Boo bloody hoo.

So South Africa lost the rugby.

Boo bloody hoo..

To be fair, the All Blacks did play the better game but the reffing left a lot to be desired.  Impartial it was not. Even the Kiwi commentators were left bewildered by some of his calls.  Poor Bismark took the brunt and he’s one of my favourite players.  The best moment of the match for me was when our man Lambie scored his first international try. Way to go Lambie!  

It’s quite an education being an opposition supporter in what is an All Black stronghold.  Despite the number of SA supporters there, we were totally drowned out by the sea of black.  All Black supporters are passionate ... to the extreme.  I guess the same could be said of South African and Welsh supporters.    

There’s a blood lust to their support which is both awe-inspiring AND intimidating .... especially when you’re wearing the opposition’s colours and sitting amongst the home crowd.

We had traitors in our midst though.  The ‘extra’ understandably was supporting the AB’s

 ... and SO was my delinquent other half!

We forgave him though ‘cause it was his birthday.

Regardless of the outcome it was a SERIOUSLY fun evening ... and yes, that’s an oxymoron but a very appropriate one.  Fun was had by ALL, even those who HADN’T expected to enjoy a rugby match!

I think we might be doing that again.

Today saw us slip-sliding across the rocks between St. Heliers and Kohi.  It was low tide and the birdlife on and amongst the rocks at low tide is phenomenal.  

The only pitfall is how slippery the rocks are and how muddy it can be. 

The depth of the mud became apparent when the hound disappeared up to her bum in what appeared to be a solid surface.  We gave it a wide berth. 

The other half chose to try and keep his feet dry by avoiding the rock pools and puddles.  That was too much like hard work so the hound and I just waded through them .... shoes, socks and all.  We did get a little damp.

Apart from the Skua, the Shags, a variety of gulls and the usual skittish Oyster Catchers we  found several herons, a pair of Kingfishers and a couple of Antarctic Terns.

Good job I didn’t slip and drop the camera!

Carol and Pete were walking down to Hammerheads but Sam
wanted to join us on the beach!

I'm invincible!

On days like today I feel invincible!

It’s been the MOST glorious of mornings on the beach.  

Sand .... which went EVERYWHERE .... SUNSHINE and an abundance of hounds in every form, shape and size.

Just for a moment in time life was perfect and I revelled in it 

.... even if I DID have my shorts on inside out with the label visible on my bum!!

That’s what happens when you get dressed in the dark.

The Kingfishers were on the beach too but didn’t hang around.  They weren’t comfortable with the early morning invasion of their hunting ground.  There was no reward for tramping through the mudflats to their vantage point.  This is when I remind myself that mudpacks are supposed to be good for the skin.  Somehow I don’t think the mud on the flats is the kind of mud the beauty specialists are referring to.  

THIS mud is squelchy, gooey and quite gross.  It gets BETWEEN your toes!

Yes, I’m a little weird but it’s necessary.

We celebrated Sam’s birthday in style today by having breakfast at La Vista.  

I should clarify that.  Carol and I had breakfast.  The hounds watched.  

They’d had THEIR treats on Wednesday when it was Sam’s ACTUAL birthday.

They’re both sporting NEW collars.  Sam’s is brown with baby blue circles on it and the hound’s is purple with pink hearts.  Nice CHUNKY collars.  The hound is often thought to be a boy - this collar should put paid to that.  I don’t know many boy hounds that wear purple collars with pink hearts on them!

Pete thinks Sam’s collar’s a bit effeminate but we disagree

 .... and Pete should know by now - we’re ALWAYS right.

We had to tire Sam out before going for breakfast as he’d been, quite literally, jumping out of his skin.  He’d missed out on a ramble yesterday as it had POURED with rain most of the day.  Apparently rain can make you shrink.

Sam seems to think that turning TWO allows him to be bolshie, demanding and vociferous.  I lost count this morning of how many times he stood and barked for his ball to be thrown or kicked. 

His voice has broken - no more high-pitched barking but deep BIG hound barks. 

His aim is to be HEARD!

We hear him alright, and so does the REST of the village!  It’s not only the undulations in the sand that indicate our presence on the beach anymore, it’s the hound chorus too.

Maggie came to play in the waves today.

The view from La Vista

We’re off to the rugby tomorrow night ... Springboks vs All Blacks ... a family affair as it’s the other half’s birthday.  The lemmings have clubbed together to buy tickets for all 7 of us to go, even the lemmings who DON’T enjoy rugby.  How can they not enjoy rugby?  Carol and Pete are supposed to go too as they’ve been given tickets.  Carol though has graciously given her ticket to her son.  

A 4 month old Golden Retriever pup ... he was too gorgeous.

No, it’s not because she was being KIND that she’s given her ticket away .... though she is that too.  It’s because she KNOWS my Bokke are going to beat her Flightless Fowls and she DOESN’T like losing.

Go my Bokke!

They've just been told off for barking .... DOUBLE TROUBLE!!

The only part of her morning ramble that she DOESN'T enjoy.