XMAS LUNCH

The Friends of St Potan Xmas lunch was held

in the village on the 21st December.

20 locals plus our Xmas guests had a 3 course 

lunch with wine in what was a great event.

MUCH BETTER

A few weeks after we thought we were going

to lose him, Arthur has made an outstanding recovery.

With steroid medication, and a special diet

to help his kidney's, he is almost

as good as new.

CENOTAPH

Sunday 10th November, I did my first

ever Cenotaph parade in London.

I was part of the HMS Ark Royal Association

platoon of 27.

Met some old faces.

Must admit there was a lot of standing around

in the cold.

0930 at Horse Guards, we didn't march till

gone 1130.

I made it on the I Player.

That's me bottom left.

ARTHUR UNWELL

Poor old Arth has been very poorly.

Spent 4 nights in the vets after his back

legs kept giving way.

Obviously age, at 13 1/2 is a factor, but

he had anaemia as well.

The vets did plenty of tests including

for a tick based disease called Leptosorosis.

Really thought his time was up.

But slowly after being allowed home, and on a course

of anti inflamatories, he is back to 90% of

his old self.

JOCK WEEKEND

First weekend in September. A full house.

Mac, Kenny 1, Kenny 2, Netty,

Caroline, & Jaqi arrived, for what 

was a booze fuelled weekend party.

The first four named were Navy chefs, 

whose paths I have crossed over the years.

Day out in St Cast, also a Sunday lunch in the

village. A really cracking weekend.

MOULES FRITTES

First Saturday in August, always the biggest

village party around.

Moules frites is our favourite night.

When we first came here 11 years ago,

around 200 would turn up.

Now it is closer to 550.

The day before, I heard old Ark Royal

shipmate Richard Knight and his family

were staying in St Malo.

Great to meet up after 30 years.

They joined the party and stayed the night.

BUSY MONTH

August is always a busy month for visitors.

Marie's sister, Liz, daughter Aileen, husband Dean,

a young Poppy came for a week after a short

ferry delay because of the weather.

A few nice trips out.

Dinan market is always popular on a Thursday.

We also had a few meals out, and of course

a visit to the bar.

Royal Marine dean is training Poppy to carry

his kit around.

1st TIMERS

Had a visit for a couple of days from Paul and Deanie.

I served with Paul on HMS Southampton, taking

it from build, right the way through to going

down the Falklands in 1982.

A couple of meals out, beer and wine.

What was not to like.?

WARMEST EVER DAY IN FRANCE

, 42.7

11 years and 3 months in France, and this

is the hottest ever day.

34C in the shade, and 42.7C

in the direct sun.

That's 108F in old money.

The dogs are taking ice with

their drinks.

RESPONSIBLE OWNERS

As per the agreement when adopting Misty,

we had to get her sterilised.

We would have done anyway.

The vets in Plancoet took her in at 0830,

and she was home by 1615.

She is crying a bit, but is a tough cookie,

and after a few days of calm, she 

will soon be back to duffing up Arthur.

RNA CURRY EVENT

Every year for he past 7 years, we have held

a curry lunch at ours for the 

Royal Navy Association.

34 this year, which was more manageable

this time, after we had 45 last time.

Always a good fundraiser to help

pay for the branch to keep ticking over.

VISITORS No 2.

Chrissy and Eamonn came out for a week.

A pretty chilled week.

A couple of meals out, at St Jacut,

and St Cast le Guildo.

Sadly the weather wasn't at it's best most

the time.

1st VISITORS 2019

First of many visitors this summer have

been and gone.

A few meals out and just a bit of wine

with Kaz and Hills.

POTS OF GOLD

Hive 2 was laden with honey.

After a couple of hours getting it out,

a good haul of 11kg.

It sold out in an hour.

With the surprisingly warm weather in February, and

a decent March, the blossom is everywhere,

and the hives are full.

We are going to extract a considerable amount

of honey in the next few days.

NEW NESTING PAIR

Seems we have a nesting pair of sparrow hawks in the garden vicinity.

Although we see them often, this is the first

time they have chosen our garden to nest.

Will be keeping an eye out to see if they

are successful. 

TRAINING LEVEL 2

A momentous day in training. I was let off my lead in the big field. The instructors stood 50 yards apart, shouted my name, and I raced to get my reward. I was that excited, I did overshoot the first couple of times, probably by a further 20 yards. But I soon got the hang of it, and was doing regular 50 yard sprints to order.
My reward was 10 minutes off my lead, which gave me the freedom I have been craving for. I stuck with Uncle Arthur Gard most the time, but also stuck in a few frantic sprints. I came back each time when called. 
That's military discipline for you!
As you can see, I got a bit mucky. 
This afternoon I shall be experiencing ablutions for the first time. This will be interesting.

QUICK LEARNER

We seem to have found a good pupil here.

Less than 2 weeks in we have mastered "sit" "down",

half decent lead walking, and toilet training.

Misty even bashes the keys in the front door

to let you know she wants out.

She can't go in to the countryside yet.

The injections have to kick in, but she 

should be fine late next week.

PUP TRAINING

What we have here is a fast learner.

The "sit" and "down" was mastered

in minutes.

As was "Blanket" which is her outside

safe place.

She sleeps in her cage at night. Wailed the first night,

but Marie has been sleeping downstairs on the sofa,

which has settled her a bit more.

Bonding with Arthur was a bit slow, but here

we are on day 4 and things have improved.

MISTY ARRIVES

After 550 miles of travelling, via 3 different cars,

Misty has made it to her forever home.

Arthur is a bit put out, but we are working on that.

Her first full day involved "sit" training, which went very well.

She has made herself at home so quickly.

Plenty of time for toys as well, and as I type she is

tired out on the sofa.

STRANGE WEATHER

Unseasonably warm weather arrived yesterday.

17C in February is very rare.

Great to have a bimble around the village

in bright sunshine after a gloomy few months,

Was even able to mow the back garden as the grass

that had grown over winter had got quite long.

A fine day finished off with a glass of vino

in the garden for the first time this year.