonflies of various colours and sizes.
Back a the campsite we had a cup of tea and gave Rafi his dinner before heading out to Glastonbury Tor, we parked in the town and walked up the Tor to the Oratory at the top, the views were incredible, probably made even better by the strange smells we kept getting whiffs of coming from small groups of people sat along the pathway!! Once we had walked back down again we got fish and chips and sat eating them with  the Tor as our view. Once we had eaten we wwnt back to the caravan and sat reading and drinking.....Somerset Cider of course.
Great way to spend a Birthday.
1st August
Lazy morning, I remembered to cancel the alarm, then when we were up and had breakfast I decided to go for another walk, this time taking a photo of a real map! Rafi and I set off while my husband went back to Hamwall again to see if he could see one particular bird.
Our walk was both more and less successful than the first days walk as in, I had a great map and knew where I was going but the footpaths on some were obviously rarely used and seriously overgrown with Stinging nettles and brambles meaning both Rafi and I struggled to get through. Once back we had a cup of tea and sat out reading in the sun. When my husband got back he had bought some scones and cream, we already had some jam, we had a cream tea for lunch then packed up the caravan and set off for home.

Black and White and hairy!

This morning my Mum and I tried again to walk the dogs together, this time it was so much more successful they walked together and Rafi only got told off once for being too overbearing. Back at Mums we sat and had a cup of tea, this would have been impossible before, he has come on so well its such a relief.

Four legged friends.

Beach Baby.

This should have been posted yesterday but I was so exhausted I didn't get round to it. It was also called castles in the sand, but after a message from my Bestie I had a change of heart!

Monday is my husbands day off so from time to time we try and do something or go somewhere for the day, today we decided to take our youngest Granddaughter and Rafi to the beach, just for a walk, a paddle in the sea, collect some shells and to make a sand castle!
Its been a very lazy day today as I am feeling a bit under the weather, probably just over tired, all these late nights and early mornings!
Added to that my bike is only firing on one cylinder....I think its contagious!

Flappy ears

Rafi has flappy ears, my horse likes flappy ears! She likes to flip them inside out! I have no idea why she does this or even why Rafi lets her do it, but he does and so far the pair of them get along just fine and that is how I would like it to stay.

Rare Breeds

Its been over 3 years since I was at the Weald and Downland Museum, except for one day when I went to say goodbye to the lovely Bayleaf Neville.
It felt quite strange walking in, it felt even stranger having to pay! I was a volunteer there for over 10 years, helping with the three shire horses and the other animals and being first aid cover for the many events they held.
This time I was a member of the public, taking my two granddaughters for a day our to their rare breeds show.
The first stop had to be the stables to say hello to Mac, the only remaining shire on the site, they now have two Percherons called Ollie and Kash to help Mac with the work load.
It was a lovely surprise to bump into another of the volunteers who I used to work with, she was also at the show socially and wandered with us for a while.
Rafi was very well behaved considering there were so many people, new animal smells and stalls selling food. He was interested in other dogs but didnt get over zealous with them and was quite steady with the livestock both the four and the two legged varieties.
Once back home however he just flopped into his bed and slept.

Away from it all

This morning I called the vet as soon as they were open, Rafi had eaten and slept well, he had no symptoms and was trying to play with all the vet nurses. Music to my ears.
Before all this had started, Rafi and I were supposed to be going away for the weekend in the caravan, AnnieMay.
My husband said we should still go so we packed up our things and set off. We are not going too far as I am helping a friend with her animals and also now, if Rafi becomes ill I need to be able to get him back to the vets.
Once we had arrived at our 'undisclosed' destination, we set up the caravan and went for a walk.
Rafi loves Caravanning!

Pimms and a Steel Band

Today was our churches Patronal festival, so after Mass the social team had put on a BBQ and invited a steel band to come and play.
We were greeted with a glass of Pimms, (which my daughter called coke with salad in it!!) or fresh home made lemonade.
The food was lovely they had loads of burgers sausages, ribs, chicken, vegie burgers and sausages, onions salad jacket potatoes the list goes on.
Rafi came with us, I brought his water bowl and cool mat and found a nice shaded spot for us. To my knowledge he hasn't heard a steel band before and he just took it and all the people milling around, in his stride, this boy is such a good dog.

