THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

18 December 2013

ARK REQUIRED


It really is very bad up here today. I have no pictures as no sooner is the door opened, everything is drenched. Luckily, I left Trigger here last night and intend leaving him here until the storm subsides. This morning, when I went out to feed him at 6.15am in the pitch dark, it was raining so hard and blowing such a gale, that I could hardly walk. I was wearing a head torch with my hood up and all I could see was beautifully illuminated raindrops, hurtling towards and into my eyes. It was so bad, I managed to overshoot the field gate, ending up in the top field closest to the open moor. The lane to our little hamlet is deep in water so driving in a normal car as treacherous. We had a load of wood delivered today and when the trailer tipped up, half a gallon of water poured out before the wood started to appear. There are dripping coats everywhere and the poor dogs have only had two sessions of stick throwing at the bottom of the drive where I could shelter behind the bridge over the stream out of the wind. I was going to park the car down there while the wood was delivered but I was worried it might get washed away....seriously. More forecast for tomorrow. Oh dear. I hope things are more clement wherever you are, but I fear a few of you are going through the same. So, the following pictures are from less torrential days since my last post. I managed a puddle for the first one, but, as I said, no chance of a camera surviving this. 


A bit wet here - the shape of things to come


Stone rows


We disturbed a sleeping foal


Foal/yearling number 3


Beautiful light


Happy dogs


Ponies on the move


The moorland side of the wall of the top field I was talking about


Now the big lower branches have been taken off the dangerous tree by the Orangutans, we can see our house when out walking! 


Hungry Chaffinch


Nervous Sparrow


Perfect Robin


I heard a review of 'The Great Train Robbery' on Radio 4 last night which said the first of the two films should be watched in conjunction with the second, despite there being an element of style over substance involved, even though they felt the second far superior. So, I'm sitting in front of it now and am already seeing what they mean. Far too glamourous including two near perfect Jaguar cars (OB would know what model they were) screeching away from a robbery. The lack of gritty reality in these things drives me mad. Ronnie Biggs' recent death was rather untimely. 

Our Tourettes party at the weekend went really well. OB really enjoyed it and it was great to talk to the other parents going through the same stuff. Good to talk to adults with it too, some of whom lead difficult but fairly normal lives, with jobs and partners. All the things we worry about for the future.

So, until next time, unless our internet connection has been washed away, here is a TERRIBLE picture in the dark, which I've tried to lighten rather clumsily, of Snippet in front of the Christmas tree. 


48 comments:

  1. oh bless him, he looks so cute, waiting for Santa to bring a treat for 2 little black dogs x

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    1. Treats will be wrapped on Christmas Eve. Jack nearly got to some Bendick's Bittermints yesterday. I don't think he would have liked them very much!

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  2. You really are on the edge of the wilds of Dartmoor, the weather forecast for the west country looked pretty awful, so I hope you are not completely water logged. Even over here in the driest part of the country we had more rain on Monday night than we've had since April.

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    1. I lived in Suffolk for the first year of my life and still have a huge soft spot for it. Until I was six, my mum kept a cottage near Little Saxham. I must see if it's still there on Google Earth!

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  3. Glad you had a nice party. I know I will be accused of wishing my life away but roll on Spring aye? Lovely photos as always.

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    1. Roll on Spring indeed. we had a lovely morning here but the clouds have rolled in and it's now sleeting.

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  4. How lovely to see your house-it looks marvellous snuggled in the trees. Terrible weather here too Em, I could hardly open the back door with the strength of the wind. Love the images of the moors-the light is beautiful and I love the windswept trees. I felt sorry for the birds today-I bet they were hungry having to stay put under shelter.

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    1. I had you in mind as I was blasted by those winds. I hope it's better now but I doubt it looking out of the window. I still have to get Trigger back home today which I'm dreading!

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  5. We are deep in snow. I'm betting that as soon as your back is turned,Snippet has a good old sniff of the presents..checking out which are his!
    Jane x

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    1. I always dream of lovely crisp sun over the stunning snow but the reality is digging our way out and endless slow and terrifying drives to school and town. Keep safe over there!

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  6. Wasn't it dark this morning! The rain came late here, but now it's drumming against the windows!

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    1. We had a beautiful sunny dry morning but it's all change now, just as I'm about to set out on the Trigger run. Waterproofs just aren't enough!

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  7. Not much better here. I am amazed we still have broadband at all, it's sensitive at the best of times and the lights have been flickering too. Mike ventured out with some rubbish and said it's the worst since we've been here. Did you notice that it didn't make the news until the storm reached London?
    Gorgeous photos of the robin, he is so cute.

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    1. It has to be disastrous before we make the news. Looks and feels like snow here but we'll see....

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  8. With the house being surrounded by trees, hopefully you aren't getting the full blast Em, or is that just wishful thinking.?

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    1. The shelter belt works pretty well in reducing it enough not to blow our roofs off Roy. Sometimes it doesn't appear to be raining here and a hundred yards down the drive out onto the moor and I get drenched!

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  9. Oh dear I hope your safe and dry.
    We are getting some cold weather this weekend. It was 77 today but Saturday it will be only 56.
    Our weather is so different the last two years.

    Your tree is beautiful and The Gud Dugs sitting there waiting for Santa Dug !

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. We're safe and dry inside - thank you Parsnip. Last winter was very mild at this time and it's been so this year too. I know because we still have a large pile of unused coal!

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  10. A succession of cold wet days at this time of year with the resulting squelch underfoot can be rather daunting. Its amazing the improvement when the sun returns for even a few hours. Be safe!

