Sugar

We left early on Sunday, about 8.30am. Oscar was happy in the back  of the car (luckily he doesn't get car sick). It took 2 hours to get there, as we got lost (hard to believe with sat nav!) but after a frantic phone call to the Boxer Welfare volunteer, we arrived at the kennels. She brought Sugar out to meet us, Oscar was so excited. She growled at him a bit, but Oscar is a big lump, jumping all over her. We took them for a walk, and we chatted to the volunteers, and it went really well. We got back to the kennels and Liz, the volunteer, said it was up to us. I said straight away that I wanted to take her and asked when we could take her. Liz said we could take her now, I couldn't believe it. After having such a negative home visit from the local volunteer, I was really worried, but it was okay and Liz was really nice and very helpful. She took some photos of both of them, we got her in the car, and we were on our way home. In the car I phoned ahead and told No.2 son that we were bringing her home. Typical 10 year old reaction, he thought I was joking. I had to tell him 3 times before he would believe me.

Oscar and Sugar in the car on our way home.

Sugar cuddling Oscar when he was asleep.

Oscar and Sugar out for a walk.

Sugar, isn't she a beauty? Am I biased?

They're getting on really well, Oscar keeps jumping all over her, but she just nips at him. The big daft lump doesn't care and just keeps on. She follows me about all the time, it's good to have another girl in my house of men.

New Dog

Our search for a new dog has come up trumps. We got a phone call from the Boxer Welfare Service, they have a 2 year old boxer bitch called Sugar. We're going to see her on Sunday. I think Oscar will really benefit from a play-mate, and they have said she is really boisterous so will match Oscar in the energetic stakes. Here is a picture from the website:

She's quite small, and after we pay the adoption fee we will still have to neuter her, so it's not a cheaper option. So we'll have to see if they get along, and hopefully she'll be able to come home soon.

Stop it with all the snow!!!

It's been a while since I blogged as not a lot has been happening. Work, sleep (and not enough) school run etc. I went out to the local corner shop this morning, but having no car, had to use Shank's Pony as my Dad is wont to say. I don't know the origins of the saying, but it means walking! And as usual it was bitterly cold, -3 degrees c. I took Oscar with me, it's the only exercise he's had of late, since he pulled me down an icy hill on my arse and hurt my back. After another snow storm yesterday, some industrious kids built a snowman in their garden, and a very good one at that. Oscar hasn't seen a snowman before, and started barking like a rabid dog at the sight of it.

A very good blogger, Backwards in High Heels, has had the idea of posting a photo a day on her blog, thereby having a photographic memento of the year. I think it's a fantastic idea, but as I don't blog everyday, I decided to always post with photos so I'll sporadic photographic memento of the year.

Oscar's new favourite place to sleep, the back of the couch!

The snow on the fateful "falling down a hill" walk!

The snow yesterday (taken with my Blackberry, so not the best quality)

It's all over for another year!

Christmas was hectic. The weather here, as for everywhere else, was treacherous. On Christmas Eve the OH went out to the bank, and slid the car into the kerb at the top of our street. Damn snow! We had a nice day, with a lovely Christmas dinner prepared my me. My Mum and Dad came for breakfast on Christmas morning. And no.1 and no.2 sons went to their Dad's on Boxing Day, so I got the car out and headed to their Dad's house. But the car had no power in the steering and the wheel weren't aligned. The OH had managed to bend the wishbone, costing a nice £100 to fix. But it's only money, you can't take it with you, so they say!

So Tired.

I haven't had the energy to blog recently since the OH started working. He finishes work and 2 hours later I start work. When I finish work it's a constant rush. A quick run around the shop, unpack said shopping, get No.2 son fed and ready for school and all that before 8.30am. Then there's Oscar, he needs at least an hours walk a day. And the never ending round of housework, while the OH sleeps the day away. Christmas cards keep plopping on the doormat, I haven't even bought cards yet, far less written or posted any. And there's now only 10 days to go. I was so smug, all my shopping done and almost everything wrapped, now I'm crumbling under the weight of it all. Serves me right, I suppose.

That's Christmas Sorted!

Well it seems I was wrong, I thought my Christmas lights had blown last year, and I was ready to either buy new ones or repair by taking every bulb out and testing it. But I got the OH to get the stuff down from the attic and they were fine. And I had a packet of replacement bulbs with two left in it. Instead of getting slightly senile with age, I seem to be getting more organised. Quite odd. Every year as a child, my sister and I would beg my Mum to put the tree up. All our friends would have theirs up. And eventually we would come home from school and it would be up. We never got to help and it was always a work of art, like an interior designer had worked their magic on it. It didn't bother us, that was just the way things were done in our house. And by the 28th the tree was taken down and everything was back to normal. And as a result I can't stand my tree being up for long. I usually put it up as late as possible and take it down a day or two after Christmas. And I never let the boys help, they would get home from school and find it all done, just as I did. So this year I decided to let them help. No.2 son always moans to be allowed to help so this year I caved. And it was good fun. We listened to Christmas songs and for an hour there was no bickering. I should put a tree up every day. I did the lights and tinsel but the boys hung all the baubles, and made a damn fine job of it too.

My Favourite Christmas Films

This is a screen shot from my number 1 favourite film - It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart is one of my fave actors. The little girl looks just like my mum did at that age.

This a screen shot from my second favourite Christmas film, The Bishop's Wife.

The originals of 34th Street and The Shop around the corner are much better than the modern remakes.