We are used to being woken up around 5.45am most days by Murphy ... Mum says it's like having a puppy all over again: when he is up and awake he needs to go outside! Bless him, once he has successfully woken everyone up and gone outside to do whatever he needs to, he waits for the lounge door to be opened and then curls up in his bed there and goes back to sleep. Meanwhile the hoomans are wide awake, so there's no going back to bed for them.
As for me, well I can go back to sleep or stay awake, I am not fussy. Which leads me to the strange starts to the day ... Dad and I have been going out for walk in the dark. Because we are all out of bed so early and because Murphy doesn't walk as far as he used to (and gets upset if we leave him behind) my walks with Mum during the day have been shortened. So Dad has decided (with some persuasion from certain quarters) that he and I should have a walk before he goes to work.
Now I know loads of dogs out there have early walks, but I have to be honest we have never been part of that crowd. So it's been very interesting going for a walk at 6am with Dad and a torch. I think I like it .. although this morning it was a bit off when we got back and I had the hosepipe put on me as I was muddy. Mum said it was because she was in the middle of making marmalade and couldn't give me a warm water wash. At 6.30am??
Onto Mena news ... she has escaped her stable again. She did it a few weeks ago with Mum and charged up the yard to steal a hay net from one of the ponies. Apparently on Sunday, she spotted a slightly open stable door and went for it, heading up the yard again only to find no spare hay nets around. Not put off, she headed for one of the fields clearing a 4 foot gate in the process. We all knew she liked to jump, but didn't know she could jump that high and be fully rugged up at the time. Apparently all the girls in the yard were so surprised they just stood and watched! She was successfully persuaded to return to her stable and no harm was done to pony, girls or hay nets.
And so to the interesting rumour that has reached my ears. I understand that on Sunday Aunty Debbie sent a photo of someone called Amber who had just moved into their house. I believe she is from Ireland (Dad has offered to translate if need be) and I am hoping to find out more about her later this week if Mum gets a chance to pay a visit.
In the meantime, this is her - she looks quite at home.
