MAD FROGS

Yesterday I got the rare school holiday opportunity to take the dogs for a decent walk....alone. I had become aware that, since THAT sunny day, frogs had been spawning everywhere and that this might be the opportunity to revisit certain prime sites, including one where I found an exhausted female, basking in the sunshine this time last year. I took many stunning close-ups, all of which I lost in some kind of computer-to-camera-file-loss disaster. Off I set to the remote site, forty minutes walk away into the boggy wilderness. Signs were good on the way.....

..........and as I approached, tiptoeing across the squelching moss, I saw the water in question seething and bubbling with amphibious action. The female was curled around a stone in a spawny soup with multiple males clinging on for dear life, vying for her attention.

I walked home in the drizzle to find a large natural pond in a neighbour's scrub full of frogs and newts floating around relaxing, including the one in the first picture. I had clearly missed the main event here. 

Some other pictures from this week so far.....

Early morning clouds over Kestor Rocks:

Strange misty clouds creeping over the hills towards me:

With spectacular ones following:

Sunny rocks:

Today's misty drizzle:

I've changed Trigger's routine a bit thanks to the slightly longer days, which is working better for me. When I take him down to see his Madam friends, I'm now doing it late afternoon so that he stays overnight and I collect him in the morning rather than the other way round. 

"What the hell is she doing to me?"

I'm going for an MRI scan of my spine in a couple of weeks in Exeter as the pain is not getting any better and my GP wants to get a fuller picture of what's going on. I haven't had an MRI since the day of the accident when I had two as the surgeon wanted to be absolutely sure of what was facing him before he went in armed with much titanium. Bit nervous to be honest but I think it's highly likely I will just be referred to the pain clinic. The only positive about the pain is that it is a constant deterrent to getting back on a horse! Enough of that. I've been so busy with OB this half term, I've been missing catching up with others' blogs. So, until next time, here are Mr Speedy and Captain Slow enjoying the dry-ish weather. Have a great weekend if I don't manage to post before then and a belated welcome to the four new followers since the 100 milestone.