Settling in.

This morning as my husband walked across the kitchen with his toast he found something black and white hanging off it, just for a second! Rafi is finding his feet.
I decided to try him in his crate for  5 to 10 minutes as a start to crate training. I put primula cheese on his lick mat and put it in first, he went in cleaned up the mat then promptly curled up and went to sleep. Ileft him for 15 minutes before latching and leaving him to make his own way out while I spent half an hour in my hammock.  Clearly he felt the hammock was better suited to his comfort level and jumped in with me.
Cuddles with my lovely boy. ❤

Archangel Raphael

According to Google, Archangel Raphael is...

Archangel Raphael is known as the angel of healing. He works to heal people's minds, spirits, and bodies so they can enjoy peace and good health to the fullest extent of God's will for them.

Therefore it seems fitting that I have a Raphael in my life!
This Raphael has no magnificent wings; He does however have some seriously flappy ears!
This Raphael has no halo above his head; He does however have one around his neck more commonly known as a collar!

Meet Raphael or Rafi to his friends.

Rafi, is a 6 Month old Springer Spaniel, J R T mix, and as you can see he is a very handsome lad.

Just for comparison, so there is no mistake, here is a picture of the Archangel Raphael!

As you can see, there are subtle differences, He is almost always depicted with a dog, (Ooh is that a Border Collie!) a fish, and a staff. Here he is also shown with Tobias from the Book of Tobit.

PAWS IN THE PARK ARDINGLY

http://www.pawsinthepark.net/

London Calling....

I have family and friends in all three of the main emergency services, I come from a military family, I am British!
I have friends who are Muslim, Jewish, Rasta, Catholic, Atheist, Buddhist. I have friends who are very rich, struggling to make ends meet, Amputees, Gay, hetro, students, stay at home mums, NHS workers, adult film makers! Blondes, Brunettes, Red heads, bald, grey and all the colours of the rainbow.
I do not like racism, Sexism, bigoted and people who are quick to judge others on how they look or where they come from.
There are extremists in every walk of life, don't judge all by the actions of a few.

CHARLES MANSON                 had Brown hair

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR      was Black skinned

ADOLPH HITLER                     was a Christian

MOHAMMAD ALI      and JANET JACKSON are both Muslims

IAN BRADY                       was white British

MYRA HINDLEY           was a Woman

HAROLD SHIPMAN      was a GP

I could go on.....
But you get the point!                                                                 Image: Yoga Farm

ILLICIT CANDYFLOSS AND SMUGGLED PETS.

Sometimes you just have one of those days, you know the sort, thunderbolts and lightening, fever, flood and famine, and 999 calls which make you wonder how some people manage to make it into adulthood at all. I read on a social network site that a woman had called 999 for trapped wind! I have been called out on 999 calls to someone who forgot to pick up their prescription...for a month! And needed medication, I once had to climb to the 6 floor of a block of flats on a 999 call to someone who had run out of sanitary towels (The lift wasn't working! Of course!) Someone who wanted their blanket pulled up higher, this person became a frequent caller and had to be dealt with by other agencies in the end! I know all my Ambulance service colleagues have countless similar tales to tell...
Then there are the days where you attend a multi car pile up, a coach crash, a "One under" a sick child, a teenage resus days you would rather forget even if they are the real reason for the job, real emergencies. They can still make the day feel Meh!
So when little things happen to brighten up your day,and make you proper laugh out loud it puts everything right even if its just for a few moments... When it goes on for over an hour, well you know its been worth whatever the day threw at you, on that note I would like to thank the 2200 hour finishers, the single manned Night vehicle and my crewmate on the midnight finish, it was worth it. That is all!

The secret seven!

