UP, UP and away

Back Early September we went to a balloon festival with our Daughter (Lucie) and Steven her partner (at the time, now her hubby). Steven is into balloons in a big way, they went to Metz in France around July time, spending 2 weeks chasing, flying and talking balloons with all their friends.

Our balloon day turned out to be a very enjoyable day, I must say the nearest to a balloon I have ever been is spotting them in the sky. I really don't like heights and standing in a wicker basket, held up with some string and a linen bag full of air, really terrifies the life out of me. My hubby on the other hand a bit of a dare devil, has always liked the idea of a balloon flight, so our Son-in-law organised a flight for Ian.

First of all he went up in the Churchill balloon, still tethered to the ground, yes OK, maybe after watching a few more, I might consider touching the basket and having a look inside, but still not ready to take that big step. Its the noise as well that gets me, that horrible sound of whooshing flames that zoom into the balloon. Even though my 10 month grandson has been in a balloon.

Then, the time for Ian`s big moment, a couple of friends of Steven and Lucie`s offered Ian a flight, OMG wow, he`s finally going to do it, that's another thing off his list of "I must do`s before I die".

So out of little trailers and vans came, wicker baskets and all the things you need for a flight, balloons everywhere being checked and laying on the ground, slowly rising with hot air, what an amazing sight, I think there was over 50 balloons that day. All different colours and sizes, lovely!

within minutes, he was in the basket, camera in hand and gone, not even a kiss, hug, a goodbye, or even a see you soon, that could of been the last time I ever saw him, this man I have spent my last 24 years with man, who was like a kid with a new toy :0) not a worry in the world. Smile on his face nearly as big as the balloon it self.

The Owen family celebrate

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT DARK HAIRED BABE
WHO`S NOW A BLUSHING BRIDE

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YEARS BETWEEN I ASK,

AS I LOOK WITH PRIDE.

TOO SOON SHE MET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS
AND FLED THE NEST, TIME TO GO
BUT ALL TOO SOON, SHE WAS BACK AGAIN
THIS TIME WITH STEVE IN TOW.

SHE SAID `WE’D LIKE TO STAY AWHILE
TO SORT THINGS OUT, “AS YOU DO”
BUT I THINK IT`S FAIR TO WARN YOU
THAT I MIGHT BE EATING FOR TWO

I PICKED TANYA UP FROM THE KITCHEN FLOOR
AND POURED HER A GLASS OF WINE
AND WHEN SHOCK TURNED TO ELATION
WE BOTH SAID “OK”, THATS FINE
OH HAPPY FAMILIES, FUN GALORE
THERE`S CATS AND DOGS AND SO MUCH MORE

AND NOW WE HAVE A GRANDSON
HE`S THE HANDSOMEST LAD BY FAR
AND WE ALL LOVE HIM DEARLY
I`M SO PROUD TO BE HIS GRANDPA

SO NOW MY DAUGHTER`S SETTLED
WITH A HOUSE FULL OF HAPPINESS
SO FROM, TANYA, MYSELF, THE MENANGERIE,

GOOD LUCK, GOOD HEALTH, - GODBLESS!!

A sad farewll to Ruby 17/04/1996 to 08/07/2009

Just a quick and short blog for this week... Dont really have that blogging feeling..

Sadly this week our 13 year old westie "Ruby Doos" passed away, she had been struggling for a few months to keep up on her walks, run around with our other 2 dogs and enjoy life. But old age creapt up upon her, before we realised it. She had a few horrible lumps and bumps and especially 1 big one around her right hip, this nasty lump had also spread into her stomach and then onto a few other organs.

So a big farewell to Ruby. Enjoy Rainbow Bridge run free of pain and play with Mr Jiggys (our other Westie we lost him last year) your soul mate for 12 years..

17/04/1996 to 08/07/2009

Went we to the Zoo

Well we went to Woburn yesterday, not really a Zoo, its a beautiful Safari Park situated in the Bedford countryside. Woburn Abbey has been home to the Russell family for over 300 years.

We took our 7 month old grandson, "Jack" and he enjoyed himself so much, that we didn't get him off to sleep until past 10pm last night. :( OMG how tired were we!! Well he had fun and that's what its all about. :) Not sure his mum and dad would agree.

Check out my brill photo of the day, yes I did take this one of the 3 girls together watching a landrover and what a fab photo, I am so pleased with this one I just had to include it in my blog.

There is a large variety of wildlife at the park from Lions to the Russian Horse (Przewalski`s wild horse), you get so close to the Lions and wild bears its unbelievable a well worth visit for all ages, our grandson enjoyed helping his Grandpa drive our car around the park.

After driving through the Road Safari you are then given the chance to enter the foot safari and wow you then enter the Rainbow landings, monkey business, Australian walkabout, Land of the Lemurs (No prams or buggies allowed in this area) Animal encounters and fun and games. So much for the over 3`s. Check out the tigers when you enter the safari, you have to look hard to find them, we only saw 1, but there are 2 there. Good luck and have fun.!! We did :)

OH my havent you grown!!!!

