Fearnley came home

We brought Fearnley home just over four weeks ago. 

He's such a gorgeous little chap. He settled in with us within the first hour, and he was so good not to be overwhelmed with the amount of visitors that have ensued from that point!

Surprisingly, he slept in his crate without any cries from the first night. He's also pretty much nailed 'quickly', doing his business outside when we tell him.

We couldn't help but think we've got some model puppy, making everything seem easy. But then again it's easy to care for him as the baby that he is, but it's a little bit trickier training and teaching him to be a sociable and happy chap. 

We are attending the local puppy parties at the vets to ease him into training and to meet other youngsters for him to play with. He will then go on to learn so much more, and eventually in time we are looking forward to teaching him properly how to be a proper gun dog. He's already showing signs he will be a great one. Sitting, waiting, 'down' then he runs to fetch his pheasant, then runs brings it back to us. I'm sure there will be a lot more to learn, but he's picking things up fast.

Today was a great day for us and him. A picnic at Virginia Waters with friends and their dog Bennie. We let him off the lead for the first time and couldn't be more proud! He didn't stray too far and tried his best to meet other dogs, although he's still very wary of them! 

It's the little things that just gives us so much confidence that he is a great pup, and will grow into a great dog. 

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Not a springer not a cocker

Have you ever had something you've dreamt of your whole life, and when you finally have a glimpse of it coming true, your worried it might go wrong or spoilt in some way?

I've dreamt many times as a child of owning my own dog. It's the most prominent wish I had when blowing out candles on my birthday cake, or writing on letters to Father Christmas. Not to mention the amount of pleading to my poor parents.

I'm not even sure why it means so much to me, I must of owned one in a previous life. But as the cliche goes, some things are worth waiting for. In two weeks time we are picking up a sprocker spaniel puppy. 

My emotions are not like I expected, I'm filled with excitement, but also worry and doubt. I hope we can give him everything he needs. I'm so looking forward to spending time with him, getting to know him and bringing him up to be the dog I've dreamt of. Poor pup - no pressure!

The house is also slowly changing to accommodate the new addition, making sure he feels safe and secure in his new home. 

One thing I'm certain of, he's going to change our lives, everything we do will be encompassed by him. This scares me only a little, but thinking of all I've done in life, I'm positive dealing with what is scary is only rewarding. 

Finding the right breeder was all about gut instinct too, I'm quite pleased I can rely on this in future. It helped us choose this house and that worked out great, so I know this puppy will be hard work, but hopefully completely worth it.

This is him. Fearnley Edgar Bolt, born January 4th 2014:

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Gran is so 2014

What could be more refreshing than taking down the Christmas decorations, and spending the time cleaning and freshening up the house? Enjoying the space and freedom a post Yuletide house gives, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to what the future holds and the present is rewarding. 

New Years resolutions - a tricky one. I'm not going to aim high, except just allow changes in my life I wish I could do more of. One is making the time to read more books. Our bookcase is brimming with stories I'm yet to even try, such as the Harry Potter series. I'm glued to the first even though I know what to expect I'm really enjoying picturing my own version of events.

There's others, such as restricting the amount of time I spend on my phone. Leaving it in my handbag with a friend, only to check it if it actually rings. Allowing more time to enjoy a conversation without any distractions. How technology can often distract and interrupt just being. I've found myself taking less photographs in the moment, especially at important events, immersing myself in the now and take a mental picture instead. Private pictures tend to be of little things around the house, flowers, the fireplace, the messy kitchen.

January also means there is a lot of preparing in the house at the moment, as the plan is to bring a puppy into our home at Easter. Watch this space!

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Christmas time equals no time

Late night decorating the tree, inbetween cooking christingle making and panic sketching greeting cards - it is most definitely the season to be jolly.

It's rather comforting, transforming the lounge which is used to pale blues and stone shades into accepting bold reds, glitter and extra foliage from the garden. 

Ivy, holly and mistletoe are all making an appearance, as is the fire. We've finally stocked up on kindle and wood so we can enjoy a warm and toasty evening Nd marvel at our first, real, Christmas Tree. 

A real spruce has more character and a better smell than the fake ones, and we are learning how to care for it and keep the pines off the carpet as best we can. 

A further signal that we are approaching winter is that we have finished the bramble jelly made in September. I am looking forward to seeking out more berries next autumn, and perhaps be more prepared and make a larger batch.

For now, it's time to make the Christmas preserves and puddings, with only weeks to go we better find more hours on the clock.

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Layers of leaves, layers of clothes

Putting extra blankets on the bed, starting up the fire, placing towels on a radiator before showering, cooking stews and making hot chocolate have fully replaced the habits of summer. 

A welcome change. It's an ideal time to experiment and play in the house, getting to know it more. It feels different when it's colder, relying on it more to help you through the frostier season.

We can't wait to buy our first real Christmas tree and bake spices treats for gifts and piggy moments. A month today and it will be that time again, time to reflect on how fast the year has gone by when at points it felt so slow. 

We're very lucky and still in awe that we have managed to move into our home, and fortunately both have had promotions in our positions which will help us on our next quest for 2014, the arrival of a puppy.

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The rise of the hemline

Has the supposed housing boom affected the hemline of skirts?

Seeing as the property industry is bright and busy with house prices on an incline, I wonder whether the wider influence its having on the economy could be having on the receeding hemline of our skirts.

As we know, the longer the length the more troubled our times are, the shorter the more carefree.

The early 1990s was a prosperous time and it's making its firm appreciation once again in our high street. Now officially registered as 'vintage' this era brought with it the reincarnation of the mini skirt, crop tops, masculine structured jackets and boxey leather shoes. Punchy and grungy, not a flowing floral in sight.

Have you been noticing the slits introduced to our maxi skirts? The skater swing skirts or the skort style items back into the shops? Could this be a sign recovery is on its way? The hemline is rising, and so could be the economic outlook. 

Just a thought. X

Home sweet home

What does it feel like?

It's been a month since we moved in and no one has revealed that its actually a cruel joke thus pointing us in the direction of our old haunts.

We often feel a little like naughty children, someone surely is bound to take our new favourite toy away, so we are on our best behaviour making sure we run the house like clockwork. 

If nobody notices, or notices we are doing it well, than maybe we can keep it. I hope we can as its very difficult to imagine not living here, it's our home.

There's so much to look forward to. The garden needs another couple of seasons to really heal and grow. The discovered apple tree is one example. The vegetable patch is starting again from scratch, so not expecting any goodies until next summer. It's exciting to realise our decorating plans, but we are quite good at this patience malarkey, it will all come in time we know.

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