I know, I know, bare with me here!
Today the not so famous five became the not so secret seven (Gotta love Enid Blyton) with the addition of  Seal and Logan! we met up and had a wander to a play area where the kids all immediately ran off and played together as if they had all known each other for years, when in fact, Logan and Northern Chic were meeting for the first time!
When they had had enough we walked the short distance to the Lifeboat station. We looked round  for a while then sat on the beach so that the three kids could paddle.
Suddenly there were lifeboat crew running in all directions,(we later found out that there was an empty kayak found and the crews of both the Tyne class and the RIB were mobilised to help search for a possible man over board!)
We all go to watch both vessels launch and head off to search. Talk about putting on a show, the kids had front row seats!
Later in the afternoon we went for a wander along the shoreline and managed to pick a rather large bag of black berries, Black berry and apple pie for dessert tomorrow me thinks!

Five on a secret trail!

Well, why not stick with the Famous five theme!
Today the five of us went for a walk in a country park.This country park has separate paths for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. We packed a picnic lunch some squash and set off.
It was supposed to be a five mile walk, but somewhere along the route we missed a turning and managed to cut the walk probably in half by walking down the cycle path! It was still a nice walk and with a list of things to look out for put together by my husband we wandered the girls pointing things out and crossing things off the list. Once we had arrived back at the car we broke out the picnic and relaxed, well Northern bird and I did together with the dog! Blossom and Northern chic ran off as soon as they had eaten, to go and play on the rustic climbing things.
All in all a good day even if it wasn't quite a "Secret" trail.

5 have plenty of fun.

Although today was a replay of yesterday, in that we were back at the steam fair, the weather was so much better and the Northern bird had not just driven stupid miles, so she was able to enjoy the day better. We made up a pack lunch and all including the dog set off. Northern bird got to drive a steam roller, the girls had about three rides on the gallopers, the dog got plenty of fuss and we all drank lashings of ginger lemonade! Oh and me?? I got to sort out 17 wasp stings, two soot smuts in eyes and one grazed knee!

steamy

Today I went to help at a steam and vintage show. I did first aid cover for them, as Blossom is with us for the week I took her along also. After collecting my radio a
and catching up with some friends who I bumped into whilst wandering round before the show opened, I made my way to the first aid point and set up ready for the off. There were the usual sounds and smells from any steam event, which I have to be honest and say I absolutely love, then there are the other sights and sounds unique to this particular event.
Today was slightly different though as half way through I had a radio message telling me that the northern bird and the northern chic had arrived! They had set off extra early and although they had stopped for four comfort breaks, they made excellent time and were here to share some of the days steamy events... (almost as steamy as a dream Northern bird told me about but not quite!)  Ha ha
Sadly due to the rain, the turn out wasnt as good as they hoped for but there is always tomorrow as this is a two day event! See you there tomorrow!

The not so famous five!

Tomorrow, the Northern Bird will be travelling south together with the Chic, to come and stay with us, so, together with Blossom and the dog, I think we make the not so famous five, I wonder what adventures we will get up to??
Oh! As an aside, I handed my notice in at work on Wednesday and will be returning to the Ambulance service. The second count down is counting down the days until I start back!

Day off

Today my husband and I had a day off together, we have been looking forward to this day for weeks. Since changing my job, tha amount of time we have off together is so little.
We got up early, made a picnic, went and sorted Mouse out then set off for a National Trust property which is about an hours drive from home.
The thermometer in the car said it was 25 degrees, we wandered around the gardens then found a quiet spot to have lunch, talk about a private air display, we sat where no one else was walking and were given a fly past by Buzzards, fly catchers catching flies to feed to their young, black birds and an Apache helo!
When we had eaten we walked through a meadow which was heaving with butterfly's, literally hundreds of them. At the other end of the meadow we found a river which we walked along until we found ourselves back where we started.
After a cup of tea we set off for home stopping on the way at a lovely little pub for a drink, (I only had a lime and soda!) Then on to feed and water Mouse for the evening.
To top off the day we got take away fish and chips and a lovely bottle of red (Which I am enjoying as I write this!!)

Confirmation

This evening after rushing home from work, I went to one of our local churches, not ours, where the Bishop was to Confirm the candidates from five local churches.
My Mum came with me and we met up with Samantha and her other half, As her daughter, my granddaughter was one of the candidates being confirmed.
My husband was fully involved with the service as he had to baptise two members of our church before they were confirmed.
It was a beautiful evening in every way.