Doorstep beauty...

I still fail to be amazed at the beautiful surrounds that I am lucky enough to live in... I took these pictures today when Stray and I took Ruby for a walk around the village.

A new cub in the Badger family set ...

I have been rather quiet of late, which I blame on large amounts of work and large amounts of darkness which renders my life somewhat dull. Being that my most enjoyed experiences, or at least those I wish to tell you about happen outside in the summer sun.

However it was with much pleasure that I became a very proud Auntie Badger at the start of year to a young man called Samuel Dylan. Check him out in his cute polar bear suit when he was just 4 days old.

I now live about 300 miles away from him after I relocated up north but I did potter down south to meet him when he was fresh out the womb and what a cutie he is.

What I find most amusing is that he appears to have been named after his Grandfathers 2 pets... A black Lab called Sam and an old Ginger Tom called Dylan. Coincidence? Who knows!

The Country way...

It is very cold here, but I am pleased to have a house with heating this winter. It is nice to be out in the ice crunching about knowing that you can go home to a warm fire. In the tree house in Guildford we would go out because often it was infact warmer outside than in the shack itself.

I have been invited to a Cow auction. How very exciting. I am slightly worried that taking someone with my twitching capabilities could end up in me taking home a lot of cows. So I have not confirmed whether I will be attending yet.

I also have a new car, maybe I could fit one or two (small) cows in it. The poor Mini who I loved dearly had to go due to my new poorer way of life that I have chosen. In its place I have a proper country car. A lovely Landrover - no water, snow or ice will hold me back now. Open fields.... here I come.

Communication is back!

We are back on the web thanks to this little (or should I say large) bit of kit! Normal service will be resumed,... as soon as work permits!

Climb a hill...

Yesterday morning Stray and I climbed the hill opposite the house. It meant I could take a nice pic of the village and point out the Badgers new set. Still no broadband,... but having given up on BT, satellite is coming on Tuesday so we will be back soon!

Deep in the Dales...

5 days I have been here, and so far I love it. It is so beautiful. More beautiful than I ever imagined. Just watching the cows and the views takes away any stress I may feel. The house is lovely, and warm, which is a first in 18 months as the shack in Guildford with its zero heating was freezing. Stray has been drilling and banging, putting up poles for clothes and building shelves. Oh and we have boarded out the floor in the loft. I have met a few of the locals who have already taken to calling me Badger. They seem really nice and they also seem to like me so that is good. I have been asking about how I can get involved in the "country way" and will be meeting the guys from the shoot on saturday to see if I can get involved and do some beating.

Frank is very happy and relaxed, he is very keen to get out and explore as am I but we are waiting one more day before he sets off into the dales alone. Below are some pictures along the journey from the village to Settle along a wonderful road which goes from Littondale over to the next dale which is where I am able to gain internet access in a nice tea shop.

We are still waiting on BT to get us broadband, but they have promised us Monday, much to the rest of the villagers amazement. So I shan't hold my breath, but fingers crossed all the same else its back to the drawing board.

Our House

Autumn Deer...

This morning I went down to Petworth Park to photograph the Deer. It was a drizzly wet day, but I felt this added to the atmosphere.