Well, our grandson Jack is 7 months old already, where has the last 7 months gone?

From that 8lb+ little bundle, who couldn't sit, smile and was totally dependendant on everyone around him, to this little boy who now chuckles, smiles, sits, talks away to himself in his own language and who is also learning to stand before he can crawl. "Oh my havent you grown"

He is the apple of our eye, we adore him so much. Spolit" no we dont spoil, him..... much

In this photo is my youngest daughter Kirsten, she adores her nephew Jack
Little JD is a absolute joy to have around and i cant wait for my day in the week to look after him.

Early morning walks

I love my early morning walks in the forest with the dogs, especially in the early summer when the sun is just rising in the sky and there is a little mist around.

We are very lucky to have such a lovely forest near our home, full of wildlife and super walks.

These few photos were taken on my mobile this morning.
And every morning, we see our wooden pig, you cant see it so much at the moment as the grass has grown a bit high, but we know its there, my dogs love to jump all over the pig, when we first saw it, our eldest dog wouldnt walk pass it, scared her I think.... :)

Paxton Pits

http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/Leisure+and+Culture/Parks+and+Countryside/Paxton+Pits+Nature+Reserve

What a lovely place to visit if your a dog walker, bird spotter or just out for a walk with the family.

We first visited Paxton Pits about 6 or 7 years ago, my sister introduced us to the fields and lakes that are situated there. The marked out walks are lovely and well marker posted so you wont get lost, we always use to walk the Kingfisher, but last weekend decided we wanted a change and chose the Heron walk, it was a lovely walk, the weather was beautiful and the dogs loved it.
My only concern is there is'nt enough poo bins and you do need to scoop your dogs poop, also really no where for the dogs to have a drink. Some of the lakes are too deep for the dogs to swim in and at the moment all the lakes are covered in a green summer weed. Also on the Heron walk, you walk through the chalk pit yard, so on a busy work day you will be battling the lorries and workman.
8 of 10 for Paxton Pits..

Off to the beach

With the British weather being the way it is, when the sun does show us its face we all run off to the beach for the day and sun ourselves to our hearts delight. Splashing on the sun lotion as the bottle says, with the men all making the largest sandcastles ever, trying to beat the beach neighbour, then paddling in the freezing cold sea. The kids running free not a worry in the world.

But we do have to be sensible at the seaside, the sea has some awful under currents which we should all be aware off., Especially the Norfolk coast, where we tend to visit, really we should go more than twice a year.

So last Sunday Morning we were awake at 5, the sun was out and bursting with life, so we made a hasty decision, packed up the car with all the doggy things we would need, put the 3 dogs in the car and started off on our 1 and half hour journey towards the Norfolk coast.

Realising, on the way there we had forgotten to bring a ball for our youngest member of the gang, but there on the side of the road was a football, "STOP the car" I shouted to my hubby, go back, there`s a ball we could have that for the beach... With not a soul on the road, he turned the car around, I picked the ball up and off we went on our journey.

When we got to the beach it was empty, just how we like it.. With all the dogs in tow, we ventured on to the open wide empty beach, Dixie our 18 month old English Bull Terrier, remembered immediately, where she was and dragged me towards the sea, just like an excitable 4 year old. Otis the baby wasn't so sure, he hid behind my legs just peering with his big eyes starring at the sea. Ruby the old Westie just plodded on towards the sea and then paddled and paddled drinking as she went. Not that she could possibly of been thirsty, they all had a large drink of fresh water when we arrived.

We walked for hours, playing with the ball, the dogs where having a whale of a time. The ball was a great find,.

We did keep our eyes on the drifting sea all the time, we did notice that tide was coming in and we could get cut off at any time, so thought it was good to bring our beach trip to a end.

Our journey home was even more eventful, what with Ruby being sick, must of been all that sea water she drank.. :(

Our New Dog.. Otis

Oh my goodness, such a long time since I last blogged, so here goes....

We have a new addition to the family, yes we have another dog, this one is a male, to keep the girls in tow. So peace, harmony and tranquility has returned back to our house hold. hahahahaha.

We collected Otis on 15th March, he is a seaside baby, came all the way from Weymouth he has settled in very well to our daily routine and loves our other English Bull Terrier very much, they get on like a house on fire, sadly though our Westie "Ruby" who is 13 can`t stand him. She never gets on with puppies, to bouncy, bouncy bouncy for her. The photo`s above show the first meet in the garden, awwww he is so tiny. Within moments Dixie was kissing him and he was kissing her. Great 1st meet. I dont need to worry about them. And the one on the right, was taken last weekend, as you can see they are inseperable.

Sadly though our garden has been destroyed in the process of owning 3 dogs, what with all the running around in circles and chasing each other, we seem to have lost our grass. maybe its packed it bags and gone elsewhere, hopefully it will return soon.!!