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  11. I'll echo Sharon - Keep safe Em. At least you have a shelter belt of trees around you, but that is something of a two-edged sword . . .

    I can imagine it's been like the Roaring 40s where you are. Bad enough here, and Danny not home till nearly midnight last night (after going to the cinema) as the river was up over the road so his mate had to come round the long way and he walked the last bit.

    More to come over the Christmas period apparently.

    I love the photos of the moor, as always and I must look up that stone row in Jeremy Butler's Dartmoor books (I have the complete set, bought at the Visitor Centre as Postbridge a few years back). Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas, for family, dogs and Significant Pony too.

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    1. They are talking about 100mph winds over Christmas. Help!

      We have a couple of the Jeremy Butler books, including the one pertinent to this area. Not a light read but fascinating. Talking of reading, I've started Cross Stitch. It's BIG isn't it! Really enjoying it so far.

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  12. It does sound like you've had a spell of really wild weather. It's been wet here, too and although it's not been as bad, there are pools of water everywhere this morning.
    I didn't watch the train robber drama as to be honest it's not my sort of thing - but I did catch a glimpse (when I was channel hopping) of a scene that had the words 'August 1963' on the screen when it was so obviously a winter landscape in the background - so there was no reality there.
    I love the photo of Snippet waiting to open his present!
    Have a lovely Christmas!

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    1. There was little else on so I carried on with it. Foolish as I missed the first half of the Monastary Farm.

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  13. We had horizontal rain up here in Yorkshire, yesterday evening, Em.

    Nice set of images, yet again.

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    1. Feeling that rain Dean. I think we have a lot in common weather-wise!

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  14. Love the happy dogs frolicking in the field, as well as the ponies being swallowed up by such an immense landscape.

    Happy that the Tourette's party has eased some of your fears for OB's future. People's struggles in life can sometimes turn them into resourceful and compassionate deep-thinking types - maybe this is the path OB is on? Or maybe he is on another one as good or better? :)

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    1. I hope you're right Christian. We fear depression in his teenage years but can't get too wrapped up in worrying as it won't help him. I try and take every day as it comes.

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  15. We are having similar issues with rain. The backyard is so wet I have to watch my footing when putting birdseed and deer feed out. The ground is saturated and water is standing everywhere. We've had a respite this past few days but more on it's way tomorrow through Sunday with HEAVY rain and thunderstorms on Sunday. I keep telling myself that at least it isn't snow...

    Always love the moor photos and those of the ponies. Love the immense vastness. LOVE the one of Snippet and Jack racing up on the hill looking down on Chagford (?)

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    1. You poor things. I bet those beautiful but large horses are churning up the ground too!

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  16. Hi Em,
    Your weather sounds dire! I do hope it lets up enough to let you get out and stock up - or have you done that already? I'm glad the party went well. Those contacts will be helpful as you work your way through the various scenarios in the future. Happy Christmas to you all.

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    1. You too Virginia, thank you. Are you basking in glorious summer sun I wonder???

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  17. Dartmoor sounds a great place to live on ;), I suppose it will get better when the rain turns to snow, but life becomes pretty miserable when the rivers and water start to rise. Stock up, stay safe and have a lovely Christmas. Glad OBs party went well, the atmosphere of Christmas for children is always exciting....

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    1. OB is less excited this year than previous years, or perhaps he's just trying to be cool about it as he approaches 10!

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  18. Love the pic of the light on the moor. Jack looks to have grown. And I'm very envious you can have prezzies round the tree- no chance of that here this year. Poppy would unwrap and chew them all the second she discovered them :-)
    Glad you have the tourettes group as a contact- I should imagine that will be more useful to you than almost anything else.

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    1. Jack is constantly sniffing round the presents but, so far, hasn't indulged. I think the smell of Bendick's Bittermints is putting him off!

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  19. The weather sounds totally dire - do hope it has improved since your post.

    Some lovely photos of Dartmoor as always and I'm so pleased the party went well. It can really help talking to people who are going through a similar situation.

    Love the Christmas Tree :)

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    1. It improved for a bit but is looking a bit dire tonight......high winds and sleet............super.

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  20. Dreadful sounding weather Em and it looks like more is to come in the next few days :-( As you say this is not very camera friendly weather at the moment !!!

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    1. I've barely taken any pictures at all, and those I have are hardly worth publishing. A bit of stormy light can be very atmospheric but that's not what we've got!

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  21. It was dreadful weather here yesterday and the day before. I know from past experiences that Dartmoor's weather is more extreme. I didn't realise you lived right on the edge of the moor. I'm glad the party last weekend was a success.
    Sarah x

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    1. We are right in the thick of the weather Sarah. Horrible again today!

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  22. HI Em You certainly are having awful weather, hope it improves soon for you. Great shots of the Moor, birds and horses. May I wish you a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS. I will be with my family on the I.O.W. adn will not be posting or commenting as much during the festive season.

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    1. Me neither Margaret. There just isn't time. have a lovely, lovely Christmas.

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  23. It`s a wild night here in the New Forest and I`m sure the ponies will be huddling together out in the rain.

    Lovely photos of Dartmoor and your birds.

    It is good to know that you have found a Tourettes support network.

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    1. Those trees really exacerbate the noise of the wind. I love the noise as long as I'm safe and warm inside!

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  24. Oh I feel your pain, another day of the grey and wet stuff and no end in sight! Let's hope Dartmoor is just having one of her weeks and will be kind in the new year, we can only hope!

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    1. Fingers are crossed but probably in vain I'm afraid.

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